Aperture Libraries won't Merge

How exactly are you exporting from the first library?

but if i try exporting a project from 1 library

• I assume you are selecting a project in the source list of your library inspector and using "File > Export project as New Library"?
• And then switch to your other library and use "File > Import > Library"?

That should work - exactly as described. I am doing it all the time. You say, you already tried to reinstall - did you also try the Library First Aid Tools? Perhaps your library needs repairing, see this manual page: Aperture 3 User Manual: Repairing and Rebuilding Your Aperture Library

There are some things to be aware of:

• The export as library works in the background and may take a long time, if the partial library is large. Aperture will notify you, when the export has finished. You cannot switch to another library to import into, while the export is still happening, or the export will be terminated.
• Aperture will not import a library into itself. If the exported library is assumed to be an exact copy of the library you want to import into, Aperture simply will not do it. You have to modify the library you want to import by importing a new picture into it, to force Aperture to recognize it as a new library that needs merging.
• And there is a big bug with merging libraries, that contain images imported from Photo Stream. We found that Aperture pretends to import the Photo Stream images, but skips them when merging the libraries. If all images are Photo Stream imports, nothing may be added when merging Libraries.

You may want to have a look at these threads for workarounds:

Re: Photo stream imported pictures missing after importing library

Re: Aperture will not import an aperture library any more

Regards

Léonie

Hi Heyyoumen-

You wrote that you exported a project from Library1 (let's call it "Lib1-exp"), and when you open Library2 and import it you get the merge progress bar but when it finishes nothing seems to happen. When you imported Lib1-exp into Library2 (via File > Import > Library...), did you get a dialog box giving you the option to Merge the library or to Add it? Choosing Merge will give you the behavior you described, where any common images in Library2 and Lib1-exp will have their information (metadata, adjustments, etc) combined on the version already in Library2.

If instead you choose to Add Lib1-exp, it will be imported as a new project.

heff_sf,

did you get a dialog box giving you the option to Merge the library or to Add it

what you say is what should happen, but unfortunately this behaviour is buggy right now.

Aperture will only show the merge/add prompt, if it detects duplicates. If it does not prompt, it should do an "Add", but that will not always happen.

Sometimes you have to force the appearance of this panel by adding an images to the imported library, that will ensure that that Aperture sees at least one duplicate.

Then try the workaround to import one single image that is comes from one of the libraries into the other. This way you will be sure to have a duplicate and Aperture should prompt you if you want to add or to merge.

But does your Aperture library contain Photo Stream images? That caused this problem for other posters here.

I have a related problem in that under no circumstances can I persuade Aperture to actually sync my files when I try to merge 2 libraries. I always get the choice of adding or merging. If I select Add there is no problem - the library is duly added. If I select Merge and I am trying to merge an updated project which is already in my main library the computer appears to be doing something but, in fact, it gives up and nothing happens. However, if I have opened the original project as a separate library and import the new library (same project but files which have been worked on) and select Merge, it still refuses to sync the amended files, although in this case it will add the files. I have taken note of all the suggestions that have been made, such as deleting, adding files so that the projects do not look exactly the same and I have no Photo Stream photos in my libraries.

At the end of the day I can just delete the original project and keep the added (updated) project in my main library but that is really not the point since, in my opinion, Aperture should be doing what it is supposed to be able to do - it seems to me that there is still a bug here.

I am using an iMac 27" December 2009 and an MBP 13" December 2012 - both on OSX 10.8.4 and Aperture 3.4.5.

If anyone can help resolve this I would be most grateful.

Thanks for your very prompt response, Heyyoumen. i had been wondering whether a switch to Lightroom might be the answer - but I've invested so much time and effort into getting to grips with Aperture that I'm reluctant to switch, especially as I can always add and then delete. But I'll keep your suggestion in reserve!

Hi Heyyoumen One year later I now hear that Apple have decided not to continue developing/supporting Aperture and are about to introduce a new product called Photos - apparently something between iPhoto and Aperture. So I think the time is rapidly approaching for me to follow in your footsteps and migrate to Lightroom! I'm just a bit concerned about transferring my Aperture library (currently about 29,000 images) - will I be able to retain all the metadata, original files, adjustments etc? Any tips you can give me on the migration will be gratefully received - and many thanks in advance. Jack.