iPhoto '11 folder structure

Don't use iPhoto or Aperture - do everything manually.

Mucking around with the iPhoto or Aperture database is a recipe for disaster in regards to using the apps to access the data, and the reason why Apple changed the iPhoto database via the Finder to require using Show Package Contents to access the iPhoto file structure via the Finder. For the same or similar reasons why the user Library folder is now hidden with Lion.

No.

Search for Photo Viewers on MacUpdate

I know this thread is super-old, but I just can't let a wrong answer stand there to be found by search-engines to eternity.

Yes, you can tell iPhoto in Advanced Preferences not to copy photos on import.

(BTW, you can always revert this setting by holding alt when importing)

(BTW2, all this also applies to iTunes)

What happens then is, that iPhoto will store Aliases to your photos in its own folders.

Some considerations:

• The Originals stay in your hierarchy, but modified versions will still be in the iPhoto Library.
• Aliases can follow some moving and renaming, but its still best to have your final arrangement in place before you import to iPhoto.
• If you delete your Original, iPhoto will give error messages and display placeholders.
• Imports from camera still go into iPhoto Library, so do the import with some other App (e.g. Image Capture), place them where you want them, and only then import into iPhoto.

It takes a little more care from your side, but, yes, it is possible.

Even if one uses a "referenced" library and maintains the source files in the folder hierarchy of their choice what is displayed in iPhoto will reflect that hierarchy. Imports, by folder or from cameras, are added to their own Event.

Here's how one can "duplicate" a folder hierarchy and use a "managed" library:

1 - import each existing folder outside of iPhoto. It wil end up as an Event with the same title as the folder.

2 - create folders in the side pane and name them as like the overall container folders in the outside hierarchy. These folders can hold other folders, Albums, slideshows, books, etc. Albums can only contain photos.

3 - drag each event you want to be in a folder or subfolder to that folder and an Album with the Event's name will be created with those photos.

This way you can reproduce the exterior file hierarchy and not have to worry about a "referenced" library and all the problems that go with it.

If you don't use the real features of iPhoto, smart albums, albums, keywords, titles, places, etc. then you're spinning your wheels and would be better off with a file browser as Terence suggested and not using iPhoto at all. One must realize you're not in Kansas MS World any more.

OT

A few more conisderations

Deleting photos is a two step process - delete from iPhoto first and then from yoru folder structure

Because you can not easiy change the path to the "referenced" photos upgrading or replacing defective hardware is a nightmare - often impossible

If you have the latest version of iPhoto and have the latest version of Aperture it is possible to have Aperature to reconnect your photos to the otiginals if they have been moved

However there is abslutely nothing to gain form this approach and it is much more difficult - therefore it is very strongly discouraged - if you search the forume you will find disaster after disaster after disaster from people using referenced libraries

Bottom line - DO NOT use a referenced libreary - use other photo software that works like you wnat

LN

Does anyone have the file structure for iPhoto 11 -- especially where the originals are located and how they are organized?

FWIW iPhoto has been an unmitigated disaster for this family. It munged all our metadata in the upgrade that included "Events" a few years ago. We soldiered on with the assurances of pros on this panel that things would be better despite the fact that I have photos of my 8 year old that Photo claims were taken in 1999. Most recently I purchased a new MB for the wife. Used migration tool to move here account over but now iPhoto won't display most of her photos. It shows the thumbnails but I get a big exclamation mark inside a triangle when I click on them.

I'm convinced after speaking to a few pros that the finde makes a better iPhoto. Just want a way to get my photos into the finder and out of iPhoto's package. Any ideas? Thanks.

Easy way:

File -> Export and set the Kind to Original

Other than that: Pictures Folder -> iPhoto Library -> Right click on that and choose 'Show Package Contents'. It's the Folder called Originals (Or Masters in some versions.)

The migration tool regularly bungs up iPhoto Libraries. I would trash that effort and move the Library manually:

To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:

Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...

But however you do choose to link the two machines...

Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.

Then launch iPhoto. That's it.

This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.

Regards

TD

Thanks. Unfortunately I fear that all the originals aren't going to show up since as mentioned, I get an error when looking at some within iPhoto. I do have a backup of the library and at this point just want to pull all the originals out and get them into the finder using a date sorted organzation structure. Hence the desire for detail/logic to the structure and naming conventions within the library folder, in particular within the originals/masters folder.

Thanks,

TG

Other than that: Pictures Folder -> iPhoto Library -> Right click on that and choose 'Show Package Contents'. It's the Folder called Originals (Or Masters in some versions.)

Within that folder the folders are based on date of import.

Okay -- I linked them via Ethernet cable with File Sharing on, and dragged the old iPhoto Library folder to the new MacBook Pro. The new iPhoto appears to be showing all the photos from the old computer. However, the new MacBook Pro isn't showing any of the folders in iPhoto that were on the old MacBook. More than that, it claimed that I couldn't transfer some files because they were locked, but wouldn't identify which ones.

Is it possible that the folders are on the new one, but somehow not showing? And is there a way to identify which files are locked, during the transfer?

If you want help you’ll need to give us more information. There are 9 different versions of iPhoto and they run on 8 different versions of the Operating System. The tricks and tips for dealing with issues vary depending on the version of iPhoto and the version of the OS. So to get help you need to give as much information as you can. Include things like:

- What version of iPhoto.

- What version of the Operating System.

- Details. As full a description of the problem as you can. For example, if you have a problem with exporting, then explain by describing how you are trying to export, and so on.

- History: Is this going on long? Has anything been installed or deleted? - Are there error messages?

- What steps have you tried already to solve the issue.

- Anything unusual about your set up? Or how you use iPhoto?

Anything else you can think of that might help someone understand the problem you have.