How do I cross-reference photo folders?

Question

Level 1

9 points

How do I cross-reference photo folders?

My photos are organized in folders according to the week they were taken, and I want to keep it that way. But if I want to pull up just the photos that have my friend Brian in them, how can I do that?

First off iPhoto is NOT an option. I have used several versions of the iLife suite starting with Tiger, then moving on to Leopard and (currently) Snow Leopard. And the whole iLife suite is riddled with bugs to the point where I do not want to touch them as they are completely unreliable. DVD player crashes and freezes randomly, and falsely claims DVDs are damaged when they are brand new. Now I just use VLC, and my DVD movies play perfectly every time. Something I could almost never get DVD Player to do. I have tried using iWeb, but after a few "undos" and some editing, my links no longer work, and files get dropped for no reason.

I have tried tagging photos in iPhoto, and using one Smart Folder for each tagged category. It all works great for a while, but before long, newly tagged photos stop being added into the Smart Folders, and it defeats the whole purpose.

Not to mention that iPhoto creates a huge file, and wastes time identifying faces, which is an undesirable feature I can't seem to turn off.

I am guessing the whole problem with the iLife suit is that the library coding gets super easily corrupted if you make changes (and I am not even touching any of the files outside of iPhoto, iWeb, etc.)

I can't even make aliases to the folders and organize them that way for viewing in screensaver, because Snow Leopard's screen saver can't open the photos in an alias folder.

I'm NOT going to duplicate all my folders with different names and arrange them by category. That isn't organizing, that is duplicating, and completely wasting tons of file space.

Is there any program available I can get to replace iPhoto so I can cross-reference my photos into multiple categories? And is there a screen saver program I can use to make my own screen savers that can pull files from aliases, or some other referencing system?

Is there a patch I can get so that the default screensaver will open photos from an alias in Snow Leopard, the way it always used to? Why is it so difficult to deal with what should be simple, basic programs and file organization?

I love my MacBook Pro with Snow Leopard, and I love the professional programs I run on it such as Adobe and Maya, but why is the first party software complete garbage?

I know I don't sound like it at the moment, but I'm normally a polite person, I am just really frustrated right now. Just tired of banging my head trying to find ways to get around and outsmart the default programs on this OS, which has been futile, I might add.

13" MacBook Pro 8GB RAM 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, iMacG5 with iSight 2.5 GB RAM

Posted on Mar 2, 2012 10:30 PM

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Answer 1

fane_j

Level 4

3,704 points

Mar 2, 2012 11:29 PM in response to Qbert

IMHO (and it's just my opinion), had you spent half the time you used to compose your post in googling the topic, you couldn't have missed Apple's Aperture, Adobe's Lightroom, or Camera Bits' Photo Mechanic.

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Answer 2

kurt188

Level 4

1,340 points

Mar 3, 2012 6:14 AM in response to Qbert

First, iPhoto is a perfectly viable option. I've used it even before Tiger and it works just fine: no crashing, burning, or odd bugs that I've experienced yet. As for this HUGE file you refer to being created by iPhoto, I don't see it on any system I own, much less any that I have to use or support. So, exactly what are you referring to?

DVD Player is not part of the iLife suite, so your argument that it and the iLife suite are riddled with bugs is unsubstantiated. There may indeed be some bugs, but not the rampant problems you imply in your rant.

And is there a screen saver program I can use to make my own screen savers that can pull files from aliases, or some other referencing system?

Did you consider the obvious solution: choosing a folder of images from the Desktop & Screen Saver preference pane to be used as the Screen Saver? It seems if you had thought about this rather than complain about it, you would have seen that it's staring you in the face.

Contrary to your limited viewpoint, the software provided with every Mac is not garbage; far from it.

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Answer 3

Qbert Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 5, 2012 1:57 PM in response to kurt188

I am so terribly glad you haven't come across the bugs I have because let me tell you they are terribly frustrating. I only wish I had made them up. There is nothing I like better than ranting without any justification whatsoever.

Okay enough of that. I really have come across these problems, and even though I may not have been too polite I don't need to be accused of falsification and stupidity thankyouverymuch.

If you had read my post you would have understood that choosing a folder is one of the many things I have tried to do that didn't work. The only folders that work have the actual files in them. And since I am trying to organize my photos into groups it does not make sense to duplicate folders of photos simply to make them work. That takes up too much space.

Instead what I am trying to do is to not duplicate anything, but find a way to have my photos organized into groups.

Further if iLife has not presented any problems for you, you must be a very casual user indeed. These programs do not provide the depth of use that advanced users like myself require. You can go back to selling shoddy products for Apple now.

Is it possible for people to respond with HELP instead of criticism?

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Answer 4

Qbert Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 5, 2012 2:01 PM in response to fane_j

I don't plan on going near Aperture as it looks too much like iPhoto, but Photo Mechanic does look interesting thank you. I don't plan on putting up the cash for an Adobe product without further investigation.

My Google searches just turned up people who were having my same difficulties.

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Answer 5

kurt188

Level 4

1,340 points

Mar 5, 2012 2:15 PM in response to Qbert

You're accusing me of being rude? Maybe you should look in the mirror.

I never said you made anything up. But since you haven't provided any details about these supposed bugs or how you came about them, it's impossible for anyone to try to reproduce them. Without details, it's impossible to confirm any "bug".

I did read your post, and you don't mention choosing a folder for a screen saver; you mention choosing one with aliases in them, and that's not what I suggested. You can choose any folder with images in it to use for your screen saver, but that's clearly not what you've tried.

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Answer 6

Qbert Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 5, 2012 4:22 PM in response to fane_j

I like photo mechanic a lot fane_j

I think this will work for me. Thanks a lot 🙂 🙂

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Answer 7

fane_j

Level 4

3,704 points

Mar 5, 2012 4:51 PM in response to Qbert

Well, I'm glad your problem is solved. It would've been solved just as quickly if, instead of a rant, you'd've posted a simple question along the lines of, "I don't like iPhoto -- could anyone suggest alternatives?". The problem is not that you have a poor opinion of Apple products, but that -- if my understanding is correct -- people on this board are interested in finding solutions and helping each other, rather than in venting, however cathartic that may be.

One further point. Without the slightest evidence, you accused kurt188 of being a shill for Apple. Had you taken the trouble to read some of his other posts (which is very easy to do) you would have seen that, whatever his sins may be, that is not one of them. So, in my opinion, you owe a major and unreserved apology to kurt188.

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