Merge iphoto libraries onto an external HDD

We have 3 macs at the house and they all have different Iphoto libraries. I would like to merge them all onto the one Library of the Imac with an External HDD. The problem is that a bunch of the pictures are on more than one of the computers. I was hoping that there was a way to import them but not import the duplicates like when I import from a camera.

You'll need to use iPhoto Library Manager to merge the Libraries. There is no other way to do it without losing versions or metadata.
Regards
TD

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HT1229 Can i move the iPhoto folder onto an external HDD? Will it work the same way after moving onto an external HDD? do I then need to have the external connected at all times, even when I don't use iPhoto?

I have a macbook pro, but the amount of pictures I have now exceeds 500GB
I want to have all the pictures in iPhoto, so I could see them and edit them in iPhoto.
Which means... I need the iPhoto file folder in an external HDD to use iPhoto that way.
Can i move the iPhoto folder onto an external HDD?
Will it work the same way, as if the iPhoto folder is on the internal drive?

yes
yes
Moving the iPhoto library is safe and simple - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity to the external drive - depress the option key and launch iPhoto using the "select library" option to point to the new location on the external drive - fully test it and then trash the old library on the internal drive (test one more time prior to emptying the trash)
And be sure that the External drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) (iPhoto does not work with drives with other formats) and that it is always available prior to launching iPhoto
And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive
LN

Merge Two Macbook iPhoto libraries Onto 1 External HD

Hi. I have backed up my iPhoto library from what I'll call MacBook "a" onto a 1tb external hard drive. I did this buy dragging the iPhoto icon over. It worked.
I also have a very small iPhoto library on Macbook "b." I would like to merge this Macbook "b" library onto the same external hard drive. When I have tried exporting the files from macbook b, however, they photos are copying to the hard drive, but not to the iPhoto library.
Is there a way to merge two distinct iPhoto libraries, from two distinct computers onto 1 external hard drive?
Thanks.
John.

If you have Aperture 3.3 or later and iPhoto 9.3 or later you can merge libraries with Aperture.
Otherwise the only way to merge Libraries is with the paid ($30) version of iPhoto Library Manager

How do I save 2 iphoto libraries onto one external drive?

Hi
I have an iphoto library on my MacBook Pro and I have an older library of different photos on my graphite iBook.
I'd like to store all my photos onto one external drive.
How can I do this without losing either library in the process?
I actually have the same question regarding music on iTunes.
Thanks
AS

Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Do you want to merge these libraries into one? If so, then you'll need the paid version ($20) of iPhoto Library Manager
It's the only way to merge Libraries while preserving all metadata, versions and so on.
Otherwise, simply rename one of the Libraries (so they don't overwite each other) and Copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder to the External Disk. in each case.
To choose which library to open: holf down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location.
Regards
TD

Merging iphoto libraries from an external drive?

Hey there-
In pickle here and could use some help.
1) My old MBP was running out of HD space so I put my iPhoto library on to an external hard drive.
2) Last week that old MBP died! I can target boot to it but it doesn't boot up by itself.
3) I have a newer MBP that I use. How can I merge the library from the external to my new MBP? Hate to lose all my family photos!
Thanks for you help!
Dooki

You can only merge libraries using Aperture if you have a version of iphoto that can share libraries with Aperture or using the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ -
if you have photos in your current iPhoto library you can renmae it and then drag the old iPhoto library to the pictures folder and switch libraries by depressing the option key and holding it until the select library window comes up rather than merging the libraries
LN

Merging iphoto libraries onto a new computer?

I recently purchased a new macbook to replace my aging powerbook and imac.
Each of these computers has its own separate yet redundant iPhoto library and associated files (meaning there are plenty of duplicate photos, but many are unique). Addtionally, the iPhoto programs on these older computers are 2-4 years old. Is there any easy way to merge these two libraries and their associated image files and move it all onto the macbook without losing data about the photos or generating a lot of redundant images/files?
Thanks!

Rename the two Libraries: Library A and Library B.
Copy the two libraries to the new machine.
Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. It will ask you to choose a Library. Choose Library A. It will update it to an iPhoto 08 Library
Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. It will ask you to choose a Library. Choose Library B. It will update it to an iPhoto 08 Library
Now you have two iPhoto 08 Libraries.
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its Merge feature to merge the two libraries.
Regards
TD

What is the best way to consolidate Aperture and iPhoto libraries onto an external drive? I am just starting out and not used to Aperture filing system.

