Old Toad's automator workflow to backup Library6.iPhoto database

Dear Old Toad,
I just today downloaded your workflow to backup the iPhoto database file, and am having problems making it work.
When I run it, either from the dock or the script menu, it launches Automator but then closes without doing anything. I don't get a confirmation screen, and no copy of the database is created.
So I opened it in Automator to see if editing it would help, even though my library is already named iPhoto Library and stored in user/pictures. When I dragged it onto the Automator window, there was only 1 action (Get Specified Finder Items) instead of the 4 that show up in the ReadMe. When I dragged it onto the Automator app to open it, I got nothing.
I downloaded it via Firefox 3.0.1 and got a 1.1MB zip, and I tried downloading it twice in case it had corrupted in the download, but no change with the second try. Downloaded from here:
http://web.mac.com/toad.hall/ToadsCellar/ToadsCellar.html
Running OS 10.4.11, iPhoto 7.1.5, on a G4.
Something else I can try?
Thanks,
Daiya
Message was edited by: Daiya

Yes. Run the application like you would use the Save command in other applications, often. Running it again will overwrite the current backup copy with a new backup that will include all changes you've made to your library, new pictures, deletions, slideshows, books, etc.
I suggested keeping it in the dock so you can quickly run it after any changes you've made to the library. Being in the Dock makes it more convenient than having to go into the Application folder and launching it from there.
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.
Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

Similar Messages

Misc questions - Old Toad - back up to dvd's and iphoto database files

Old Toad
Burning dvd's for back up.
I see that if I command-click Event folders the size increases down where it says information in the left bottom corner. Keep it to 4gig or less for each dvd. That works for me. When doing this does it also save any keywords etc.
I would happily go through my library this way to get a secure iphoto archive. Safest way... no?
If I did have to restore from these, what happens... is it like re-importing them, like Import to library under file menu.
(I haven't decided on an external back up HD system yet. Plus they can fail too. Right now I have 3 computers, they can talk via ethernet. One has an additional internal which i've been using to back up Mail, Ical, Address book, and other info like plist etc. Including my wife and 2 kids, I have 4 users to manage.)
Thanks for any advice you have.
ps./ I went to your site. What's up with this font - HelveticaNeue.dfont. Do I need this?
I downloaded the iphoto db back up. Will readme to figure out. (where exactly does the iphoto database file exist)
Thanks again.
Dave Stamm

David:
If you use the Share->Burn menu option you will preserve the keywords, comments and titles.
Burning to DVD is a good way to archive the photos for later use in iPhoto if necessary. To get those photos back into an iPhoto library just mount the disk with iPhoto open. It will show up in the left hand pane under the Events and Photos icon. Drag the entire disk icon or drag individual albums or events (not shown in the video screenshot below) onto the Events icon like this.
However, for a way to quickly recover from a damaged library I suggest a backup copy of the library on a second hard drive. You can perform incremental backups of the library, copying only new or editied files, with a backup application like Synk. It only takes about a minute or less to perform an incremental backup. There are several other backup applications that can do incremental backups on iPhoto Library packages. Yes external HDs can fail but having both fail at the same time would be unusual unless you were to experience a power surge that would blow everything powered up. I have an external HD that I only turn on when I do a backup of specific files and folders (in addition to Time Machine), daily or every other day.
The Helvetica Neue font is what iPhoto 8 uses for Event titles, the number of photos selected and being dragged, etc. If it is missing or deactivated you wouldn't be able to change Event names or click and drag photos. If you're not having that problem there's nothing to worry about.
The database file resides inside the iPhoto Library package which is in the Pictures folder (default location).
OT

Another question for Old Toad (or anyone else) about backing up iPhoto

Obviously, I am not understanding what I am supposed to do or see when I try to backup my iPhoto library.
My iPhoto Library folder is in "Pictures".
I have downloaded the "iPhoto db File Backup" and put the icon in the dock.
Now, what do I do to perform the backup? I tried opening iPhoto and highlighting Library in the Source pane, then I tried highlighting all the pictures in the library, then I tried highlighting the iPhoto Library folder in Pictures and clicking the db file backup icon in each case. Nothing happened - at least I don't think anything happened. I was expecting a second folder with the title "iPhoto Library copy" or something like that to appear. What should I look for?
Also, when I opened my iPhoto Library folder, I found the following among the list of all the rolls of photos:
Library.iPhoto
Library6.iPhoto
When I clicked on each of them, my entire library of photos opened along with the following message:
Unreadable files: 1
The following file could not be imported. (The file is in the iPhoto Library folder.)
/Users/my name/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Library6.iPhoto
I don't understand what this means and what I did - or shouldn't have done. If I did something wrong, can I undo it?
Finally, I also saw the following and tried to open them to see what they are, but couldn't. A message window said I had to choose an application that would open them and I didn't know what to choose. What are these three items?
Thumb32Segment.data
Thumb64Segment.data
ThumbJPGSegment.data
I'm keen to backup all the photos I have so would appreciate whatever help/explanations readers can give me with all of this.
Sauble

