Moving iphoto's library

I need to move my iphoto libuary to an external hard drive inorder to free up some valuable memory on my powerbook.....but i still would like iphoto to manage my pictures on the external hardrive. Is there a way of doing this similar to the way it can be done in itunes?

James:
Quit iPhoto
Drag your Pictures folder to the external disk. It will be copied there. Then rename or compress or move your original Pictures folder in your home folder (This is to make it impossible for iPhoto to find the library)
Launch iPhoto. It will tell you that it cannot find the Library. It will ask you to point it to the Library location. Oblige it with the new location.
When you are certain that the iPhoto is working with the new location, you can delete the original library.
hth

Similar Messages

Moving iPhoto 04 library to iPhoto 09

My girlfriend has spent a lot of time writing descriptions in the comments field in her iPhoto 04 library on her G5 iMac. In advance of her buying a new mac we exported a few images to my iPhoto 09 to see how they looked: one big problem, no comments come into the description field. Will this be an issue when she transfers the whole iPhoto 04 library to a new computer and version of IPhoto?

No, because you won't be exporting them. Iphoto 4 had no ability to export metadata added in the application. That arrived with v6.
To update a library:
Copy it from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the same location on the New machine.
Then Launch iPhoto.
That's it.
Of course, you back up first.
Regards
TD

Moving iphoto 6 library to imac 5k

Please let me know how to move/import the iPhoto 6 photo library to imac 5K?
thanks,

First you DON'T ever import a library into another library. That's a big no-no.
Here's what you need to do:
1 - connect the two Macs together and copy the iPhoto 6 library folder to the Pictures folder of the new iMac.
2 - download to the new iMac the iPhoto Library Upgrader 1.1. It will be located in your Applications/Utilities folder.
3 - go to the Applications/Utilities folder, double click on the upgrade app and apply it to the library folder you copied over.
4 - launch iPhoto 9.6 and open the library.
If you don't have iPhoto 9.6 on the new iMac go to the App Store to download and install it.

Moving iphoto 5 library to iphoto 6

i recently purchased a macbook pro, and i want to move my iphoto 5 library from a g4 desktop onto my macbook pro, which has iphoto 6 installed on it.
i guess i'd make the actual transfer in target disk mode, but my concern is, would i mess up iphoto 6 by dragging an iphoto 5 library into it? do i just replace the iphoto 6 library in my home folder with the iphoto 5 library? will iphoto know to convert the library over? if i had the same version on both computers i wouldn't worry, but that's not the case.
can someone talk me through this process step by step?
thanks for all your help.
Ken

Ken:
Yes, you just need to replace your iPhoto Library folder on the Macbook Pro with the V5 iPhoto Library folder, completely. Then open iPhoto which will detect the V5 library and inform you that it needs to update it to the V6 format.
I would, however, download and run BatChmod on the V5 iPhoto Library folder before it gets converted to V6 with the settings shown here, substituting your account name for mine. You can either type in the path to the folder or just drag the folder into that field. This is to insure that after the copying process all of the files get assigned with the correct permissions and access. Sometime a file will get locked or set to no access and that produces problems. Just a precaution.
Do you Twango?

Moved iPhoto 11 library to external drive and have a iPhoto Library file left on desktop

Hello,
I have a blue file on my desktop labeled iPhoto Library, that appeared during the course of me moving my iPhoto Library ( iPhoto 11) to an external hard drive to make room on the internal disk, my attempts to reopen iPhoto on the internal disk, move selected photos from the iPhoto Library on the external drive over to the newly emptied iPhoto Library on my laptop.
The blue iPhoto Library file contains these items:
AlbumData.xml
AlbumData2.xml
iPhoto.ipspot
Questions: does this blue file belong somewhere or can I trash it?
This is what I did:
1. I opened Pictures, dragged the iPhoto Library from there to the external drive.
2. When I opened iPhoto on my MBP it said it needed a library to open with and the choices already in the box were:
iPhoto Library(default)
iPhoto Library
3. I chose "iPhoto Library" because I thought "(default)" meant restoring the original library.
4. iPhoto opened to the "get started with iPhoto" like a new install.
5.I moved (drag and drop ) some photos from the external drive back into the "empty" iPhoto Library. I tried to move a group of photos but I didn't know how to do it so ...
6. I took the iPhoto Library from the trash and put it back into the "empty" iPhoto Library.
7. I tried to delete all the photos except the ones I wanted to keep in the internal iPhoto Library. I couldn't do it so....
8. I closed iPhoto, went back into Pictures and trashed the internal iPhoto Library again.
9. Reopened iPhoto and it needed a library to open with and I think I clicked
iPhoto Library (default)
10. When I opened iPhoto this time, it was the "get started with iPhoto" but the original photo albums and labels listed but all empty.
That's what I remember so far.
Hope you can help.
Medusa59

It appears you created a new library. Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and select "Choose Library".
Navigate to the library on the external hard drive and select it. Once you're satisfied that it's the one you want you can delete that folder from your desktop.
OT

Moving iPhoto to external drive; have formatted external disk to Mac OS Extended (Journaled), moved the iPhoto library to external drive; when trying to change the library, the iPhoto file on new external is greyed out can't be selected.What went wrong?