I would like to use the drive as storage/aperture backup rather than use it to back up my whole Macbook. Would like to keep the majority of the photo files on the ext. drive and be able to add files there directly. BUT, when workng in aperture would like to be able to select some from the ext. drive and work them on the laptop directly without having to have the ext drive attached.
So do i, have the aperture library path mapped to the ext drive, and then import the iphoto library? and then how do i add additional from the camera? Or, do i move everything together (imported iphotos and new from camera) in Aperture on the Macbook first, and then transfer that library to the ext drive?
For the life of me I can't figure out how to do this in a way that seems logical. Vaults? Masters on ext drive, versions on the macbook? Consolidating libraries? The endless possible answers are baffling me.
Thanks for any help!

Kirby Krieger wrote:
Hi Shane. Not much in the way of thoughts - - but fwiw:
How is the drive attached?
Can you open large files on the drive with other programs?
Are you running any drive compression or acceleration programs (some drives arrive with these installed)?
Can you reformat the drive and try again?
Hi Kirby,
I attached the UltraMax Plus with a USB cable. The UltraMax powers the cable so power is not an issue. I can open other files. Also, there is 500GB of files on the drive so I cannot re-format it. Although, I noted I could import the entire Aperture Library. However, I do not want to create a duplicate on my machine because that would be defeating the purpose of the external drive.
Thanks,
Shane

Really struggling with 10.10 and merging iPhoto libraries

I imported my old iPhoto Library via firewire (from Mac mini 1.6 10.6 to Mini 2.53 10.10)
My 2.53 has about 1000 images on it, as I had been downloading / using as main computer
I imported old library onto my desktop of Mini 2.53
I opened the file on desktop, iPhoto said did I want to change library (you would have thought it would have offered option to merge), I said yes and then it went through a long process of updating photos. After one failed / crashed attempts and a few hours later ! success ! ... my old photo Library 225GB ... working and still sitting on my desktop.
Now ... next thing I want to do is merge this Library / import into the one I have on my 2.53 mini (1000 or so images)
1st thing ... finder in 10.10 is so poor that you can't navigate, you can't find anything (10.6 x1000 better) so I can't move the desktop iPhoto (old) library) into the picture folder
2nd I open IPhoto and ask to switch (from old library which has now become default) to the one which was on the 2.53 , and there seems to be 2 options iPhoto Library and one option IPhoto Old Library, I select one of the iPhoto Library and then iPhoto says needs to repair but not enough disk space ...
Really unworkable (I am finding 10.10) ... Snow Leopard was so good.
Thanks for your help

Now ... next thing I want to do is merge this Library / import into the one I have on my 2.53 mini (1000 or so images)
iPhoto cannot merge libraries.
You can just switch between the libraries and view them in turn.
If you try to import one library into the other you will create a mess of duplicates - thumbnails, previews, etc. You should be glad, that iPhoto did not let you do this. It would have wrecked your iPhoto library.
To merge iPhoto libraries you can use the full, paid version of iPhoto Library Manager: Fat Cat Software – iPhoto Library Manager
It s a very useful addition to iPhoto and has rescued many libraries.
The other option is to export the photos from library 1 and import the exported photos into library 2.
I select one of the iPhoto Library and then iPhoto says needs to repair but not enough disk space ...
If you are short of storage do all merging and preparing your libraries on the external drive. It is risky to update or work with iPhoto libraries, if you are in danger of running out of storage and having iPhoto crash. That may corrupt your iPhoto library beyond repair.
If you want to use an external drive, if only temporary, make sure the drive has the correct file system. The drive needs to be formatted MacOS Extended (Journaled). See: iPhoto: Issues with FAT32-formatted drives
Format external drives to Mac OS Extended before using with Aperture
Really unworkable (I am finding 10.10) ... Snow Leopard was so good.
It is a large step from Snow to Yosemite. I loved SnowLeopard to. It is well designed and stable, but yosemite has many things to offer.
To see what changed between versions:
OSX Tips Some Changes in Lion
OSX Tips Mountain Lion Changes

I upgraded MacbookPro 2009 from 10.6.8 to Yosemite. Beforehand I made a backup copy of my Iphoto library onto an external hard drive. Lets call it BU. I also deleted half of my photos from the default library on my laptop, lets call it DE. I then in

