Move Aperture libraries

My libraries are starting to clog the HD on my iMac. I have purchased a couple of 2TB drives to house libraries, video and stuff and also perform backups. Is there is simple process to move libraries off the internal drive to the FW drive ?? Thanks in advance

How can I tell if the libraries are referenced?
It will depend on the way you imported your photos. Have you selected "Store Files > In the Aperture library" in the Import settings in the Import panel? Then the library will be managed. If you selected a folder outside the library or relocated original files, the library will be referenced.
Make a test, if you are unsure and create a smart album with an wadded rule: "File status referenced". Referenced images will show an arrow badge, if you enable badge overlays.
If this smart album is not empty, select all images in the album and use the command "File > consolidate" to move all referenced originals into your Aperture library, before you move it to the external drive.

Similar Messages

Moving Aperture libraries while keeping iMovie project video links intact.

I am in the process of moving my Aperture libraries off my internal drive to an external drive. The problem I found is that by do so, my iMovie projects that were using video clips from the Aperture libraries now have broken source links. I have all my video clips managd by Aperture, not referenced.
The way I moved the libraries was simply drap the library files to the new desitination. I can see the original clips in iMovie's event library after the move and thumbnails are generated; but my project links are not updated.
My question is that is there a proper way doing this correctly so my iMovie project links are still intact after the move? Thank you in advance for your helps.

I have exactly the same question as the OP. I've been into digital photography for a while, and have been using Aperture for a short time, but have JUST started to shoot some video for fun. Video goes into my Aperture library, but I'm just using iMovie to mess around with the video. I export short clips to YouTube for the family to view. Eventually, I'll put these projects on DVDs and I know I'll have to delete them from the Aperture library for space reasons.
How are people handling this? Should I just move the video directly to an external hard drive, for example?
Thanks.

Will referenced Aperture libraries sync to disk?

I am used to using Lightroom but am considering a switch to Aperture just so I can take advantage of the tighter integration that it provides with other Apple applications and devices. In Lightroom I am used to have a separate library file which then references the files on my disk (wherever I want to have them). I know that this type of management is possible in Aperture (and even iPhoto) by using "referenced" libraries instead of "managed" libraries. However, I'm not sure how you can get Aperture to actually sync with the disk? Is this something that Aperture can't do?
By sync with the disk what I mean is that if I am in my referenced library in Aperture, and decide that I want to move some photos from on folder to another, will it actually move them on the disk as well, or do they stay in the same place on the disk?
For instance, let's say that when I first import my directory structure into Aperture as a referenced library I have two folders that are each under a separate year folder:
<2010 Photos>
<Big Wedding>
<2011 Photos>
<Birthday Party>
While looking at my photos in Aperture I discover that some of the photos in the Birthday Party folder are really from the Big Wedding, so I move them to the Big Wedding "Project" that Aperture has created based on the folder structure during import. Do those photos now move to the actual Big Wedding directory on the disk, or do I end up in a situation where in Aperture everything looks like it's in the right place, but if I just copy the Wedding folder to a USB drive it will be missing some of the photos that are still hanging out in the Birthday Party directory?
This is my main hangup between Lightroom and Aperture right now. I want to use Aperture for the features, but I really like how Lightroom lets me keep my directory structure how I want it, but then also moves files within the structure from within Lightroom.
Also, as a sidenote, any idea why referenced libraries are so large? I just tested out iPhoto using referenced libraries and the library grew to be over 10GB while the exact same set of photos only created a 1GB library file in Lightroom.
Any ideas on this? Thanks!

