Back up iphoto 09 Folders and Albums

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Level 1

9 points

Back up iphoto 09 Folders and Albums

I've just bought a macbook (used Microsoft) before. I've heard that the various folders and albums in iphoto are not backed up when I back up the iphoto library. Before I take great pain to create new folders and albums in iphoto 09 I want to ensure that those albums are backed up as they are when i drag the 'iphoto library' in Pictures to an External HD (I haven't explored TM yet so I guess I will need to back up the library on an EHD) and thus would be restored should I need to reinstall iphoto.

Also once the pictures or iphoto library is on an EHD can the photos AND ALBUMS be viewed by another software say picasa (Microsoft)?

When I used Microsoft the pictures and the albums were saved in Explorer. Does mac work in a similar way?

Tks a lot I am totally new Mac user!

Peli

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 13, 2009 6:48 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 13, 2009 7:09 AM in response to Peli

Peli, Welcome to the forum

Before I take great pain to create new folders and albums in iphoto 09 I want to ensure that those albums are backed up as they are when i drag the 'iphoto library' in Pictures to an External HD

As long as you copy the whole iPhoto Library that you find in Pictures then everything you need is backed up. Just remember that you must not open the library package and tamper with the contents.

Jim

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Answer 2

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,978 points

Apr 13, 2009 7:11 AM in response to Peli

Peli

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.

If you back up the iPhoto Library in your Pictures Folder then you are backing up all your albums etc.

iPhoto has no Cross-Platform ability whatever. Attempting to surf the Library package with other software may damage it.

When I used Microsoft the pictures and the albums were saved in Explorer. Does mac work in a similar way?

You can do this on your mac too - simply store the files in the Finder (the equivalent of Explorer on Windows). However, iPhoto is different: It’s a Photo Organiser - that is, it’s a Photo Database.

Regards

TD

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Answer 3

Apr 13, 2009 7:14 AM in response to Peli

... once the pictures or iphoto library is on an EHD can the photos AND ALBUMS be viewed by another software say picasa (Microsoft)?

Once the library has been copied to an external hard drive you can open the package (right click) and use the 'originals' or the 'modified' photos (make a copy before using these as otherwise you'll ruin you library backup). You won't be able to use the albums with other software.

Jim

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Answer 4

Peli Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 13, 2009 4:29 PM in response to Jim Calderwood

Thank you very much! All three answers were so helpful! I wasn't even sure whether I will get any response at all!

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