Getting "Unable to create VOLUMES/" error when exporting photos

Yes, it is a problem with the iPhoto Library, not the application. If the normal rebuild does not recover the library try the second and third fix below in order as needed:

1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select all options.

2 - rebuild the library using 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: This method leaves your current library untouched and creates a new library. If the new library isn't what you expected you can delete it and stick with the current on. It may take some time to create the new library if you have a lot of photos.

3 - start over with a new library and import the Originals folder from your original library as follows:

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

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

OT

Take a look at the tip at the end of my signature above. It can help you recover from a damaged database file quickly and easily.

OT

Are you trying to place these photos in the root directory of the memory stick? The FAT formatted memory cards and flash drives are overly sensitive to files in the root directory. Try exporting to a folder on the desktop first and then drag the folder to the memory stick. See if that will work for you.

TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) 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 or later), 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 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger 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.≤br>
Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

Download BatchMod from

http://macchampion.com/arbysoft/

And apply it to the iPhoto Library Folder using the settings found here:

http://homepage.mac.com/toad.hall/.Pictures/Forum/BatChmod.png

(Credit to Old Toad for this one).

Regards

TD

I've had this same problem, and it appears that the export fails because the photos have been corrupted. I can see them in iPhoto, but when I copy them to the desktop (since I cannot export), they will not open in Preview, Photoshop, etc. The error message is that the files are corrupt.

The original photos are fine; I can re-import them into iPhoto and am able to export with no problems. I have tried all of the suggestions to restore these photos: rebuilding the library using iPhoto, rebuilding using iPhoto Library Manager, extracting with iPhoto Library Manager, etc.

I have accepted that I will have to replace the originals, but would like to know WHY this happened. With a library of over 8000 photos, I do not want to have this repeated for no apparent reason.

I would also like to know if it's possible to find corrupt photos without selecting each photo individually and attempting to export. This is a real pain.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Eleanor

If you can see the photos in iPhoto then they are not corrupt. If they were you wouldn't be able to see them there either.

So, something is going wrong with your exporting process.

Are you running a Managed Library or a Referenced library?

If you're running a Managed library, then it's the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing

If you're running a Referenced Library, then you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced and iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing.

Regards

TD

Then you have a managed library.

Go to your Pictures Folder. There you'll see the icon for your iPhoto Library. Right Click on that icon and select 'Show Package Contents' from the resulting menu. A Finder window will open and you'll see your Library internals. Have a look for the /Originals Folder. Inside it will be the folders for your Events. These should include the full sized photos.

If they do, then

Try these in order - from best option on down...

1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.

2. Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums back.

3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.

To create and populate a new library:

Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.

In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'

Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop

Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.

Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.

When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.

In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.

Regards

TD

Thanks. I have looked in the package, found some of the problem photos in the "originals" folder and they are bad (size is 0 kb, won't open in Preview). Then I looked for these same photos in the "data" folder and they seem OK.

I did try rebuilding with iPhoto Library Manager yesterday, but was not able to do a rebuild (left it running for over 12 hours, then had to force quit).

I do have backups but am not sure whether I would just be bringing over a backup with the same problems, since I don't know when these files went bad.

The Data Folder contains the tiny thumbnails that iPhoto uses for display in the iPhoto Window. Given that the pics in the Originals Folder are trashed, then your only hope is your back up. How is the back up created? Can you examine the files on it?

Regards

TD

Thanks, good to know! I have several backups on external drives, one through Time Machine and another drive devoted to this collection, to which I manually copy the iPhoto library periodically (drag file to drive folder).

I examined the second one (backup done a few days ago), and found some of the problem photos, which look good. I have now my computer iPhoto library with this one. Now, I find the problem photo in the Event to which I have assigned it, but get the "black circle !" when I double-click on the thumbnail. Looking through the "originals" folder for the library, I can find the photo in a different place. So evidently iPhoto can't find it; is there a way to resynch?

If you can track down where iPhoto expects the file to be, then you may be able to re-link things.

However, it may just be simpler to write this library off and restore from the back up.

Regards

TD

Unfortunately, this IS the backup, and since most of the photos are OK, I prefer not to start from scratch.

I can choose a photo, control-click and choose "Show file" to find the original photo. But I do not see any way to relink. Is this an option?

No.

To create and populate a new library:

Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.

In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'

Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop

Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.

Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.

When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.

In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.

Regards

TD

Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the apple and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Include the option to repair permissions in the Library.

Regards

TD