philip e

Q: Aperture import iPhoto library, no duplicates

Merging iPhoto libraries into a single Aperture library risks duplicate images. Multiple iPhoto libraries might contain the same image.

 

According to the online manual there is a command 'File > Import > iPhoto Library' that would allow the 'Do not import duplicates' option. This command does not seem to exist in the current version of Aperture.

 

This may be a way to do this -

 

    Right or control click on the iPhoto library to 'Show Package Contents'. Move the Masters folder out of the package.

 

    In Aperture, click the Import arrow icon and navigate to the Masters folder. This  allows selection of the 'Do not import duplicates' checkbox.

 

    Then perhaps run Duplicate Annihilator on the Aperture library. Use the option to label any duplicates and originals. Flag the originals and search for keywords 'original' and 'duplicate' to verify.

 

 

Any comments on this - will it work?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.4), MacMini mid 2011, with external DAC

Posted on Jun 9, 2013 6:26 PM

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Q: Aperture import iPhoto library, no duplicates

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  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie Jun 9, 2013 10:58 PM in response to philip e
    Level 10 (106,848 points)
    iLife
    Jun 9, 2013 10:58 PM in response to philip e

    Merging iPhoto libraries into a single Aperture library risks duplicate images. Multiple iPhoto libraries might contain the same image.

    The recommended procedure to merge iPhoto libraries using Aperture is described here:

    Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries

     

    You will need the current Aperture 3 version - at least Aperture 3.3. and open all your iPhoto libraries in iPhoto 9.3 or later at least once.

     

    Merging libraries is preferable to simply importing the "masters" folder - this way you will be able to save all your work - edits, tagging, albums, etc.

    If you move the "Masters" folder from your iPhoto library, you may corrupt the library, and by importing only the originals and not the edited versions, all your work done in iPhoto will be lost.

     

    If you have Duplicate Annihilator, you can still run it afterwards to check, if duplicates are remaining after merging.  The "Merge" will only look for perfect duplicates - similar filename, similar size.

     

    Regards

    Léonie

  • by Terence Devlin,Helpful

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jun 9, 2013 11:04 PM in response to philip e
    Level 10 (139,532 points)
    iLife
    Jun 9, 2013 11:04 PM in response to philip e

    Right or control click on the iPhoto library to 'Show Package Contents'. Move the Masters folder out of the package.

     

        In Aperture, click the Import arrow icon and navigate to the Masters folder. This  allows selection of the 'Do not import duplicates' checkbox.

     

    That's not merging Libraries. You get none of the additional data you added in iPhoto - edits, keywords, date changes, titles etc etc. Basically, it's just importing files from the Finder.

  • by philip e,

    philip e philip e Jun 10, 2013 8:48 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 10, 2013 8:48 AM in response to léonie

    Thanks.

     

    The option of 'Do not import duplicates' when importing a library seems to have disappeared. Following that recommended procedure seems to add all images, rather than a consolidation that would not add duplicates.

     

    Duplicate Annihilator, while helpful, seems  distracted by an SLR's high frame rates. Images are too similar for the software to discriminate duplicates from similar images. In my library, roughly 10% of photos identified as duplicates truly were. In a 100,000 image database, I am sorting through 10,000 images identified as duplicates, out of which about 1000 truly are.

     

    An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  There ought to be a way to merge libraries without adding duplicates.

  • by léonie,Solvedanswer

    léonie léonie Jun 10, 2013 8:55 AM in response to philip e
    Level 10 (106,848 points)
    iLife
    Jun 10, 2013 8:55 AM in response to philip e

    The option of 'Do not import duplicates' when importing a library seems to have disappeared. Following that recommended procedure seems to add all images, rather than a consolidation that would not add duplicates.

    Aperture is checking for duplicates by default. When it recognized duplicates, you will be prompted if Aperture should add the library (import the dulicates) or merge the library (keep one of the duplicates).

    You can either keep the imported version or the other version.

     

    The only snag is - as I pointed out above - Aperture has very restrictive rules what constitutes a duplicate. Only exact duplicates (same filename, same size and image format) will be recognized as duplicates.

  • by philip e,

    philip e philip e Jun 10, 2013 9:19 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jun 10, 2013 9:19 AM in response to léonie

    Got it - thank you!

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Jun 10, 2013 9:32 AM in response to philip e
    Level 10 (106,848 points)
    iLife
    Jun 10, 2013 9:32 AM in response to philip e

    You are welcome