Merging two iPhoto libraries

I first considered Migration Assistant, but that seemed clunky.

Both machines are on a shared network. I can open the iPhoto library of the MacBook on the Mac Pro using file sharing, but when I go into "Import" on the Mac Pro, it just gets stuck on "Preparing to import". I'm not sure what (if anything) it's actually doing.

Is there a better way to merge new photos from one library into the existing library on another machine?

Just copy the pics over from the SD into a folder on the desk top when travelling, then import that when you get home.

Open one iPhoto library and export all the photos at full quality. Just select them all (or maybe do it in batches), go to Export and choose Export/File Export. Set the "kind" to original and hit OK. Export them to a folder on your desktop and when it's done, import those photos into your new iPhoto library.

That took me about 20 seconds to figure out. Before you start freaking out about 25 years of Apple use. blah blah blah, do a little research.

Yes, but that doesn't merge Libraries. That exports from one and imports to another.

With iPhoto Library Manager you can merge the Libraries and retain all the metadata you've added in iPhoto - keywords, ratings, Faces, Places - none of which you'll get if you export the Originals. Further, with Library Manager you'll keep all your versions too - Original and Edited, so it's rather a different thing.

Perhaps you should have taken more than 20 seconds to think about it 😉

Regards

TD

Although not the most practical, I found this to be simplest and cheapest solution, provided you have space to spare, and some time. After trying to figure out what course to take in merging libraries (long story, but I have three of them), I just decided to create a temporary folder in my external and drag the contents of the other two iPhoto libraries in there. Took me about 20 minutes, but since this is a one time thing, I didn't mind.

As for duplicates, iPhoto would prompt if the photo already existed, and I just simply instructed to not import.

The steps:

1. create a temporary folder to host all the images being migrated

2. open the source iPhoto library by double clicking the library folder

3. drag the photos you wish to migrate into that temp folder (you can drag entire and multiple events from events view)

4. quit iPhoto and double click the target iPhoto library (you can also option+launch the dock icon to manually search for the library).

5. drag the photos from the temporary folder into the iPhoto icon on the dock.

Gets the job done.

Again, that moves files from one Library to another. That's not merging. All you get that way is the current version of the photos - not the originals of edited pics - and you miss considerable amounts of metadata as well.

Merging Libraries means moving all the versions and metadata.

Regards

TD

Curious to know opinions on another alternative...

If one was ready to move on from iPhoto to Aperture, could you just import two libraries independently and end up with one new library, or does Aperture use the original iPhoto Libraries like Picasa appears to do.

heya jeenings..

i too had the same problem but its very easy by connecting your Macpro and macbook through Firewire cable or ethernet cable and select the desired iphoto library!!

or

you can select your previous iphoto library and select Show package contents and Masters but its bit clumsy u cant find the desired pictures easily dat way 😀

hoep this helps

seanpatrick

Yes you could merge two iPhoto Libraries into a single Aperture Library. The Aperture Library is entirely independent of the iPhoto Libraries.

This is undoubtedly the way to go if you are migrating to Aperture. However, as a way of merging iPhoto Libraries and remaining with iPhoto you need to consider that iPhoto cannot open an Aperture Library. Plus, Aperture is three times the price of iPhoto Library Manager

Regards

TD