iphoto errors

Question

Level 1

0 points

iphoto errors

Getting error messages when trying ti download photos from websites.
"image wasn't added because Safari can't communicate with iphoto".......and
"Photo library needs to be upgraded"
I don't know what or why things have changed, is this Apple's way to "encourage" me to buy iphoto '11??

imac, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Mar 25, 2011 3:44 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

207,319 points

Mar 25, 2011 5:15 PM in response to S.Points

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Try downloading the photos to the Desktop and see if they will import from there. It could be a damaged library. Make a temporary, duplicate copy of the library and try the three fixes below in order as needed:

Fix #1

1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your Home/Library/Preferences folder.

NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding the the Option key. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.

2 - delete iPhoto's cache files that are located in the Home/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder.

Fix #2

Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select last three options.

Click to view full size

Fix #3

Rebuild the library using iPhoto Library Manager as follows:

Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library

1 -Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.

2 -Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your User/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.

3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File->Rebuild Library menu option

4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.

5 - Click on the Create button.

Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

Reply

Answer 2

S.Points Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 26, 2011 8:29 PM in response to S.Points

"You can’t open your current photo library using this version of iPhoto.
You have made changes to your photo library using a newer version of iPhoto. Please quit and use the latest version of iPhoto."
I can't get iphoto to open at all, I get the above message.

Reply

Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,254 points

Mar 26, 2011 11:44 PM in response to S.Points

Assuming you haven't opens the Library with a newer version:

Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.

If that fails:

Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords, faces and places back.

Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.

Regards

TD

Reply

Answer 4

Apr 11, 2011 9:48 AM in response to Yer_Man

I opened iphoto today or tried to and had the same message as S.Points, when I then tried to use your option 1, I was unable to because the' restore from automatic backup' option was faded out.I shall try option 2. Any ideas as to why the message in the first place? I have done nothing to iphoto to change anything and it was fine yesterday! jenny

Reply

Answer 5

Old Toad

Level 10

207,319 points

Apr 11, 2011 11:29 AM in response to withmagic

#2 - possibly you had not rebuilt the library before so there was no previous backup to fall back on. If you use Options # 1 and #6 you will rebuild the library and create a backup to use the next time.

I'd try the above first before going on to the others.

Reply

Answer 6

Apr 12, 2011 1:42 AM in response to Old Toad

Hello Old Toad thank you for responding.
I attempted to rebuild the library, by holding down the alt and command keys whilst opening iphoto, and I have now found that whatever options I select, I get this message:

Your photo library will not be readable by previous versions of iPhoto after the upgrade. The upgrade process may take several minutes depending on the number of photos in the library.

I select 'upgrade' and I get this message:

You have made changes to your photo library using a newer version of iPhoto. Please quit and use the latest version of iPhoto.

I have done nothing to iphoto and now it seems that it will not let me do anything to it

Any other ideas will be very much appreciated, thank you, Jenny

Reply

Answer 7

Old Toad

Level 10

207,319 points

Apr 12, 2011 9:22 AM in response to withmagic

That sounds like you were using iPhoto 11 on your iPhoto 09 library. Open the library with the Finder like in this screenshot:

Click to view full size

and see if there's a folder inside titled "Masters". If not then the library is still an 09 library.

Try rebuilding the library using iPhoto Library Manager as follows:

Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library

1 -Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.

2 -Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your User/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.

3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File->Rebuild Library menu option

4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.

5 - Click on the Create button.

Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

Reply

Answer 8

Apr 12, 2011 9:29 AM in response to Old Toad

Hi Old Toad! I hope you don't think I'm stalking you. I tried your suggestions on my issue (my photos from iPhoto don't completely sync with my devices (iPad2/iPhone) and I was wondering if you had any other suggestions I could try, as neither of your original suggestions fixed my problem.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Reply

Answer 9

Old Toad

Level 10

207,319 points

Apr 12, 2011 9:31 AM in response to taquitopete

Don't have any other suggestions. Don't have an iPhone or iPad that I sync photos to to run any tests.

