Q: Cannot export movie files from iPhoto 11 (9.5)

The screen shot isn't showing.

Can you access the files in the Finder?

Select one of the affected videos in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Reveal in Finder -> Original. A Finder Window should open with the file selected.

Does it?

The preview is what iPhoto uses to display the video's first frame in the library.  Try the following:

1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.

2 - Run Option #4, Rebuild Database, followed by Option #1 if needed.

OT

I get this issue as well with the latest iPhoto. I rebuilt the whole library and it still does the same.

I have got the same problem. My previous configuration was: OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 and iPhoto '11 9.4.3 and I was able to export photos and videos.
Now on OS X Mavericks 10.9 and iPhoto '11 9.5 installed via Mac App Store I got the same error when I try File -> Export -> Type: Original.
OS language is italian but the error is the same.
I can access files via File -> Reveal in the Finder -> Original.
I rebult the library too.

Could you tell Apple to solve this bug?

Why not tell them yourself?

iPhoto Menu -> Provide iPhoto Feedback

Eric Erikson wrote:

 

Hi Terence. Yes, the reveal in finder shows the original MOV file. The error message I'm getting is "Unable to prepare video for export: /Users/..../iPhoto Library/Previews/..../IMG_8362.MOV". The interesting thing is the file in Finder is in a folder called Masters instead of Previews. If I look in the contents of the iPhoto library the Previews version is only 16kb - maybe a shortcut?

I think this is the key to solving the problem (for Apple anyway). iPhoto seems to think it should try to export from the /Previews location, instead of /Masters where the original file is (as shown through File>Reveal in Finder> Original File). My screenshot looks exactly like skaiwoka's, where you can clearly see it's trying to export the /Previews version.

BTW, if you go looking where iPhoto is trying to export from (i.e. the /Previews folder) there's nothing there, for me at least. Just a bunch of randomly titled folders with nothing inside. See Below:

Exact same problem here. Apple needs to fix this.

Having the same problem.

Upgraded to Mavericks and iPhoto 9.5, and now getting this, every single time.

Happens with both Original and Current exports. The failed files are all point to the Previews location. I checked the first few, which do exist, but are 0KB big. However their master file location is fine.

This ends up leaving 120GB out of my 170GB collection of 1533 photos/videos.

Incredibly frustrating! iPhoto is useless to me now, and I have no way to get my photos out of it.

Here's the exact feedback I sent apple:

I'm experiencing this issue:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5478191?tstart=0

Since upgrading to Mavericks and getting the latest iPhoto version. I cannot export my entire photo collection (using original, and current settings).

It always fails with about 120GB of my 170GB collection left. The missing files are videos that iPhoto is trying to copy over the preview location, rather than the master location it seems. The discussion thread has more information.

I found that only videos that have been "trimmed" using iPhoto export fine.

What option did you choose for Kind when exporting the videos?  If you didn't select Kind = Original all you will get is a thumbnail jpeg image of the first frame of the video.

I have the exact same issue... selected also Kind = Orginal, for some videos it shows me the "Unable to prepare video for export: /Users/..." and for others it just stores the first frame of the video frustrating indeed...

On one of the ones that is "unable to prepare" select it in iPhoto and reveal original in finder - what do you get - it sound like the original may be missing from your library

on the ones that have only the first frame - what happens when you play them in iPhoto? These sounds like you have previously incorrecly exported them and lost the video saving only the preview

BOth of these indicate the possiblity of user interaction with the contents of the iPhoto library and incorrecting upgrading in the past - some history of this library would be helpful

Have you recently run any clean up software or disk space reduction software? Hint - Don't! - there is no way to do either and it is not necessary

LN

Thanks for the reply to this problem Larry,

On the unable to prepare files it will reveal in finder shows original video and will play in quicktime.

My problems have nothing to do with updating. Bought the computer 2 weeks ago with Mavericks and iPhoto installed. Imported all of my videos in and then decided to export again and it will now not export.

And yes, iPhoto and Mavericks are both up to date with upgrades.

Dave