HT201769: iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library

Learn about iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library
pt2912

Q: There are 2 users on my MAC. We both share the same iPhoto library.

There are 2 users on my MAC. We both share the same iPhoto library. When we swap users and open iPhoto we a message that says "Examining Photo Library" then we get an error message the reads "There is a problem accessing one or more files in your iPhoto library. Do you want iPhoto to repair permissions for this"

We repair this every time but still get the same result every either one of us use iPhoto

iPhoto '11, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on May 9, 2014 7:08 AM

Close

Q: There are 2 users on my MAC. We both share the same iPhoto library.

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 9, 2014 7:23 AM in response to pt2912
    Level 10 (84,239 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 9, 2014 7:23 AM in response to pt2912

    What version of iPhoto and of the OS (is OS X 10.7.5 as you report correct)?

     

    Most people find that the only way to sucessfully share a library is on an external drive with ownership ignored  --  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1198

     

    LN

  • by pt2912,

    pt2912 pt2912 May 9, 2014 8:40 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 9, 2014 8:40 AM in response to LarryHN

    iPhoto 11 version 9.4.3 (720.91) and OS x 10.7.5 (11G63) The shared iPhoto was set up by Apple in their Reading shop some 3-4 years ago. It has been working fine until a couple of months ago. I have created a second library but the result is the same. Not sure if there is a fault with a "thumb nail" somewhere?

     

    pt

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin May 9, 2014 8:43 AM in response to pt2912
    Level 10 (139,490 points)
    iLife
    May 9, 2014 8:43 AM in response to pt2912

    The problem is that the iPhoto Library is a very complex ecosystem of interlinked files, metadata and db files all with quite particular permissions.

     

    Later versions of OS X, from 10.7 on, cause persistant issue with the Library permissions. There is no fix for this.

     

    The only way around it is to use an external drive.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 9, 2014 9:00 AM in response to pt2912
    Level 10 (84,239 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 9, 2014 9:00 AM in response to pt2912

    Unfortuatly the answer is

     

    Most people find that the only way to sucessfully share a library is on an external drive with ownership ignored  --  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1198

    things change as software changes - and the external drive has always been best - now it it the ony trouble free way

     

    LN