cant edit photos

Thomas:

Your iPhoto Advanced preferences pane looks like this, right? What do you see in the edit view, an exclamation mark ( ! ) or a blank white window? The ! indicates that iPhoto has lost the link to the original file. The blank white window can mean no access privileges to the original. If it's the latterdownload and run BatChmod on the iPhoto Library folder with the settings shown here, putting your administrator login name, long or short, in the owner and group sections. You can either type in the path to the folder or just drag the folder into that field.

If your getting the "!" in the window try rebuilding the library with iPhoto LIbrary Manager as follows:

Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library

1 -Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.

2 -Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your User/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.

3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File->Rebuild Library menu option

4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.

5 - Click on the Create button.

Note: It may take some time to create the new library if you have a lot of photos. Report back on how long it took and how many photos you have in the library so we can give other users an idea of how long it may take.

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.

I have also tried everything that has been suggested on this board to no avail - still the blank white screen. However, the editor thinks it is editing - I can apply things without seeing anything that happens and it will change the thumbnail.

For now I have had to set it to use an outside editor (Elements) when the thumb is double-clicked and this works fine instead of using the iPhoto editor. When the photo is saved the changes are there in the thumb and can I still revert to original if needed.

Have you tried created a new temporary library and see it you can edit OK in there? If so you may have to try starting over with a new library and import the Original photos from the old one as follows:

Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.

1. Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
   
2. Open the library package like this.
   
3. Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
   
4. Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open iPhoto window.

This will create a new library with the same Events as the original library if you have the Finder checkbox unchecked in the Events preference pane.

Yes, I did that. Even created a new, clean account, opened iphoto with no library and imported a couple of plain jpegs from another drive to create the new library - same result. iPhoto clearly finds the files, shows the pictures large in slideshow, and appears to edit them in the edit window, you just can't see the image - big white blank.

Do appreciate all your effort. I'm hoping at some point some update will happen to address this. Meanwhile I will edit in elements unless I come up with something.

Another test: boot into Safe Mode and try again. This mode only activates the minimal extensions and components for the system. If you can edit fine there, I'm not betting on it but worth a try, then there's an issue with the current system as configured for your accounts. If it the problem remains then an Archive and Install of Leopard with the option of keep the user and internet settings may be required. If you get to that step I'd also reinstall iPhoto. Here are a couple of Apple docs on reinstalling the system:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/8177.html
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120

OT

Ok, thanks OT and TD for all your help. You worked hard for me and believe me when I say I tried everything several times. I hope you look at this because it is another piece of this puzzle.

It seemed to me I had a hardware problem because the picture was found and edited in edit mode even though it couldn't be seen Then I had problems with DVD player saying a valid video device couldn't be found. It wouldn't open. After some discussion group and internet research, I learned that the new DVD player wouldn't function with my original 128 Rage pro card from my G4 and wondered if the same was true for iPhoto.

Guess what? I bought a Radeon 7500 32 card, which while old and pathetic to games players (which I'm not so it's fine) was plenty for a primarily internet user/word processor person, put it in, and both DVD Player and iPhoto work fine, exactly as they are supposed to, with the picture in the edit window. This is even with a 1.0 GHz instead of 1.6 as Apple recommends for DVD player. People with no other answer should check on their machine vintage. There are lots of better video cards out there if needed.

Another for the books.

Eric:

Good sleuthing! Give your post a solved rating so other users will know there's a solution in this thread. That's sure to help users with older hardware.

OT