Q: Remove duplicates in Iphoto

LIke anything else, put them in the iPhoto trash and empty it.

If you want help finding them:  For dealing with duplicates in iPhoto check out Duplicate Annihilator

Just wondering if using something like WhatSize, and revealing (then deleting) the duplicates in the iPhoto Library is OK?

I worry that manually deleting (or bulk deleting files via WhatSize, Chipmunk etc.) might possibly confuse iPhoto and potentially corrupt the library.  iPhoto would be happy if a photo is deleted from within iPhoto - just not sure how it would react to outside forces removing files....

(WhatSize screenshot below showing a duplicate file in iPhoto.)

Rule number one

Never make any changes of any sort to the structure or content of the iPhoto library using the finder or any other program - only manage the iPhoto library using iPhoto (or the supplied system tools)

IPLM is safe - I know of no othe safe way to remove duplicates

However if you tellus more it may be that you did something like import an iPhoto library into another library (Rule 2 is to never do that) and in many cased you can just go back and start over from copies before you did that imnprot

LN

I'm going to use this thread to ask a slightly related question, if that's ok..

I'm  trying to get rid of duplicate IPhoto libraries (on various external hard drives). 

I opened the one I want to keep , and then looked (in Finder) at each of the other libraries and dragged any photos or folders that seemed not to be in the Iphoto library I'm keeping, INTO that library . 

I then moved into the TRASH all of those extra Iphoto libraries.   I did not yet empty the trash, because  my fear is that Iphoto doesn't actually have those photos there, and that once I empty trash, those photos will be gone.  

I'm sure i'm confusing things I've read about the risks of incorrectly deleting photos, so I just want some reassurance that what I did will work out and I won't find that the photos were deleted when I deleted the iphoto library I dragged them from.

thanks!!

and then looked (in Finder) at each of the other libraries and dragged any photos or folders that seemed not to be in the Iphoto library I'm keeping, INTO that library .

Depends on exactly what folders, and from where. And I do mean exactly. There are various folders with similar names within an iPhoto Library and you might find yourself with thumbnails and not full sized photos.

Regards

TD

that's what I'm afraid of.  how can I tell, please?

Check the file sizes.

The Original Photos are stored in the Masters Folder in an iPhoto Library.

The safe and correct way to do this would have been to export the Photos from these Libraries. (File -> Export)

Regards

TD

I've ported my version of the Aperture Duplicate Detector to work with iPhoto.  You are welcome to try it out.  It can be found at ADD iPhoto.  It uses sanctioned API's to communicate with iPhoto.  Note that it will only help identify duplicates by applying tags.  It will not delete anything.   That is up to you.

I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

<Edited by Host>

I'm having this problem, too. I just bought a new iMac with iPhoto '11 - it does not appear to have any way to keep from importing photos from my phone and camera that I've already imported. The older version of iPhoto I was using (on Tiger, OS X 10.4) always asked about duplicates and was excellent at not importing them. Is it really the case that the newer version of iPhoto is less useful than the old version?

So we're supposed to buy software to FIND duplicates on a $1,600 apple? Sad

No the answer is to not ever screw up and import an iPhoto library into iPhoto - if you do you have made a mess due to user error - the solution is posted to your other thread

LN

So we're supposed to buy software to FIND duplicates on a $1,600 apple?

Fixing user errors is often a difficult task.

Yes.  There is no way to automagically find duplicates in iPhoto '11.  You can certainly end up with duplicates for many different reasons, not only errantly importanting and iPhoto library.  You and many other users are clamoring for Apple to add this feature and to add ability to merge iPhoto libraries.  These seem like things that should be there to me, too. 

Until then, I can personally attest to both Duplicate Annihilator and iPhoto Library Manager.  They are inexpensive and well worth the cost.  Also, both developers are very active and responsive to their users.  No, I don't work for them!

Try the program Dupe Guru for duplicates