iPhoto keeps losing my images

Richard

Are you running a Managed 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.

I ask because of this sentence:

The thumbnails are there, but the original files the aliases point to aren't - even if I look in the iPhoto library package.

In the mean time: Can you export one of the affected pics normally? Prior to the Merge?

Regards

TD

I have "Copy items to the photo library" deselected - but I don't see how that makes any difference.

It makes all the difference.

Where do you store the files?

Regards

TD

Actually, that means exactly +the opposite+ of what you understand.

iPhoto imports them directly to the library from the camera or memory card,

If that option is deselected then iPhoto is making an alias to the file and not copying the file. So that alias points to the actual file... where?

Regards

TD

Frankly, I don’t have to account for anything, I’m simply trying to understand how your Library is working.

And if the library is working the way you say it is, then you have +no files+ in the iPhoto Library, only aliases. And I’m trying to discover if

a: this is the case

and

b: if it’s not the case, (and I hope it’s not) then how exactly your Library is set up.

Select one of the affected photos in the iPhoto Window and right click on it. From the resulting menu select 'Show File (or 'Show Original File' if that's available). A Finder Window should open with the file selected. Does it?

Regards

TD

Here’s what I don’t understand...

If you have “Copy Files...” deselected then why is iPhoto actually copying the files into the Library as you report?

So, from this last import, now that the card is unmounted, try the Show File test.

Regards

TD

You have a damaged database is my best guess.

Before we deal with that, a general comment.

If you deselect ‘Copy File...’ then you are telling iPhoto that you are responsible for file management. You need, in this scenario, to move the files from the camera card to whereever you are going to store them and then - and only then - import them into iPhoto.

If you don’t do this then you are not saving your Photos anywhere.

There are a number of potential pitfalls using a referenced Library.

1. Import and deleting pics are more complex procedures
2. You cannot move or rename the files on your system or iPhoto will lose track of them on systems prior to 10.5 and iPhoto 08. Even with the later versions issues can still arise if you move the referenced files to new volumes or between volumes.
3. Most importantly, migrating to a new disk or computer can be much more complex.

Always allowing for personal preference, I've yet to see a good reason to run iPhoto in referenced mode unless you're using two photo organisers.

Your Library is - apparently - damaged in two way. One, it’s no respecting your choice about not copying to the Library (“ iPhoto has no problems resolving them to a hi-res file within the iPhoto library“ - this would not be possible if the files were not copied and the disk unmounted) and two, it cannot manage your Events. (These may be related to the same problem. It seems that iPhoto is copying +some files+ and not all).

First step:

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 and keywords back.

Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.

Regards

TD

Does your camera have autorotate?

I'm guessing that the photos that work were shot on their side and have been auto rotated so the hires versions you are seeing are the modified version

Try to revert to original on those - I do not think you will be able to

When you import photos with the "copy items to the iphoto library" unselected you do not have copies of the originals on your computer and the only place you can be seeing them in high res is from the modified folder or the card while it is connected

The reason this shows up when you merge is at that time iPhoto wants to move the originals and modified versions and the originals are not there

You can use alias herder - http://www.rorohiko.com/aliasherder.html - to bring any photos into your library that you still have originals available for and check the "copy items to the iPhoto library" so future photos are copies to your library - any photos you don't have access to the originals of will not work for anything that requires the original

LN

No - iPhoto has not lost any images - you have removed them - I have yet to see a single case of iPhoto losing a photo - the design simply does not let that happen

Message was edited by: LarryHN

Message was edited by: LarryHN

(still with "Copy items..." deselected)

dismount and remove the card from your computer and right click (control click) on one of the photos and and see if you can revert to original - or try dragging several of them to the desktop

I believe you will find that you will have problems

And I believe you will continue to have problems until you convert to a managed library - referenced libraries are not generally a good way to operate and if you do use a referenced library the original files must always be available to iPhoto are it will not work

LN

I have "Copy items to the photo library" deselected - but I don't see how that makes any difference. The photos arrive successfully in the iPhoto library on my hard disc by virtue of being imported by iPhoto itself from the camera or a memory-card reader;

Note that this statement is incorrect - by having the "copy items to the iPhoto library" preference unchecked you have told iPhoto to reference your original files not copy them and you are responsible for always having them available to iPhoto with the exact same path as they had when you did the import that build the aliases - the difference is you are not copying the file into the iPhoto library but instead placing pointers in the library pointing to the location of the file when you did the import - since in your case this is removable media that is likely to be erased it simply will not work - you must with convert to a managed library or totally change your workflow to import photos to your computer via image capture or the finder and then import those photos into iPhoto being sure that they never move from the loaction you placed them originally

Message was edited by: LarryHN