Must have done something wrong..
1. formatted external disk to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) - required a partition, but that went fine. Entire new external disk was included in the partition formatted to Mac OS Extneded (journaled).
2. moved iPhoto library to new external disk
3. Holding Option key down, opened iPhoto
4. Choose library feature appeared, however when new library function option appeared and "choose library" selected, the iPhoto folder appearing in the new external drive was greyed out and not able to be selected. Therefore the default library remains the original iphoto library on the Mac.
I've moved the original iphoto library to the trash and then tried to start iPhoto. A message comes up that the iPhoto is in the trash and needs to be pulled out before iPhoto can start (clearly the new iphoto library on the external drive is not being seen.
Can anyone suggest where I went awry? Thanks!

Try trash the com.apple.iPhoto.plist file from the HD/Users/ Your Name / library / preferences folder.
(On 10.7 or later: Hold the option (or alt) key while clicking on the Go menu in Finder to access the User Library)
(Remember you'll need to reset your User options afterwards. These include minor settings like the window colour and so on. Note: If you've moved your library you'll need to point iPhoto at it again.)
What's the plist file?
For new users: Every application on your Mac has an accompanying plist file. It records certain User choices. For instance, in your favourite Word Processor it remembers your choice of Default Font, on your Web Browser is remembers things like your choice of Home Page. It even recalls what windows you had open last if your app allows you to pick up from where you left off last. The iPhoto plist file remembers things like the location of the Library, your choice of background colour, whether you are running a Referenced or Managed Library, what preferences you have for autosplitting events and so on. Trashing the plist file forces the app to generate a new one on the next launch, and this restores things to the Factory Defaults. Hence, if you've changed any of these things you'll need to reset them. If you haven't, then no bother. Trashing the plist file is Mac troubleshooting 101.
Then try select it again.

I just moved iPhoto (9.6) library to EHD from my MBP. I had been running time machine backups. With the library now on an EHD, will time machine run a seamless backup next time i connect (if i allow TM to see other drives)?

I have MBP 2012 running Yosemite and iPhoto 9.6. I run Time machine backups daily.
I just moved iPhoto library to EHD and removed the iPhoto library on MBP. I have enabled external drives to be accessed on TM. The next time i run a TM backup with the EHD connected, will TM run a seamless backup or will it not like the fact that a backup is now spread across two devices where it used to be on only one?

By default EHDs are excluded for TM backups - you have to go to the TM preferences ==> options and remove them from the excluded list
And you need two disks connected -one for your iPhoto library and one for the TM backup - TM will backup all hard drives that ar not excluded - you do not need multiple TM backup disks
LN

Moving iPhoto Library to External HD also used for Time Machine?

Hi,
I know the moving of iPhoto Libraries seems to be a pretty common topic, but I want to throw this out there because everyone situation seems to be a little different and have slightly different variables. Like many others, I want to get my iPhoto Library off of my local HD to save space.
In my case, I am wondering if there is any problem with moving an iPhoto 09' Library (28K+ images/149GB) to an External HD (2TB Western Digital) that is also currently set up to do Time Machine Backups or do I need to reformat that drive to be used as an external only and not for TM?
Lastly I want to confirm that when I transfer this Library, I simply need to drag the iPhoto Library from my PIctures folder over to this External HD and then hold the Option key when I launch iPhoto next and tell it to choose the iPhoto Library on my External so it will open that one from that point forward.
Thanks in advance for the information and confirmation on how to do this transfer. Take care and have a great evening.
Joe Sabella

In my case, I am wondering if there is any problem with moving an iPhoto 09' Library (28K+ images/149GB) to an External HD (2TB Western Digital) that is also currently set up to do Time Machine Backups or do I need to reformat that drive to be used as an external only and not for TM?
You need to partition the drive with one partition for TM and one for normal external drive use - you should not have your iPhoto library or other dynamic file on the same partition with TM - TM grows until it fills its partition and at some time this will push up against your iPhoto library and cause failure for iPhoto
Lastly I want to confirm that when I transfer this Library, I simply need to drag the iPhoto Library from my PIctures folder over to this External HD and then hold the Option key when I launch iPhoto next and tell it to choose the iPhoto Library on my External so it will open that one from that point forward.
That is correct - and be sure that the external drive is available anytime you launch iPhoto
LN

