Transfering aperture library via vault to new comp

Question

I apologize in advance if my question already have been answered in another thread. But I couldn't find any threads matching my problems.
I recently bought the new iMac after my old 24" could not handle the pressure anymore. I wanted to move my aperture library from the old to the new. And ofcourse I wanted all info (adjustment changes and so on) to come with in the move. After reading a few threads on the subject I created a "Vault" that I later opened up in the new comp. At a fist glance everything looks great in aperture but when opening up a picture to make adjustments it says "image offline".
On my old comp I can see (where my pics are stored) two aperture files:
Aperture Library
Aperture Library_original
…so far so good.
But then that are tons (well, many) folders named like my projects in aperture. And not folders within the aperture library file but stand alone…if that makes any sense.
What am I doing wrong? I get all the pics over to my new comp with the help of Vault but can't edit any of my pics from a few months back (when for some reason aperture started to create folders outside the library file)
On my new iMac i have 2 files
Aperture Library
Aperture Library_old
...so no folders got transfered
/Jonatan, sweden

Answer 1

It looks like your Aperture library were a referenced library. When you imported your image files you did not import the originals into the Aperture library, but stored them in folders outside the library. That are folders named like your projects that you are seeing. When Aperture needs to access the originals to render edited versions, it will reference the image files in those folders, see this section in the Aperture 3 User Manual: Aperture 3 User Manual: Working with Referenced Images
When you create a vault, Aperture will only include images that you imported into the library, not the originals you stored outside. You need to copy the folders with projects as well to your new mac and reconnect them to the image versions, otherwise you will not be able to edit your images.
But it looks like you did create these folders outside accidentally and did not intend to use referenced original files. If that is so, I'd suggest to repair this, by consolidating your library.
Select the "Photos" view in the source list of your Aperture Library and select all your images at once.
Then use the command "File > Consolidate Originals" from the main menu bar. This will move (or copy) all referenced images from the folders outside into your Aperture library.
When you now create a vault, it will contain all images. Use this new vault to recreate your Aperture library on your new mac.  You can also simply copy your Aperture library itself to your new mac. You do not need the detour using a vault.
BTW: Where Aperture will store the originals image files depends on the settings in the "Import" panel. Make sure the "Store Files" option is set to "In the Aperture Library".
Regards
Léonie