sauble
What are you trying to back up specifically:
Your Photos Only
or
Your iPhoto Library (this includes Albums, books, slideshows, etc)
or
Your database file.
Old Toad’s wee application is designed to back up the database file only. It’s intended for use when you’re organising the photos in your Library and it’s a handy protection against damage if the app crashes. But it does not back up any photos.
To back up you iPhoto Library:
Make a copy on another disk of the iPhoto Library in your Pictures Folder. Copy it as a single unit. Using a Back Up utility such as DejaVu or Chronosync you can make incremental copies - that is, as you make changes to the Library the original back up is updated. (There are many, many back up utilities: search on MacUpdate.)
To back up your Photos only
Select them in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export, select the version you want (Kind: Original or Kind: Current) and export them to another disk.
Note that none of these involves rooting around in the iPhoto Library itself. There are no user serviceable parts there. Any time you go in there you risk damaging the Library.
Library.iPhoto
Library6.iPhoto
Are the main database files. You’ve done no damage I would guess. There is no way of reading those files unless you’re a programmer.
Thumb32Segment.data
Thumb64Segment.data
ThumbJPGSegment.data
These are cache files. Iphoto needs them but there’s no reason for you to open them. Even if you did they’d make little sense to you.
The iPhoto Library is a bit like under the bonnet in your car. Fine if you know what you’re doing, but a lot of folks are better off staying out of there.
Regards
TD

Select old files in automator workflow

I am new to automator and wanted to create a simple workflow that would delete old files (4 weeks old) in my downloads directory, but I can not see how to select old files using the find files action? Is this possible? I tried to use the before selector but it only seems to let you use a hardcoded date, can you paramertise it? (Appreciate I can do this by running a script and using something like the find command but wanted to see if this is possible in automator?)
thanks
Andy

I just tested the following workflow and I think it gets where you want to go. Open Automator and click on the Files and Folders section of the Library. I used the following actions:Find Finder Items
and Delete Files. Drop them into Automator in that order.
Configure the Find Finder Items Action using the drop down menus. Set "Where" to the location of your Downloads folder. Set whose so that "Date Modified" is "This Month" In the Delete Files action decide whether you want a confirmation dialog to appear.
I recommend testing it in Automator without the Dele action in place until you are sure the parameters are only deleting files you want to get rid of. (Look at the results section of the first action for the names of the files it finds). After the delete action is in place this workflow can be saved as as application or as a plug in for either iCal or Finder. As Part of iCal it could easily be set to run on a specific day each month.
use at your own risk. this has had limited testing.

Automator workflow for backup (BU3)?

Hi there,
I have never used automator, but I would like to create a workflow that allows me to schedule the following actions:
1.) turn off Norton Anti-Virus auto-protection
2.) run incremental backups through BU3 onto my idisk and external hard drive
3.) turn on Norton Anti-Virus auto-protect
Is anything like that out there or can anyone help me set this up? Thanks.

I don't believe you can do it the first way.
However there are at least three ways to do it the second way.
1) Use System Events GUI scripting exclusively to drive the user interface i.e., selecting menu items and pushing buttons;
2) Use some of 1) along with Mail's AppleScripting capabilities. GUI scripting would still be needed for Preview as it does not have AppleScript capabilities;
3) Install the cups-pdf solution called "Virtual Printer" (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/20219) that allows one to create pdf files from anything that can be printed using the print dialog. This would also have to be driven using one or both of GUI scripting and Applescript.
If you do a lot of PDF printing then I would recommend 3) and generally 1) is less robust than 2). Myself or others on this forum should be able to help with whichever solution you prefer.

How do I backup my iPhoto database?

I have about 2,500 photos in iPhoto. Although I use Time Machine to backup my entire Mac to an external drive, I'd also like to backup my photos to a DVD just to have a super safe archive copy.
When I go to the Picture folder, I see the iPhoto library is about 6 GBs. It's too big to fit on a DVD without splitting it. Is there some backup utility within the Mac system software that will do this? I really don't want to have to buy some third-party software as his is the only file that I'd be backing up this way.