I upgraded MacbookPro 2009 from 10.6.8 to Yosemite 2 weeks ago. My iphoto is now a nightmare. i went to our local apple retailer but they could not help either. Perhaps someone can help. Beforehand the OS upgrade I made a backup copy of my Iphoto library onto an external hard drive. Lets call it BU with 50GB. I also deleted half of my photos from the default library on my laptop, lets call it DE, now with about 20GB, to gain space. I then upgraded to Yosemite.
I have also installed since a long time Iphoto Library Manager 3.8.6. (this may be the cause of the problem as it was not upgraded and perhaps thus not compatible with iphoto 9.6 which I have now after the upgrade to Yosemite) It all worked fine before the upgrade, switching in iphoto between the two libraries DE and BU.
It also worked fine after the upgrade for a few days. At one stage Iphoto asked me to upgrade the iphoto version as it otherwise could not read the photos when I tried to load the BU library into iphoto. I did click yes to upgrade iphoto. As a result I became a brand new but totally empty library, no photos.
BU was still on the external disc, however the "Master" file was empty. We fortunately discovered all photos were in another file called Old Master, also under BU. We made another copy of the Old Master file onto the external disc. Lucky we did, because shortly afterwards we could not open anymore the BU file thus had no access to anything in there. Now I have 17000 photos in a file called Old Master on my external disc and another smaller library DE on my laptop. When I tried to import the photos from Old Master into a new iphoto library it was very messy. All events dates were mixed up, many photos were imported twice. I have no idea whether all my 17000 photos have been imported.
Can anyone suggest what is the most time efficient way? How do I best import my 17000 into a new library ensuring I don't loose any in the process. I do not wish sorting through 17000 photos for a week or so. Shall i also get a new iphoto library version now? Thank you for anything that may work.

Yes, the Old Master file has a folder for each year where I find all photos from that specific year. I am attaching a screen shot of the file.
In the meantime i have managed to download all photos (it did not download any video files though in mpg, avi, 3gp, m4v,mp4 and mov format) to a new iphoto library. Unfortunately the photos are quite mixed and often doubled up. I ma considering to purchase iphoto library which checks all duplicates in iphoto. this will save me a lot of time. What do you think?

Can I store my iPhoto Libraries on an external Hard Drive?

Hello All:
I am using iPhoto v5 along with an eMac700 with a tiny hard drive. It appears I cannot import/store all my iPhoto images and projects onto an external hard drive. Or can I?
Does anyone know if v6 allows this?
My plan is to place the IPhoto libraries onto a LaCie Ethernet Drive that could be shared on a small network (along with iTunes)
Any help would be appreciated, Right now, when done with a cook, I save it as a PDF file and then export it to an external Drive, but to print extra books, I still have to reload all the individual photos as the PDF file doesn't work for book printing through Apple.
Mike

Hi mlk,
Here are all the ways to backup your library.
Backing up your iPhoto Library
1. Burn the iPhoto Library folder in the Finder to a CD or DVD
This method will give you a burned iPhoto Library folder that can be copied back to your computer to replace a damaged library. You can also use this method to backup an old library when you want to create a new Library to use as your current library.
insert a blank CD into your internal or external CD-RW drive and copy the iPhoto library to the CD icon on your desktop. When you drag the CD icon to the Trash/Eject button in the Dock, you are given the option to burn the CD. Click Burn and the CD is created. To burn a DVD backup of your digital images, use a DVD and a SuperDrive-equipped Mac
The easiest way to burn an iPhoto Library folder in the Finder that is larger than 4.7 gig to fit on one DVD is to burn sections of the folder.
Drag the iPhoto Library folder to the desktop
Double click the folder to open it.
Drag each Year folder to the desktop.
You should be left with the iPhoto Library folder containing all the data files, and the Year folders.
Combine whatever year folders that amount closest to a DVD burn size on one DVD. Make sure that you have burned all the Year folders, then the iPhoto Library folder with all the data files.
If you ever need to use this backup, insert the DVDs into your computer and copy the folders to the desktop. Put all the Year folders back into the iPhoto Library folder. Then put the iPhoto Library folder back into the Pictures folder.
You can also check out applications for disc spanning:
Disc-spanning software
DropDMG
Toast
Dragon Burn 4
BackityMac
Retrospect Express-comes with some external drives
Retrospect for Macintosh Desktop Edition
2. Copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library to an external drive formated for a Mac. Do not use this as your only back up as the external can also go bad.
3. Copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library to your iPod in disk mode
4.Creating your own CDs and DVDs for viewing in iPhoto
This method is a great way to back up Albums of older photos or even your entire library if it is small enough to fit on a DVD. This method will give you a library that will mount within iPhoto in the source column to be viewed. To import any images from this library they need to be dragged into your library in the source column.
If you just want to backup the images in your library:
1) Within iPhoto select the images, albums or rolls you want to backup. Go to Share>Export and export them to a newly created folder on the desktop. Follow the directions in the next link.
Creating a CD or DVD to be viewed in Windows or by a photo processing company
1.. If you backed up the entire iPhoto Library by burning within iPhoto or burning the folder in the Finder, make sure the burned copy is a good working copy before you delete the iPhoto Library folder in the Finder. You delete the iPhoto Library in the finder by dragging it to the trash when iPhoto is closed. When you next launch iPhoto it will create a new empty library for you to start anew.
2. If you burned just the images, be aware that that is all you are archiving. No metadata will travel with the images such as comments, keywords, etc.
You can then delete those images within iPhoto by highlighting them and hitting the delete key, then empty iPhoto's trash. Do this often and in groups so iPhoto will not choke on too many images.

