hogbear

Q: Need to upload iPhoto library files to iCloud

Hello!  Over the years, I have created several iPhoto library files to an external drive to save space on my MacBook Air.  Now that I have a large iCloud storage plan, I want to upload those pictures/videos to iCloud to ensure I don't lose them.  But when I go to Photos>File>Upload, the iPhoto Library file can't be loaded.  How can I get those huge libraries of pictures into iCloud?

 

Thank you for any help you can provide!

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Dec 1, 2015 2:19 PM

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Q: Need to upload iPhoto library files to iCloud

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  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Dec 1, 2015 3:25 PM in response to hogbear
    Level 10 (139,532 points)
    iLife
    Dec 1, 2015 3:25 PM in response to hogbear

    You cannot upload iPhoto Libraries to iCloud, only Photos ones. Merge  them and then convert them to a Photos library. Designate that as your Photos system Library.

     

    The Photos forum is here:

     

    Photos for Mac

  • by hogbear,

    hogbear hogbear May 11, 2016 2:03 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 11, 2016 2:03 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    I thought I would close this thread.  I actually got the solution from someone at the Genius Bar at my local Apple Store. My issue was I was trying to import an iPhoto Library to Photos, which you can't do.  The solution, however, is to right-click the iPhoto Library file and click on, "Show Package Contents."  From there, it will provide several folders tied to the library.  But there is a folder called, "Masters."  Within that folder are the actual pictures that can then be dragged and dropped into Photos (or imported from the program itself).  Worked perfectly!  Now I can delete those old iPhoto libraries that hog up my disc space. 

     

    I hope this helps someone because I couldn't find this anywhere online. Maybe I didn't know how to search, but this was a very simple solution. I just didn't know enough about it to figure it out myself.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 11, 2016 3:39 PM in response to hogbear
    Level 10 (84,585 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 11, 2016 3:39 PM in response to hogbear

    Unfortunately this is totally the wrong way to migrate to Photos and loses every single bit of work you ever did in iPhoto and you found yet another "Genius" who should not even have a job - your did not migrate your iPhoto libraries - you simply threw everything away and imported only the original photos

     

    To migrate to Photos you install El Captain and launch Photos which will migrate your last used iPhoto library - if this goes wrong somehow or you what to migrate additional libraries you simple drag the library you want to migrate to the Photos icon in the Dock - no you do not EVER import a library - not into Photos or into iPhoto - you simily open and migrate them

     

    And unfortunately your original post only talked about using iPhoto to upload to iCLoud which can not be done - how you accurately ask about migrating to Photos you would have gotten the simple answer quickly

     

    and iCLoud is not a backup - depending on which of the several iCloud services you are actually talking about and what you actually want to accomplish there are other conisiderations

     

    see  http://www.apple.com/icloud/  Notice that none of these services are suggested to use as a backup service

     

    LN

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin May 11, 2016 10:37 PM in response to hogbear
    Level 10 (139,532 points)
    iLife
    May 11, 2016 10:37 PM in response to hogbear

    There is so much incorrect information in that post that needs to be addressed:

     

    My issue was I was trying to import an iPhoto Library to Photos, which you can't do. 

     

    You don't import Libraries from iPhoto to Photos, you migrate them.  This you do by simply opening them with the Photos application.

     

    The solution, however, is to right-click the iPhoto Library file and click on, "Show Package Contents."  From there, it will provide several folders tied to the library.  But there is a folder called, "Masters."  Within that folder are the actual pictures that can then be dragged and dropped into Photos (or imported from the program itself).

     

    As Larry points out, that destroys all the work you've ever done in iPhoto. Migrating them preserves all that work.

     

    Now I can delete those old iPhoto libraries that hog up my disc space

     

    Even this is incorrect. As Photos and iPhoto use Unix hard links, they are very efficient in their use of space. While both libraries may claim to require, say, 25 gigs of space, it's actually the same 25 gigs, not 50. What you did doubled the space requirement.

     

    I hope this helps someone because I couldn't find this anywhere online.

     

    There's a reason for that. It's because it's the least wise way of doing what you were trying to do. It destroys work, it doubles the required disk space and is utterly unnecessary.

     

    It's not a solution. What you've done is demolish the living room so you can change the wallpaper.

