VinnyTroia1

Q: Import folders to Photos app as albums

I organize all of my photos into folders. I have years of photos organized properly by year_date_event_name. I would like to import the folders directly into the Photos app as Albums named as the folder name.

 

I can't seem to even find a way to import the folders as albums, let alone having the folder name used as the album name.

 

I'm guessing a script would be the best way to do this? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Posted on Apr 25, 2015 1:43 PM

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Q: Import folders to Photos app as albums

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  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Apr 25, 2015 1:47 PM in response to VinnyTroia1
    Level 10 (141,120 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 25, 2015 1:47 PM in response to VinnyTroia1

    You can't do what you want automatically. You'll have to create the albums from each import as described in the quoted text below.

     

    Moments in Photo are the new Events, i.e. groupings of photos sorted by date taken.

     

    When the iPhoto Library was first migrated to Photos there was a folder created in the sidebar titled iPhoto Events and all migrated iPhoto Events (which are now Moments) are represented by an album in that folder. To open the sidebar if it's not already open use the Option+Command+S key combination.

     

    There's a way to simulate events in Photos.

    When new photos are imported into the Photos library go to the Last Import smart album, select all the photos and use the File New Album menu option or use the key combination Command+N.  Name it as desired.  It will appear just above the iPhoto Events folder where you can drag it into the iPhoto Events folder

    When you click on the iPhoto Events folder you'll get a simulated iPhoto Events window.

    The downside to the simulation is that the Album/Events can only be sorted automatically by Title. But they can also be sorted manually, either in the sidebar or in the folder's window at the right.

     

    Ask Apple for more sorting options and for missing features in Photos via https://www.apple.com/feedback/photos.html.

    OTsig.png

  • by VinnyTroia1,

    VinnyTroia1 VinnyTroia1 Apr 25, 2015 1:49 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Apr 25, 2015 1:49 PM in response to Old Toad

    thanks but i have hundreds of events. doing them one at a time isn't an option. hoping for a script solution.

  • by Old Toad,Helpful

    Old Toad Old Toad Apr 25, 2015 11:15 PM in response to VinnyTroia1
    Level 10 (141,120 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 25, 2015 11:15 PM in response to VinnyTroia1

    Did you read the first part of my post? 

     

    When the iPhoto Library was first migrated to Photos there was a folder created in the sidebar titled iPhoto Events and all migrated iPhoto Events (which are now Moments) are represented by an album in that folder.

    All of the iPhoto Events that were in your iPhoto Library at the time of conversion have been added as albums in the iPhoto Events folder in the sidebar:

    Photos001.jpg

     

    It's only new imports that will need to be made into albums.

  • by VinnyTroia1,

    VinnyTroia1 VinnyTroia1 Apr 25, 2015 1:58 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Apr 25, 2015 1:58 PM in response to Old Toad

    I did, thank you. The issue is that I'm starting from scratch. I guess I could start a new iphoto library than import it. Will iPhoto properly make the album names?

  • by Old Toad,Solvedanswer

    Old Toad Old Toad Apr 25, 2015 3:24 PM in response to VinnyTroia1
    Level 10 (141,120 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 25, 2015 3:24 PM in response to VinnyTroia1
    Will iPhoto properly make the album names?

    If you import folder of photos into iPhoto the resulting event will have the same name as the folder.

     

    Don't you have a backup copy of your library that you can start with?

  • by Rysz,

    Rysz Rysz Apr 25, 2015 3:41 PM in response to VinnyTroia1
    Level 7 (20,507 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 25, 2015 3:41 PM in response to VinnyTroia1

    VinnyTroia1 wrote:

    thanks but i have hundreds of events. doing them one at a time isn't an option.

    One at a time?

    Create a new Folder (or a Folder within a Folder), select multiple Albums (your former Events) from the iPhoto Events folder and move them to the new Folder.

     

    PS: It's a lot easier if you select Show Sidebar in the View menu.