Can't find my Iphoto library (ilife08) ?

Bichon

Welcome to the Apple user discussion forums

Please explain your problem

Your iPhoto library is (by default) in your pictures folder - However you should not be going into it - mucking around inside of the iPhoto library can corrupt your library and cause you to lose data

If you are trying to access you photos exporting is one way - many other ways are described in Terence's post in this thread.

LN

I am having the exact same problem.
Absolutely NO iPhoto library folder in my Pictures folder and a Spotlight search for either "iPhoto library" og any file name of my photo's yields 0 results.
I can still view and work with the photo's as usual and they certainly take up space on my hard drive.
Also, when holding down the "shift" key while launching iPhoto, the only library displayed is on a DISCONNECTED external hard drive. Iphoto still - happily, opens the library!!!

Walentin

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.

In the Finder: Go Menu select Go to Folder

in the resulting window type

/Volumes

A new finder window will open. Can you see an iPhoto Library there?

Regards

TD

I have the exact same problem! I see the iphoto Folder in the External Hard Drive, though it is only through 2007. Trying the /volumes trick just brought up the HD's available (Macbook and External). As of now the Iphoto Library is fine and all 25 GB's are there and exportable and full size.
If I right click and then click "SHow Package Contents" then I see folders and all the info up to date including 2008 and the last photos I imported.
Weird.

I'm having the EXACT same problem as well... and I'm getting angry and impatient. I can't exactly afford to have all of my pictures go missing just because I updated my iLife. This isn't a pleasure sport for me, it's a big part of my business. I can not access ANY pic in my iPhoto library or ANYWHERE else on my computer. I keep getting an error message saying iPhoto doesn't recognize that file. The files are ALL jpgs, and they were ALL in my previous iPhoto library. I can, also, see the library on my hard drive (ghosted) and I can direct the import browser to an individual pic and see it- but it won't import it.
WHAT IS GOING ON!?!
I went with iPhoto for my decorating business over a more complicated photo program because it is supposed to be used friendly and I don't need to do complicated photo editing.
If Mac wants to break into the business world with their systems BIG problems like this need to be addressed QUICKLY!

I did not have exactly the same problem since i could'nt even access my photos or the library i used.

Maybe it won't help but here what i did anyway... Make sure iPhoto is closed. For reasons i can't explain, I photo creates a new library after the update (7.1.4). To see and eliminate the new library, go in the finder and use the Go to Folder function and type, as Terence proposes, /Volumes. Browse these volumes and you will find your old library and newer library(ies) that iPhoto is actually using and preventing you to see your real one. Delete (trash it for more security) the newer library(ies) and restart iPhoto. It should ask you to create or select a library. Choose the right one...

It worked for me...

Regards

Decorator22

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.

I realise that you're angry about something, but I'm not sure what. (Mind you, why you're venting your anger at us, other users, I don't know. You do realise that this is a User to User forum. It's stated quite clearly in the Terms of Use you agreed to when you signed up).

You need to come back with a clear statement of your issue. I don't know if your Library is missing, or just that you can't access your files. So let us know what the issue is and perhaps we can help.

it's a big part of my business.

Well why are you using iPhoto? It's not intended as a professional app. It's a consumer application.

Regards

TD

jeremymaxwell

I'm sorry but you're not clear.

see the iphoto Folder in the External Hard Drive, though it is only through 2007.

and

As of now the Iphoto Library is fine and all 25 GB's are there and exportable and full size.

Which is it? And where? What do you want to achieve?

Regards

TD

Thank you SO MUCH Bogdan! You discovered the root problem. I need to add something to that because I had to alter the directions a bit- I just installed iLife 2008 and Leopard, so maybe that has something to do with it:

On my Volumes Drive I could only find 1 iPhoto Library, So... Before I erased my newest Library, I did a Search for one of the Picture File names in my old Library. This let me access the files in the ghosted iPhoto Library. I copied the 'Originals' folder from my old iPhoto Library and Pasted all the files into a new folder On my HD (I had tried to do this with a single pic before and it didn't work). Then I erased the new iPhoto Library from /Volumes and re-imported all of the 'Originals' folder.
Previously, when I tried to simply drag the new Library to the trash, it took all my photos with it.
Thanks Again

I'm SO SO SO Sorry! I was just venting to Vent... none of this was directed at anyone... I reread it and I know it came off that way- that wasn't what I meant at all! I have spent two full days now Updateing the Operating Systems, accounting software, iLife, and Office on BOTH of my computers and I'm going loopy... Please excuse me...
Also, About this being a user Forum... I had read through quite a few posts before making my first a few hours ago, so I knid of assumed it was one due to the language used. However, in case you're wondering, I was directed to the discussion page from the help function in iPhoto. When I hit the button to post to this thread, it asked me to type in my Mac ID and Password, I don't remember being informed, at least not 'Clearly' that this is a customer support forum and isn't an Apple Support forum. I don't know if maybe I just missed it or if this is a recent change...
Again, very sorry.

Terence Devlin wrote:
jeremymaxwell

see the iphoto Folder in the External Hard Drive, though it is only through 2007.

