How do I import an old iphoto library from an external hard disk while keeping my editing and organization in tact?

Question

How do I import an old iphoto library from an external hard disk while keeping my editing and organization in tact?

I am running iPhoto '08 on a MacBook Pro 2.2 GHz Intel C2D (MacBook Pro 3,1). I backed up my hard drive contents onto an external hard drive, then formatted my computer and installed Mountain Lion. I then re-installed iPhoto '08 and ran all the updates. Now, I would like to import my old library from the external disk onto my computer without losing my editing and organization; however, when I select "import to library" from iPhoto, the old iPhoto library is not a selectable option.

I know how to "show package contents" and import directly from the Original and Modified folders, but I don't want to lose my organization. Can I simply drag the content of those folders into my new Original and Modified folders? Will iPhoto read that correctly?

I tried to open the old library from the external disk, thinking to export them all to a folder and import from there, but that just opened my new library and none of the old photos were imported or available.

I'm running out of ideas and would appreciate any help you guys can give. Thanks!!

iPhoto '08, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Oct 12, 2013 11:28 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,254 points

Oct 12, 2013 11:33 AM in response to tjholcomb1225

You don't import it.

Just drag the iphoto Library from the external to the Pictures Folder.

Then open it:

Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'

Never import one Library to another. Every version and thumbnail is imported like a distinct photo, you lose all your Albums, Keywords etc., the link between Original and Previews is destroyed, the non-destructive editing feature is ruined and so on. In summary: it's mess.

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Answer 2

Oct 12, 2013 11:48 AM in response to Yer_Man

Thank you.

So now I have two libraries. Will I always have to choose which one to open? Can I merge them?

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Oct 12, 2013 11:50 AM in response to tjholcomb1225

You can not merge them with iPhoto - you can purchase iPhoto Library Manager and merge libraries or if you have iPhoto '11 you can merge libraries using Aperture

LN

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Answer 4

Oct 12, 2013 11:54 AM in response to LarryHN

Thanks for the help, guys. I'm on my way now!

iPhoto is nice to work with, but all this makes it seem like a rather clunky piece of software with a polished surface. Anyway, thanks for the help.

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Answer 5

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,254 points

Oct 12, 2013 12:08 PM in response to tjholcomb1225

Driving seems clunky when you're learning too.

You have two Libraries because you created one when you were trying to import. If you'd just copied the back up over as described you wouldn't have two libraries. If one is empty, just dump it. You don't have to choose each time, iPhoto will simply open the last one you chose.

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Answer 6

Mar 12, 2014 11:41 AM in response to Yer_Man

I just tried doing this from my external HD to my new MBP and I got an error message stating that the "files couldnt be read or written" (or something to that affect... I clicked the close button too quickly). Is there a solution for this?

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Answer 7

Mar 12, 2014 12:34 PM in response to Yer_Man

I was able to copy the original library which I had stored on EHD #1 successfully to my MBP and it started the updating process to be compatible with the newer version of iPhoto so thumbs up for that. 🙂

Now that I have the library that I want to use, I do notice that my pictures folder does in fact have 2 iPhoto libraries even though I followed your instructions.... Is it safe to just trash the iPhoto library that I don't wish to use?

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Answer 8

Mar 12, 2014 12:34 PM in response to Darla Mack

Lol ok this can be deleted because I figured out what caused the -error 36.

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