Why can't i see my iPhoto library in iMovie on my iMac?

I have used my iPhoto library before on my Macbook to create movies using iMovie. I now have an iMac and looking to try and use iMovie on this device. However, when I go to iMovie, the iPhoto library is greyed out and I cannot access my photos. I have searched around for threads on this subject and have tried some of the following...removed all key words and ensured all of my photo folders have names that do not have any special symbols. I still cannot access my iPhotos in iMovie on my iMac. Any other suggestions?

Can you see the iPhoto Library from any other app, like Safari? File ➙ Open File menu option:

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Why can't I see my iPhoto files in iMovie?

[DISCLAIMER: My question is short, but my details are not. This is going to be a LONG read, but I wanted to make sure I provided all you helpful people with as much information as I could so that I could receive the best possible solution. So your patience and assistance is greatly appreciated!]
In iMovie [version 4.0.1], when I click on the Photo button to import pictures into my project from iPhoto, the following error message appears: "No photos were found. To use this feature, you must first create a photo library using iPhoto version 2.0 or later."
However... I AM using iPhoto [version 4.0.3]... with a HUGE Library containing 2000+ images and several created albums. These features work just fine within the confines of that program. They just aren't integrating with iMovie correctly. So... why can't I see my iPhoto files in iMovie?!!?!
FIRST ATTEMPT:
When I checked iMovie help, all it said was "You must open iPhoto at least one time on your computer to be able to access your iPhoto library from iMovie." I've obviously done this, having used the program plenty. Didn't work.
SECOND ATTEMPT:
When I checked this forum, the closest thread I could find that was similar to my problem suggested deleting the iMovie preferences file [com.apple.imovie3.plist]. It was later added that deleting the iPhoto preferences file [com.apple.iphoto.plist] as well had solved the problem immediately for that user. Tried it. Didn't work.
THIRD ATTEMPT:
When I checked the Apple Info site, their main solution was to try recreating the AlbumData.xml file which is used to populate the photo listing. Now this file can usually be found in the iPhoto library folder and I know how to recreate it. But THIS is where I think my main problem lies.
Unlike most users, my iPhoto Library is actually located on an external hard drive under "my hard drive name"/Pictures/iPhoto Library. When I checked this folder for the AlbumData.xml file , it simply did not exist. So as a test, I created a new iPhoto Library also on my external hard drive but the AlbumData.xml file was not created with it. I opened up iMovie just to see if it was able to browse the iPhoto library properly. But it still didn't work.
However, when I created a test iPhoto Library directly onto my Mac's hard drive, the AlbumData.xml file was indeed created with it. And when I opened up iMovie again... lo and behold, the iPhoto library finally appeared. It worked. But unfortunately, this solution still doesn't help me at all!
Thing is, I don't have enough space on my Mac's direct hard drive to move my entire iPhoto Library there (where it works). That's why I am using an external hard drive to store (more space). So is there ANY way I can keep my iPhoto Library located on my external hard drive and have the library, albums and files recognized in the other iLife applications like iMovie???
I feel I've tried everything, folks Could someone please please help me?!!?!
[my specs are listed below if that helps any]
Thanks in advance,
a very disgruntled wizkid :\
PowerBook G4 12" [1GHz, 256MB, 40GB] Mac OS X (10.3.9) GeForce FX Go5200 32MB, Matshita DVD-R UJ-816, Maxtor External Hard Drive [250GB, Firewire & USB 2.0]

My main concern at this point is that the AlbumData.xml file is unable to create itself onto the External HD. When I view the file [that I created from my test iPhoto Library on my Mac's HD] in finder, it appears to be a Final Cut Pro type of extension. Is something wrong with my External Hard Drive in that regard? Is it just incapable of storing those file types??? Hmmm...
As for the alias solution... instead of alias-ing the "Pictures" folder like you have, I've already tried creating an alias of the "iPhoto Library" folder on my External HD and placing it within the "Pictures" folder on my Mac. But when I tried to "Find Library" upon launching iPhoto, the prompt box would not allow me to choose the "iPhoto Library" alias I had created. So I couldn't open it.
To be honest, I'm not exactly sure how to create an alias correctly... or perhaps I should try alias-ing the actual "Pictures" folder (like you have) rather than just the "iPhoto Library" folder, but I don't know how to do that correctly either.
FYI... I am mounting my External HD before I launch iPhoto.
Also, I have also tried dragging the AlbumData.xml file that I created from the test iPhoto Library into my active iPhoto Library folder residing on my External HD. It would appear to be in the folder, but as soon as I clicked somewhere else in finder and than back into the folder, it would disappear. Not sure how to "point to it" either.
Karl, think maybe you could provide some hints on how to properly alias something or "point" to the AlbumData.xml file? I'd try it myself, but I don't wanna screw anything up by accident.
PS. As stated in the post above, there's a possibility my External HD is no longer Mac OS formatted... at which point I throw my hands up into the air and scream!
thanks for the tips thus far... everyone's so nice and helpful... I love it!
-the kid
PowerBook G4 12" [1GHz, 256MB, 40GB] Mac OS X (10.3.9) GeForce FX Go5200 32MB, Matshita DVD-R UJ-816, Maxtor External Hard Drive [250GB, Firewire & USB 2.0]

