Having trouble importing one library into another in Aperture 3.

Question

Level 1

51 points

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

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

léonie

Level 10

194,647 points

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.

Reply

Answer 2

jlswanson99 Author

Level 1

51 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.

Reply

Answer 3

jlswanson99 Author

Level 1

51 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:

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.

Reply

Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

194,647 points

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

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

Reply

Answer 5

jlswanson99 Author

Level 1

51 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!

Reply

Answer 6

jlswanson99 Author

Level 1

51 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.

Reply

Answer 7

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?

Reply

Answer 8

léonie

Level 10

194,647 points

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.

Reply

Answer 9

jlswanson99 Author

Level 1

51 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.

Reply

Answer 10

jlswanson99 Author

Level 1

51 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.

Reply

Answer 11

léonie

Level 10

194,647 points

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.

Reply

Answer 12

jlswanson99 Author

Level 1

51 points

Apr 7, 2014 2:53 PM in response to léonie

If I left it overnight should that do it?

Reply

Answer 13

léonie

Level 10

194,647 points

Apr 7, 2014 2:56 PM in response to jlswanson99

That should suffice.

Reply

Answer 14

jlswanson99 Author

Level 1

51 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.

Reply

Answer 15

léonie

Level 10

194,647 points

Apr 9, 2014 12:05 AM in response to jlswanson99

You're welcome! 🙂

I am glad for you, that it worked finally!

Reply