How to merge projects in Aperture 3.4

Question

Level 1

17 points

How to merge projects in Aperture 3.4

The Aperture 3 User Manual states that to merge a project, I should

control-click a project
choose Import > Library/Project from the shortcut menu (where's that??)
In the dialog that appears, select the project or library that I want to merge
click import.

When I control-click a project, I get a dialogue with

Selecting Import has three options: files, folders as projects, and library. Selecting any of these takes me to Finder. Obviously I'm missing the shortcut menu, or perhaps 3.4 changed this function signiicantly.

My objective is to consolidate the many small projects that I've added to my library since Aperture 1 days (I use referenced files). Ideally, I'd convert some of these projects into albums beneath other projects, but that doesn't seem to work very well either.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Nick

Mac Pro (Early 2008), OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Oct 23, 2012 6:48 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Kirby Krieger

Level 6

12,592 points

Oct 23, 2012 7:29 PM in response to nickditoro

Hi Nick. This might be easier than you've made it.

The Projects are already in the same Aperture Library? Use Projects view (click "Projects" near the top of the Library tab of the Inspector). Select one or several Projects, and drag-and-drop them on a target Project. The target Project will be the one you end up with. All Images in all the selected Projects will be moved into the target Project, and all the selected Projects will cease to exist.

Along with the information you found, this is on this page of the User Manual.

Added:

The User Manual is simply wrong. You followed the instructions -- afaict -- and they don't do what it says they do. My instructions above should work. Post back.

Message was edited by: Kirby Krieger

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Answer 2

nickditoro Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 23, 2012 8:13 PM in response to Kirby Krieger

Kirby,

Thanks so much for the excellent instructions. I had earlier tried dragging and dropping one project onto another but using the Finder or Icon view instead of the Thumbnail view (for want of better terms). I'm a happy camper.

Nick

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Answer 3

Oct 23, 2012 9:40 PM in response to nickditoro

Glad to help 🙂 . The interface is complex. The second chapter of the User Manual

is a must-read (in spite of your discovery above).

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Answer 4

nickditoro Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 23, 2012 9:58 PM in response to Kirby Krieger

Kirby,

I'll do just that. BTW, are there any books on the market (preferably iBooks) you'd recommend for Aperture 3 training or reference?

Thanks again,

Nick

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Answer 5

Oct 23, 2012 10:33 PM in response to nickditoro

Nick -- Here are my recs -- possible a little bit dated as far as the Apple-supplied stuff, but have a good look on the Apple Aperture resources pages and on the User Manual page "Additional Resources".

My list of resources for learning Aperture.

I don't think any book comes close to Dion Scoppettuolo's "Aperture 3".

It is available in both Kindle and iBook formats. (You can read Kindle format on iPads with Amazon's free reader app.)

I mention it specifically here because there are many not-helpful books on the market.

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Answer 6

nickditoro Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 23, 2012 11:13 PM in response to Kirby Krieger

Kirby,

A true embarrassment of riches in your post. Thanks again for your knowledge and generosity in sharing it.

Nick

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Answer 7

Oct 24, 2012 2:20 AM in response to nickditoro

😊 . Make the most of it and pass it forward. Aperture is, fittingly, a hole. Everyone stumbles at first use; I determined myself to understand it, and am happy to provide what waypoints and foodstuffs I can for others making the same trip. Stop by any time you feel the need for either.

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Answer 8

léonie

Level 10

194,761 points

Oct 24, 2012 3:04 AM in response to Kirby Krieger

Added:

The User Manual is simply wrong. You followed the instructions -- afaict -- and they don't do what it says they do. My instructions above should work. Post back.

The confusion is caused by the fact, that the passage in the manual, that Nick quoted, refers to merging projects from two different Aperture Libraries. And the diction is the old Aperture 1-2 diction, when you could think of an Aperture Library as a project.

I am glad you could sort this out - Kirby; I was confused too by the quoation, and thought, Nick wanted to merge libraries!

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Answer 9

Oct 24, 2012 7:45 AM in response to léonie

leonieDF wrote:

And the diction is the old Aperture 1-2 diction, when you could think of an Aperture Library as a project.

Aha! Now it makes complete sense. I never used Aperture before v. 3, and couldn't unravel that last bit. I surmised what it was trying to say, but couldn't figure out why the authors confused Library and Project.

🙂

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Answer 10

nickditoro Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 24, 2012 8:00 AM in response to Kirby Krieger

Kirby,

I wish I could say I was a newbie, but I'm not. I've used Aperture for years, but tend to do the same things over and over again to suit my immediate needs. I just got tired of having so many overlapping projects in my library, and wanted to re-organize. Still, it's great that someone like you who really knows his stuff is willing to help those of us who are new to Aperture or who need to try something different.

Nick

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Answer 11

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Oct 24, 2012 5:56 PM in response to nickditoro

Note: After selecting "Projects" in the Library Tab, you can just drag one project and drop it on top of another project, for the simplest, and most Mac way, to merge projects.

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Answer 12

nickditoro Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 24, 2012 8:02 PM in response to Lanny

Hi Lanny,

Kirby suggested the same thing, and as you would already know, it worked! And you're right, it's a "most Mac way." I had tried to drag the project in the icon view, which didn't work.

Thanks,

Nick

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