Problem after moving pix between rolls

Question

Let me say up front that I know I should be using albums to organize pix. And that's what I'll do from now onn. But I could use some suggestions for dealing with this.
Dragged and dropped some pix from one roll - call it Roll A - to another, Roll B. Since there were no pix left in A, I deleted it. In the Library view, the pix/thumbnails are in B. But when I double click to them to edit (or just to view them at full size), I get a grey box with a dotted outline around an exclamation mark. A Finder search for the file name shows files in the Original and Data directories of the Library but in subdirectories that bear the original name of Roll A.
I'd rather not mess with the Finder to move these files from Directory A to Directory B. Is there some other way I can correct this?

Answer 1

Jim:
Since it sounds like you used the Finder to do your reorganization, it's iffy if a rebuild will succeed. But try it anyway and select ALL FOUR options. Maybe the orphaned option will bring in those you've moved.
If that doesn't work you're looking at starting over with a new library and importing the Originals folder from the old one. Here's how to proceed:
Creating a new library while preserving the rolls from the original.
Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open iPhoto window.
This will create a new library with the same rolls as the original library. However dates on the rolls may be different but can be edited as you would the roll title.
Once this is completed you can delete the iPhoto library folder from the desktop. If desired, you can keep the older library folder to try other fixes on it.
In the future I recommend you make a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto file after each import and after doing a lot of editing and organizing in the library. Then if you experience a similar crash all you need to do is replace the damaged database file with the backup copy and you'll be back to the same place in the library as when you make the backup. See the tip at the end of my signature. Also you can move photos between rolls but it must be done within iPhoto, not the Finder.
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.