Moving an iPhoto 08 Library

A few weeks ago I had a harddrive crash, but I was able to salvage my data to another ibook. I used target disk mode and I save all of my info to another MacBook. Well I have a new hardrive and all is well. I move all my data back and I feel all is well. For some reason my iPhoto 08 Library will not copy over. Whenever I try it starts to copy over (I am using Target Disk Mode) I get the message "The operation cannot be completed because you do not have sufficient privileges for some items."
The data is not corrput, because if I hold option when I load iPhoto on my macbook, i can navigate to the other laptop and open the iPhoto Library.
Can anyone help?

Download and run BatChmod on the iPhoto Library folder before copying with the settings shown here, putting your administrator login name in the owner section and Staff in the group section. You can either type in the path to the folder or just drag the folder into that field.
Or you can try copying the library to the Shared folder on the MacBook. If that is successful run BatChmod on the library there before moving into your Pictures folder.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.≤br>
Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

IPhoto doesn't import after moving iPhoto library back to original (?) spot

Hello:
Because I needed space on my original drive, I moved iPhoto library to another drive and then moved it back. iPhoto works perfectly well - It automatically loads my photos. But - when I attempt to import from my Canon Digital Rebel, it won't do it, giving a message that these files (all 7 photos in the camera) may be corrupt.
However - the photos do import correctly on my wife's Mac.
I am thinking that I did not put the iPhoto library back in exactly the right spot.
Where should it go?
Oh - and Happy New Year!
Ian
933 MHz G4 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Hi Iann,
There is really no right spoet as you can place the iPhoto Library folder almost anywhere in your Users folder. The Pictures folder is the default location for the folder.
What I need to know is, when you moved the library to another spot, did you open iPhoto when it was there? And when you moved back to the original spot, did iPhoto open?
When you move the iPhoto Library folder, you must then launch iPhoto with the Option key depressed. iPhoto will then tell you that it can't find the library , and do you want to open another one or create a new one. You must then choose to open another one and navigate to where you moved it, then highlight it in the window, then click "open"
Lori

Moving iPhoto library from iPhoto 8 to iPhoto 9

I moved iPhoto library created under iPhoto 8 to Time Capsule Disk and when I open the library under iPhoto 9 I can't see the pictures, only the names etc.
Please help. It's the only problem I have when moving from my old iMac (2007) to new MacBook Pro.
Martin

Take it off the Time Capsule disk. That's nt an appropriate place for it.
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Include the option to rebuild the thumbnails. It can take 3 or 4 goes for this to work

Trouble moving iPhoto Library (9.6) with Yosemite to External Hard Drive

I fresh installed iphoto, and updated it to current version (9.6) on Yosemite. There are no photos on it yet. I am trying to transfer it to my new hard drive that is formatted Mac Extended Journaled. Every time I get error code 36.
Previously, I tried moving iphoto library over to hard drive when I had photos on it, and I got the error code. So I uninstalled iphoto, reinstalled it, I am still getting the error code.
Any ideas? I am moving library from House icon > pictures> iPhoto Library and dragging that to Hard drive.

Thanks for the speedy reply.
I am not sure what you mean by "create the library on the drive".
I just tried importing 10 photos into iPhoto on my mac and then i quit iPhoto and went User>Pictures> iPhoto Library and dragged to my external, but got the same error 36. I just cannot get the iphoto Library to drag over to my external without being stopped by error code 36.
My goal is to import my photos into iPhoto that is stored on my hard drive, so I dont have any of those photos on my mac. Any ideas or clarification if I didnt follow your instructions Thanks

I am trying to move my wife's iPhoto '08 library to my new iMac for iPhoto '11.

I am trying to move my wife's iPhoto (2007) library on a Macbook to my new iMac for iPhoto '11. First, when I opened iPhoto on the iMac it asked me to create a library, which I did. Then I imported her photos via a wireless network to my "new" library. However, when it finally finished importing, it had imported 3 copies of each photo from her library. I deleted the "new" library and started over.
Second, I opened iPhoto on the iMac and chose to use "other library." I chose my wife's shared iPhoto library and it began transferring the photos to the new iMac (or so I thought). This worked beautifully as it only brought over single photos and not 3 copies like discussed above. After editing the new library and adding some photos from an old PC, I shut down iPhoto. A few hours later I tried to open iPhoto on the iMac and it gave me the opening screen again with choices to create a new library or use a different library. As it turns out, my wife's Macbook and been disconneted from our wireless network. I was able to figure out that that unless my wife's Macbook is connected to the network then I cannot access the iPhoto library on my iMac. I was under the impression that I had copied her library to my computer and that the photo files were now on the hard drive of the iMac. So when her computer is offline I can no longer access the imported library. I want her library to stay on the iMac as we plan to sell her Macbook. As you now know, we cannot access her iPhoto library on the Macbook since she is running an older version of iPhoto.
So, what I would like to do is to completely transfer the photos from her Macbook to my new iMac and be able to access them on the iMac regardless of whether she is on the network or not because we plan to sell her Macbook to a friend. Thank you for any help you can provide.

