How do move referenced files back to Library?

As far as I can see Aperture 2 works the same as 3 in this respect

Select your images

Go to File -> Consolidate Masters

This will then put all referenced images back into the Aperture library

Unsure on batch renaming, I had to do similar and went through 1 by 1, a bit time consuming

For your fist question paulsalter's answer, to use File->Consolidate Masters is the right way to turn referenced masters into managed masters.

As for your second question, if your asking can I rename all images that start with REF- into something else the answer is yes. Filter on REF- and then run Metadata->Batch Change on those images.

However if the renaming you are looking to do is to remove the REF- part and leave the rest intact you won't be able to do that in stock Aperture, that would require an AppleScript.

When you consolidate it asks if you want to copy or move the masters into your library

you can change filenames quite easily from within aperture (not sure how you batch change in applescript)

would think its best to do it all in aperture, it doesnt like it if you alter things externally, and it might have problems seeing the masters

aquestionortwo wrote:

- When I consolidate my referenced masters, I believe all of those files get moved to the main Aperture Library, is that correct? (or is reference version left alone, and a copy is made and automatically brought into the Aperture Library)

You specify when you execute the action.

aquestionortwo wrote:

- If I am going to consolidate the referenced masters and want to change the file name, do I need to do that before consolidating, or can I do that after just as easily?

Makes no difference, except it is easier to group the Images which currently have Referenced Masters while they are still referenced. If you want to perform an action on those Images (including on those Image's Masters), either do so before consolidating, or tag them in some way before consolidating so you already have them grouped or group-able. (You can use a keyword, or a color label, or just put them all in an Album.)

aquestionortwo wrote:

- On naming...

Ideally would leave the rest intact for the file and just remove the initial "REF-" in the name.

As the files are all in a set of folders (and sub-folders), and not all have the "REF-", I suspect this is a little tricky.

I think you're probably best off keeping this easy -- and removing the first four characters from each Master's name while retaining the link to the Image is not easy. Would you be satisfied simply appending "Not" to each file name, and considering the admittedly inelegant "NotREF-" prefix as a left-over from going around the learning curve?

Go to Photos view. Filter using the Rule "File Status" with the argument "Referenced".

Select all.

Execute "File→Consolidate Masters ... ".