Sorry about the delayed response -- I didn't see your posts.
Phierce wrote:
I guess my first thoughts when dealing with this type of system always go to a giant drawer full of random negatives with no organization other than a list that might get lost at some point. I've always felt better about image management if I can always ditch the actual program and still have some sense of order just by the file structure (like if Apple drops support for Aperture in the future or something and I have to move to a different system). I guess there is always a way to export everything out of Aperture somehow? Maybe by setting an export structure such as Year/Project or some sort?
The difference between a drawer full of negatives and a HD full of image files is that the image files contain information (metadata) that is either already indexed or easily indexed. It would take a year to index and properly file 100,000 slides stored in a heavy-weight garbage bag; a computer will index 100,000 image files in a minute.
Computers allow us to walk away from any static, arbitrary organization system. Because each record (file, image, etc.) includes metadata, and the metadata is readable by many programs, all you need is a bag. Any grouping and/or sorting that can be done, can be done on-the-fly.
As I mentioned, the actual filing of your data on your hard drives already exemplifies this. Your files are chopped into pieces and strewn every which way -- it doesn't matter. You have instant access to any file, assembled whole in memory on-the-fly from the bits all over your drive.
Of course, there is metadata specific to programs such as Aperture, and this metadata is often not going to be usable outside of the program that creates it. Using your example -- what about Projects groupings? -- I suggest coding the name of every shoot (which for me are Projects) in the file name. I do this on Import using a file naming convention stored as a File Name Preset.
Phierce wrote:
Once you have the managed library file created can you move it anywhere? In that all the references are relative rather than absolute? Like if I decide that the library file is getting too big for my MBP I can just move it to an external disk and it will work the same way when Aperture opens it? Right now in Lightroom I have two libraries, so I guess I could do the same with Aperture and keep multiple managed library "packages" across different external disks? I just wouldn't be able to view the library previews without the disk connected, correct?
You can move your Library to any locally-mounted drive. I am, for reasons not worth going into, running several Libraries right now off of USB2 drives. On a fast machine, this works well (Aperture is, afaict, beautifully engineered to make the most of current hardware).
References to Referenced Masters are absolute. You can move your Library, and the Library will find the Masters as long as they are available. You must not more your Masters except via Aperture commands to relocate or consolidate them.
The more comprehensive your Library, the more useful it is (why search multiple Libraries for all pictures of Theo? or all photos recorded with an equivalent focal distance of 16 or less?).
As of the most recent versions of iPhoto and Aperture, the file format of the Library is identical. There are no longer "iPhoto Libraries" and "Aperture Libraries". There is one Library file format, and that Library file can be opened in either iPhoto or Aperture. There are hardware limitations that must be met to run the upgraded programs, however.
HTH. Post back with more if you'd like.

Consolidating Multiple Aperture Libraries

Hi there
I'm having one those "how did I let his happen" moments as I now have three (yep, 3) different Aperture library files on 3 different hard drives. Is there any easy(ier) way to consolidate them then doing a direct export out from 2 libraries and then importing those 2 into one to keep as a master library? I really need to to preserve folder infrastructure, and individually exporting albums and projects would be a huge pain.
thanks so much,
bret

Not an Apple sanctioned way, but the way I would do it.
Make sure you have all drives backed up.
Quit Aperture.
"Control Click" on the three Aperture Libraries and "Show Package Contents".
Drag the projects from the other 2 Libraries onto the 1 you want to keep.
Start Aperture on the 1 Keeper Library.
When Aperture starts it will ask you to rebuild, say yes.
Go grab a cup of coffee while Aperture works.....
One final thing. If you have albums etc. that you want to keep, move all of the projects, albums, etc. into a single folder within Aperture before moving them in the finder, and then in the finder move the folder containing everything over to the united Library.

How do I consolidate multiple iPhoto libraries on multiple machines into a single Aperture libraries?

Hullo all,
I run a smallish studio at a University, and I have inherited multiple Macs (2 Powerbooks, 2 Mac Pros) running multiple OS (2 on Mavericks, 2 on 10.7) and multiple versions of iPhoto. These have been used for photo and video work over the years, and each has its own stash of content, project files, etc. In an effort to organize, I wish to consolidate all the various iPhoto and Aperture libraries into a single library. I have a 16TB Pegasis RAID available via Thunderbolt to hold the material. Can anyone tell me the best way to go about this? My background is 20 years production work in film and video and I am rather new to still photo work and as such, do not know much about maintaining archives etc.
If I read correctly from other questions, I need to update all versions of iPhoto to be the same, establish the library on the Pegasus, then export all the files to that library? Is this correct? I am not sure I can update all computers to the current version (one is a late 2009 MacPro) Is there any easier way to do it? I am happy to purchase software if that makes the process easier.
Cheers! Thanks for any info!

iPhoto does not support to merge libraries into one.
The utility iPhoto Library Manager can merge libraries -
download here: iPhoto Library Manager
If you have access to Aperture, you can also use it to merge your libraries (see: Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries), but if you need to buy a tool, iPhoto Library Manager would be the more economic solution, and it is a must-have with iPhoto anyway.

