jlswanson99

Q: Having trouble importing one library into another in Aperture 3.

I have two iPhoto libraries: Library A and Library B that I would like to merge using Aperture. When I attempt to do this by opening one of the libraries in aperture and then going to File > Import > Library and then navegating to the other library I get an error message. This error message reads: "Error importing library. The library is an exact duplicate of the library running." However, I know this is not true because the file sizes of the two libraries differ by about 30GB and one library has photos that are nowhere to be seen in the other library. I have used iPhoto's first aid features: Repair Database and Rebuild Database on both libraries and I did a Repair Thumbnails on one of the libraries (this shouldn't have any effect on my problem). I have tried importing Library A into Library B and vice versa. Every time I get the same error message which does not seem to make sense. If somebody could please help me out with this that would be great, Thanks

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 5, 2014 10:25 PM

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Q: Having trouble importing one library into another in Aperture 3.

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  • by léonie,Solvedanswer

    léonie léonie Apr 5, 2014 11:07 PM in response to jlswanson99
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    Apr 5, 2014 11:07 PM in response to jlswanson99

    "Error importing library. The library is an exact duplicate of the library running."

    This error can occur, if the second library has been created by copying the library.  You can try to fix this by creating a new library "C", importing a new dummy photo into "C", then merging library "B" into "C".

     

    And now merge library "C" into "A". The libraries should no longer be showing as exact copies.

  • by jlswanson99,

    jlswanson99 jlswanson99 Apr 6, 2014 9:23 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 9:23 AM in response to léonie

    Thanks! Both libraries were created by copying the original, but then both of them were added onto. I will try what you suggested.

  • by jlswanson99,

    jlswanson99 jlswanson99 Apr 6, 2014 9:31 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 9:31 AM in response to léonie

    I tried your suggestion and I no longer get the error message that I did before, but I now get a new one:Screen Shot 2014-04-06 at 10.27.03 583AM.png

    I do not understand this as when I look at the information for my Macintosh HD it says I have about 200GB of disk space left.

  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie Apr 6, 2014 10:10 AM in response to jlswanson99
    Level 10 (105,761 points)
    iLife
    Apr 6, 2014 10:10 AM in response to jlswanson99

    Does that error message appear immediately, or after the merging has been running for some time? Then this error message will refer to space that is needed in addidition to the space already used. Merging needs temporary a lot of space, sometimes more than twice the size of the combined libraries.

     

    It would help, if you could keep the libraries to be merged on an external drive while merging.

     

    Are you using Time Machine? Then a part of your disk space may be used by Time Machine for local snapshots, and cannot be freed quickly enough for Aperture.

    Do you see this in your TimeMachine System Preferences panel? Then TimeMachine will use free space on your MBPr for local snapshots, if the backup drive is not connected.  See:  http://pondini.org/OSX/DiskSpace.html

    Screen Shot 2014-04-06 at 19.04.52.PNG

    Would it be feasable for you to move temporarily all libraries to an external drive?

  • by jlswanson99,

    jlswanson99 jlswanson99 Apr 6, 2014 11:08 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 11:08 AM in response to léonie

    Yes it is feasable for me to move the libraries to an external drive for merging. I have an external drive with about 1TB of free space. I am also using time machine. Thanks!

  • by jlswanson99,

    jlswanson99 jlswanson99 Apr 6, 2014 8:35 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 8:35 PM in response to léonie

    Having more trouble. I've moved Libraires A, B, and C to my external drive, plenty of disk space, none of the libraries are being recognized as duplicates, but when I attempt to import library A into library C Aperture gets partway through the merger and then freezes and stops responding. I am them forced to foorce quit and try again. I have attempted this two or three times with no success. I am able to free up about 600-700GB more disk space on the external hard drive if necessary, not sure if this would help or not.Screen Shot 2014-04-06 at 9.26.10 374PM.png

  • by Pamela Moresby,

    Pamela Moresby Pamela Moresby Apr 6, 2014 8:56 PM in response to jlswanson99
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2014 8:56 PM in response to jlswanson99

    Would you recomend the Application Apperture? I am looking to improve my visual effects, or would it be more worth while to seek photo shop?

  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie Apr 6, 2014 11:08 PM in response to jlswanson99
    Level 10 (105,761 points)
    iLife
    Apr 6, 2014 11:08 PM in response to jlswanson99

    Is your external drive correctly formatted as MacOS Extended (Journaled)? If not, some filenames may not be read correctly. In that case reformat the drive as described here:

    Format external drives to Mac OS Extended before using with Aperture

    Reformatting will erase the drive, so move the libraries somewhere else before doing that.

     

    but when I attempt to import library A into library C Aperture gets partway through the merger and then freezes and stops responding

    It is hard to tell, if Aperture is really hanging. Merging large libraries can take hours without any apperent progress.

    To be on the safe side, repair each library, before you start merging. A repair is strongly recommended, after force quitting Aperture. A force-quit can leave a library in an inconsistent state.

     

    To repair, see this link: Repairing and Rebuilding Your Aperture Library: Aperture 3 User Manual

     

    When all libraries A,B, C have been repaired successfully, back them up, before starting to merge again.

     

    Then try again to merge as described here: Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries

     

    Don't interrupt the merge, even if it looks like hanging. Just check, if the merged library increases in size.

  • by jlswanson99,

    jlswanson99 jlswanson99 Apr 7, 2014 2:42 PM in response to Pamela Moresby
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 2:42 PM in response to Pamela Moresby

    I feel that aperture is easier to use for general and advanced editing of photos, but it is not as good for stuff like special effects. That's not really what it was designed for.

  • by jlswanson99,

    jlswanson99 jlswanson99 Apr 7, 2014 2:48 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 2:48 PM in response to léonie

    My hard drive is formatted as Mac Os Extended (Journaled). I will try repairing all of the libraries and then I will attempt the mergers and leave them for longer. How long would you estimate the merger should take? The size of C is insiginificant (only one photo), A is about 130GB and B is about 150GB.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Apr 7, 2014 2:52 PM in response to jlswanson99
    Level 10 (105,761 points)
    iLife
    Apr 7, 2014 2:52 PM in response to jlswanson99

    That is hard to say - maximum a few hours. With a Terabyte library it could be more than a day.

  • by jlswanson99,

    jlswanson99 jlswanson99 Apr 7, 2014 2:53 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 2:53 PM in response to léonie

    If I left it overnight should that do it?

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Apr 7, 2014 2:56 PM in response to jlswanson99
    Level 10 (105,761 points)
    iLife
    Apr 7, 2014 2:56 PM in response to jlswanson99

    That should suffice.

  • by jlswanson99,

    jlswanson99 jlswanson99 Apr 8, 2014 8:40 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Apr 8, 2014 8:40 PM in response to léonie

    Making use of all of your suggestions I managed to merge all of my libraries A, B and C into one library exactly as I wanted. Thank you so much for your help! I never would have figured this out on my own.

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