After moving my iTunes and iPhoto libraries to an external hard drive and deleting the originals i found i still had no space on my mac.help

i moved my itunes and iphoto libraries to an external hard drive to free up space on my mac.
after i had moved them and checked they could be found i trashed the originals and checked again that the could be found on the external hdd.
all seemed to be ok.
when i checked the disc utility it did not show i has made any more free space than i had before.
any help please as i am loving tje mac but i am still quite new to it.

Did you empty Trash?

Merging iPhoto libraries on mac with 2 users

Hi, I have iphoto manager but can't figure out how to merge iphoto libraries
I have my daughters macbook as she passed away in May
I used time capsule to move the contents of my macbook to hers but it made as new user
I want all the photos in one library on my user account but I can't choose her iphoto library as
it says I don't have permission
Weird how everything is on one computer but having 2 users seems like you can only access your own stuff
I just want to have all photos on my iphoto
Any help?

This worked thank u so much
Another quick question, iTunes doesn't seem to be aware that id like to use this computer as my new home base
I think I already had it authorized as we shared songs.
I had checked that I wanted certain faces from iPhoto but it included quite a few I didn't have checked
I'm not sure how to tell it this is my "new computer"

I just backed up my photos by copying my iPhoto Library onto an external drive. Now the Library on my MacBook won't open. I can only open the photos if the external is plugged in. How can I resolve this issue?

I just backed up my photos by copying my iPhoto Library onto an external drive. Now the Library on my MacBook won't open. I can only open the photos if the external is plugged in. How can I resolve this issue?

Exactly what did you do?
The correct steps are
Moving the iPhoto library is safe and simple - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity to the external drive - depress the option key and launch iPhoto using the "select library" option to point to the new location on the external drive - fully test it and then trash the old library on the internal drive (test one more time prior to emptying the trash)
And be sure that the External drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) (iPhoto does not work with drives with other formats) and that it is always available prior to launching iPhoto
And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive
My guess is that that you have not switched iphoto to use the external drive yet - opttion launch and select libary
LN

My Macbook Pro 2014 ran out of battery while mid-slideshow. Now the slideshow won't skip through photos and I can't figure out why? Macbook Pro 2014 13-inch Intel i5 8GB RAM 128GB flash, iPhoto library is on external HDD

Macbook Pro 2014
13-inch
Intel i5
8GB RAM
128GB flash SSD,
Integrated Graphics
iPhoto library is on external HDD
I was in a slideshow, with around 1,911 photos in it. About halfway through, my Macbook ran out of battery. Now when I restarted and charged the Macbook and reopened iPhoto, the slideshow won't advance through photos, and I can't figure out any reason why it would do this.
I thought it may be corrupted, so I deleted and reinstalled iPhoto library, iPhoto itself, and disconnected and reconnected my external HDD.
This didn't work, the photos still won't advance.
I don't know any reason why this would be happening, and there is ample space on my internal drive.
I'm happy to provide more information if needed!
Many Thanks,
James

Make a few tests, James, to narrow down the problem and find out, if the slideshow is corrupted, your iPhoto Library, or settings in your account.
To test, if only your slideshow has a problem, create a new slideshow, just for testing. Just use "File > New Slideshow" and add a few photos. Does this slideshow play correctly?
If the test slideshow does not play either, create a new iPhoto Library. Use the File menu in iPhoto: File > Switch to library > Create New. Import a few photos and create a slideshow. Does it play?
If even a new library does not solve the problem, test in a different user account (see this document: Isolating an issue by using another user account - Apple Support):
This process involves creating a new user account, logging in to it, and testing for the issue.
Create a new standard or admin user account in Users & Groups preferences.
Use these instructions for OS X Mavericks.
See these instructions for OS X Mountain Lion.
See this video, or these instructions for OS X Lion.
Optional: If you have any specific files you wish to test with, copy (don't move) those items to the /Users/Shared folder in the Finder.
Log out of your current user account by choosing Log Out from the Apple () menu.
Log in with the new account you created.
Attempt to reproduce the issue you were seeing in your regular user account.
After you have completed testing, log out of the test account by choosing Log Out from the Apple () menu.
Log in as your regular account.
After you have completed all testing with the test user account, you may want to delete it. You can delete an account in the Users & Groups pane of System Preferences.
Note: Prior to deleting a test account, make sure you are completely done with it. If you have files in the Guest User you wish to keep, you should copy them to the /Users/Shared folder .
If you should find, that slideshows only play in a new user account, post back.

How do I get my music folder onto my external HDD?

Ok, I just got a laptop for school and am trying to put all my music onto my external HDD. I went into preferances and changed the music folder to the external HDD but everytime I try to play songs in my library I have to go through and find it. Anyone know what to do? Thanks

See if this helps: Moving your iTunes Music Folder

Merge iphoto libraries onto an external HDD

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