How do I sync my iPad with multiple Aperture libraries?

I have an Ipad2 and use Aperture 3 with multiple libraries. iTunes only allows me to sync with the 'current' library (the one most recently opened in Aperture) which is a pain, as I sometime lose all my photos off the iPad if I've been using a different library. Is there a way around this?
Thanks!
Jan-Peter

There is a work around but it requires more manual effort from you.
Instead of syncing your iPad to Aperture or iPhoto, choose to sync it from a folder.
First create a new folder somewhere on your HD and then export versions from your various Aperture libraries to your folder. You'll need to manually manage this folder. For example, if you want something deleted from your iPad, you'd need to delete it from this folder. Adding new items to your Aperture library won't automatically update to your iPad until you export them to this folder and sync your iPad.

I have three aperture libraries. But just recently two of them (old from 2011) will not open. I get the following error: There was an error opening the database for the library "~/Pictures/Family IIi.aplibrary". Please help, thanks

I have three aperture libraries. But just recently two of them (old from 2011) will not open. I get the following error: There was an error opening the database for the library “~/Pictures/Family IIi.aplibrary”. Please help, thanks

Are all three libraries under your account or are they in different accounts? Any other errros on the system?
Start by doing the permission repair and library repair steps in Aperture 3: Troubleshooting Basics

I have two Aperture Libraries and would like to sync specific folders from both of them to my iPad.

I have two Aperture libraries stored on an external hard drive. Using iTunes on my Mac Book Pro can I sync selected projects from both Libraries to the same iPad?

No you cannot. Each device can only be synced with one photo library - Aperture or iPhoto.
You could however merge the two libraries, if you need to sync with photos from both libraries.

Can i combine aperture libraries?

i have aperture running on three different machines and i wondered if there is a way to "combine" the three aperture libraries into a new library. how do folks use aperture with a desktop and a laptop for syncing work from the feild?
thanks,
glenn
MacPro Mac OS X (10.4.7)

i have aperture running on three different machines
and i wondered if there is a way to "combine" the
three aperture libraries into a new library. how do
folks use aperture with a desktop and a laptop for
syncing work from the feild?
Well the unit of export is a project - most people moving between laptop and desktop migrate projects between the two.
You can combine libraries. the easiest way I would say would be to go into finder and right-click on each Aperture library to say "Show Package Contents". Then copy projects out of two of the libraries into the third. Copy only folders and .approject files, but do NOT copy the folders Aperture.aplib and "Built-in Smart Albums".
Then when you restart Aperture is will see the projects copying into the main one, and import them all. Of course I think it goes without saying that you'll want to back up that library before you start copying other things inside of it... this process should be faster than exporting and importing projects though, and is OK for the larger task of combining this library. Also I would say that either all librarys should have been converted by 1.5 or none of them, don't do it if the libraries are a mix of versions.

I have several iPhoto and aperture libraries... i want to get to one iPhoto library keeping only the latest photos. How can I do this?

Okay... I made the mistake of creating duplicate Aperture libraries because I decided I wanted to only use Aperture - then the news that Aperture is no longer going to be developed. I then confused myself and created duplicate iPhoto libraries (I can't even remember why anymore). At one point or another I have edited pictures in all of them and have no idea which pictures were edited. I just want to have one iPhoto library with the most recently edited photos and remove all the duplicates.
What is the best way to do this?
And... after doing all that, I need to keep backups of my photos on an external drive. What is the best way to do this?
iPhoto version 9.5.1
Thank you so much for any advice you can provide!

You can merge libraries into one with Aperture 3.3. or later.
Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries
In merge-mode it will only keep the photos from one of the libraries.
And you can use Aperture to export partial libraries containing only the selected albums, projects, etc.
If you need to keep projects (books, calendars, cards) when merging your libraries, use Aperture and not iPLM:

Managing Multiple Aperture Libraries

I use multiple Aperture libraries with Aperture 3.
When I start-up Aperture, I get a list of libraries that I've used in the past. However, some of the libraries are now deleted but still show up on that list. Is there any way to edit the list of libraries that appear on start-up?

