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private or hidden folder in iPhoto

I am curious to know if there is a way to make a private or hidden folder in iPhoto for pictures that you would not like the general public to see when they bring up your iPhoto library. Or, is there a way to keep certain pictures from showing up in the library?

ibookG4, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Jan 28, 2008 9:01 AM

Reply
21 replies

Jan 28, 2008 9:15 AM in response to breezy0204

breezy0204

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.

You can use the Hide option, but that's not very secure. Best to have a separate library (hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. Select 'Create Library.' You use the same command to switch between libraries. For moving pics between libraries check out iPhoto Library Manager) If you're really worried about your mother seeing something that might disappoint her, put that library on an encrypted dmg.

Regards

TD

Jan 28, 2008 12:40 PM in response to breezy0204

Open Disk Utility and in the File menu select New->Blank disk image. From there you select an encrypted disk, enter the password, set the size and off you go.


User uploaded file

TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Feb 7, 2008 8:12 AM in response to Yer_Man

I also had this question, how to privatize photos. Is this really the only way to make photos un-viewable to others...seems odd. Anyway I did create another library in iphoto but often when I do the option+iphoto icon it only opens the iphoto app and does not ask me to pick a library. Am I doing something wrong? Could this be because I am trying to do it from the dock and not from the apps. window?

Feb 7, 2008 8:21 AM in response to a2jesse

a2jesse

Is this really the only way to make photos un-viewable to others...seems odd.


It is. Why does it seem odd?

but often when I do the option+iphoto icon it only opens the iphoto app and does not ask me to pick a library. Am I doing something wrong? Could this be because I am trying to do it from the dock and not from the apps. window?


The most likely reason is posibly that you're letting go of the option (or alt) key key a little too soon. If I'm choosing a library I tend to keep the key depressed until i get that dialogue.

Regards

TD

Feb 7, 2008 10:00 AM in response to a2jesse

Another way to privatize a library or files is to create a password protected disk image and place the library in it.

If you're going to be using multiple libraries you might consider using iPhoto Library Manager. It lets you easily move between libraries and, if necessary, copy albums or events between them while preserving keywords, comments and titles.

OT

Feb 16, 2008 9:30 AM in response to a2jesse

You're absolutely right, that IS an odd way of going about things. Creating a separate library, encrypted disk image, or separate user accounts are viable options for the ultra-paranoid or those with serious security concerns. Most of us, however, want a simpler option for easily tagging selected images as hidden and then quickly toggling whether or not those images are displayed.

iPhoto 08 allows you to tag individual photos as hidden by using the Photos-Hide and Photos-Unhide menu commands (keyboard shortcut: Command-L). Then you can toggle whether or not to display all hidden photos using the View-Hidden Photos menu command (shortcut Command-Shift-H).

Naturally, this isn't a "secure" method because anyone can find the "show hidden photos" command right up there in the menu. Nevertheless, this is sufficient for many purposes, mainly when you just want to filter out unwanted photos while browsing or presenting photos to others.

The bigger problem is that iPhoto has a HUGE bug which makes the hide/unhide toggle completely unreliable while browsing Events. +(It works fine in Photos or Albums views, though.)+ For some reason Apple has chosen not to publicly acknowledge this issue and some well-intentioned forum members insist on offering a variety of time-wasting suggestions and runarrounds instead of merely pointing out that this feature is broken.

I suggest you do as I did and formally submit a bug report to Apple. As they say, the squeaky wheel gets the oil, so the best way to get Apple to fix the problem is by complaining about it.

Feb 16, 2008 10:25 AM in response to Walter A.

some well-intentioned forum members insist on offering a variety of time-wasting suggestions and runarrounds instead of merely pointing out that this feature is broken.


SOrry that you are dissatisfied with the volunteer users who try to assist people with workarounds for problems - NO ONE here can speak for Apple as to the the status of a problem - we can ONLY try to help

If this makes you unhappy I suggest that you quit asking questions of the "some well-intentioned forum members insist on offering a variety of time-wasting suggestions and runarrounds instead of merely pointing out that this feature is broken."