  • by hogbear,

    hogbear hogbear May 12, 2016 12:26 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2016 12:26 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    Thank you guys for your reply.  I'm not so sure of the tone...but ok.  Let me just make a few points that might clarify where I'm coming from and maybe will make sense.  First off, I'm sure you're both right - you obviously seem much more technical than me.  Hence why I was searching forums for the answer and not doing it myself.  I'm decent enough at playing around, but I'm no coder or IT professional, or even someone that's worked with Macs in a professional setting.

     

    With that said, I think you both made the comment about by migrating the master files as I did, I "lost all of the work I've done."  I'm not exactly sure what that means, and I don't know if you think I'm a professional photographer or something...I'm simply a dad that takes a lot of video and pictures of his kids. Prior to iCloud, I used a Macbook Air with limited hard drive space to upload photos from my Nikon and iPhone.  I never "worked" or edited them in any way. They were just the images that I saved.  Over time, I would fill up my hard drive with GBs of data and need to save them to an external drive.  With iPhoto, that was saving my iPhoto Library to the external and starting another Library in iPhoto.  As time passed, I ended up with 4 or 5 Libraries on the external drive.  After iCloud came about, I purchased 200 gb of space to upload and save my photos as backup in case I lost my phone or my hard drive crashed. Pretty standard practice.  But I needed to get all of those photos/videos from those old library files to iCloud. That was my dilemma and original question. Now, Larry, you indicated that iCloud is not a backup service. I'm not sure why that's the case.  I realize it is advertised as a place to house your data to load on any device, which is great, but there's no reason to say it's not a backup service.  You might throw terms and conditions in there that don't jive with me, but why would we literally "backup" our iPhones to iCloud?  That might not be the central service, but I think it's a very serviceable one.  I will also definitely backup my iMac to my Time Capsule which is a true backup, but again, it's a physical drive that can crash.  I can't risk losing years of pictures of my family, so I need a cloud source, and iCloud works well and seamlessly for that.

     

    The other point I want to make is you both have very much worked to point out that what I did, based on a "Genius" suggestion was absolutely the WORST thing I could have done. Maybe so, but why haven't you offered the correct alternative?  Terence, you said:

    You don't import Libraries from iPhoto to Photos, you migrate them.  This you do by simply opening them with the Photos application.

    Maybe you're right, I'm not doubting you; however, this is precisely why I started the thread.  These are not accurate instructions, and no one that I've found has given clear instructions.  I searched using the keyword 'migrate,' and found nothing that works. Because if you open iPhoto and try to "simply open them with the Photos application," you can't.  it is greyed out.  You can't simply migrate the iPhoto Library into Photos.  That was my initial problem!  While the suggestion I was given might not be ideal, it did work, and I didn't lose anything I've "worked on" because I hadn't worked on them. The metadata transferred, and everything.  Now if someone truly had worked on them, this might not be a good solution.  But it was for me.

     

    Given this, I just ask that for someone else like me that is not so technologically astute, could you reply with step by step instructions on how to do the correct solution?  Just saying you "simply migrate them" is not accurate or helpful.  Can you say, "step 1 do this; step 2 do this?"   That would be a lot of help, and I know there are others out there that would find great use in it. And all of your information prior to this will be helpful to know that what I was told to do might not be the best course of action, which is appreciated and welcome information. But again, having the alternative directions would be ideal.

     

    Again, thank you both for your time and suggestions.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 12, 2016 1:31 PM in response to hogbear
    Level 10 (84,585 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 12, 2016 1:31 PM in response to hogbear

    WOW

     

    Talk about a "tone" issue

     

    by all the work we mean anything and everything you did in iPhoto - the incorrect approach you were given by the Apple Genius lost every single edit you made, every metadata change and all organization you did

     

    And even it you did none of those you suggested this as a general answer for everyone

    I hope this helps someone because I couldn't find this anywhere online

    and you are probably the only user who has never made a single edit, built an album or added metadata

     

    The answer you posted a the brilliant andwer no one else is smart enough to know is totally wrong and should not be used by anyone who cares about the s=work the re have done

     

    and as to snide comments like

    but why haven't you offered the correct alternative?

    and

     

    These are not accurate instructions, and no one that I've found has given clear instructions.