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So, my wife's iPhoto (version 9.4.3, 10.8.5, iMac, intel core 2 duo, 8 gigs ram) couldn't find some of her older photos from pre-2006. I went to her pictures folder to see if I could find the photos in her library, and her library wasn't there--no icon, nothing. I then did a spotlight search, and spotlight couldn't find her library either. So I went to her Time Machine backup and her library was there, and I only went back a few hours to retrieve it. But, without even reinstalling the library to her computer, when I went back to her computer, her library reappeared, and when I opened iPhoto I could see the older photos. But, there's still a problem. The iPhoto Library photo doesn't show up in her spotlight searches. My iPhoto Library shows up in my spotlight when I do a search on my laptop, so I think there's still something wrong either with her spotlight or with her library folder. I repaired the permissions on her iMac and restarted it. Anyone have any ideas as to why spotlight can't see her library even though it's now opening in iPhoto? (BTW, I can still access her library through Finder as well.)

So, iPhoto can find the library now, but Spotlight cannot. The Library is in the correct folder (Pictures), but it vanished the other day for no reason. The last time my wife updated her iPhoto she said it had to "rebuild the library database" or something to that effect. I don't know if that had anything to do with it's sudden disappearance, then reappearance after I found it in her Time Machine Backup. My question now is why wouldn't Spotlight be able to see her iPhoto Library? In other words, when I do a search for it in Spotlight, the only thing that pops up in the search field when I input "iPhoto Library" is the application, and the application can open the Library now. Something is still wrong. Could it be a spotlight problem?

Why can't i see my iPhoto pictures in iMovie?

I have been using i movie for so long, and this has never happened before. When i put pictures (from iphoto) on my imovie project, they dont show, like i CAN put them, but when i play my movie, you cant see anything, its just plain black. I dont know what to do, and i need them to work A.S.A.P! I have reseted my computer, imovie, and tried with different pictures. Please help!

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There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto: You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Command-Click for selecting multiple pics.
(Note the above illustration is not a Finder Window. It's the dialogue you get when you go File -> Open)
You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:
There's a similar option in Outlook and many, many other apps. If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
If you want to access the files with iPhoto not running:
For users of 10.6 and later: You can download a free Services component from MacOSXAutomation which will give you access to the iPhoto Library from your Services Menu.
Using the Services Preference Pane you can even create a keyboard shortcut for it.
For Users of 10.4 and 10.5 Create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser
Other options include:
Drag and Drop: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
File -> Export: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
Show File: a. On iPhoto 09 and earlier: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected. 3.b.
b: On iPhoto 11 and later: Select one of the affected photos in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Reveal in Finder -> Original. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.

I don´t see the iPhoto library in imovie, how can a i use the videos of iPhoto? Thank you

I don´t see the iphoto library in imovie, how can i use the videos of iphoto, how can i get de library in imovie?
Thank you

Is there any chance you launched iPhoto while the external hard drive was not available? If so you may have created a virtual EHD - if so unmount your EHD and in the finder go menu ==> go to folder == /Volumes and if you see your EHD there drag it to the desktop - then remount it and launch iPhoto and see if you see both libraries
LN

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GIMP - Why Can't I Access My iPhoto Library?

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What The **** ? OK, I've been holding out asking this question and now I have to ask.
I'm trying to learn Gimp Image Editor because I need to do a bunch of image editing for a video for the Veterans.
When I try to bring an image in, I can't find my iPhoto Library.
Here's a screen shot.
Also, you're supposed to be able to drag in photos, but it won't let me do that either. So I have spent 4 hours today trying to figure this out and got nowhere.
I hope one of you smart guys can tell me what's going on here. Restore my faith in Mac

When I do this I see the images. What version of Gimp are you running?
But as Linc wrote you should export the images from iPhoto or better yet make Gimp iPhotos external editor. See iPhoto->Preferences->Advanced

Why can i not open my iphoto library??can somebody pls help me resolve my this problem..

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Help. This should be a simple thing to do but I can't make it work. While on vacation in Europe, I created a new iPhoto library on my MacBook Pro for my son to load his photos into - all worked well, his library is 1.44 Gbytes. We live in different states and now I'm trying to get his iPhoto library to him so he can load it into his computer. Because of it's size (1G limit), I can't use my MobileMe Public folder so I'm trying to put it onto a Flash drive so I can send that to him. (I even split the library into multiples to get under the 1G public folder limit but when I try to upload to the Public folder I always get a Public folder upload error message. Maybe there's a reason that the iPhoto library file can't be moved this way.)
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The error message is incorrect, I have iPhoto '09 Version 8.1.2 (424) on both my MacBook Pro and my IMac.
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You'll get that message in error with a corrupted database sometimes.
Option 1
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. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .
Regards
TD

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Why can't i see my iPhoto library in iMovie on my iMac?

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