What I meant is I can access the iPhoto Folders on my external Hard Drive, but they are only up through 2007 (2008 originals folder missing). I meant that this can't be where the missing folders are. This is the Folder from last big "Back Up" I did at the New Year.

As of now the Iphoto Library is fine and all 25 GB's are there and exportable and full size.

Which is it? And where? What do you want to achieve?

What I'm trying to do is back up my Iphoto as I'm pushing 30 Gigs and suddenly got scared that I don't have them backed up in more than one place!:) And My HD space is nearly all gone because of it too.
So as I was trying to make an plan of attack, I realized that there is only the up to Date iPhoto Library on my Macbook HD (no folders visible, except when I right click to "Show Package Contents", then I see my originals folders with all photos, including 2008). My main worry was that the only visible folders are the old ones on the External HD, and that I was not sure where the originals on my Library were stored.

I'm trying to get all set up for upgrade to Leopard this week, so I can have Time Machine take care of this for me in the future. I have 16 GB's HD space free on a 80 GB machine now, I assume that will be enough to get me through the upgrade.
Any other Photo back up strategies? I plan to have a 2nd Ext HD as my main 500 GB drive is getting older and it worries me.

Thanks!



To Clarify:

jeremymaxwell

So - to be sure that I understand - you have an iPhoto Library in the Pictures Folder on your internal hard disk and on the external you have an iPhoto Library Folder that's not been updated since 2007.

The Library on your internal has

(no folders visible, except when I right click to "Show Package Contents", then I see my originals folders with all photos, including 2008)

and the one on your External has

the only visible folders

and this back up was made

at the New Year.

And, I'm going to guess, was made before you upgraded to iPhoto 08.

You don't actually have an issue. The Library on your internal is an iPhoto 08 one, the Library on your external is an iPhoto 6 one.

With iPhoto 7 (iLife 08) the old iPhoto Library Folder is now a Unix Style Package File. The change was made to the format of the iPhoto library because many users were inadvertently corrupting their library by browsing through it with other software or making changes in it themselves.

You can back up the iPhoto Library on your internal using any back up utility. DejaVu or Chronosync are two such. Or you can simply drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the external.

Regards

TD

I did try what you recommend below but I don't see the folder for pictures/photos. When I go to normal finder i have icon for iphoto, but no folders like i had before i had ilife '08. how can i get to the folders to select pictures?

also, opening iphoto takes forever, is my file root structure wrong?

CBAhearn

If you're going to jump into a thread then the least you can do is read the thread.

I did try what you recommend below

There's a lot of stuff in this thread, so what exactly did you try? What is your issue?

I don't see the folder for pictures/photos.

The iPhoto Library lives in your Pictures Folder, so I'm not sure what you mean by this.

When I go to normal finder i have icon for iphoto, but no folders like i had before i had ilife '08.

This is covered above:

With iPhoto 7 (iLife 08) the old iPhoto Library Folder is now a Unix Style Package File. The change was made to the format of the iPhoto library because many users were inadvertently corrupting their library by browsing through it with other software or making changes in it themselves.

how can i get to the folders to select pictures?

You don't, is the answer.

There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:

For 10.5 users: You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Apple-Click for selecting multiple pics.




To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.

This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. If you're using Gmail you can use THIS

If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto. With 10.5 you can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:





If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.

Or, if you want to access the files with iPhoto not running, then create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use THIS

Other options include:

1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.

2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.

3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.

also, opening iphoto takes forever,

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.

is my file root structure wrong?

No.

Regards

TD

AHA! Great Thanks T.
That's a good move to go with UNIX style as it was too tempting to move the folders around.
So after I've decided to with Program to use as my back up program I can clear out the old Iphoto (iphoto '06) for the External HD to clear up space, no?

Oh, and one last thing. As I said I am waiting for my Leopard Disk to arrive, and plan to use Timeline to handle the backing up for the future. Do I need to use Deja Vu in Addition, or is DejaVu simply added security specifically for iPhoto (and itunes or any other files I wish to backup).
Thanks again for your time and help.

Terence Devlin wrote:
jeremymaxwell

So - to be sure that I understand - you have an iPhoto Library in the Pictures Folder on your internal hard disk and on the external you have an iPhoto Library Folder that's not been updated since 2007.

The Library on your internal has

(no folders visible, except when I right click to "Show Package Contents", then I see my originals folders with all photos, including 2008)

and the one on your External has

the only visible folders

and this back up was made

at the New Year.

And, I'm going to guess, was made before you upgraded to iPhoto 08.

You don't actually have an issue. The Library on your internal is an iPhoto 08 one, the Library on your external is an iPhoto 6 one.

With iPhoto 7 (iLife 08) the old iPhoto Library Folder is now a Unix Style Package File. The change was made to the format of the iPhoto library because many users were inadvertently corrupting their library by browsing through it with other software or making changes in it themselves.

You can back up the iPhoto Library on your internal using any back up utility. DejaVu or Chronosync are two such. Or you can simply drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the external.

Regards

TD