Backing up to DVD

Solly

Use the Share -> Burn command to make a disk that is readable in iPhoto. It preserves all your library.

Regards

TD

Select the events and then use share command

LN

Message was edited by: LarryHN

Solly:

Since there's a lot of overhead that's burned along with the photos, i.e. thumbnails, modified versions, database files, etc., keep the total size of photos that iPhoto reports to around 4.0 GB max. That will let you avoid getting into the burn process and find out that there's not enough room on the disk.

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.

Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

This is for Old Toad. Hello again, Finally understanding how my ext. hard drive works and getting stuff backed up. You always talk about downloading an "automator back up" program using it in iPhoto 5, 6, replacing something, etc. My ancient brain can not understand this and I am very confused if I should use this. I have iPhoto 7.1.4 (371) and Apple 10.4.11 on a Mac Book. Just finished a back up of 12500 photos into a external hard drive. (Took me five days and five hours with tech support, Apple and Maxtor.) Thanks, Donald Clark

Old toad's automator script backs up a single (but very important) file that describes the database - essentially iPhoto's brains

IMHO everyone should use it - OFTEN! - before any imports or edits and after wards assuming that everything went well - this backes up the library6.iphoto file (not the photos - just the database description that tells iPhoto where the photos are) and in case of a software crash or hardware problem allows you to quickly and easily go back to where you were when you last ran it - its a bit like saving often in Word or pages

LN

As Larry mentioned the database file, Library6.iPhoto, is the heart and soul of the library. Using the Automator workflow will copy that file to the Pictures folder. The purpose of that is to protect all of the organizational effort that you put into the library, i.e. keywords, albums, slideshows, books, comments, calendars, etc.

To protect the actual photos you want to backup the entire library to the external hard drive and then use a backup applications like Synk Standard to make daily or weekly incremental backups of the library. Synk only backs up those files that have been added or changed making the incremental backup very fast.

OT

Do you think the next version will let you select all events and tell you to keep inserting DVD's as needed?

Only Steve knows for sure.