Moved jpeg files to other folder, now iPhoto can't find them

I dragged/dropped some original jpeg files into a new folder to aggregate certain files together, but since they are now in a different folder iPhoto 9 can't find them. The thumbnails in iPhoto still remain, but results in the large black/grey "!" when I try to open them. I'd rather not rebuild the enormity of my entire photo library over this, so is there some other way to re-link thumbnails to files?
iTunes makes this easy with music. When I click on a file name and it can't find the file, it offers to allow me to locate the file myself, and then it re-establishes the link between the iTunes library item and the file. No problem.
How does one go about doing this in iPhoto for, say, a couple of dozen files without having to start over with an ENTIRE rebuild? I know exactly where the files are, and it seems ridiculous that iPhoto isn't equipped to track the whereabouts of an unchanged file that's simply been dragged from one folder to another.

Did you do the moving of the image file in the Finder or do you have a reference library as asked by Larry? In either case moving the files is a recipe for disaster as you've found out. You must either move the files back to their original locations or try to get those photos back into iPhoto as follows:
1 - Find the folder you moved the files into and COPY it to the Desktop.
2 - in iPhoto delete the photos that you're having the problems with as you normally would even though you can't see see them. Also delete all the photos that are in the folder you moved the other files into.
3 - drag the folder on the Desktop into iPhoto to import them as one event. If you get a duplicate warning I'd let it import the duplicate and use Duplicate Annihilator to find them so you can cull out the duplicate you don't want.
Other than that you might have to start over from scratch as follows:
Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.
1 - Move the existing library folder to the desktop
2 - Open the library package like this.
3 - Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
4 - Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open iPhoto window.
OT

Similar Messages

  • I tried to create new library, now iPhoto can't find them

    i had so many photos in my iphoto library and it was taking forever to load up, so i wanted to create multiple libraries.
    i first tried the following protocol from the help but couldn't find the 'Create Library' command in the toolbar.
    1.Quit iPhoto.
    2.Rename your current iPhoto Library folder in the Finder or move it to a new location on your hard disk.
    3.Open iPhoto.
    4.Click Create Library.
    5.Type a name and choose a location for your new photo library.
    6.Click Save.
    then i manually tried to rename my original iPhoto Library file in the Pictures folder, and create a new folder where i dropped all the photos from 2006 and 2007 so i could just boot from my recent photos. i've learned since that tinkering with files manually in the iPhoto Library is a no-no, but how do i go back? i moved all of the folders with year names 2002-2007 back under the folder iPhoto Library, but i now have two folders. one called iPhoto Library and the other iPhoto Library 2. they are both within the Pictures folder and they each have copies dir.data, iphoto.db, iphoto.ipspot, iphotolock.data, etc.
    Help! please!
    thanks
    iBook G4   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

    If iPhoto does not recognize either library, then the data files may be messed up. I would create a new library and import the photos from the old library. This will get you back in the running.
    Close iPhoto
    Rename your messed up iPhoto Library to "iPhoto Library_old"
    Drag this library to your desktop
    Hold down the Option key and launch iPhoto
    This is the window you will get
    Create a new library or choose a library to open
    Choose to create a new library
    Once this new empty library is open it is time to import the images from your old library
    Go to File>add to library
    Navigate to the old library on your desktop and highlight it in the window, then click the "import" button.
    iPhoto will start importing the images from your old library
    This is what to expect:
    Your images will be imported in nice dated rolls. (make sure your view is set to sort by rolls to see it) There are a couple of caveats to this. You will get rolls named "Originals" These rolls will contain your video clips and your original images that you had edited. If you had RAW files they would be in those rolls too (I don't do RAW, so I don't know for sure) Delete what you don't want from those rolls. You will also get the jpeg pointer files to your video clips imported. They will just be jpegs and will not point to the video clips anymore as iPhoto made new ones when the clips were imported again. You can delete those. they should be in a roll right next to the newly imported video clips so they are not hard to find. The thumbnail files don't get imported as iPhoto makes new ones when the images are imported.
    Once all you images have been imported, check through the library and make sure everything looks ok.
    You can now start making your Albums, and do your keywords or any other organizational steps.
    You can also delete the old library on the desktop.
    It is also a good time to backup this new library to CD/DVD by burning the iPhoto LIbrary folder in the Finder, or copying the iPhoto Library folder to an external drive formatted for Macs, or copying the iPhoto LIbrary folder to an iPod.
    Good luck!

