Syncing iPhoto library on two computers

My wife wants to have access to her VERY LARGE iPhoto '08 library on two computers - the desktop (her preferred) and the laptop (when the boys are doing homework on the desktop).
Rather than try to share the same library (i.e., networked drive), I set up the two to sync the library. Using +Folders Synchronizer 3.6.2+ (which is able to read and sync the package contents), I have the two libraries syncing so there is a duplicate of her library on both computers (also provides a bit of a backup).
The sync seems to be working well - EXCEPT the changes are not showing up in the iPhoto viewer. In other words...
...she added pictures to iPhoto on the desktop and then synced the laptop.
...Looking inside the iPhoto library (show package contents...) on the laptop and the new pictures were copied to the laptop.
...HOWEVER, when she opens iPhoto on the laptop they don't show up in the window.
I'm sure I'm missing something brainless. I thought it might be that the library needed to be updated but can't figure out how?
Any ideas? Thanks.

Danktuft:
If you have an external HD connected to the Mac then it's a very easy thing to do. See Apple's KB document on iPhoto: Sharing libraries among multiple users. Trying to get a library in the Shared folder to accept two different users is difficult. There is a site describing how to do that using Access Control Lists in Tiger: Share an iPhoto Library in Tiger Using ACL's. It may not work if you upgrade to Leopard at a later date. By far the easiest way is the external HD method.
Happy New Year
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.

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brettjbyers
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Regards
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brettjbyers
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My wife and I have different computers and, therefore, separate iPhoto libraries. I know I can use Iphoto Library Manager to consolidate the two libraries, but is there a way anyone can think of where the two of us can each have a full copy of the library, and have all modifications to the "common" library AUTOMATICALLY sync? I know we could share the library and manually copy the photos from one to the other library, but this would be tedious and completely defeat the purpose of Apple's "It just works" mind-set.
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Regards
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How do I sync iPhoto Library between 2 computers?

Forgive me if this has been asked and answered already. I have an iMac and a MacBook Air and want to sync the iPhoto library between the two. I have upgraded both the desktop and laptop to OSX 10.9 and iPhoto '11 (9.5).
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Thank you so much

What do you mean by "Sync".
The general term means when two Libraries (A and B) are compared and files in Library A are copied to Library B, while files in Library B are also copied to Library A so that both Libraries are identical.
This is bi-directional copying and you cannot do this automatically with iPhoto. No Syncing software is capable of parsing the iPhoto Library in this manner. One or both of your Libraries will be damaged if you try this.
You can have uni-directional copying - files in Library A are copied to Library B - this is essentially backing up. Obviously you can also copy from Library B to Library A.
The nearest you can get to syncing is to use iPhoto Library Manager to move files/Albums/Events plus associated metadata between Libraries. This process cannot be automated.
Putting the Library on an external is easy:
Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
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.
Regards
TD

"Sync" iPhoto library between two macs

I have an iMac and a MacBook Pro. The iMac is my my iPhoto central - where I usually import, edit etc. However, I'd like to be able to do some editing, deleting, and general cleaning up of the iphoto library while commuting and using my MacBook Pro. Then I'd like to somehow sync that so that my iphoto library iMac reflects the same changes.
Any suggestions for a strategy/process for this - preferably without using 3rd party applications?
Would this be easier if I used Aperture?

Two possibiities:
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2. Or use Aperture to do the same thing. Select the projects in Aperture and export them as a new Library. After working on them import the library back to the main Aperture library.
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Syncing IPhoto Library with two users

Im a switcher so if this question is somewhat basic that is the reason why. My wife and I share the same Macbook but we have created two separate accounts on the same machine. As such, we each have our own iPhoto library. Is there a way that we can make sure that each of our iPhoto libraries contain the same pictures as the others. We are finding that when we upload new picture to iPhoto, we haven't found a way to transfer these same pictures from one account to the other.
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I didn't find an answer in the community.
I don't want to move an library and I don't want 2 people accessing the same library...
My sister got my old MacBookPro with our iphoto library.
I have a new Air and the same iphoto library.
But of course now we start to import diffenrent new photos in what was once one single library.
How can I still synchronize these two macs?
Once a month is enough, it doesn't have to be some cloud thing.
Can it be done with a cable or our home-wifi?
It would also be ok, if I import all new photos on the air and then copy the whole library once a month to the Pro, but this seems rather ... pedestrian?
Thanks!

It would also be ok, if I import all new photos on the air and then copy the whole library once a month to the Pro, but this seems rather ... pedestrian?
That's the way to go, but it doesn't have to be pedstrian.
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How do I share iphoto library between two computers

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Thanks!

1. Use the paid version ($20) of iPhoto Library Manager to merge the libraries. It's the only way to do this.
2. Make sure the external is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Set it to ignore permissions and then pow the merge Library on it.
3. From each machine in turn: Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and point iPhoto at the Library.
Some caveats:
1. Iphoto is not a server or multi-user application. One one machine can access the Library at a time.
2. Connecting via wireless is fine if all you're doing is viewing. If you're trying to edit the Library (that is, make albums, move photos around, keyword, make books or slideshows etc.) or edit individual photos in it via Wireless be very careful. Dropouts are a common fact of wireless networking, and should one occur while the app is writing to the database then your Library will be damaged. Simply, I would not do this with my Libraries.
Regards
TD

Syncing Aperture library between two computers using MobileMe and DropBox

I'd like to have my Aperture library automatically sync'd between my MacBookPro and iMac.
I have MobileMe and I'd ideally like to use it to sync, however I believe Aperture sees the library as a large single file, and so is not really practical to do this.
I believe DropBox does handle this better, but I only have the 2GB free version, and don't want to upgrade while I'm paying for MobileMe (which I use mainly for iPhone syncing).
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I appreciate I need to only use one system at a time and make sure it's all sync'd before using the other computer or risk corruption.

