I can't export from Aperture - "ghost dialogs"

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cgronier Author

Level 1

0 points

I can't export from Aperture - "ghost dialogs"

Problem :

Aperture has a strange behaviour since my new configuration (see below the details of this new config).

• The export dialogs (picture export, web page export, etc.) don't pop up as they should after a command.

• Instead they live in the background as ghost images.

• The only way you can "see" the ghost dialog boxes is when you go into "mission control" mode. You can then see the content of the dialog boxes in transparent mode, and you can't grab them or get them to go into the front.

In order to troubleshoot I created a new Aperture database from within another account and loaded some pictures. Aperture works fine. So I guess there is a promlem with my original admin account.

My new configuration (which apparently created the problem):

I migrated a MacBook Pro to another MacBookPro using "migration assistant"

I used a Time Machine backup of my original MacBook Pro.

There is however a difference in the data organization of the two MacBook's:

• On my original MacBook all the stuff is installed on one 1TB internal hard drive

• On my new MacBook I have two internal hard drives : a 256 GB SSD and a 1TB hard disk (in place of the superdrive)

- The OS is installed on the SSD

- The so-called "user home folder" is copied from the backup into the 1TB hard disk

- I followed the procedure in order to point the backed-up original admin user to the new location of the backed up "user home folder"

I have been using this new configuration with no problem except the Aperture behavior described above.

What should I do now ?

PowerBook, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Sep 18, 2013 12:01 AM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

194,773 points

Sep 18, 2013 2:10 AM in response to cgronier

- I followed the procedure in order to point the backed-up original admin user to the new location of the backed up "user home folder"

Which procedure did you follow exactly?

The only safe way I know off is Re: How do I change the location of the Users Folder (Home Directory) to another harddisk

Did you move your home folder this way?

If your user interface appears to be broken, there may be a problem with your Aperture preferences file.

I'd try to remove the preferences file to the Desktop, as described in the Aperture 3: Troubleshooting Basics, the paragraph "Delete the User Preferences":

Delete the user preferences

You can resolve many issues by restoring Aperture back to its original settings. This will not impact your image files or your library. To reset your Aperture user preference settings to their original state, do the following:

Quit Aperture.

In the Finder choose Go to folder from the Go menu.

Type ~/Library/Preferences in the "Go to the folder" field. Press the Go button.

Remove the "com.apple.Aperture.plist" file from the Preferences folder.

Note: The locations of your Aperture libraries are stored in the preference file listed above. If you have stored your library outside the default location of ~/Pictures/Aperture Library, make a note of where the library is before deleting the Aperture preferences file. If you have more than one library, you can bring up a dialog to choose which one to load by pressing Option immediately after you open Aperture.

Regards

Léonie

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Answer 2

cgronier Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 18, 2013 2:22 AM in response to léonie

Hi Léonie,

You wrote :

Which procedure did you follow exactly?

The only safe way I know off is Re: How do I change the location of the Users Folder (Home Directory) to another harddisk

Did you move your home folder this way

Answer:

Yes, this is the way I did it

You wrote :

I'd try to remove the preferences file to the Desktop, as described in the Aperture 3: Troubleshooting Basics, the paragraph "Delete the User Preferences":

Answer:

I did this already but it does not solve my issue

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

194,773 points

Sep 18, 2013 2:31 AM in response to cgronier

With Mt. Lion deleting the User preferences may not have any effect, unless you log off and on again, directly after removing the files. Have you done that?

Try the following:

Remove the preferences again to the Desktop. And for good measure also the mirrored files in the sandbox: ~Library/Containers

Then log off and on again.

Since Aperture works fine from a different account, it must be something in your User account.

Try also removing the presets, if removing the preferences does not work. But don't delete them completely, just move them out to the Desktop.

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Answer 4

cgronier Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 18, 2013 4:29 AM in response to léonie

Hi Leonie,

I did all what you suggested, logging out and in after each step.

Unfortunately, the problem is still there.

I have some new info however.

I wanted to see if the problem was not related with my Aperture libraries.

I tried to create a new library, from the "File/Activate Library/Other / New..." menu (sorry for the spelling, my Aperture in in French).

The dialog box pops up but neither the "Other Library..." or "Create New..." button works.

If I click on either, they change colour for a few seconds and then come back to their original stage.

Nothing else happens.

My two cents,

The misfuncion seems to be related to the communication with the finder (export picture, export web page, create new library).

Again Aperture works fine if used from another account.

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