Reply

Answer 10

Apr 12, 2011 10:08 AM in response to Old Toad

What if I were to just import all of the photos into a brand new library? Could that work? Would that erase any metadata about my photos, like tagged faces or places? I don't mind so much if it erases albums/smart albums. Having to recreate all of my events could be a pain but I've been debating if I really want to organize my photos with events anyway, or if I'd rather use albums and smart albums. It's always felt a bit duplicative to have both events and albums.

Reply

Answer 11

Old Toad

Level 10

207,319 points

Apr 12, 2011 10:26 AM in response to taquitopete

That would lose all metadata as well as the keepsakes, books, calendars, albums, etc. However, there is a way you might be able to write the keywords to the original file in your library and have them available when you created a new library from just the originals. Follow Steps 1 thru 9 in this tutorial: #1 - Recovering Keywords, Titles, Comments and Rolls/Events From a Damaged iPhoto 6(06), 7(08), 8(09) or 9(11) Library for a New Library

If you follow the tutorial you'll keep the keywords, captions and titles in the new library.

Don't pay too much attention to Events. Those are the basic "buckets" or "shoeboxes" created during import and can only sort by date. For your personal organization you do want to use albums, smart albums, keywords, etc. That's where you get the most flexibility and maximum control.

Reply

Answer 12

Apr 13, 2011 4:53 AM in response to Old Toad

Hello Old Toad, I'm back again with more tales of woe. I only have iphoto '09 as I have leopard and did not have the hardware to upgrade. However I still checked and there was definitely no "Masters" folder.
So '09 it is then.
When I downloaded iphoto library manager and followed your instructions, I got this message:

This library cannot be rebuilt because its XML file contains no image records
When I then opened iphoto from the dock, I got this message:

The iPhoto Library is on a locked volume. Relaunch iPhoto when the volume has read/write accees or relaunch iPhoto with <option> key held down to choose another library

I did see if it was on another library and tried changing libraries, opening iphoto with the option key held down, but iphoto launched but without any images and saying that there were none.
In finder however I try to locate the library it comes up blank. I cannot open my pictures folder today, if I try to click on it in the left hand finder pane, it automatically opens a the iphoto app. with an empty library.
In the applications in finder the iphoto app. tells me it is 409.6MB and 2020 photos, so it is in there somewhere, I just cannot get at it.
Any more ideas? Thank you so much for your time, it is driving me slowly mad and i don't mean to do the same to you! Jenny

Reply

Answer 13

Apr 13, 2011 5:08 AM in response to withmagic

Sorry after the last essay, it's me again!
I forgot to add that there were no "original" or "modified" folders to be found when opening the library contents package.
Following an iphoto meltdown a few years ago, which you rescued for me, I used the automator method you suggest to copy the iphoto library. I have just looked in there and all the folders are there in year date order. Is it possible to do a manual rebuild using those folders. Can I drag them into a new library, or onto the iphoto icon in the dock to build the library again?
I won't pester you again for a while, promise!

Reply

Answer 14

Old Toad

Level 10

207,319 points

Apr 13, 2011 9:16 AM in response to withmagic

You won't be able to reconstruct the library unless you have all of the pieces and put them together exactly like there were originally.

Yes, you're best bet would be to create a new library and drag the various year folders (which contain subfolders with the image files) into it. This will give you the same events as you had.

Reply

Answer 15

May 25, 2011 9:39 AM in response to Old Toad

Thank you for your help Old Toad,

It has taken me a while to find the time to replace the library and resort albums etc. but today was the day! all finished and ready to add more photos at last.

I will be taking your advice on duplicating the library via iphoto library manager which I have found to be an excellent app. for organizing iphoto for the better and simple to use too.

best wishes Jenny

Reply