To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
But however you do choose to link the two machines...
Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
Then hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
and select the Library that you moved. That's it.
This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.
Your first option didn't work because you imported one Library to another. Every version and thumbnail is imported like a distinct photo, you lose all your Albums, Keywords etc., the link between Original and Previews is destroyed, the non-destructive editing feature is ruined and so on. In summary: it's mess.
Your second option didn't work because you simply referenced her library on the old machine.
Regards
TD

IPhoto '08 Library won't open in OSX 10.6.7

I have moved an iPhoto '08 library to a new iMac running OSX 10.6.7 and I can't get the library to open - any suggestions?
Thanks in advance....
Sunny in Eugene, Oregon

I backed up the user to an external hard drive then dragged the iPhoto Library into her Pictures file. When I open iPhoto, I get 2 error messages: "To use iPhoto '11 you need to upgrade your photo library" - I click on "continue to upgrade. Simultaneously I get another message saying: "You can't open your current photo library using this version of iPhoto...Please quit & use the latest version".... I AM using the latest version??? Huh?
Thank for any help.....

How can I share my iPhoto '08 Library with another user account?

I found a post that tells how to share my library so that two user accounts on my iMac have full read and write access to my iPhoto Library, but I can't find the Library. It should be under /users/myname/pictures/iphoto library/data according to a Spotlight search I used to find a photo in my library, but that folder can't be seen in Finder.

Mike
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
No, your Library should not be under
/users/myname/pictures/iphoto library/data
That's the location of a thumbnail within the Library. Using Spotlight to search the Library is dangerous as Spotlight doesn't understand how the Library is structured.
By default - unless you moved it - the Library is in your Pictures Folder.
/users/myname/pictures
As to Sharing with iPhoto 08:
What you mean by 'share'.
If you want the other user to be able to see the pics, but not add to, change or alter your library, then enable Sharing in your iPhoto (Preferences -> Sharing), leave iPhoto running and use Fast User Switching to open the other account. In that account, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. Your Library will appear in the other source pane.
Any user can drag a pic from the Shared Library to their own in the iPhoto Window.
Remember iPhoto must be running in both accounts for this to work.
If you want the other user to have the same access to the library as you: to be able to add, edit, organise, keyword etc. The problem here is that OS X works very hard to keep your data safe and secure from the other users. You're trying to beat what's built in to the system. So, to beat the system
Quit iPhoto in both accounts
Move the iPhoto Library Folder to an external HD set to ignore permissions. You could also use a Disk Image or even partition your Hard Disk.
In each account in turn: Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting dialogue, select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new library location. From that point on, this will be the default library location. Both accounts will have full access to the library, in fact, both accounts will 'own' it.
However, there is a catch with this system and it is a significant one. iPhoto is not a multi-user app., it does not have the code to negotiate two users simultaneously writing to the database, and trying will cause db corruption. So only one user at a time, and back up, back up back up.
Lastly: This method seems a little clunky at first, but works very well. Most importantly, it uses the System to do the job for you.
Create a new Account on your Mac, call it Media. Create an iPhoto Library there. (BTW: This will work for iTunes too.)
Enable Sharing on the Library:(Preferences -> Sharing), leave iPhoto running and use Fast User Switching to open the other accounts. In those accounts, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. The Library will appear in the other source pane.
This means that both users will be able to see the pics. If you want to use a pic then simply drag it from the shared Library to your own in the iPhoto Window. This means that each user can have their own edits.
If you want to add photos to the Library: Log into the Media account for that purpose.
To make it all seamless: Set your Mac to log into the Media Account automatically. Set iPhoto to launch on log-in. Then switch to your own account using Fast User Switching.
Net result: a Library that's permanently available to all users but also protected. Each user can have their own versions of the pics if they want.
No partitioning, no permissions issues. Uses no extra disk space. What's not to like?
Note: This process is simple in iPhoto 09, and requires none of these hoops. If this is a key feature for you you might consider upgrading.
Regards
TD

Moving iphoto's library

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