gmrsamson

Q: How to copy an iPhoto Library AND its photos

Using iPhoto Library Manager I have made a copy of my iPhoto Library to a new external drive, but I notice that when i open the copied Library, the photos it contains are still referenced to the original photos, not to copies on the new drive, as I had hoped.

 

If this is as expected, how does one copy an iPhoto Library AND the referenced photos to a new location, on an external drive, so it is all self-contained on the new drive?

 

thanks

Geoff

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), 2.5 GHz Intel Core i7 16 GB

Posted on Aug 26, 2016 2:23 AM

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Q: How to copy an iPhoto Library AND its photos

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  • by Terence Devlin,Helpful

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Aug 26, 2016 4:35 AM in response to gmrsamson
    Level 10 (139,475 points)
    iLife
    Aug 26, 2016 4:35 AM in response to gmrsamson

    Simple:

     

    Go to your Pictures Folder and find the iPhoto Library there. Drag it to the external drive. It will make an exact copy there

     

    Done.

     

    Caveats: the drive should be directly connected (USB, Thunderbolt etc) and formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

     

    Are you running a Managed or a Referenced Library?

     

    A Managed Library, is the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing. The files are then stored in the Library package

     

    A Referenced Library is when iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing because you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced. (You unchecked the option to copy files into the Library on import) The files are then stored where ever you put them and not in the Library package. In this scenario you are responsible for the File Management.

     

    If you have a referenced Library then this is a whole lot more complicated.

  • by gmrsamson,

    gmrsamson gmrsamson Aug 26, 2016 4:35 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Video
    Aug 26, 2016 4:35 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    Thanks for the reply.  Yes, I have a referenced library, that's the problem.  So, I'll try checking that box and see how we go.

     

    Cheers,

    Geoff

  • by gmrsamson,

    gmrsamson gmrsamson Aug 26, 2016 5:09 AM in response to gmrsamson
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Video
    Aug 26, 2016 5:09 AM in response to gmrsamson

    Mmm not so easy, it seems.  The checkbox appears to apply to new imports only.

     

    What's the procedure for copying a referenced library to a new drive?

     

    thanks,

    Geoff

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Aug 26, 2016 6:52 AM in response to gmrsamson
    Level 10 (139,475 points)
    iLife
    Aug 26, 2016 6:52 AM in response to gmrsamson

    What's the procedure for copying a referenced library to a new drive?

     

    There isn't one, frankly, and it's one of the many reasons experienced users argue against using iPhoto in this set up. There are very few (if any) gains and many pitfalls.

     

    You now have two options:

     

    1. Rebuild the Library as a Managed one.  In other words set it as a managed Library in the iPhoto preferences and then rebuild it with Library manager. You can rebuild to the external disk, or rebuild on your internal and after copy it over.

     

    or

     

    2. Hack the SQL database. This would mean copying the Library package and the file store to the external, and then using some significant computing knowledge to correct the file paths to the new location.

     

    iPhoto '11 referenced library problems

     

    details some of what that entails.

     

    Seriously tho, there is no gain from an Referenced Library in iPhoto.

     

    For more on iPhoto and file management see this User Tip:

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6361