Infomation needed on Library6.iPhoto

Question

Infomation needed on Library6.iPhoto

I just got my iMac 27" and have transferred my photos from my G5.

I understand that the Library.iPhoto file contains the entire set of my photos, but I am not clear on the purpose of the Library6.iPhoto file. If this is the Database file, how does this differ from the Library.iPhoto file? How and when does it get updated? Is this update automatic each time a change is made in iPhoto?
Thanks

27" iMAC Quad Core i7, 2.8GHz, Mac OS X (10.6.2), 1TB, 8GB, iPhone 3GS

Posted on Mar 3, 2010 5:01 PM

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Answer 1

LarryHN

Level 10

106,242 points

Mar 3, 2010 5:56 PM in response to Herschel Hochman

I understand that the Library.iPhoto file contains the entire set of my photos

No - the iPhoto library contains all of your photo files and other files that iPhoto uses to mange your photos - there are several files with information that iPhoto uses in managing your photos and these files do not contain photos - the photos are in the original, modified folders and the thumbnails in the data folder - there are no user serviceable parts in the iPhoto library and it is strongly recommended that you do not go into it

but I am not clear on the purpose of the Library6.iPhoto file.

This was the primary iPhoto database definition in a previous version of iPhoto - as versions change the database files may change too - one of the many reasons that:

it is strongly recommended that you do not go into it

If this is the Database file, how does this differ from the Library.iPhoto file? How and when does it get updated? Is this update automatic each time a change is made in iPhoto?

The database files are automatically updated by iPhoto as needed as you import photos, as you build keepsakes, as you add faces, as you add places and as you make other changes using iPhoto. iPhoto also backs up the required database files as needed and provides a capability to rebuild from those backups

In addition it is important that you have a good backup strategy for all of your data including the iPhoto library

LN

Message was edited by: LarryHN

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Answer 2

Mar 3, 2010 6:02 PM in response to LarryHN

Thanks for the information. Clears up a lot for me.

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Answer 3

Mar 4, 2010 11:43 AM in response to LarryHN

Sorry I took so long to get back on this topic.
You mentioned that the Library6.iPhoto was the primary iPhoto database definition in a previous version of iPhoto. My iPhoto is "iPhoto09, Ver 8.1.1". I thought this was the latest version? If Library6.iPhoto is only in an earlier version, why do I find it listed when I click on "Show Package Contents" of iLibrary.iPhoto? In addition, there is also a "Library6.iPhoto.bak. Does this get backed up whenever there is a change made to iPhoto?
Thanks

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Answer 4

LarryHN

Level 10

106,242 points

Mar 4, 2010 2:49 PM in response to Herschel Hochman

My point is that it really does not matter what those files contain and you really should not be in the iPhoto library mucking around

Based on the size of the library6.iPhoto file in iPhoto '09 (4 KB on my system) i suspect it is no longer used - but do not know that and would not mess with the file - or any other file within the iPhoto library

iPhoto does maintain the database and does backup it up and you can rebuild from the last automatic backup - usually successfully - how it does that and what files are involved is not part of Apple's documentation and does not affect me, you or other users any more that the internal workings of address book, Bento or other database programs

LN

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