Don't see any 'legitimate' way of doing it however.....
In the com.apple.Aperture.plist file this field is stored under RecentReferencedFolders which is just an array of file path names. The index into the array (the current displayed file path) *which is 0 based* is RecentReferencedFolderIndex . You could delete the entries you don't want and readjust the index to make sure it doesn't point past the end of the array.
The best thing to do, if one was foolish enough to try this, would be to leave at least one entry in the list and set the index to 0. Of course before doing this it would be a good idea to make a backup of the plist file.
Of course this is all theoretical, no one should ever edit the plist it just poor programming practice to have a list like this one and not provide a way to clear it. A feedback to Apple on this seems like a good idea.
Just to be sure we're all talking about the same list it's this one:
!http://dl.dropbox.com/u/13002668/Screen%20shot%202010-12-24%20at%2010.54.23%20. png!
The list under the *Store Files* pulldown.
Message was edited by: Frank Caggiano

What's the best way to merge, restore or reconstruct iPhoto and Aperture libraries to resolve images that are not found/offline?

Hey there, Apple Support Communities.
To start, I'm working on a MBP Retina 15" with a 2.3GHz i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM. 10GB free on a 256GB SS HD. Attached are two external HDs - one 1TB Western Digital portable drive from 2011, one 2TB Porsche LaCie non-portable drive from 2013; both connected via USB. All photo libraries in question are on the external drives.
I have Aperture 3.5.1 and iPhoto 9.5.1. I prefer to work in Aperture.
The Issue(s)
Over the years, I have accumulated a number of iPhoto libraries and Aperture libraries. At one point, I thought my WD drive was dying so I purchased the LaCie and copied all libraries over the the LaCie drive. (Turns out, there's probably an issue with my USB port reading drives, because I can once again see the WD drive and occasionally I can't see the LaCie drive.)
So now I have old version of some libraries on the WD drive, and new versions on the LaCie drive.
When I was moving things, I ran the software Gemini to de-dupe my iPhoto libraries. Not sure what effect that may have had on my issues.
In my main Aperture library and in some iPhoto libraries, I get the image-not-found badge or exclamation point. I've dug through the hidden Masters folders in various libraries to find the original image. In some cases, I have been able to find the original image, sometimes in a different version of the iPhoto library.
My Question(s)
1. For Aperture libraries that have missing originals, is there some magical way to find them, or have they just disappeared into the oblivion?
2. For iPhoto libraries that have missing originals and I have found the original in another iPhoto library, what is the best way to proceed?
3. Are there quirks to merging iPhoto and Aperture libraries (by using the Import->Library) feature that I should be aware of?
TL;DR: Too many iPhoto and Aperture libraries, and not all the original pictures can be found by the libraries anymore, though some originals still do exist in other libraries. Steps/process to fix?
Thank you! Let me know if you need add'l info to offer advice.
With appreciation,
Christie

That will not be an easy task, Christie.
I am afraid, your cleaning session with Gemini may have actually removed originals. I have never used this duplicate finder tool, but other posters here reported problems. Gemini seems to replace duplicate original files in photo libraries by links, and this way, deleting images can cause the references for other images to break. And Aperture does not follow symbolic links - at least, I could never get it to find original files this way, when I experimented with this.
1. For Aperture libraries that have missing originals, is there some magical way to find them, or have they just disappeared into the oblivion?
You have to find the originals yourself. If you can find them or restore them from a backup, Aperture can reconnect them. The reconnect panel can show you, where the originals are supposed to be, so youcan see the filename and make a Spotlight search.
For iPhoto libraries that have missing originals and I have found the original in another iPhoto library, what is the best way to proceed?
Make a copy of the missing original you found in a folder outside the iPhoto library. You can either open the iPhoto library in Aperture and use "File > Locate Referenced file" to reconnect the originals, or simply reimport them. Then Lift&Stamp all adjustments and metadata to the reimported version.
See this manual page on how to reconnect originals: Aperture 3 User Manual: Working with Referenced Images (the paragraph: Reconnecting Missing or Offline Referenced Images)
Are there quirks to merging iPhoto and Aperture libraries (by using the Import->Library) feature that I should be aware of?
References images will stay referenced, managed will remain managed. You need to unhide all hidden photos in iPhoto - this cannot be done in Aperture.
and not all the original pictures can be found by the libraries anymore, though some originals still do exist in other libraries. Steps/process to fix?
That is probably due to Gemini's replacing duplicate originals by links, and your best cause of action is to fix this before merging the libraries. Reconnecting can be done for your iPhoto libraries in Aperture.

