How can I get a real unified library?

Question

How can I get a real unified library?

I've been searching support pages and discussions for an hour and I can't find instructions for this.

I bought Aperture a couple of years ago and imported my then current iPhoto library. For a couple of months, I imported my photos into Aperture, then I didn't have the time to figure out how to use the app and I returned to iPhoto. Now I have two libraries that are perhaps 75% the same but different pictures in that other 25%. Now I have a new computer with an SSD. I can't afford the space for two libraries. I want to merge the libraries and get rid of all the duplicates.

Although the sales pitch on the Apple website tells me I can now have a unified library, Aperture still asks me to switch to another library. Obviously they aren't unified.

In addition, I have hundreds of duplicate photos in my pictures folder where I have exported photos to use in a Wordpress blog. Any thoughts as to how to delete those duplicates as well?

Christine

Aperture 3.4.3

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Nov 18, 2012 8:46 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

léonie

Level 10

194,647 points

Nov 18, 2012 11:20 PM in response to Christine Kling

Although the sales pitch on the Apple website tells me I can now have a unified library, Aperture still asks me to switch to another library. Obviously they aren't unified.

Christine,

what is your iPhoto version? And when exactly is Aperture asking you to switch to another library? What exactly is the error message that you get?

To be able to use a unified Aperture/iPhoto library, your iPhoto Library needs to be upgraded to the new unified format. This requires opening the iPhoto library in iPhoto 9.4.3 at least once to convert it. Have you upgraded iPhoto? Your new computer with SSD should have come with iPhoto 9.4.3.

Unified library does not mean, that the libraries will be united, unless you merge the libraries. It means, that the libraries of both applications are compatible and can be opened by the other application. Also, you should be able to import your iPhoto library into your Aperture library and merge the libraries. See these support articles:

Aperture 3.3: Using a unified photo library with iPhoto and Aperture

Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries

Before importing your iPhoto library unhide all photos that may be hidden. Aperture cannot unhide the hidden photos.

To avoid importing duplicates use the "merge" option, when importing the library, not the "add" option.

In addition, I have hundreds of duplicate photos in my pictures folder where I have exported photos to use in a Wordpress blog. Any thoughts as to how to delete those duplicates as well?

As for the duplicates in your Pictures folder - are those all duplicates or are some of them images that you need to keep? If they are all duplicates, why not make a backup of this folder and delete the image files using the Finder? aperture will not be able to recognize them as duplicates, if if you renamed them when exporting or resized them.

Regards

Léonie

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Answer 2

Nov 18, 2012 11:56 PM in response to léonie

Leonie,

Thanks for your reply.

Okay, I guess this is part of my problem. I bought my computer second hand and the previous owner wiped the drive and then installed iPhoto using her Apple ID, therefore I can't update it.

Since I read your reply, I decided I would repurchase it in order to update. I backed up my iPhoto library to an external drive, then deleted it and deleted the iPhoto app. I restarted the machine, However, the app store button still only says UPDATE and I cannot repurchase the app under my own Apple ID.

Do you have any suggestions as to how I can update my iPhoto at this point? Is there something esle I have to remove from my computer so that the App Store will allow me to repurchase iPhoto?

Christine

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

194,647 points

Nov 19, 2012 12:52 AM in response to léonie

Christine,

you need to contact the App Store Support.

There is a link in the right panel on the main page (in the "Alles of einen Klick" panel in German).

The problem is, that the preinstalled iPhoto has been accepted for your computer to a different Apple ID, and the App Store does not know that the mac now has a different owner. They need to remove the link to the previous Apple ID.

Regards

Léonie

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