If you don't have an external HD to which you can backup up your library in addition to Time Machine then you'll need to select a number of Event to give you about 4 GB of photos and burn them to disk via the Share ➙ Burn menu option in iPhoto. Then select additional Events, again no more than 4 GB worth, and burn them. This is because iPhoto does not support multi disk burning.
Happy New Year

Earth to Old Toad: Library6.iPhoto

dear old toad
have read your little tip about backing up the 'Library6.iPhoto' file to avoid possible catastrophe. does this just apply to iphoto 06 users upgrading to iphoto 08? or is it for us iphoto newbies as well?
thanks
green frog

That file is the heard of the iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries. It contains all of the information regarding files, books, slideshows, edits, etc. If it gets damaged you library may look like it doesn't have any photos in it at all when it really does. Having a current backup copy of it will let you easily and quickly reset the library to the point in time that the backup was make.
Of course Time Machine makes hourly backups of your entire disk (if setup that way) but you might have added photos, books or did a lot of editing/organizational work in the library since the last TM backup and if there's an interruption causing the file to be damaged you will have lost all of that work. Using the Applicator application that I created like a Save function that other applications have will let you stay current so as to not lose any data or effort.
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.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), 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 08 libraries 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.

Old Toad's DB automator for iPhoto 08?

Listing in Toad's Cellar says iPhoto 6 and 7 but wasn't sure if, maybe, it would work with 8 and listing simply hasn't been updated. . . .

iPhoto '08 is version 7.x.y -- go figure
so it gets called both - properly it is iPhoto '08 version 7.1.5 currently
Old toad's automator does work with the current version and with the previous version (iPhoto 6) and he has another one that works with iPhoto 5 - and I highly recommend using it - OFTEN! - in addition to regular backups of the iPhoto library
LN
Message was edited by: LarryHN

Using Old Toad's iPhoto dB File Backup

After reading some questions here, I downloaded and tried to open the Automator app to backup my iPhoto db. When I click on it, it bounces once or twice in the dock and then quits. I have iPhoto 6.06 and the Library6.iPhoto is in the right place. I don't have any experience with Automator. What can I try?
Shelly

Look in your User/Library/Preferences folder for a file name "automator.iPhotodBFileBackup.plist" and delete it. Also look for "com.apple.Automator.plist" and delete it. Now try the backup again.
OT

IPhoto 6 not reading old iPhoto library - Old Toad?

Hi folks, been reading the discussions but couldn't see this one answered, hope you can help!
I recently updated to OS 10.4.9 (from 10.3.9), taking the opportunity to format my Powerbook and install new versions of my applications. Naturally I backed up my user folder on an external HD.
After installing iPhoto 6.0.6, I dragged the contents of my Pictures folder back, including my iPhoto library from the old version of iPhoto (was it 4 or 5? - either way I believe the new directory structure differs, and may be part of my problem).
When I open iPhoto, there are no photos. I suspect they're there somewhere, but there's no Originals folder to be seen.
The contents of the folder are listed below FYI - and there are 'no entry' signs over all the year folders & the Albums folder (maybe insignificant but new to me as a X.4.9 newbie).
I've tried directing iPhoto to the old library but sense it needs to be imported or converted somehow...? Has it put a new library there next to the old one?
What makes me nervous is the external HD has failed and I've lost the backup... that's why I haven't tried any intervention yet.
Please help! I hope I haven't lost all my memories!
iPhoto Library contents:
1999
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
AlbumData.xml
Albums
Dir.date
iPhoto.ipspot
iPhotoLock.data
iPod Photo Cache
Library.data
Library.iPhoto
Library6.iPhoto
Thumb32Segment.data
Thumb64Segment.data
ThumbJPGSegment.data
Anticipated thanks,
Tall_Paul.
Powerbook G4 15" Mac OS X (10.4.9) Ext HD Maxtor 500Gb

Paul:
Do you have an original backup copy of your iPHoto Library folder? One that you haven't tried to update at all?
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.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), 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. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Old Toad? -- Rebuild iPhoto Library and lose NOTHING!

