Aperture corrupted. Can't access images in my library. HELP!

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Aperture corrupted. Can't access images in my library. HELP!

I have a MacPro Retina running the current version of Aperture. The Aperture database became corrupted today. I had just finished uploading some 35mm images scanned from an Epson V700. I was in the middle of editing one of them when Aperture froze. I ran a FORCE QUIT and tried to relaunch but kept getting an error message (this was hours ago, so I don't remember the exact wording, but it wa something about needing to reload the library). After repeated tries to relaunch failed, I decided to try restoring my Aperture Library from a Time Capsule/Time Machine backup. I tried several differnt backups (going back one version each time) and after trying three versions, finally got one to open in Aperture.

The problem at this point is that a large number of the 3,000 images in the library are visible, but corrupted or totally invisible (showing up as an all black or all white frame in VIEWER and THUMBNAIL); others appear as digital noise (checkboard or random noise patterns).

So far, I have tried running this repeatedly to no effect.

Then, I ran DISK UTILITY VERIFY DISK, VERIFY and REPAIR PERMISSIONS. The disk was ok. There were several incorrect permissions. Repair fixed all but one of them (it read: "WARNING SUID file 'usr/sbin/pppd' has been modified and will not be repaired.").

Some of the images in the library show up as white frames in BROWSER, but will load to a viewer frame when clicked. However, those images are corrupted because they cannot be accessed by the ADJUSTMENTS menu or by the SHARE menu (the share menu, for example, says

"The selected original image is either offline or not found. Please reconnect it and try again.").

An added couple of wrinkles for some of you very smart detectives to consider that may or may not be relevant.

*Many of my images are shared directly to Flickr from Aperture. At first I thought these might have been the images that survived intact, but now I'm not sure that there's any pattern here.

*Except for the my last set of uploaded images from earlier today and a few other recent, but seemingly random ones, none of the images in the library that can be viewed are able to be edited or shared. I can see 'em, but I can't do anything to them. And, many of the other images can't be viewed at all -- they appear as white, black or noise. A few images a partially visible -- half black or half noise and half image (images that were okay prior to the problem.

*I have NOT been using VAULTS (I assume that's a dumb choice that one of you will urge me to correct in the future, but that's not an option for recovery right now).

All I can say is... HELP!

Thanks.

PS, I have ONE-TO-ONE. Any chance someone at my local store will have enough Aperture knowledge to save me here?

Aperture 3

Posted on Dec 12, 2012 8:45 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 13, 2012 9:33 AM in response to RobFilm

Do you still have the original library that was open at the time you force quit Aperture? If so you should run the Aperture library repair functions on it.

Hold down the option and command keys while double clicking on that library. That should open Aperture on that library giving you the option to run the maintenance functions. Choose repair library and see if that helps. If not try the rebuild.

When you import into Aperture do you make the originals managed or referenced? If referenced is the disk that has the originals online and accessible?

As for the possibility that one-on-one person you get will have Aperture knowledge, no way to say. What is your one-on-one session for?

regards

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Answer 2

RobFilm Author

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Dec 13, 2012 9:55 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Frank, thanks for the advice. However, I've already tried these fixes repeatedly to no avail. The One-to-One is $100 one-time annual contract for personalized Genius Bar-type support that Appled offers with new Mac purchases. I suppose they can support any Apple product. The only question is how knowledgeable a particular Genius might be. I'll report back on how they do at my local store.

Someone else on a photography forum suggesed the switch to referenced rather managed files. I had no idea this was possible so I assume that the referenced is the default and that's what I've used. Once I have this problem fixed, I'll almost certainly shift to the managed process. Live and learn is all I can say.

An aside to make you laugh: on rangefinderforum.com, a favorite photography community of mine, most of the suggestions were similar to yours. However, one person, who happens to use both PCs and Macs said I should switch to PCs. I would never do that. Another said I should dump Aperture and switch to Lightroom. That I might actually consider. A PC??? Heaven forbid.

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Answer 3

Dec 13, 2012 10:37 AM in response to RobFilm

So right now you have an Aperture library that opens that you got from your TM backup correct?

And the problem is some (all?) of the originals are shown as off-line? And you have been using a referenced set-up. Is this all correct?

Where are the reference originals stored? On what disk? Is that disk on-line and accessible? Have you tried to reconnect the originals? What haooens when you do?

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Answer 4

RobFilm Author

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Dec 13, 2012 7:13 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

Frank, I have NOT been using referenced set up.

All the originals in this library that came from a digital camera were loaded directly from the camera (a Leica M8) into Aperture. The only other copies would on Flickr or on my Time Capsule. However, a good number of the images are scans from 35mm film, so in I have the film, plus, in many cases, saved JPGs in a file on my Mac.

