HT201340: Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries
Learn about Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries
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Oct 8, 2013 8:37 AM in response to capsteveby léonie,★HelpfulSorry if this has been posted a million times, but I can't figure it out and don't want to lose any photos.
Reorganizing your photolibraries can be error-prone, so before you start, I'd recommend to check your backups of the libraries, if they are current and working.
I just want to organize them into seperate years, i.e., photos 2009, 2010, 2011, etc.
And since I now have aperture, how can I get these photos organized into simple annual libraries onto the external HD?
iPhoto does not support to export partial libraries or to import and merge photo libraries, but Aperture does.
Your question does link to the document "Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries" that describes how you can merge libraries.
Do you have compatible Aperture and iPhoto versions? Aperture 3.4.5 and iPhoto 9.4.3? If yes, then you can unify your photo libraries by creating a new Aperture library on your external drive and using the command "File > Import > Library" to import your iPhoto libraies one by one into the the Aperture library.
Aperture works well with large libraries. You could keep all images in that one library and be done.
But if you really want separate, small libraries for each year, define smart albums in Aperture:
New > Smart album
and in the "Smart Settings" HUD for the album press "Add Rule" and add a "Date" rule. Set this rule to "Capture Year is ....".
This way you will have all images grouped by date in the library Inspector.
You could then proceed to export partial Aperture libraries for each year: Select the smart album and use the command "File > Export > Album as library". This will create a new Aperture library, just for that year. You can open this library in iPhoto, if you want.
I myself prefer to have all my photos in just one library; that makes it much easier to search all my photos at once and to combine them freely.
Regards
Léonie
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Oct 8, 2013 9:00 AM in response to léonieby capsteve,So frustrated. Took me 10 minutes just to figure out how to reply to this thread.
Thank you for your input. Still having problems.
I opened up two finder windows and dragged aperture icon to my external HD with the other iphoto libraries.
Then I dragged one of the libraries over to that aperture icon and it opened the program. Tried to do the same thing with another library (I like your suggestion of just on big file) and it wouldn't do it. Said the application is already open.
I've seen the document on how to merge and it doesn't seem to compute with my hampster brain.
I believe I'm up to date with the latest versions of aperture and iphoto.
I need to be walked through this because although your comment was helpful I wasn't even sure how to open aperture on my external HD.
Any baby steps would be greatly appreciated.
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Oct 8, 2013 9:16 AM in response to léonieby léonie,★HelpfulSo frustrated. Took me 10 minutes just to figure out how to reply to this thread.
The suport software for these forums is not always showing the last replies and that is making it really difficult to have an orderly conversation right now, but I am sure the community hosts are doing there best to get this fixed.
I opened up two finder windows and dragged aperture icon to my external HD with the other iphoto libraries.
What did you drag? The Aperture icon of the Aperture application (looks like a lens) or the icon of an Aperture library (looks like a fan of pictures)?
Your Aperture application needs to stay in the "Applications" folder. Is it still there?
To create an Aperture library on your external drive, launch the Aperture application by holding down the options key ⌥, and while you are firmly holding down this key, click the Aperture Application icon in the Dock or the Applications folder. You will see a panel to select a library. Select "Others/New" and select your external drive to craete a new library there.
Then I dragged one of the libraries over to that aperture icon and it opened the program. Tried to do the same thing with another library (I like your suggestion of just on big file) and it wouldn't do it. Said the application is already open.
Dragging will not work. With Aperture running, use the command "File > Import > Library" from the main menu bar and select one of your iPhoto Libraries to import. When this is finished, select the next.
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Oct 8, 2013 9:09 AM in response to léonieby capsteve,I'm not totally inept on the Mac but i've hit a road block.
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Oct 8, 2013 9:17 AM in response to capsteveby léonie,Sorry, my first post got published, before I had finished editing. Read the post above again, please. Now it should be complete
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Oct 8, 2013 9:39 AM in response to capsteveby léonie,I believe I'm up to date with the latest versions of aperture and iphoto.
To check the version numbers launch iPhoto and Aperture. Each application has a command "About ..." in the application menu directly besides the -menu in the upper left corner of the main menu bar. This will show the version number.
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Oct 8, 2013 10:16 AM in response to léonieby capsteve,Thanks so much, LeonieDF. I was wondering why the posts weren't going up smoothly.
I was able to copy the aperture library to my external HD. I then tried to import one of the iphoto libraries and it is currently merging. This step is taking quite a long time but I'm guessing that's because the fileis quite large (85.5gb). I'll let you know how the merg of the remaining libraries goes. BTW the iphoto version is 9.4.3. And the aperture app was downloaded just today and it's version 3.4.5
This was a big help. Thanks again and I'll post again as it progresses.
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Oct 8, 2013 11:27 AM in response to capsteveby léonie,You are welcome. Good Luck!
One more thing - merging libraries may take a really long time - many hours. Don't get impatient, and let the merging run, if necessary over night.
As a precaution you may wish to repair all iPhoto libraries before importing them.
To repair an iPhoto library hold down the Command+Option keys while double clicking the iPhoto library. Hold down the keys firmly, until you see the First Aid Panel, then select "Repair Database".
