Medley
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Upgrading to El Capitan and Photos

I have a 2010 iMac running OS X 10.8.5.  I am using iPhoto ’09 v.8.1.2 for a library with 28,826 photos (67 GB).

 

I want to upgrade to El Capitan.  I bought a copy of Photos for Mac and iOS: The Missing Manual to try to prepare myself. 

 

The author’s first step for migrating from iPhoto to Photos for Mac is to upgrade iPhoto to the latest version.  The catch-22 is that 9.6.1 has disappeared from the App Store and the author says that if you haven’t upgraded iPhoto to 9.6.1 before you upgrade to OS X 10.3, iPhoto won’t open at all.  My searching of this forum seems to confirm that others have had the experience of not being able to upgrade iPhoto, especially if they have never purchased an iPhoto update in the App Store—which I have not.

 

So that seems to mean that once I upgrade to El Capitan, I will no longer be able to use iPhoto.  I can reconcile myself to that but I still need to know the best way to prepare for the upgrade in order to avoid problems.

 

On Oct 27, 2015 Old Toad told someone using an even older version of iPhoto than I am, “You don't need to upgrade your iPhoto if all you want to do is migrate to and use the new Photos app in El Capitan.”  That is reassuring.

 

I know the first step is a backup.  And I’ve read that iPhoto Trash as well as the Finder’s Trash should be emptied.

 

Is there anything else I should do?

 

When I upgraded from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion last February, Old Toad advised me to first rebuild my iPhoto Library.  Apple’s built-in tool made a mess and I used iPhoto Library Manager version 3.2.4.  Is there any reason I would need to rebuild the library again?

 

Thanks!

Posted on Dec 1, 2015 8:19 AM

by léonie,Apple recommended
léonie léonie
Level 10 (107,629 points)
iCloud
A:

So that seems to mean that once I upgrade to El Capitan, I will no longer be able to use iPhoto.  I can reconcile myself to that but I still need to know the best way to prepare for the upgrade in order to avoid problems.

That is right.  iPhoto 9.6.1 is the only version compatible with El Capitan.

But you cannot update iPhoto 8.1.2 to this version.  It is not a free update but requires a purchase of iPhoto '11, and that is not possible any longer, because Apple stopped selling iPhoto from the App Store.

 

When I upgraded from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion last February, Old Toad advised me to first rebuild my iPhoto Library.  Apple’s built-in tool made a mess and I used iPhoto Library Manager version 3.2.4.  Is there any reason I would need to rebuild the library again?

It would be wise to run all repairs - repair permissions, repair library, to ensure the iPhoto library has no issues. It needs to be done before you upgrade the system, because it will be impossible to run iPhoto 9.8.1 after the upgrade, if you should discover issues with the library.  But make a backup copy of the library, before you repair it. This way you can easily restore the original library, if the repair should go wrong.

 

I know the first step is a backup.

 

 

Make a full backup -a Time machine backup or a bootable clone.  Then you can restore your current system, if you should encounter problems on El Capitan.  See:   OS X El Capitan: Revert to a previous OS X version

 

Where is your iPhoto Library stored?  If it is on an external drive, move it to a drive, that is formatted MacOS Extended (Journaled). Otherwise the Migration to Photos will not work.

 

Photos does not yet support batch changing like iPhoto did.  If you need to batch change titles to the date or the filename do it while you are still using iPhoto.

Finish all book projects or Calendar projects in iPhoto, because the book and Calendar templates have changed and the books might look different in Photos.

 

How Photos handles content and metadata from iPhoto and Aperture - Apple Support

Posted on Dec 1, 2015 8:38 AM

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Medley

Q: Upgrading to El Capitan and Photos

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  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Dec 21, 2015 8:56 AM in response to Medley
    Level 10 (141,223 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 21, 2015 8:56 AM in response to Medley
    I am reluctant to do that.  Back in February when I was upgrading to Mountain Lion, I tried to use the built-in iPhoto repair options and ended up with half my pictures missing and had to restore the Library from back-up.

    That's what backups are for.  It's just good practice to make sure you have a current backup copy of the library before running any first aid routines on the library.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Dec 21, 2015 9:41 AM in response to Medley
    Level 10 (107,629 points)
    iCloud
    Dec 21, 2015 9:41 AM in response to Medley

    Medley wrote:

     

    Thank you.  Just to be clear:  you are saying that at this point, if you were me, you would do nothing more to prepare for El Capitan and Photos.  Is that correct?

    Just do not do the upgrade without a working backup. Better be safe than sorry.  You are running Time Machine, that is good.

    If you have cloning software like Super Duper or Carbon Copy Cloner it would be good to make a second backup by cloning your Mac to a second drive.  If you have a bootable clone of your Mac when you upgrade to el Capitan, you can always but your Mac from this clone and run your software as it is now, should you encounter unexpected problems.

  • by Medley,

    Medley Medley Dec 21, 2015 11:56 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 21, 2015 11:56 AM in response to léonie

    Thank you.  I'm afraid cloning is beyond me.

     

    One additional question:

     

    Over the years, I have exported all my photos from iPhoto, including the titles and descriptions, and saved them on an external hard drive.  If there are problems with the migration from iPhoto to Photos for Mac and I need to load any of those exported photos into Photos for Mac, will the titles and descriptions load along with the pictures? 

     

    I have invested a lot of time in labeling my pictures and don’t want to lose that.

     

    Thanks!