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Answer 5

Dec 13, 2012 7:22 PM in response to RobFilm

So even the library you retrieved from your TM ** has this problem? You might not have gone back far enough in time.

As TM backups every hour and you didn;t notice the problem for 'hours' (as you wrote in your first post) it is possible that you will find a non-corrubted library if you go back farther.

As a test you should go back at least two days and see what that library looks like.

BTW in your previous post you wrote

Once I have this problem fixed, I'll almost certainly shift to the managed process.

which is why I thought you were using referenced originals.

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Answer 6

dv5

Level 1

4 points

Dec 14, 2012 5:58 AM in response to RobFilm

I am unable to load Aperture. I get an error message that reads "There was an error opening the database for the library "/Users/myname/Desktop/Alaska2012.aplibrary"." The only option is to quit. I have tried right clicking the aperture icon...no luck.

Is there anything I can do besides reinstalling? I don't want to loose my pictures.

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Answer 7

heff_sf

Level 1

70 points

Dec 14, 2012 8:35 AM in response to dv5

DV5-

Aperture's Library First Aid functions (Repair Library and Rebuild Library) usually can fix problems like the one you're reporting. If possible, make a backup copy of your library first. Hold down the Option and Command keys and launch Aperture to bring up the Library First Aid window. Select Repair Library and allow the opeartion to finish; if it's successful your library will open normally. If Repair doesn't work hold down Option+Command again and launch Aperture, and this time select Rebuild Library. This operation can take some time, particularly for a large library, but is usually is able to fix most library problems.

Good luck!

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Answer 8

RobFilm Author

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Dec 14, 2012 8:38 AM in response to heff_sf

I tried first aid, but it didn't work. I tried it on the successive series of reloads from TM/TC backups. Same result. I do have a clean set of masters from my backups. I will probably visit the Genius Bar (I have a One-to-One subscription) and let them help me sort out how to reload. Obviously, I'll lose my edits, but that's a far sight better than losing my masters.

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Answer 9

RobFilm Author

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Dec 14, 2012 8:43 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Frank, I think I got my terminology mixed up on referenced vs managed. I've been using whichever scheme is the default. I assume I should switch to the other.

I have a clean set of masters from my TC/TM backups (I rolled back a few iterations) that I now have safely saved. Reloading this previously, I THINK (not certain) that it got corrupted on reload. However, when I previously tried reloading I was not yet familiar with how to inspect the actual masters via SHOW PACKAGE CONTENTS in Finder, so it's possible that those previous attempts were made on a library that was already corrupted. I'll probably visit the Genius Bar (I have a One-to-One subscription) and let them help me sort out how to reload.

You've ALL been very helpful. Thanks. Please continue giving suggestions if you like, as I'm getting an education here. THANKS!

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Answer 10

léonie

Level 10

200,519 points

Dec 14, 2012 9:02 AM in response to RobFilm

BTW in your previous post you wrote

Once I have this problem fixed, I'll almost certainly shift to the managed process.

which is why I thought you were using referenced originals.

Rob,

it is still not clear if your library is referenced or managed. You may have meant to import managed, but accidentally turned off the import into the library at some point. Have you checked the "Masters" folder inside the Aperture library package, if your masters are actually there?

If it is referenced, you need to find your original image files - if they are really missing from your system drive, restore them from your Time Machine backup. But if you know exactly where they are, reconnect them using "Locate Referenced Files".
But if your library is managed, "Locate Referenced Files" will not work. Repairing this will require to patch the database files inside the package, that would be a tricky operation. You may save your edits and tags for your most important images however, by reimporting your masters and then lifting and stamping your adjustments and tags from the versions with the missing originals onto the newly imported original master image file.

Regards

Léonie

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Answer 11

RobFilm Author

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Dec 14, 2012 12:25 PM in response to léonie

I was able to access Masters via SHOW PACKAGE CONTENTS. I can open a master using Preview. So, does that mean that I am use REFERENCED? Referenced would be the preferred/safer method, right?

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Answer 12

léonie

Level 10

200,519 points

Dec 14, 2012 2:54 PM in response to RobFilm

I was able to access Masters via SHOW PACKAGE CONTENTS. I can open a master using Preview. So, does that mean that I am use REFERENCED? Referenced would be the preferred/safer method, right?

So your originals are inside the "Masters folder". That means your Aperture library is a managed library, like you intended, and this is usually the safest option. And usually you should be able to restore a managed Aperture library from a Time Machine backup. In your case either the library has been corrupted, before you created the backup and the backup is corrupted as well, or when the library was restored, the links to the originals were not restored correctly. Did you not restore the library to the original location but to a different drive? This might explain, that the references to the masters don't work.

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