Problems moving iPhoto Library

I just ran out of space on my internal HD so I moved my entire "Photos" folder over to my external. When I tried to access the photos on my external, it shows no individual photo files, just an iPhoto Library file. When I try to import this file into iPhoto, it does not let me. The strange thing is, after emptying my trash and emptying what was a 22GB Photos folder, my internal hard drive still reads having 0 space. I'm assuming that this means my photos are still on my internal HD somewhere. I'll be very very upset if I've lost 22GB of photos because of iPhotos ridiculous technicalities and difficulties. This is not the first time I've had trouble with iPhoto. How do folders full of individual photo files turn into one single iPhoto Library file when I simply move from internal to external HD? Someone please help before I go crazy!!

NCalendo
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
How do folders full of individual photo files turn into one single iPhoto Library file when I simply move from internal to external HD?
Well they didn't. That happened when you updated to v7 from your earlier version. With iPhoto 7 (iLife 08) the old iPhoto Library Folder is now a Unix Style Package File. The change was made to the format of the iPhoto library because many users were inadvertently corrupting their library by browsing through it with other software or making changes in it themselves.
So, mystery number one solved.
I'll be very very upset if I've lost 22GB of photos because of iPhotos ridiculous technicalities and difficulties.
I don't know if the following qualifies as "ridiculous technicalities" but this is how you move a library:
How to move a library:
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
There is no importing involved. Importing will simply lead to massive duplication. Doesn't seem too ridiculous a technicality to me.
And if you have lost 22gigs of photos it won't be iPhoto's fault, after all you're the one who emptied the trash while not sure where your photos are.
Regards
TD

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