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Jun 17, 2008 8:58 AM
by: acurrie
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From:
Toronto, Canada
Registered:
Sep 19, 2007
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n00b question re: Library.iPhoto
Posted:
Jun 12, 2008 7:19 AM
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Hi everyone,
Been lurking here for a couple of weeks and haven't seen this addressed yet...
I'm testing the waters with iPhoto after M$ bought up my favourite cataloging app iView, and I've a question about the files "Library.iPhoto" and "Library6.iPhoto" within the iPhoto Library Package.
Are these the database files for my Photos? If they were to become corrupt could I trash them?
My thinking is that iPhoto would rebuild the files upon relaunch but I don't to test that until I know a little more of what I'm talking about.
Thanks in advance for any direction on this...
MacBook, Mac Pro
Mac OS X (10.4.11)
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34,813
From:
Ireland
Registered:
Sep 1, 2004
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Re: n00b question re: Library.iPhoto
Posted:
Jun 12, 2008 7:33 AM
in response to: acurrie
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acurrie
I don't think that even iPhoto's biggest fan would claim it's as capable as iView.
To specifics:
The library6.iphoto file is the main database file. It's an sql file and it records and tracks the relationships between the various versions of the pics, plus arrangements, organisation of pics, slideshows, books, postcards, keywords and just about everything except the actual photos.
iPhoto won't automatically re-generate the file, and if it does it will not recreate your library.
If it becomes corrupted the trick is to replace them from an up-to-date back up.
Check Old Toad's signatures on almost all of his posts he has a link to an automator action that will make back ups of the key file.
Regards
TD
MacBook Pro 15 2.4 C2D / iMac 20" 2.16 C2D
Mac OS X (10.5)
4 gig RAM/ 2 gig RAM
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Posts:
7
From:
Toronto, Canada
Registered:
Sep 19, 2007
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Re: n00b question re: Library.iPhoto
Posted:
Jun 12, 2008 12:01 PM
in response to: Terence Devlin
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Hi Terence, and thanks for the reply...
To be clear, I'm not asking iPhoto to do any "heavy lifting", but just work with the small-ish JPGs from my 2 megapixel camera phone. I wanted to give iPhoto a spin to see if it was easier to email photos, etc.
If these databases did get corrupted, though, could I at least rescue my photos from the iPhoto Library package and then re-import them using a backed-up database, or should I be saving my photos in another folder altogether? -- in addition to regular backups, of course...
MacBook, Mac Pro
Mac OS X (10.4.11)
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Posts:
34,813
From:
Ireland
Registered:
Sep 1, 2004
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Re: n00b question re: Library.iPhoto
Posted:
Jun 12, 2008 12:37 PM
in response to: acurrie
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It's not that complicated, and you know, the size of the photos - whether they come from a camera phone or a 20 megapixel dslr doesn't matter a whit.
If the database files get corrupted you have three courses of action - and I suggest you would use them in this order:
1. Copy the library6.iphoto file from a back up to the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
if that's not possible:
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.
If that didn't work:
3. You would need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
So, those are your options in the event of a database failure.
Note that your photos, which are stored in the Finder are not affected by the database file being damaged.
Yes, email is easier with iPhoto (and the same is true of Aperture too)
There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
For 10.5 users: You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Apple-Click for selecting multiple pics.
To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. If you're using Gmail you can use THIS
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto. With 10.5 you can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:
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.
Or, if you want to access the files with iPhoto not running, then create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use THIS
Other options include:
1. Drag and Drop: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. 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.
3. Show File: 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.
You can set Photoshop (or any image editor) as an external editor in iPhoto. (Preferences -> General -> Edit Photo: Choose from the Drop Down Menu.) This way, when you double click a pic to edit in iPhoto it will open automatically in Photoshop or your Image Editor, and when you save it it's sent back to iPhoto automatically. This is the only way that edits made in another application will be displayed in iPhoto.
Regards
TD
MacBook Pro 15 2.4 C2D / iMac 20" 2.16 C2D
Mac OS X (10.5)
4 gig RAM/ 2 gig RAM
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Posts:
7
From:
Toronto, Canada
Registered:
Sep 19, 2007
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Re: n00b question re: Library.iPhoto
Posted:
Jun 14, 2008 1:31 AM
in response to: acurrie
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"Note that your photos, which are stored in the Finder are not affected by the database file being damaged."