Hi,
Any help will be very much appreciated (I'm particularly hoping the old toad will be hopping over to this thread)...
I'm running iPhoto 6 and have been using iPhoto since version 3.0. I have a library of about 10,000 photos which I have meticulously organised and catalogued. I don't use albums, but eveything is organised by film rolls and every photo has keywords (names of those photographed, which I access via smart-albums), ratings, comments, and titles.
My iPhoto library, though working perfectly, is a complete mess. I can manually see dozens of duplicates (often whole folders) and it's driving me barmy...
In iTunes, I can simply copy all of my music files to a backup disc, delete all iTunes related stuff from my HD, then re-import. I lose star ratings, albums and playcounts but my careful cataloguing is preserved and I have a pristine library.
I have a feeling that old versions of iPhoto didn't allow such re-importing. How about now? Is there a way to just save the photo files, trash everything, and re-import. What would be lost? It would be a disaster of epic proportions if I lost (a) titles, (b) comments, (c) *most importantly* keywords...
I don't care about albums, and smart albums are easy to re-create. Is what I am suggesting possible?
Thanks in advance,
Steve.

Steven:
The _2 is generated when a photo with the same name is added to a roll that already has a file by that name. If your camera has the option to turn off resetting the numbering process on each new set of photos I suggest you do so. That will avoid duplicate image file issues that can crop up when trying to export photos to a folder.
As far as the duplicates, the thumbnails don't take up much room and the modified files are only when you edit one. If you want to regain that space just do a Revert to Original and the modified file will be deleted. Many of the modified files are portrait orientated images that have been taken by a camera with the auto-rotate option. There's no way around it unless you turn off the option, upload to the desktop and then physically rotate with a 3rd party application before importing into iPhoto.
What with the low cost of external FW hard drives these days it's not expensive to have a decent sized backup drive that you can store older or not immediately needed photos in a separate library and then use iPhoto Library Manager to move between the two and copy photos between them without losing the keywords, comments, etc. Or you can use iPhoto in its alias mode with the source files on the external HD and only a very small library folder on your boot drive. I have 27,000 image files on my external HD and the library folder for it is only 1.7G. See these Tutorials for more about the alias type of library.,
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.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), 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. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Include subfolders in an automator workflow?

<Thanks HD for showing me the way in>
I created an automator workflow to backup one of the folders on my desktop.
The problem is, if I add a file to one of the subfolders automator does not backup the folder contents. The workflow works only if I add an item to the folder in the top of the heirarchy. What should I do?
the applescript generated by automator is
on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving added_items
tell application "Macintosh HD:Users:myUserName:Library:Workflows:Applications:Folder Actions:Backup2Tiger.app"
open added_items
end tell
end adding folder items to

Hi,
You'd have to attach the action to the subfolder as well. Control-click on the sub-folder, choose Attach a Folder Action from popup menu, and then navigate to your folder action.
It might be possible to modify the folder action so that it attaches itself to any folder dropped onto the original. I'll have a play with it this evening.
Cheers,
H

Old Toad! I'm Missing the expected DPI lines in iPhoto 6 .plist File

Old Toad:
Using Pref Setter to examine my iPhoto 6's com.apple.iPhoto.plist, I have discovered something very strange. Some of the lines you say we should edit are outright missing from the file. See below for lines present and not present in my plist:
BookTargetDPI - 300 (present)
BookTargetImageDPI - 150 (not present)
BookTargetMediumDPI-300 (present)
BookTargetMediumImage - 150 (not present)
BookTargetSmallDPI - 300 (present)
BookTargetSmallImageDPI - 300 (not present)
The "low DPI" lines are outright missing, even after searching with Pref Setter's nice search function. Could this be the very reason that so many people are complaining about books coming back from Apple with such low quality? Should these non-present lines be added into to our iPhoto 6 plist? This could resolve the book quality issue...My most recent book was lousy and I sent it back.
Thanks!
STEVE

Steve:
I just brought up my pref file for a new library and it is missing those particular keys also. Maybe the 6.0.2 update did away with them. It looks like iPhoto is assigning 300 dpi to all portions of the book uniformly and got rid of the image dpi settings. The three book target image keys is set at 300 and probably applies to images as well.

Corrupted Library6.iPhoto file. New Library from ext. drive?

My Library6.iPhoto file is corrupted. How do I create a new 'Library' when all the 'original' stills are on an external drive and will not fit on my 'desktop'?
Ben

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.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), 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 08 libraries 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.
Do you Twango?

Application to open Library6.iphoto.bak

What application is needed to open a Library6.iphoto.bak? MacOSX 10,7,5,; iPhoto 11 9.4.1

gimbl:
iPhoto doesn't really like hard drives with formats other than OS Extended (journaled). I'm not that well versed on NFS but it could very well be the problem. It's been noted frequently that users have had problems with networked servers and iPhoto.
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.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), 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 08 libraries 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.

Old Toad's automator workflow to backup Library6.iPhoto database

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