Can't Find my Photo Book Project?!

Dana

My guess is that when you force quit the application you lost the Book as it was not written to the database file.

Books (like albums, slideshows etc) are virtual entities. There is no folder on your hard disk with your book or albums, they are entries in the main database file - essentially, they are an instruction to the application: 'Display these pics together'.

Any time that iPhoto is disturbed writing to the db file (like when you did the hard shut down) then there is a risk on the db being corrupted.

So, no, there's nowhere your project is hiding.

The only possibility s that Time Machine may have backed up at some point while you were working, so it may have a part of it. I don't use TM, so for details on recovering from it check the Help or post on the TM forum.

Do a search for Old Toad. He's the most knowledgeable poster on here and he has generously created a Automator app that will back up the db file while you're working. It's usually attached to his posts as a signature.

Regards

TD

Dana:

For a quicker and easier way to recover from similar losses in the future see the tip at the end of my signature below. You can run the referenced application as frequently as you want, after every import, every change to a book or calendar, etc. like you would use the Save command in other applications. iPhoto does not have to be closed to use it, just idle. If the problem exists, just replace the damaged database file with the backup version and you're back up and running.

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.