Many people are very happy to have access to this resource - but NO ONE makes you use it since it "only wastes your time." I very surprised you bother - sorry that I bothered to try another workaround for your hidden photo problem (which WORKED for me) and post it to further waste your time - I will try to remember not to bother you with responses in the future

LN

Feb 16, 2008 1:31 PM in response to LarryHN

LarryHN wrote:
some well-intentioned forum members insist on offering a variety of time-wasting suggestions and runarrounds instead of merely pointing out that this feature is broken.


SOrry that you are dissatisfied with the volunteer users who try to assist people with workarounds for problems - NO ONE here can speak for Apple as to the the status of a problem - we can ONLY try to help

If this makes you unhappy I suggest that you quit asking questions of the "some well-intentioned forum members insist on offering a variety of time-wasting suggestions and runarrounds instead of merely pointing out that this feature is broken."

Many people are very happy to have access to this resource - but NO ONE makes you use it since it "only wastes your time." I very surprised you bother - sorry that I bothered to try another workaround for your hidden photo problem (which WORKED for me) and post it to further waste your time - I will try to remember not to bother you with responses in the future

LN


I respect and appreciate anyone taking the time to assist fellow users in these forums. There are situations, however, where a known bug is to blame, and yet I see people being told to reset this or reinstall that without acknowledging that there is in fact a DEFECT to blame. The problem with this is that the person seeking help will spend time and energy following those suggestions in vain only to discover that they are of no help. Meanwhile, other people searching the forums for the same topic will likewise be misled into trying these time consuming yet ineffective fixes, again without being told that there's a DEFECT involved.

End result is that it becomes more difficult to find real answers and you distract users from what should be their primary task of reporting the bug to Apple.

Feb 16, 2008 2:03 PM in response to Walter A.

I respect and appreciate anyone taking the time to assist fellow users in these forums.


Really, because you don't sound it.

There are situations, however, where a known bug is to blame,


Yes, but who knows this is a bug?

The problem with this is that you assume that you have discovered a bug - and perhaps you have - and an awful lot of people who post on here are equally convinced that they have discovered a bug. Yet, about 99% of the time they have discovered no such thing, but really have found either a glitch with their own Mac and application, or have not quite grasped the way the application works.

The vast majority of the posts we respond to here are solved by

1. Explaining a way to achieve the desire effect

or

2. Trashing the Preference File / Repairing Permissions / Rebuilding the Library

or

3. More rarely, recovering and recreating the library.

So, when folks recommend these steps it's based on quite a bit of time spent here responding to people with problems, and knowing that these steps will solve most issues.

When we do find a bug - and the Quicktime/Photoshop bug in v6 is an excellent example - we were quite clear in explaining that there was a defect involved and offering a workaround as well as suggesting that feedback be offered to Apple to let them know about the issue.

This is a User to User forum, with all the strengths and weaknesses of that system. It works because folks give of their time and experience on a broad range of issues. I've seen incorrect advice on this forum (I've offered some myself) but I cannot recall an example of malicious advice, advice that was designed to trick other Users into

time consuming yet ineffective fixes


It's always been given in good spirit.

If you're not content to work within that system, you'll be much happier elsewhere.

Finally,

you distract users from what should be their primary task of reporting the bug to Apple.


That is not a User's primary task. It may be your primary focus, but it's not for you or I to decide what all the other users "should" be doing.

Regards

TD

Feb 16, 2008 2:22 PM in response to Yer_Man

"Yes, but who knows this is a bug?"

.
When there are numerous posts reporting the same issue, and all the suggested fixes have yet to resolve the problem, I believe it's safe to say we can call this a DEFECT.

At that point, I think it's a waste of everyone's time to continue offering the same ineffective solutions when nobody has reported a successful resolution.

I would welcome, however, posts from people with similar hardware/software configurations who are unable to reproduce the problem. By analyzing the differences we may find an answer or a culprit. But please, stop telling people to delete their preferences file (and other troubleshooting-101 ideas) when it's been shown to be ineffective for this problem.

private or hidden folder in iPhoto

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