  • Hi!  I imported my photos  from  iPhoto to the library and now  I can not find  them, what I can do to to get  them back?

    I imported my photos  from  iPhoto to the library and now  I can not find  them, what I can do to to get  them back?

    HOw about providing some details so we don't have to just make wild, off the wall guesses
    What versionn of iPhoto? Of the OS? what exactly did you do and how exactly did you import? what happens? are they in the Last Import list? What is the source fo the photos? What else can you tell us?
    LN

  • IPhoto can't find photo even though the thumbnail is present. Any help, there are dozens of photos in my library that won't open as iPhoto can't find them.

    iPhoto can't find photo even though the thumbnail is present. Any help, there are dozens of photos in my library that won't open as iPhoto can't find them. This is probably a very common question!

    With the amount of information you've provided it's impossible to offer a potential solution.  We need to know the details of your problem and situation, i.e.:
    what version of iPhoto are you using?
    what system version are you running?
    what do you see when you launch iPhoto to open your library?
    what fixes have you tried before coming here?
    where is you library located?
    how long has this been occuring?
    did you apple any updates or upgrades just prior?
    are you running a "managed" or "referenced" library?
    what type of Mac?
    how much free space on your boot drive?
    What do you see when you click on a thumbnail?
    OT

  • I deleted some videos on my ipad before synching with my library, and now I can't find them.  How can i get them back?

    I deleted some videos on my ipad before synching with my library, and now I can't find them.  How can i get them back?

    Do you live in the United States? If you do then you can download them again for free - as long as the movies are available for free downloads. Apple has not forged agreements with every movie studio yet so you just have to check.
    Launch iTunes, and tap on the purchased tab. In the upper left corner you will see a "View" button. Tap that in order to toggle among music, TV Shows and Movies. Select Movies and then see if the movies appear. If they do, tap the Movie icon and then tap the cloud icon next to the icon in order to begin the download.
    You have to use the same Apple ID that you used to purchase them.
    If you do not live in the U.S. then you will have to purchase them again.

  • HT3209 I downloaded movies in hd..they downloaded and now I can't find them. Where they go.

    Now I can't find them, keeps telling me I need to change my plan. I can't even see one movie.

    Downloaded movies can be found in the Videos App on the iPad. No clue what the message about changing your plan might be.

  • I migrated my photos and documents from my PC to my mac mini and now I can't find them where did they go?

    I migrated my photos and documents from my PC to my mac mini and now I can't find them.  Where did they go?

    How did you migrate them?

  • I purchased ringtones now I can not find them.

    I purchased 2 ringtones yesterday. My iphone updated last night and now I can not find them anywhere. How can I find them and get them back on my phone?

    You may have lost them when the phone was updated unless you backed up first as you always should.  Ringtones cannot be downloaded a second time for free.

  • HT1535 I was syncing my notes and they disappeared from ipad and now I can't find them on my pc.

    I was syncing my notes and they disappeared from IPAD and now I can't find them.  Where or how can I retrieve them?

    Try Music App>Others

  • HT1918 Put in my iTunes card. Bought 3 songs now I can't find them on my iPad.  Only find my old purchased song no new ones?

    Put in my iTunes card. Bought 3 songs now I can't find them on my iPad. They are not with all my old songs I bought?

