When should I start a NEW library?
My iphoto library has reached about 400gb. Is it time to start a new one? What happens if it just keeps growing?
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.7)
What version of iPhoto?
LN
20 replies
How many photos are in the library? How much free space do you have on your boot drive?
OT
My iphoto library has reached about 400gb. Is it time to start a new one?
Are you experiencing any performance problem? Any special reason that makes you think the library size could be a problem?
If your iPhoto library is n your system drive, don't let it use up all available disk space. There should always be at least 20 GB of free disk space for the operating system, in addition to any working space iPhoto may need for importing, exporting, repairing, etc.
Assuming you have enough disk space, the gigs used on the disk don't matter to iPhoto. It's much more concerned with the number of items. iPhoto 11 is good for 1,000,000 - or put it this way - you'll run out of disk space first...
Wow, does that include videos - the new cameras take bigger pictures and MUCH bigger videos..
The latest version
40,000 plus 3,000 videos. Aroun 15gb of free space.
I just remember in earlier versions it was suggested I split up the libraries when they got too big
Only if you don't have the space needed to keep it as a single library. An external HD formatted OS X Extended (journaled) would solve that problem.
James Fernald wrote:
The latest version
That is not much help - according to your profile you have OS X 10.6.7 which is not even the latest version of 10.6 (there is a 10.6.8 available) - and the latest version of iPhoto for the OS you claim to have could be any of at least three different versions
It really helps get good advice if you bother to actually answer specific questions so the volenteers heere are not making guesses which could cause you major problems if they are wrong
If you would simply go to your applications folder and slect the iPhoto application, get info and report the version as requested it would make you much safer and minimize the chances of getting incorrect advice that could endanger your iPhoto library
And if yoru profile is not correct then please report the version of the OS too - you get it unter the Apple menu ==> abkout this Mac
LN
Sorry, I have OSX version 10.9.1
and I photo 9.5.1
So I can actually merge my older library wit this one? That would put it at over 100, 000 photos, but my wife would like that for search purposes! Also is the only way to merge with IPLM? I have had no luck merging libraryies before with it..
Yes that includes videos.
iPhoto is a SQL database, that's really an somewhat elaborate text file, which contains lists - a catalogue if you will - of the photos and videos imported. The actual files are just stored in the file system. So an image that is 2mb and one that is 25mb are essentially the same to iPhoto - just entries in the catalogue.
Thanks - given your profile one could not guess that
and since you do have iPhoto '11 all of the size comments are valid
15 GB of free space is really minimal and may be causeing usage issues not - certainly with just the addition af a few more GB of storage you will have problems - 10GB is the absolute minimum amount of free space and to use some applications you need 20GB or more
LN
Ok, I'm going to remove my library from this computer and put it on an external HD. How is the best way to do this...drag the pictures folder to the HD to copy it? And then how do I best delete the library from this computer.
Just drag the library package to the EHD. No need to drag the Pictures folder. But make sure it's formatted properly.
When should I start a NEW library?