     

    We did provide specific, detailed instructions

    To migrate to Photos you install El Captain and launch Photos which will migrate your last used iPhoto library - if this goes wrong somehow or you what to migrate additional libraries you simple drag the library you want to migrate to the Photos icon in the Dock - no you do not EVER import a library - not into Photos or into iPhoto - you simily open and migrate them

    Since you had trouble understanding simple, clear instructions I will reformat and add step numbers  for simple reading

     

    To migrate to Photos you


    1 - install El Captain and


    2 - launch Photos which will migrate your last used iPhoto library -



    if this goes wrong somehow or you want to migrate additional libraries


    you simple drag the library you want to migrate to the Photos icon in the Dock



    - no you do not EVER import a library - not into Photos or into iPhoto


    - you simily open and migrate them

    Very complete and simple to follow

     

     

    and as to

     

    Because if you open iPhoto and try to "simply open them with the Photos application," you can't

    Of course not and no one ever suggested that -  iPhoto is in no way involved with the migration to Photos -

     

    You have a nice day - maybe you can now get a job as an Apple Genius since you know so much more than the very experiences users here

     

    LN

  • by Boyd Porter,

    Boyd Porter Boyd Porter May 12, 2016 1:43 PM in response to hogbear
    Level 3 (990 points)
    May 12, 2016 1:43 PM in response to hogbear

    .

  • by hogbear,

    hogbear hogbear May 12, 2016 1:42 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2016 1:42 PM in response to LarryHN

    Larry, it's quite clear my tone was not understood. I in no way was meaning to offend - clearly I did - and I thought I was clear that I absolutely do not consider myself an expert.  I remarked multiple times that I don't understand and was looking for help.  And I still don't think I am explaining myself well enough, which is a "me" issue, not a "you" issue.  I know I can open a library in Photos, but that is causing issues with my existing library.  I definitely feel that I received poor information in the store, as I do completely agree that both of you are clearly more experienced than me (which I stated), I just didn't feel I was getting instructions I could follow because what you were saying is just not working for me. So I just don't know how to explain it, or I just don't understand what you mean.  Again, that's my problem.

     

    At this point, because I might be the only person to never edit my files or create albums, doing it the way I did probably did work for me. But it's safe to end this thread by saying this is not a good alternative and perhaps others that find it might understand what you both mean and it will work great for them.  I hope it does.

     

    Please don't take offense to my reply - it was meant genuinely, not sarcastically or in a snide fashion.  I do appreciate your time in replying - that is what I was asking for.  Take care.

  • by hogbear,

    hogbear hogbear May 12, 2016 1:45 PM in response to Boyd Porter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2016 1:45 PM in response to Boyd Porter

    Hi Boyd,

     

    I think this is where my confusion lies.  And maybe it's fine, but it worries me.  If I drop the library into Photos, it asks me if I want to switch to that library.  What happens to my existing library?  Where does it go?  I basically want to take 5 library files and combine them into one single library so everything is uploaded to iCloud and I don't have various files.  That's where I'm struggling and not making myself clear I guess.  But as I just stated to Larry, that might be the way to do it, but I just don't have the knowledge to piece it all together. 

     

    Thanks.

  • by Boyd Porter,

    Boyd Porter Boyd Porter May 12, 2016 2:06 PM in response to hogbear
    Level 3 (990 points)
    May 12, 2016 2:06 PM in response to hogbear

    The existing library doesn't go anywhere. In one of his answers Terence Devlin mentions the UNIX hard links. They point to the library.

     

    When I ran Photos the first time it automatically migrated my iPhoto library by creating hard links. I did not know that was the magic until much later.

     

    Have a nice day.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 12, 2016 3:58 PM in response to hogbear
    Level 10 (84,585 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 12, 2016 3:58 PM in response to hogbear

    If you migrate 5 iPhoto libraries you then have the 5 iPhoto libraries and 5 matching but totally independent  Photos libraries using Hard Links to both reference the originals and previews do space usage is not doubled - Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support

     

    Each Photos library will be on the same disk as the iPhoto library (the exception to this is if the iPhoto library is on a disk that is not formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) then Photos library will be on your main drive)

     

    You merge these by uploading one to iCloud Photo Library and letting it finish then opening the next one and setting it as the system library and letting it upload to ICPL and moving tot he next one until all are uploaded and you have one large library - at this stage you will have broken some of the hard links and you probably after a few weeks should archive your iPhoto libraries and all but the finial Photos library and remove them from your working drive

     

    LN

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad May 12, 2016 4:02 PM in response to hogbear
    Level 10 (141,085 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 12, 2016 4:02 PM in response to hogbear

    When you migrate an iPhoto library to a Photos library you end up with two library packages:

    P2iPmigration.jpg

    It's easy to tell which is the new Photos library from the icon.

    OTsig.png