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I have been using Aperture for several months now. I have imported and edited hundreds of files without issue. I have not changed any settings that I know of. Aperture is using the iPhoto Library at this time.


I imported a series of images into a new folder. I went back to edit them and none of them are editable. I can't export or any other operation. It always states that the originals are not available. I have cleared the cards that the images came off of so I can't reimport them.


There are icons in the corner of images in Aperture in the lower right corner. Is there a list of what they all are and what they mean any where? The icon that is showing is an arrow curving from the lower left to the upper right and what looks like a small lock.


How can I get these images back and able to be worked on?

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Aug 21, 2012 10:13 AM

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9 replies

Aug 21, 2012 10:39 AM in response to penpro

As far as I can tell at this point Aperture as destroyed all the originals or never imported them for some reason. All other images that I imported that day from the same cards into other folders are fine. The only thing that I have n able to find in the data base are the thumbnails.


Any suggestions any one, where would the originals be kept if I could find them?

Aug 21, 2012 11:36 AM in response to penpro

The little icons are Badges. Their meanings are listed on this helpful page from the User Manual.


To find out where Aperture expects an Image's Original to be located, select the Image and run "File➞Locate Referenced Files". At the top of the dialog the path to your Image's Original is shown. Does this path make any sense? Can you explain why Aperture recorded this location? (You can do this with multiple Images selected as well.)


(A little further explanation would also be helpful: you cannot import into Folders. You _must_ import into Projects. What do you mean when you say "I imported a series of images into a new folder"?)

Aug 21, 2012 1:49 PM in response to penpro

penpro wrote:


Thanks for the list of icons, that helps a lot.

You're welcome. The User Manual is good. At the very least, read the first seven chapters.

Sorry it was a project not a folder. But the originals never imported. Nothing has changed in the settings. So all I have not are the thumbnails that are left.


Any way that can happen that I'm not aware of?

Well, it would be hard to say "No" 😉 . If you have an Image in your Library, the Original was imported. "Import" means "make a record in my database (i.e.: the Library) for this item". The Original may not have been moved (or copied) into your Library, but that is a separate issue from importing.


Have you run "File➞Locate Referenced Files"? What did you find?

Aug 22, 2012 6:03 AM in response to Kirby Krieger

I have searched the data base and the files don't exist, only the thumbnails. It worries me that for no reason at all Aperture would not import the originals as it has every other time including the several hundred files that I imported minuets before. This whole batch of imports was lost.


Thanks for the help, just hope this doesn't happen again

Aug 23, 2012 1:58 AM in response to penpro

I have searched the data base and the files don't exist, only the thumbnails.

penpro,

you said in your first post:

The icon that is showing is an arrow curving from the lower left to the upper right and what looks like a small lock.

User uploaded file if you are seeing this, then the images are not inside the Aperture database and you probably moved them to a folder ouside the Aperture library on import or left them in there original location. Now Aperture is looking for them outside the library. Please try what Kirby is urging you to do, tell us of the result, if you already tried that. "Locate Referenced files" will tell you the filenames that Aperture is searching for.


Select the images with the missing originals in the Browser and use "File > Locate Rerenced Files" and post a screenshot of what you see.

In the upper part of the panel you should see a list of files with missing masters; by selecting one of them you will see the filename in the panel to the right.

Take a note of that. Then use "Spotlight" to search for that filename.

If you can find it somewhere, navigate to this location in the lower section of the panel and maybe you can "Reconnect All".


User uploaded file


Regards

Léonie

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