Add both iPhoto and Aperture libraries

Can I upload both my iPhoto and Aperture libraries to Photos (after the initial install). I found out after installation that I could have used the option key to import multiple libraries. But after initial install, I cannot seem to add a library, just individual photos.

Photos cannot merge libraries. It just can switch between libraries, when you hold down the options key while launching Photos.
You could use Aperture to merge your iPhoto Library into the Aperture Library (see Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries).
This would require compatible Aperture and iPhoto versions.
After merging both libraries with Aperture launch Photos with the alt/options key held down and select the merged library. Photos will create an upgraded copy of the library. Now you can delete the previous Photos library and enable the new library as Photos System Library in the Photos Preferences > General.
Are you using iCloud Photo Library with Photos? With enough storage you could try to merge the libraries in iCloud, but uploading from several libraries will not preserve the faces.

IPhoto and Aperture libraries coexisting?

Hi,
with the latest versions of Aperture and iPhoto, it is my understanding, that only one database exists and will be uses by both applications. Now, I still do have iPhoto AND Aperture libraries in parallel on my HD, but only one is updated, the other one shows an old date. Can I delete the elder version (it's an iPhoto library), and stay with the actual version of the library (it's actually the Aperture library)?
Thanks....

Can I delete the elder version (it's an iPhoto library), and stay with the actual version of the library (it's actually the Aperture library)?
Yes. Verify that the library you want to keep has all of your photos, including the latest ones, before deleting the other library.

Find, mix and have several aperture libraries opened?

I had a harddisk break, so I am now with a new disk, same machine, but with backup files stored from Apple on my disk.
Problem, where to find my old aperture library. I did start at new when I had my new machine this year. January I think. And then I have an old library file too, from the older machine from 2008, that one I got. Afraid to do something wrong here, what to do?
Is it possible to mix two libraries in aperture? Its so sad if I have lost all the work with building the libraries from this last year. Think I will call in and ask where to find. Because its only showing the one library I had at first. Not the second. At least I can not find it on the backup search.
Thankfully I had backuped the photoes on an external harddisk. Put it up that way when I transfer the images to aperture.
Hope for some good ideas here.. thanks. And how should we backup aperture really? Hope the developers give us a good solution in next version:)
Tove

I had a harddisk break, so I am now with a new disk, same machine, but with backup files stored from Apple on my disk.
Tove, was your backup a full time machine backup? Or did you have parts of your system excluded from backup?
Problem, where to find my old aperture library. I did start at new when I had my new machine this year. January I think.
What is your Aperture version? The answer to your questions will depend on your system version and Aperture version.
Have you searched using the Finder? Open any Finder window and type ⌘F.
Then press the "+" button to add a search rule. Set it to "Kind" "Other" and enter "Aperture Library".
That should list all Aperture Libraries on your system, if you set the scope of the search to "This Mac".
This screenshot is done in Snow Leopard, it would look a bit different in Lion or Mt. Lion:
Do you remember, in which folder you stored your Aperture library? By default the libraries are located in your Pictures folder. Or did you have it on an external drive?
Is it possible to mix two libraries in aperture? Its so sad if I have lost all the work with building the libraries from this last year. Think I will call in and ask where to find. Because its only showing the one library I had at first. Not the second. At least I can not find it on the backup search.
You can merge two Aperture libraries by importing one into the other.
And how should we backup aperture really? Hope the developers give us a good solution in next version:)
Aperture Vaults will backup the library and create archival backups. Time Machine is very good now for backing up the current version, as long as you do not exclude the Aperture Library from the backup locations. A clone of the drive with the aperture library is a good backup. The important thing is to check the backups, if they are current and working, before something happens and to have more than one backup. I had it happen, that a power failure crashed my mac while I was doing the backup, and both - mac and backup drive were unusable afterwards.
Regards
Léonie

Move Aperture libraries

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