Is it possible to use Terminal to find a lost iPhoto folder?

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Level 1

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Is it possible to use Terminal to find a lost iPhoto folder?

What has happened is the iPhoto library file (Library6.iPhoto) has been written over so that it no longer points to the "Original" folder location. The folder no longer shows up and the pictures are gone.

Is there a way via Terminal to find the "Original" folder (from iPhoto) so that the photo’s can be saved? I tried using Terminal with locate and find commands to no avail. Thanks.

Macbook 2.4 GHz Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Dec 15, 2010 7:45 AM

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Answer 1

xnav

Level 5

7,113 points

Dec 15, 2010 8:00 AM in response to Mac Musician

Here's the structure on my system FWIW:


Path:~/pictures$cd 'iPhoto Library'
Path:~/pictures/iPhoto Library$ls
./ Contents/ Modified/ iPhoto.ipspot
../ Data/ Originals/ iPhotoLock.data
.ipspot_update Dir.data ThemeCache iPod Photo Cache/
AlbumData.xml Library.data Thumb32Segment.data
Auto Import/ Library.iPhoto Thumb64Segment.data
Caches/ Library6.iPhoto ThumbJPGSegment.data
Path:~/pictures/iPhoto Library$cd Originals
Path:~/pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals$ls
./ .DS_Store 2001/ 2007/ 2009/
../ 2000/ 2006/ 2008/ 2010/
Path:~/pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals$ls 2001
./ ../ Alaska2001/
Path:~/pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals$ls 2001/Alaska2001
./ Pictures0013.jpg Pictures0029.jpg Pictures0045.jpg
../ Pictures0014.jpg Pictures0030.jpg Pictures0046.jpg
Pictures0000.jpg Pictures0015.jpg Pictures0031.jpg Pictures0047.jpg

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Answer 2

xnav

Level 5

7,113 points

Dec 15, 2010 8:05 AM in response to Mac Musician

BTW, in Finder you could right click on 'iPhoto Library' and select 'Show Package Contents' to see the Originals folder.

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Answer 3

Mac Musician Author

Level 1

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Dec 15, 2010 5:46 PM in response to xnav

That was one of the first things I did and unfortunately the Originals and Modified folders were missing. This is for my friends Mac and when I see her I will try your other suggestion. I appreciate it. Thanks.

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