Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

thumbnail but no photo....

my photos show up as thumbnails in iphoto, but when i click on them they just show a big gray exclamation mark! no photo to find

imac, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on May 17, 2011 3:54 PM

Reply
18 replies

May 17, 2011 9:35 PM in response to llmedrano

I had the same problem. When you launch iPhoto while holding the Command and Options you get the Rebuild Library dialogue box. Check just the one that says Examine and repair file permissions. That worked for me. In my case some of my photos had file permissions set to not allow me to do anything other than view the thumbnail. Seemed to be related to multiple users for the same iPhoto library.

May 17, 2011 10:59 PM in response to llmedrano

The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.


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 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

Dec 5, 2012 11:40 AM in response to Yer_Man

I thought I did. It's the same as what the post is. Let me extrapolate for you further.


It started with me trying to change my desktop background randomizer. I went to the finder and obviously clicking on the iPhoto Library icon doesnt reveal anything. So I went to the source and opened iPhoto. From there are two listed events, AppleDesktop and Pictures.


I selected the AppleDesktop and there it shows thumbnails of all the photos that are supposedly there, however when I click on the thumbnail of the picture that I want to look at, I get the exclamation point, just like this post says.


I was led to this post via the search. Neither solution gave me the results that everyone seems to says worked for them. Hence why I posted this to see if I could get some help.


Where is this photo? Is my only option to delete it to clean out the library?

Dec 5, 2012 11:53 AM in response to srlake314

Stick around here a while and you'll see people posting all sorts of things into threads that have no relevance whatever to their issue. So, frankly, I never assume that just because something is in a thread that it is actually the same problem.


Were there any error messages when you ran iPhoto Library Manager? It also helps if you tell us what version of iPhoto you have.

Dec 5, 2012 11:58 AM in response to Yer_Man

iPhoto 11 on Lion OSX. There are no Errors. Are you not reading what i'm posting? I ran all of the CMD OPT and they were fine, but the photo keeps appearing and not deleting or updating.


Regardless of what I do the picture is still being shown but when I go to access it or when the desktop randomizer runs it just skips over that photo.

Dec 5, 2012 11:58 AM in response to srlake314

Sorry but this thread is about


my photos show up as thumbnails in iphoto, but when i click on them they just show a big gray exclamation mark! no photo to find

You are not using iPhoto but the system preferences to set background photos


Looking at the desktop using the system prefernce has nothing at all to do with iPhoto


And your process does not compute - if you want iPhoto photos in your screen saver you simply select iPhoto


LN

thumbnail but no photo....

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.