How to: Switch from managed library to referenced folders?

Question

How to: Switch from managed library to referenced folders?

I'm on Aperture 2.1.4 and, I just updated my OS to 10.6.8 (yes, I know, I'm way behind... I don't like updating unless forced into it. I always have to fix problems. Anyway, Here's problem number one already. Now, Aperture crashes every single time I want to export a version of any image! I've tried it about 50 times... just doesn't work any more.

So, I started doing some research on it and it seems to happen a lot of folks... In doing this reseach (which I probably should have done more of long ago) I found out there are two different ways to manage your images. The "managed library" and "referenced folders"... Again, I know it would have been a good idea to know what I wanted from the beginning, but is there a way to switch over now? I have over 150 different PROJECTS in Aperture and a total of about 15,000 photos. I'm not a pro photographer, but to me that's A LOT of pics! Like anyone's photos they've taken, these are super important to me and I'd feel more comfortable knowing exactly where those image files are on my HD and be able to easily locate the folders. Easier for me to back them up to an external HD, etc.

Is there a way to do this now? Switch so my images are no longer in the "vault" or "library" and simply in a folder!?!

I really appreciate any help on this! thanks!

Posted on Mar 12, 2013 3:34 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 12, 2013 4:51 PM in response to Seth Eskigian

Update on my progress: I've done some more research and read other posts on this subject. It seems the way to do this is to: File -> Relocate Masters! When I attempt this, Aperture CRASHES! Won't let me do it!

Any suggestions to fix this crashing issue?

thanks!

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Answer 2

Mar 12, 2013 6:01 PM in response to Seth Eskigian

To be honest not to many people here are still runnig 2 so getting help is going to be difficult.

What is the format of the drive you are trying to relocate to?

I would suggest you try to do a library repair and then try the relocate again.

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Answer 3

Mar 12, 2013 6:26 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

It crashes when attempting to repair library...

I'll just purchase V.3 and see if that fixes the problem!

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Answer 4

Mar 12, 2013 6:42 PM in response to Seth Eskigian

Well getting 3 is a good idea in the long term but if the library is crashing when you try to repair it chances are Aperture 3 is going to have problems also.

Before you attempt to open this library in 3 make sure you have a complete copy of it. If 3 tries to open it and has problems it could make things worst and you want to be able to get back to at least where you are now.

Any chance to have a backup of the current library?

good luck

regards

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Answer 5

Mar 12, 2013 6:55 PM in response to Seth Eskigian

Hi Seth -- just want to underscore Frank's recommendation: make sure your Library is in tip-top shape (or, at the least, that it works without problems) before upgrading. Upgrading my provide additional functionality, but it is poor path to take if your Library is not currently functioning well.

I do recommend you upgrade. I just don't want to upgrade with the expectation that upgrading will resolve existing issues.

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Answer 6

Mar 12, 2013 7:14 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

Does backing up with Time Machine count? Shouldn't that have a current version of the library?

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Answer 7

Mar 12, 2013 7:23 PM in response to Seth Eskigian

That is better then nothing and in normal circumstances I'd say fine but given what you have written so far I'd feel more comfortable if you had a straight up copy of the library.

If that is physically impossible because of space issues (remember the copied library won;t be around for more then then it take to get this fixed so you're not looking at tying up disk space forever) then you'll have to go with just the TM backup.

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Answer 8

Mar 12, 2013 7:26 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

Oh, no... I have room! So, can I just find the library in the "User" folder and slide it over to a backup drive? Is that what you mean?

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Answer 9

léonie

Level 10

194,647 points

Mar 12, 2013 8:31 PM in response to Seth Eskigian

Oh, no... I have room! So, can I just find the library in the "User" folder and slide it over to a backup drive? Is that what you mean?

And make a backup of the Aperture 2 application as well, since your your library has been created with Aperture 2. You may need it to open the backup.

Also, have a look at this support article http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2518 - scroll down to "A note on upgrading your Aperture library". It is recommended to rebuild the library before upgrading; since you are having trouble to repair it, I'd suggest you try to rebuild it while still running Aperture 2. The problem is, that after upgrading to Aperure 3 the library needs to be converted by Aperture 3 to a new format, and that may fail, if the library is not in perfect working order - see Kirby's warning above.

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Answer 10

Mar 13, 2013 5:24 AM in response to léonie

And make a backup of the Aperture 2 application as well

Very good point. Either back it up or make sure you still have the original install media and serial number so you can re-install it if you have to.

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Answer 11

Mar 13, 2013 9:02 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Oh, I definitely have the Orig box and disc w/serial number on my shelf. So, I can always re-install if it comes to that!

So, I'm just curious... As far as our theory of the library being "messed up" is concerned, would that issue (if it is that issue) preclude me from viewing and working on my images in Aperture? I went through several project folders this morning just to see what can and can't be done. It appears i can edit my images with many tools in Aperture. Color balance, cropping, even "duplicating" an image. This all works. I've looked through all my projects and all the photos are there and visible and editable. If the library is damaged, would this be possible? Maybe I'm getting my hopes up and thinking it's just a compatibility issue with my OS and version of Aperture???

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Answer 12

Mar 13, 2013 11:23 AM in response to Seth Eskigian

So, just an update on what I've discovered and done so far! Before doing any more "updating" to A3 or an OS update, I wanted to check out other ways of trying to recover my photos.

So, here's what I did... and this is completely by accident, by the way. I remembered before I bought Aperture, I used to have my photos in iPhoto, so I opened that to see what was still in there. I stopped importing images to iPhone years ago, after the Aperture purchase, but I recall initially I was able to import my iPhoto library into Aperture... I wondered if there was a way to do that in reverse. Turns out, there is. There is a command in iPhoto called "Show Aperture Library" and so I did... then, I created a new album in iPhoto and imported each project into iPhoto. THEN, just to make sure they were the high rez versions, I exported some samples and opened in Photoshop. They are, indeed, my high rez versions! So, two things.... 1) YAY... and 2) doesn't this seem to point to a different issue regarding Aperture? now that I have all my photos safely somewhere where I have access to them, I'm happy to upgrade now and see if it fixes this crashing issue. Your thoughts?

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