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User profile for user: Moosburger
Moosburger Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Referenced files in Photos

I've imported several thousand photos into Photos, and not realised that I wasn't creating a copy in the System Library.

I can view and edit them, but when trying to export for use elsewhere, I get the "The volume for “x.jpg” cannot be found" message.

Is this an expected response? Photos clearly knows where the file is stored, lets me edit and then appears to forget where it is.

I've tried to understand this, but frustratingly I can't.

Would appreciate any help here,

Thanks

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Sep 25, 2020 8:09 AM

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
198,637 points

Sep 25, 2020 8:48 AM in response to Moosburger

Is the system version below your post still valid? macOS 10.14? I am asking because the problems you are describing started with macOS 10.15.1 Catalina.

You may want to consolidate the referenced photos.

  • Select a photo, then use the command "File > Show Referenced File in Finder". Can Photos reveal the original file? If not, you may be seeing a prompt to find the original. Show Photos, where the original is stored.
  • After Photos reconnected the file, use the command "File > Consolidate". This will copy the original image file into the Photos Library.


Can you find the originals this way and reconnect them? If all originals are stored in the same folder, you can reconnect several at once.




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User profile for user: Moosburger
Moosburger Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Sep 25, 2020 12:26 PM in response to léonie

Thanks for your response.

Firstly, yes I'm operating with macOS 10.14.

I've sampled a few photographs and now realising that some ARE already within the System Library. Why some are and some aren't I can't establish, but the Consolidation action would appear the way to resolve it.

The back story to my problem stems from the fact that I've hitherto used Picasa, which is very adaptable and doesn't need duplication of file storage space to use. But of courses it's obsolete and moreover Catalina doesn't support it at all I believe, and at some point I'm going to have to make that move.

So for now your reply has helped me understand a little more, so thank you for that.

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
198,637 points

Sep 25, 2020 1:40 PM in response to Moosburger

Photos on Catalina allows you still to use referenced photos, like older versions, but there are currently some annoying bugs, that make it risky to use. If you ar planning to upgrade to Catalina, it would be safer to consolidate the originals.

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Referenced files in Photos

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