Ok, this is the last thing I need guidance on -- so it's normal that my JPGs are duplicated within the iPhoto Library package, and the default behaviour for, say, Image Capture ISN'T to store them there?
Thanks too for the link to The Karelia iMedia Browser. It does seem like I'm taking extra steps to get the same functionality as iView Media Pro, though...
MacBook, Mac Pro (soon!)
Mac OS X (10.4.9)
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Posts:
34,813
From:
Ireland
Registered:
Sep 1, 2004
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Re: n00b question re: Library.iPhoto
Posted:
Jun 14, 2008 1:52 AM
in response to: acurrie
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Like I said, no one claims that iPhoto is a substitute for iView. It's a consumer level photo organiser.
this is the last thing I need guidance on -- so it's normal that my JPGs are duplicated within the iPhoto Library package, and the default behaviour for, say, Image Capture ISN'T to store them there?
Well, Image Capture doesn't store your photos. It simply moves them from your camera to where ever you tell it to put them. It has no "storage capability" whatever.
So, to specifics, yes it is "normal that my JPGs are duplicated within the iPhoto Library package". This is the default behaviour, and for reasons you'll see below, the best way to use iPhoto imho. The idea in your case - where you already have a lot of pics on the HD - is to import them from your file structure into iPhoto, allow it to copy them to the iPhoto Package File, then delete the ones in your folder structure.
iPhoto can run a Managed or a Referenced library.
If you're running a Managed library, then it's the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing
If you're running a Referenced Library, then you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced and iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing.
Some comments on this:
Simply go to iPhoto Menu -> Preferences -> Advanced and uncheck 'Copy Files to the iPhoto Library on Import'.
Now iPhoto will not copy the files, but rather simply reference them on your HD. It will create an alias to the Original file, a thumbnail and, if you modify the pics, a Modified version.
However, you need to be aware of a number of potential pitfalls using a Refereneced Library.
1. Import and deleting pics are more complex procedures
2. You cannot move or rename the files on your system or iPhoto will lose track of them
3. Most importantly, migrating to a new disk or computer can be much more complex.
Always allowing for personal preference, I've yet to see a good reason to run iPhoto in referenced mode unless you're using two photo organisers.
If disk space is an issue, you can run an entire iPhoto Library from an external disk:
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library as an entity 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
MacBook Pro 15 2.4 C2D / iMac 20" 2.16 C2D
Mac OS X (10.5)
4 gig RAM/ 2 gig RAM
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Posts:
32,491
From:
... Toad Hall, Temecula
Registered:
Apr 21, 2002
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Re: n00b question re: Library.iPhoto
Posted:
Jun 14, 2008 9:49 AM
in response to: acurrie
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FYI I'm still using iView as my primary digital asset management application with Leopard. The only problem so far is that in order to use the Batch Rename function the background of the mode you're in must be light because the text fields in that pane take on the background color of the mode you came from. So if you like black backgrounds you won't be able to see the text in the fields. Easy solution, make your background light gray.
I use iPhoto for special projects, books, web galleries, calendars, etc. and iView for all annotating and other heavy lifting. Still the best I've found.
I've found that both applications can live together and complement each other. The tip below is what Terence referenced earlier. Use it often like you would when in a text editor and saving every so often to save the changes.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) 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 or later), 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 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger 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.≤br>
Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.
MBP 2.16 Ghz 2G RAM; G5 2 Core 2GHz, 2G RAM; 750/250 GB HDs;
Mac OS X (10.5.2)
22" LCD, Canon: SD700IS/i850/8600F, Epson R200; 4G Nano, 30G Video iPod
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Posts:
7
From:
Toronto, Canada
Registered:
Sep 19, 2007
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Re: n00b question re: Library.iPhoto
Posted:
Jun 17, 2008 8:58 AM
in response to: acurrie
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Thanks guys!
MacBook, Mac Pro (soon!)
Mac OS X (10.4.9)
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