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Dec 21, 2015 12:16 PM in response to Medley
    Level 10 (107,629 points)
    iCloud
    Dec 21, 2015 12:16 PM in response to Medley

    Photos has been designed to be able to migrate iPhoto Libraries with all metadata included. See: How Photos handles content and metadata from iPhoto and Aperture - Apple Support

    Unless something goes awfully wrong, your work should be saved.

    And if you exported your photos with the option to inlcude the meta date, these photos should show the titles and descriptions and the keywords, if you import them to Photos.

  • by Medley,

    Medley Medley Dec 21, 2015 12:20 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 21, 2015 12:20 PM in response to léonie

    Thanks very much!

  • by Mr.Poo,

    Mr.Poo Mr.Poo May 15, 2016 10:17 AM in response to Medley
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 15, 2016 10:17 AM in response to Medley

    Hi there,

    I´m using this thread, because my general questions will fit here, after reading all posts.

     

    I today update from 10.10.3 to OS X El Capitan. After successfull upgrade and restart I recognized, that my iPhoto Library was renamed from

    iPhoto Library to iPhoto Library.photolibraray and a new file called Photos Library.photoslibrary was generated with nearly the same size.

     

    1. What happend to my original iPhoto Library? Was it touched somehow or just renamed?
    2. Did it become a new file type or why did it get the new extension "iphotolibrary"?
    3. Who generated the new Photos Library.photoslibrary ? I even didn´t fire up iPhoto nor Photos.
    4. Does it contain exactly the same content related to photos and videos? As I read How Photos handles content and metadata from iPhoto and Aperture  it seems so.
      1. Please note: My original iPhoto Library.photolibraray was also used by Aperture and was structured as a referenced library
    5. Since I am not going to use the new Photos yet, I would like to know, if it is possible to regenerate the mysteriously generated Photos Library.photoslibrary (see Q3),  if I would delete it now to save space?
    6. Just as an info: I used to use my iPhoto Library with Aperture (referenced library). I now use Lightroom, which shares the same (RAW) originals, to which my referenced iPhoto/Aperture Library references. I only keep iPhoto and Aperture to be able to edit the old adjustments. Thats why it gets a little bit complicated in my head, since the new Photos is now the 4th application and I don´t know how to organize my photos and videos.


    Thank you very much for your help

    and best regards

    MrP.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad May 15, 2016 10:39 AM in response to Mr.Poo
    Level 10 (141,223 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 15, 2016 10:39 AM in response to Mr.Poo

    What happend to my original iPhoto Library? Was it touched somehow or just renamed?

    When an iPhoto library is migrated to Photos you end up with two libraries:

    P2iPmigration.jpg

    The ".photoslibrary" file is the new library and the ".migratedphotolibrary" is the iPhoto Library. It get's it's extension renamed so Photos won't migrate it again.

    Who generated the new Photos Library.photoslibrary ? I even didn´t fire up iPhoto nor Photos.

    It gets generated only when Photos is run the first time.  I don't know how it might have been run on your machine.

    Does it contain exactly the same content related to photos and videos?

    Yes.  The only differences might be in project if the theme you used in iPhoto isn't available in Photos.

    Since I am not going to use the new Photos yet, I would like to know, if it is possible to regenerate the mysteriously generated Photos Library.photoslibrary

    Yes.  But first make sure you're able to open your iPhoto library with iPhoto by double clicking on it and clicking on the Use  iPhoto button from this window:

    iPhoto001.jpg

    Once you get the migrated iPhoto library opened again with iPhoto you can delete the Photos library.

    I don´t know how to organize my photos and videos.

    You organize the photos and videos pretty much the same as in iPhoto.  There are a couple of differences like Moments instead of Events.  That is described in this user tip:  Moments in Photos are the New Events


    These user tips from Photos for Mac will help you in your transition from iPhoto to Photos:

    Photos 2.0 vs iPhoto 9.6.1:  Features and Capabilities

    Moments in Photos are the New Events

    External Editors in Photos Are Here

    Notes on Migrating an iPhoto Library from iPhoto to Photos for Mac

    Photo Editing Extensions for Photos for Mac

     

    Remember iPhoto is on it's death bed.  It is no longer supported at the Apple Print Products Store and there will be no more updates to it.  iPhoto 9.6.1 was the last.  It's only a matter of time before iPhoto won't be compatible with the system.

     

    With the availability of external editors in Photos it's editing capability is very strong depend on what 3rd party  editors you have in your arsenal.

     

    OTsig.png

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin May 15, 2016 10:46 AM in response to Mr.Poo
    Level 10 (139,557 points)
    iLife
    May 15, 2016 10:46 AM in response to Mr.Poo
    I now use Lightroom

     

    Simplify. Stick with that and forget the rest. Youc an import your Aperture / iPhoto Libraries to LR. Soon, a version of the OS will come along that won't run Aperture or iPgoto. If you're an Aperture/Lightroom user there is nothing in Photos for you.

  • by Mr.Poo,

    Mr.Poo Mr.Poo May 16, 2016 10:15 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 16, 2016 10:15 AM in response to Old Toad

    Thanks OT and Terence for your help,

     

    as well as the links from OT, which are very interesting.

     

    At the end, I will delete the newly generated photoslibrary, because I will stick with Lightroom. I was just afraid, if somehow my original iPhoto library was touched, because I got renamed twice.

     

    Best regards

    Mr.P

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