    Hello Mchvaughan,
    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
    For more information on this, take a look at:
    iTunes Store: Hiding and unhiding purchases
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4919
    To unhide your purchases
    Open iTunes on your Mac or PC.
    If you're not already signed in, choose Store > Sign in.
    Choose Store > View My Account. (You may be asked to enter your password again).
    On your Account Information summary, scroll down to the "iTunes in the Cloud" section and click Manage.
    Choose a content type by clicking Music, TV shows, Apps, or Books from the top.
    Click the Unhide button next to the item you would like to restore.
    If they are not hidden they may have been purchased on a different apple id.
    Best of luck,
    Mario

  • I have several audio books now I can't find them on iTunes.

    I have audiobooks and now I can't find them on iTunes. They don't show up on purchased. Help

    They should be in your library and also should be included in your regular backup of your computer.

  • I updated my mac to yosemite.My finder have an iCloud drive.I save some files in iCloud drive ,but i can't find them in finder.what should i do?

    I updated my mac to yosemite.My finder have an iCloud drive.I save some files in iCloud drive ,but i can't find them in finder.what should i do?

    YOu restore your phone from your icloud backup.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766

  • Moved iTunes Media folder, now iMovie can't find it

    I moved my iTunes media folder in order to share it between two users on the same iMac, following these instructions:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
    That worked fine, but now iMovie can't find the iTunes media library. I don't see a way to change this setting in iMovie, the way that you can in iTunes. There must be a simple solution to point iMovie to the new location, but if so I am missing it. Can anyone advise?
    OSX 10.6.8, iMovie 09, iTunes 11.1

    anyone?

  • Downloaded file from internet and now I can't find it

    So my dumb ***  downloaded a file from the internet today from an untrusted source and now I can't find it anywhere except for when I click on the downloads button on the safari web browser (i.e. )
    I clicked on the file it shows that I downloaded and this pops up
    "Safari can’t show the file “4-More-PeopleAreUsingCellPhonestoListentoOnlineRadioinTheirCars.xlsx” in the Finder because “4-More-PeopleAreUsingCellPhonestoListentoOnlineRadioinTheirCars.xlsx” has moved since you downloaded it."
    I looked for it in the finder window under the "downloads" folder, looked under "All my files" sorted it by the date added, clicked on the magnifying glass next to the only place I can see it and the file still didnt show up in finder.
    help, anyone?
    I'm running mountain lion on a mac book pro and am but a mere seed in the red wood forest of all the trees supporting this site.
    Random fact of the day: I come to this site often and it has proven itself more than useful but have never posted up a discussion board before so this is my first, hope the screenshots help.
    <Edited By Host>

    Eustace Mendis wrote:
    OK. I downloaded the file. It ended up on the desktop - as it is supposed to since that is my instruction to Safari - and I opened the file with Excel.
    It consists of this priceles gem of information. That's it, nothing else.
    More People Are Using Cellphones to Listen to Online Radio in Their Cars
    Percentage of Cellphone Owners Who Have Listened to Online Audio in a Car by Listening to the Stream from a Cellphone Connected to a Car Stereo
    2010
    6
    2011
    11
    Source: Arbitron, "The Infinite Dial 2011," April 5, 2011.
    Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism
    2012 State of the News Media
    I have no idea why it disappeared from your Mac. But I trust this reassures you there does not seem to be anything malicious about the file.
    You might want to search on your Mac using some of the key words in the file.
         Not that I am denying the results but out of curiousity how did you manage to download and locate the file when I didn't provide you with the website from which I downloaded it from?
         The thing is, what I supposedly downloaded wasn't supposed to be an xlsx file nor any type of text file for that matter. I got it from a website called ryushare.com.
    I also tried to search for it with the use of the key words in the file you found and no luck. Any way to know for a fact it's not going to affect my computer? Also, any way I can look for the file and delete it through terminal?
    Thanks again Eustace

  • I've moved some images and i didn't do it in PSE and now PSE can't find them.  How do i correct this

    I've moved some images on my computer and didn't do it in PSE.  Now PSE can't find the images i moved.  How can i fix this?

    File>reconnect, and then help the organizer out by pointing it to where you moved them.

Maybe you are looking for