I have been using iPhoto for a long time and have about 10K pictures there at present. Recently links seem to be lost to certain images and although I find them and relink, next time iPhoto is opened, I get messages that (the same) images can't be found. Has anyone had a similar experience and found a solution? I have tried "cleaning" my photo library and deleting albums and pictures. Using Mac Pro with Lion (10.7.4) and iPhoto 9.2.3.
I have had the same problem. Though I attribute this to the fact that I have many Facebook albums loaded with iPhoto, and have edited those albums in Facebook after the fact. Also since I've redirected the photo library to be on an second partition with more room, it may be taking awhile to find those photos. I would though make record of the file names of the missing files and try to locate them with FindAnyFile, and reattach them once found.
Are you running a Managed or a Referenced Library?
A Managed Library, is the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing. The files are then stored in the Library package
A Referenced Library is when iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing because you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced. (You unchecked the option to copy files into the Library on import) The files are then stored where ever you put them and not in the Library package. In this scenario you are responsible for the File Management.
With the setting above, are unlinked photo error messages more or less likely?
And if they are more likely, how do I know what is a copy, and what is an original, so I can delete the extra photos?
Your library is corrupted because iPhoto cannot find the Original file.
What version of iPhoto?
Going forward: Running a Referenced Library gves you no extra capability whatever, means extra work for you and has several pitfalls worth considering.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3062728?tstart=0
You might want to consider if it's the best way to use iPhoto.
Regards
TD
Terence I've started a new thread so we can cover my issue alone:
Thanks to all of you for the input but still hasn't resolved the problem. Can anyone tell me if I can restore the iPhoto library if I delete the application (not the library) and reinstall iPhoto? I think is may be corrupted in some way as while I was going through all the files, I found a few thousand strange images that looks like file parts or web links. Not sure how they got there. Has anyone seen anything like that?
Are you running a Managed or a Referenced Library?
A Managed Library, is the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing. The files are then stored in the Library package
A Referenced Library is when iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing because you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced. (You uncheckedthe option to copy files into the Library on import) The files are then stored where ever you put them and not in the Library package. In this scenario you are responsible for the File Management.
Deleting the Application will not restore damaged Library.
Regards
TD
The option to copy files to iPhoto is checked. Actually I have never changed any of the default settings. I think this problem may have started after the last iPhoto update.
So if the libary is corrupted nothing can be done?
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
Thanks. Have started rebuild - selected all the options!
Just to let you know that the 2nd option helped to resolved the "lost link" issue though I did lose a few albums. These could be recreated since the pictures were still there. Thanks. Andi
iphoto lost links?
