My Ref. HD does not look like my Aperture Library

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Level 1

18 points

My Ref. HD does not look like my Aperture Library

Hi,

I don't neccessarily have a problem, but I do notice that my referenced library on an ext. HD does not look like my Aperture library on my mbp. I notice that there are alot of separate images not in albums or projects or folders. Is there a way or need to reorganize the ref. images into a similar setup as my library. Any thoughts are welcome as I'm a bit of a neat freak, esp. with photos etc.

Thank you.

John

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 16GB Ram, SSD

Posted on Jan 24, 2013 7:38 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Frank Caggiano

Level 7

25,969 points

Jan 24, 2013 7:42 AM in response to johngrussell

The storage structure of the referenced originals is seperate from the storage structure of the Aperture library. They will not mirror each other unless a strong effeort is made to make one look like the other.

So there is no need or advantage for one to look like the other it will work fine as it is.

regards

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Answer 2

johngrussell Author

Level 1

18 points

Jan 24, 2013 7:49 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Hi Frank,

Thanks for that reassurance. But I do notice that I do have some folders with dates and years with images inside. I was worried that I do not a consistent structure etc. and that this might slow the program down esp. as

I have 900 GB of images and videos. I've enclosed 2 examles below.

Thank you.

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Answer 3

Jan 24, 2013 8:15 AM in response to johngrussell

Not really sure what you showing here other then the top image is part of an Aperture library and the bottom is of the Finder.

In that upper image it looks like you have everything in one project. As the lower half of the screenshot is showing jpg images and movie files and those have to be in a project I have to assume the folders in the upper half of the screenshot are in the same project and as projects can't be in projects if those folders have anything in them at all it is images (or possibly albums)

Without knowing more about your library (and seeing all of it) I's say you have a bit of a mess on your hands.

regards

Message was edited by: Frank Caggiano - You should check out the user tip by Kirby concerning the makeup of the Aperture library. It will give you a good start in cleaning up and figuring out how the bits all go together.

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Answer 4

johngrussell Author

Level 1

18 points

Jan 24, 2013 8:34 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Hi Frank,

the 2 images are from the Aperture ref. library. I wanted to show the folders and single images. How would I show you the whole library? I have no projects in this ref. library, at least not like the icon used in the Aperture on my mbp, only folders and images.

I only see these folders and the single images shown earlier. I'm curious if this is a normal structure as it doesn't seem right.

Also, how do I find Kirby's tip.

Thank you for your time Frank.

John

This is from the top of my ref. hd

This is from the bottom of my ref. hd.

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Answer 5

Jan 24, 2013 9:39 AM in response to johngrussell

I'm confused there are screenshota of Finder windows or of the Library pane of the Inspector in Aperture?

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Answer 6

Jan 24, 2013 9:40 AM in response to johngrussell

Hi John,

User Tips are found on the User Tips tab of the top-level Discussions page. The one Frank referred to is here, I think:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4371

Aperture is engineered for efficiency. You should structure your Library so it is useful to you. Leave the file storage structure to Aperture. It is really good at it.

If you think your Library is in any compromised, run the Database repair. Instructions are on Apple Aperture trouble-shooting page (Google to find it).

--Kirby

(Sent from my magic glass.)

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Answer 7

johngrussell Author

Level 1

18 points

Jan 24, 2013 9:44 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Hi Frank,

the screenshots are of my ref. library only. No finder windows at all. I have a USB ext. HD that stores my ref. files. Both of the last screenshots are of the top and bottom of the list of files. I'm getting worried now that this seems confusing, not your fault, thank you for your time, but I understand that everybody would has a ref. setup must have soemthing similar.

Thanks and I look forward to figuring it out.

John

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Answer 8

Jan 24, 2013 9:57 AM in response to johngrussell

OK we're talking past each other here and not getting much accomplished.

The top screenshot from this post Re: My Ref. HD does not look like my Aperture Library is not from within Aperture. How did you take that screenshot? Aperture does not display dates like that AFAIK, that sure looks like a Finder window.

I believe the best thing you can do right now is to read the User Manual, especially the part about the parts of the Aperture library and Kirby's very good user tip. It should clear up your terminology and make things clearer for you.

good luck

regards

To better explain my point. This is what a screenshot of an Aperture Library would look like from within Aperture

This is a screnhsot of a Finder window

Message was edited by: Frank Caggiano - added screenshots

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Answer 9

johngrussell Author

Level 1

18 points

Jan 24, 2013 9:56 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Nothing was taken within Aperture program/Library at all. I said that earlier, sorry for any cofusion. ALL screenshots were taken from within my ext. HD housing my ref. images.

Now, I'm not going to get this resolved.

Thanks anyway.

John

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Answer 10

johngrussell Author

Level 1

18 points

Jan 24, 2013 9:58 AM in response to johngrussell

Can somone send me a screenshot of what their ref. library looks likes? I need it from the ext. HD where you store your ref. images.

Thank you.

John

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Answer 11

Jan 24, 2013 10:15 AM in response to johngrussell

John -- Finder is the OS X program that shows you the logical organization of files on your storage media.

This statement (among others) makes it impossible to help you:

"the screenshots are of my ref. library only. No finder windows at all. "

because it is either untrue or logically impossible.

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Answer 12

johngrussell Author

Level 1

18 points

Jan 24, 2013 10:23 AM in response to Kirby Krieger

You are right, my fault, I'm not trying to be difficult, just that I'm not as expert as you and others here. The screenshoots are of the finder on my ext. hd housing my ref. files. All I want to know is this the proper way they should be organized on my ext. hd. It seems mine are a little haphazard and illogical etc. If someone has a screenshot that shows a more organized setup then I'll try to do the same. I feel I may have to consolidate all the ref. back to managed and then organize a better relocation setup back to a ext. hd.

Btw, I spend alot of time on here and admire your time, patience and expertise helping others less fortunate. I used to be a professional photographer and now spend my time photographing my kids sports etc. and I love Aperture.

John

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Answer 13

Jan 24, 2013 10:50 AM in response to johngrussell

The organization of the referenced files is a personal choice. However given what you have shown of your setup I'd advise trying to get them into a more organized state.

However DO NOT move the files using the Finder, this will cause Aperture to loose their locations and require you to go through the painful Locate Reference Files procedure. You want to avoid that if you can,

Use the Aperture command File->Relocate Originals… which will allow you to specify the organization you want the originals to be placed in. The bottom of the Relocate dialog window will look like

You can specify the subfolder format and the name you want the referenced file to have (if you want to change it)

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Answer 14

johngrussell Author

Level 1

18 points

Jan 24, 2013 11:08 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Hi Frank,

Does relocate originals mean back as managed on my mbp? If so, I do not have enough room on my mbp. Could I not move my Aperture library to an large ext. hd and use that to consolidate originals so that entire library and originals are together/managed. Once done, I could then go throught the process of relocating originals back to being ref. but better organised. I know this while take some time, but I'm worried that if I don't do something now, it may get to big to do so later. I take alot of photos, 90,000 + and counting.

Thank you so muc.

John

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Answer 15

léonie

Level 10

194,743 points

Jan 24, 2013 11:13 AM in response to johngrussell

Does relocate originals mean back as managed on my mbp? If so, I do not have enough room on my mbp.

You are confusing "relocate" with "consolidate". "Relocate" will move originals to a folder of your choice; consolidate will turn them into managed originals.

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