shakerstevens

Q: How do I use an iPhoto library stored on an external HDD (time capsule) on the new photos app?

I have recently upgraded to a MacBook Air with the latest 10.10.3 updates as such it has photos installed, not iPhoto. The MacBook I'm upgrading from still had 10.9 and as such had iPhoto app.


The MacBook air has a smaller SSD (128GB) than the HDD from my 2008 MacBook, and isn't big enough to store my iPhoto library (over 150GB). I want to just keep my library on the external HDD (which is an Apple Time Capsule).

 

When I follow the steps on Designate a System Photo Library in Photos - Apple Support it seems to want to import all the photos, it took hours to get to just 3% of importing so I left over night. In the morning it said my MacBooks storage isn't big enough, which of course it isn't - I didn't want to import the library on my new MacBook Air !


I just want to change the location that photos looks for the library every time it opens, I don't actually want it to import the whole library which it appears to have tried to do. thanks!

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Apr 13, 2015 1:25 AM

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Q: How do I use an iPhoto library stored on an external HDD (time capsule) on the new photos app?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Terence Devlin,Helpful

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Apr 13, 2015 8:46 AM in response to shakerstevens
    Level 10 (139,582 points)
    iLife
    Apr 13, 2015 8:46 AM in response to shakerstevens

    How are you connected to the Time Capsule? It cannot be a wireless connection.

  • by shakerstevens,

    shakerstevens shakerstevens Apr 13, 2015 8:46 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 13, 2015 8:46 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    Thanks for getting back to me!

    It is connected over wireless. I don't have an RJ45 connection on the MacBook Air (although will purchase an adapter if needed). Even if I do have an RJ45 connection does this mean I can only ever use wired to view my external photo library?

     

    I suppose having the wired connection will give me the time to organise my photos and delete some of the rubbish (which I would have liked to do on my old MacBook first but it was running too slow, especially with such a big photo library - so I treated myself to a new MacBook Air so I did!).

     

    And I guess I could then put my favourite photos on the MacBook Air and have a separate library of older/lesser used photos on the Time Capsule and just access those as and when over RJ45 network cable. I prefer to use wireless as much as possible as the Time Capsule is normally stored in a room I don't use the MacBook or other wireless devices !

  • by Terence Devlin,Helpful

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Apr 13, 2015 8:59 AM in response to shakerstevens
    Level 10 (139,582 points)
    iLife
    Apr 13, 2015 8:59 AM in response to shakerstevens

    You can't have a Library on a network connection.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5168

     

    Note the comment:

     

    “Additionally, storing the iPhoto library on a network rather than locally on your computer can also lead to poor performance or data loss.” You're seeing the poor performance.

  • by shakerstevens,

    shakerstevens shakerstevens Apr 13, 2015 8:59 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 13, 2015 8:59 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    At the moment I don't mind the poor performance (which explains the over night bit), if I can just access my library that would be all I need at the moment. At the moment it is saying that I don't have enough space on my MBA SSD, which suggests its trying to import the whole library rather than just access it.

     

    Thanks for your help and pointing me in the right direction

     

     

    It does seem poor by Apple that they are pushing products with smaller storage which SSD of course is, but bringing iPhones out with better cameras that of course take pictures that are bigger in file size, and its becoming difficult to store these photos! External storage would be the perfect option if Apple were a little more flexible. Even if generic external storage was the least preferred option, you would think Apples own product the Time Capsule would be the answer!

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Apr 13, 2015 9:08 AM in response to shakerstevens
    Level 10 (139,582 points)
    iLife
    Apr 13, 2015 9:08 AM in response to shakerstevens

    Storage isn't the problem. The issue is wireless connection .

  • by shakerstevens,

    shakerstevens shakerstevens Apr 13, 2015 9:15 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 13, 2015 9:15 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    True, wireless is never going to be as fast as directly connected.

    I'll buy a thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter and at least then I'll have a connection and can start to organise my photos. thanks

  • by Boyd Porter,

    Boyd Porter Boyd Porter Apr 13, 2015 9:16 AM in response to shakerstevens
    Level 4 (1,048 points)
    Apr 13, 2015 9:16 AM in response to shakerstevens

    .

  • by shakerstevens,

    shakerstevens shakerstevens Apr 13, 2015 9:45 AM in response to Boyd Porter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 13, 2015 9:45 AM in response to Boyd Porter

    Hi Boyd, I think your post went missing. Any advice is gratefully received