Multiple Libraries & duplicates

I am sure that my problem is common so hopefully this post will help other people solve similar problems. It may have been answered in other posts although nothing has popped out as a clear and concise way to solve how to deal with multiple libraries and duplicate pictures.
I have over the years created, edited and merged various iPhoto libraries. I now have such a mess of pictures and libraries I don't know what to do to organize them all. The smallest library is about 10GB, the largest about 45GB. I purchased iPhoto Library Manager and Duplicate Annihilator. I have attempted to merge some of the libraries but that didn't work that well. It created yet another library and more duplicates. I then (foolishly) attempted to drag and drop a library file and that created extra pics like thumbnails of the all the faces.
So is there an easier way that sifting thru about 30,000 images?
Do I deal with the duplicates in each separate library first, then merge and do it again. Or attempt a total merge, then scan for duplicates?
Another approach I thought about is to work directly with the originals in the library contents.
I am lucky that I haven't spent too much time with albums, books etc. There is some metadata (comments, maps and faces), but nothing to serious.

Try using a free tool, ExifRenamer (http://www.qdev.de/?location=mac/exifrenamer)
Do not use this tool on files inside of iPhoto Library. You can use the tool only with originals, in simple file format. So you probably need to export the files from iPhoto first before using the tool.
It renames photo/video file names to date/time they were taken. You'd drop a folder containing the files onto ExifRenamer icon, and the files will be renamed. Pretty simple. You can specify the format of file name and other settings to your preference first. Once the files are renamed, you'd drop them into folders based on year/quarter/month.
Basically you'd reorganize the files in this folder structure
2009_01
2009_02
2010_03
Or you could work with
2009-q1 (for Jan - March)
2009-q2 (for Apr - June)
As you are dropping the renamed files into their directories, you may be asked to overwrite files, which you should do.
Once you've renamed the files, you can reimport them into iPhoto Library. I recommend one iPhoto Library for 1 year. Maybe you could keep more years in 1 iPhoto Library. My personal preference is 1 iPhoto Library for 1 year.
Lastly, please make a good backup and test before proceeding. I recommend this.
-Let Time Machine run with iPhoto closed.
-Export all photos from iPhoto into a separate folder. This is for backup and not to be touched.
-Export all photos from iPhoto or duplicate the folder you created in previous step. Work with this folder when using ExifRenamer. Start working with small sets of files initially until you are comfortable.

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Multiple libraries - Duplicates - Mess

Hi
I have a friend who has made a total hash of his photo libraries. He had copies on his old laptop which he backed up onto a maxtor drive, he then moved the library onto his work desktop machine and when he updated at work he would copy the originals folder to a Lacie fw drive to take home with him. His laptop was stolen and he got a new iMac and has loaded everything from every source into the new iMac and at this point has up to 12/15 copies of the same files, some thumbnails, some data versions and some originals and some modified originals. IT IS A MESS!
Is there a means of (perhaps Automator?) finding the largest version of a file and deleting duplicates so that he can import cleanly to a new library so that the new database is not full of multiple copies?
We are talking of roughly 12,000 image files:(
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks
Lee

Lee
If these photos are not in iPhoto already, then, finding the largest version of each file is easy. Simply switch the folder to List view and sort on Size.
If they are inside iPhoto have a look at Duplicate Annihilator:
http://www.brattoo.com/propaganda/index.php?action=software
Regards
TD

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Steve:
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I've been playing around with setting up a home media server, and have run into a few issues and have a few questions about this.
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-apple lossless vs. other: has anyone had problems streaming lossless files to iTunes/Airport Extreme?
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-see below
Question 3:Any Automator scripts to convert Lossless to AAC, then save to desktop?
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Hi Kirby-
My IMac is 10.7.5 Aperture 3.4.5
My MacBook is 10.8.5 Ap 3.4.5
Guess it's been a while since I've posted.
Thanks,
J

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kulea:
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Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto 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.
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garinh wrote:
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Garin

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Yes, I am referring to the auto syncing of playlists. Not all of my music is assigned to playlists and I don't want to create them - too many songs.
As I mentioned in my original post:
I want to store more music in iTunes than my iPod has room for (original iPod). I want to use one library for music that I don't want on my iPod and the other for the music I want to sync. I also want to be able to move music back and forth between the them.
I want to be able to store music in iTunes and play that music in iTunes without having them downloaded to my iPod. It would be nice to have a Library in iTunes that can be separate from the iPod stuff.
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How do I go from using a single Apple ID with multiple libraries to using home sharing?

Until now my wife and I have opted to share our iTunes/Apple ID and use multiple libraries to manage our iPhones. This has become increasingly difficult...with issues such as having apps I've downloaded that she doesn't want automatically downloading to her library and even her phone. Now, add in the fact that I want to continue to manage my iTunes library from our PC and allow her to manage hers from her new MacBook Pro and we have good reason to move to home sharing with separate Apple IDs for each of us.
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Thanks!

Okay...I misunderstood and thought we needed separate ID's...but I see we actually need to use the same ID which simplifies things in my mind a bit. But still some followups...
1) What do you mean by restore the library on her computer? Simply open her library file in iTunes?
2) On our current machine...media is actually split between a couple folders but all under the My Music folder. But there are multiple subfolders (iTunes, Her iPhone, and Amazon MP3). I presume as long as I copy over the entire My Music folder there shouldn't be any access issues when the library is opened on her machine?
3) Is there any easy way to get rid of all the extra files that she doesn't have in her library? For instance, all my music and apps that she doesn't actually want, is there any easy way of separating those out from the files that are actually linked to in her library? Vice versa for me...once we've go her library set up on her machine, any easy way to purge all the extra files from my PC that aren't actually in my library?
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One person sets up Match on their computer using the iTunes account. Uploads everything to match.
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How to set up multiple libraries on one computer

How do you set up multiple libraries on one computer for itunes?

Launch iTunes with the Shift key(Windows) or Option key(Mac OS X) held down.
(90004)

Multiple libraries or multiple accounts ?

Hi,
At the moment, everybody in the family is using my apple ID and it's getting difficult to manage because I don't want to share my password to avoid high expenses and also when the kids get older, it will be a problem.
So I need to know which is better for my family's future : multiple libraries on one account or creating different users on my computer with different itunes accounts ?
Also if I have different accounts, can I share music and apps ?
Thanks

I recommend you get her her own iTunes account for purchasing from the iTunes store.
You/she can add gift cards instead of using your credit card so you won't have to worry about how much she purchases.
should I just have one account and create a new library for her music and videos?
Create her own iTunes account and create her own library by creating a new computer login for her.
She will have her own iTunes library in her own computer account.

Multiple Libraries on 1 computer?

Hi,
I was wondering is it possible to set up multiple libraries on one computer? For example if multiple family members using the same computer but w/ vastly different musical tastes all have iPods is there a way to set iTunes up where I wouldn't have to deal w/ all of my other family member's songs?

These links should help:
Natalie Beresford: Multiple iPods/iTunes Installations
How to use multiple iPods with one computer
How to share music between different accounts on a single computer

TS2972 I have multiple libraries on the "same computer" with two different desktops, can't I share between two libraries on the same computer?

I'm trying to use home sharing to share content between libraries so some of the combined content in a given library, can be synced to an ipad. Instad of having mulitple computers, i have multiple libraries on the same computer using two desktops. How do I share within the same computer?

iTunes must be running for home sharing to work. There is no way to have home sharing running simultaniously for two users on the same computer.
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Multiple Libraries & duplicates

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