Two computers, one vault

Question

I am fairly new to using Aperture. I have read quite a few of the how-to's about the vault feature. So, I recently got myself an external drive and told Aperture to set up a vault on it. Here are some questions which I am not quite sure about:
1) when I now add some images to aperture (as a "managed master") is that image initially stored a) just on my computer, b) just in the vault or c) both
2) on this computer if I now say "update vault", does that image now get copied to the vault? Is it still kept locally on my computer
I have a laptop which I use for traveling. I am the only one using it as well as the desktop. I would like to be able to work on the same images in either place, so:
3) Can I use vault as a way to view and work on my images on my laptop when I am traveling and then continuing to work on them when I am back to my big computer?
I thought the answer to 3) was "yes". So I installed Aperture on the laptop (it's brand new) and then 'restored the library" from the indicated vault. It warned me that it was going to delete the local library which is Ok as it was a brand new laptop. But now I am not sure I am doing it right.
Thanks for any help on these three questions!!!
Pito

Answer 1

Hi Pito.  Let's deal with the Vault first (and then maybe the two-computers set-up questions).
The Vault is a differential back-up of your Aperture Library.  You create and administer your Vault(s) from within Aperture.  It's primary function is to serve as a back-up.  If your Library gets ruined, you can restore from your Vault the last version of the Library that you "Vaulted".
Like any back-up, a secondary function can be to move files from one location to another.  Used this way, the Vault provides little value over simply copying your Library.  So little, in fact, that I see no reason to use it this way.
Your Library is a Finder "Package".  A Package is a special OS X file which contains a group of folders and files.  It shows in Finder as a single file, but you can see what is in it by right-clicking the file and making the appropriate selection.  (Don't alter anything in a Package file.)
So, again, the Vault is simply a specific way from within Aperture to create a back-up of your Aperture Library.  That's all.
Pito wrote:
1) when I now add some images to aperture (as a "managed master") is that image initially stored a) just on my computer, b) just in the vault or c) both
Images are not Masters, "Managed" or otherwise.  You import files into Aperture.  That tells Aperture: "Create an image for this file, and keep a bunch of information with it".  Part of that information is the location of the original file.  That file, once it has been imported into Aperture, is referred to as a "Master".  Aperture is non-destructive: the Master is never altered.
The image in Aperture is not a Master.  The image has a Master.  Every image in Aperture has one Master. Some images have the same Master.
The Master can reside anywhere Aperture can access it.  Aperture always keeps track of where the Master is stored (it knows its address).  If an image's Master is located inside the Aperture Library Package, it is said to be a Managed Master.  If the image's Master is located outside the Aperture LIbrary Package, it is said to be a Referenced Master.
When you import a file you specify where the Master should be stored.  What you specify determines whether the image in Aperture will have a Managed Master, or a Referenced Master.
In no case is the image or its Master automatically added to a Vault.  You must manually update your Vault to include recently added images.  The Vault backs up only the Aperture Library.  The Library does not include any image's Referenced Masters.  Therefore the Vault does not include any Referenced Masters.
There is a warning message that tells you this when you update a Vault if your Library contains images that have Referenced Masters.
Pito wrote:
2) on this computer if I now say "update vault", does that image now get copied to the vault? Is it still kept locally on my computer
You should now be able to answer that.
Pito wrote:
3) Can I use vault as a way to view and work on my images on my laptop when I am traveling and then continuing to work on them when I am back to my big computer?
You can, but it's not a good way (at all) to accomplish what you want.  There is a section in the User Manual on exporting and merging LIbraries (which is what you want to do).
Take your time learning.  Aperture is huge and powerful -- and has a long but not steep learning curve.  It has tools to do what you want -- but it takes some time to get it all set up.
Message was edited by: Kirby Krieger