Sharing iPhoto with Media Center and or Windows Photo

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Level 1

4 points

Sharing iPhoto with Media Center and or Windows Photo

Hey everyone no question here just seen a lot of archived questions that have not gotten a definitive answer. My thing was I do all of my editing and original picture import to iPhoto but I want to be able to see them on my Windows 8 computer Photo program and Windows Media Center desktop that runs my TV/Media Center. This will also work for Windows 7 - Understand for stability you should not modify the pictures on your Windows box.

On your Mac sure that your Pictures folder is shared to Windows and /SMB. To learn how go to Apple Support on File Sharing
On your Windows download and install Microsoft SyncToy 2.1 you will also have to have a version Microsoft.NET Framework 2.0.5 backwards compatible. (Note it may switch to install x86 or 4.0 this is fine because it is compatible.
On your Windows make sure you can navigate to the propper folder "Pictures/iPhoto/Masters" (I mapped it as a network drive to make sure that the connection is more stable) Copy the location (Either the mapped drive or the network address including the netbios name)
Create a new folder in your Picture Library on your Windows Box. (I called it iPhoto)
Open up SyncToy and create a new folder Pair, on the left side use the copied address or mapped drive, for the right use the new folder in your Photo Library. Set it either to Echo or Sync. (It is important which side because if it is switched around it will erase your iPhoto Masters folder contents.)
Run the pair, this is quicker than normal network copy and paste.
To keep it always synced you can then set it as a scheduled task straight from the program.

Hope this helps somebody let me know your thoughts

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), Windows 8 64Bit Pro w/ Media Center

Posted on Sep 3, 2013 10:11 PM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,308 points

Sep 3, 2013 11:15 PM in response to Blindhawkeye

What's the difference between that and the more simple, safer and supported Exporting? Plus, with exporting you get the edited version if you choose, can decide on the quality you prefer, include all your metadata. I mean if your thing is 'to do all your editing... on iPhoto' then why are you accessing the Originals only?

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Answer 2

Blindhawkeye Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 4, 2013 12:45 AM in response to Yer_Man

The reason I am not using the just the Export command is because that takes a copy and import every time you want to get the Windows computer a copy of a picture. The archived posts were just talking about viewing the images on their Mac in Windows Media Center or Windows Photo App. This way the Windows computer is just kept up to date by a process that occurs at a regular interval.

The reason I pointed to the Master folder is so that all images are copied. If you just change the Metadsta (Faces, Name, Geotag, File Tags, Moments, Events) it does not put a copy in the edited folder. In most cases people save their work after they edit a picture as soon as you save a copy it places a copy of the edited photo also in the master folder. The master folder contains the full sized image in its original form RAW or JPEG, it also holds the video files as well that you might have imported.

Hope that helps it's because the people were not looking for a one time and done fix.

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Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,308 points

Sep 4, 2013 2:21 AM in response to Blindhawkeye

The reason I am not using the just the Export command is because that takes a copy and import every time you want to get the Windows computer a copy of a picture

But isn't that what you're doing - making a copy on the windows side?

The reason I pointed to the Master folder is so that all images are copied.

But then you have to specify that in your system only the originals are copied over. No added metadata, no edited versions.

In most cases people save their work after they edit a picture as soon as you save a copy it places a copy of the edited photo also in the master folder.

Not in iPhoto it doesn't...

Plus you also need to explain that what you're doing is unsupported and carries a significant risk of data loss. You should also encourage people to back up before attempting this.

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Answer 4

Blindhawkeye Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 4, 2013 4:18 PM in response to Yer_Man

Sir I think you do not understand what the idea of this post is. It is an automatic way of keeping another computer up to date with the files from iPhoto. Your way the user has to do an action constantly to keep the computer up to date the way I am describing is a way to do it automatically. Your way could actually work by mounting a shared folder from the Windows computer on the Mac and do the export to that folder but still it is a constant action that the user will have to do, and you also have to worry about file naming because how the export does file naming by default will cause multiple photos to have the same name. It would also require the person to remember which files they have already exported to the Windows computer.

Yes in certain way of saving your work it does put a edited copy in the masters folder - trust me because certain copies of edited photos have shown up my Windows computer. But if you wanted you could also create a folder pair for the edit folder, using the same process as described in the original post of mine, though you should make sure you have it set only to echo.

That is a good point though I did hint to the fact that there is a risk of data loss but it is not significant because it is only copying the files to the Windows computer it is not editing the files on the Mac computer.

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Answer 5

Blindhawkeye Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 4, 2013 4:22 PM in response to Blindhawkeye

"This is not an Apple supported function or answer to a solution. Please before continuing any type of unsupported processes please make a backup of all data. Their is a possibility of data loss if you do not follow the insturctions explicitly. Please only use this process if your in need of its constant outcome."

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Answer 6

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Sep 4, 2013 4:59 PM in response to Blindhawkeye

Unless a user is using unsupported (and incorrect0methods the contants of the masters folder will never contain any edited photos - it only contains the original photo exactly as imported - and as long as you use iPhoto and supported editing methods this will never change

LN

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Answer 7

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,308 points

Sep 4, 2013 10:53 PM in response to Blindhawkeye

I think you do not understand what the idea of this post is. It is an automatic way of keeping another computer up to date with the files from iPhoto.

At no point do you state this is about automation.

Your way the user has to do an action constantly to keep the computer up to date the way I am describing is a way to do it automatically.

Constantly? You mean another single step after an Event has been processed. And it's safe, supported and actually gets the processed photos plus all the additional medata.

Your way could actually work by mounting a shared folder from the Windows computer on the Mac and do the export to that folder but still it is a constant action that the user will have to do,

So that's how you can do it.

and you also have to worry about file naming because how the export does file naming by default will cause multiple photos to have the same name.

Perhaps you need to check out the options in the Exporting dialgue. This User Tip

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4921

has details. It's not so hard.

It would also require the person to remember which files they have already exported to the Windows computer.

The date will tell you that. Or a keyword, or even a post-it note.

Yes in certain way of saving your work it does put a edited copy in the masters folder - trust me because certain copies of edited photos have shown up my Windows computer.

What certain way is that, exactly?

But if you wanted you could also create a folder pair for the edit folder, using the same process as described in the original post of mine, though you should make sure you have it set only to echo.

There is no 'edit folder' in iPhoto. Do you mean the Previews?

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