Just curious - why do you think it would be slow?
With iDisk sync turned on the master images would be on the local hard drive, as would the library in the DropBox folder. Might have to use a symbolic link or mount to make the local hard disk iDisk folder appear in the exact same location on both machines, though maybe not even that?

Can I have same Itunes library in two computers?

I would like to have the same library in two computers.
If I use home share to import the whole library, Does that mean the library will disappear from the "old" computer? or
Will I be able to keep the same library in both computers?
What will happens when I add music to one of the libraries? Will they update? or Do I have to do it manually? Can playlist be imported from home share too? and can I have same playlists in the two computers?
Thanks!

Again without firsthand experience my understanding is iTunes copies (not moves) just the media from the Home Shared drive and adds it to your other library as a new item. It will not affect the original library.
As for syncing idevices, they are intended to sync with just the original library and only one library at a time. Apple deliberately designed it this way, and not so you could plug them into a new computer and transfer the contents from the device to the computer (see exception below). More information:
Some of the information below has subsequently appeared in a document by turingtest2: Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991
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iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848 - only purchases from iTunes Store
For transferring other items from an i-device to a computer you will have to use third party commercial software. Examples (check the web for others; this is not an exhaustive listing, nor do I have any idea if they are any good):
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- Phoneview - http://www.ecamm.com/mac/phoneview/
- MusicRescue - http://www.kennettnet.co.uk/products/musicrescue/
- Sharepod (free) - http://download.cnet.com/SharePod/3000-2141_4-10794489.html?tag=mncol;2 - Windows
- Snowfox/iMedia - http://www.mac-videoconverter.com/imedia-transfer-mac.html - Mac & PC
- iexplorer (free) - http://www.macroplant.com/iexplorer/ - Mac&PC
- Yamipod (free) - http://www.yamipod.com/main/modules/downloads/ - PC, Linux, Mac [Still updated for use on newer devices? No edits to site since 2010.]
- 2010 Post by Zevoneer: iPod media recovery options - https://discussions.apple.com/message/11624224 - this is an older post and many of the links are also for old posts, so bear this in mind when reading them.
Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141 - dates from 2008 and some outdated information now.
Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer - The Definitive Guide - http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/copying-music-from-ipod-to-co mputer/ - Information about use in disk mode pertains only to older model iPods.
Get Your Music Off of Your iPod - http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Get_Your_Music_Off_of_Your_iPod - I am not sure but this may only work with some models and not newer Touch, iPhone, or iPad.
Additional information here https://discussions.apple.com/message/18324797

Sync iPhoto '08 between two macs

I am trying to sync iPhoto '08 between two of my macs, but can't seem to get it, unless I copy the whole library file (all 10gbs of it!).
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

ckg1999:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. You can't sync two libraries like you can two folders. That's because the data inside the library's database file needs to be the same and you can sync the contents of data files. The only way to keep two libraries the same is to use iPhoto Library Manager to copy new events on Library A to Library B and copy new Events on Library B to A. You would have to be sure to keep the Events as they were imported so you would know which are new and need copying to the other library. If you were to move photos to an earlier event what I propose wouldn't work.
Using any other syncing application will only mess up both libraries.
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 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.

Sharing aperture library between two computers in same house

How do I go about sharing the same library between two computers in the same house? I would like to take some or all photos around with me on my laptop and be able to have them also at home for use by my family. Will I have trouble with changes and keeping things in sync? Would I locate the library on a portable drive on our home network? Thanks,
Todd

cut and dry ???
are you wanting to constantly move the external around from machine to machine ??? or are you looking for simultaneous access ???
if you had a library on an external and moved it between computers, it could work ... just be careful to always have the external connected before starting aperture, else it will create a new null library for you ...
you could have db issues if you tried to have two people access it at once ... i dont believe that the aperture db could handle multi access at once ... not robust enough ... no locking of records, etc ...

Can i share an iPhoto library between 2 computers ???

Can i share an iPhoto library between 2 computers, it I store my library on a AS drive connected to an AirPort Extrême Base Station ?

on a AS drive
Do you mean NAS drive? No.
iPhoto needs to have the Library sitting on disk formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Users with the Library sitting on disks otherwise formatted regularly report issues including, but not limited to, importing, saving edits and sharing the photos.
Will it be wireless? That's good for viewing but...
A strong warning: If you're trying to edit the Library (that is, make albums, move photos around, keyword, make books or slideshows etc.) or edit individual photos in it via Wireless be very careful. Dropouts are a common fact of wireless networking, and should one occur while the app is writing to the database then your Library will be damaged. Simply, I would not do this with my Libraries.
Regards
TD

Hello there - I am sharing an iPhoto library across two accounts on the same computer - it works fine EXCEPT for Quicktime movies - they play on one account and claim I don't have the rights on the other - all permissions are on and ok?

Hello there - I am sharing an iPhoto library across two accounts on the same computer - it works fine EXCEPT for Quicktime movies - they play on one account and claim I don't have the rights on the other - all permissions are on and ok?

It should be in the Users/ Shared folder.
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. Note the option to check and repair Library Permissions
Regards
TD

Syncing iPhoto library on two computers

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