AB4001

Q: iPhoto to Photos Shared Library Issue

Upgrade from iPhoto to Photos 2015 shared library issue.  

 

Trying to access a library in a shared folder from different user accounts. Each time Photos is opened by the account that was not the last user of the library, Photos has to repair permissions which takes 25 min. or more.  This did not occur in iPhoto where the shared library was immediately available from multiple accounts.  From within Finder, I've set both accounts have permission to read-write to the folder and the library file but problem still exists.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Apr 16, 2015 6:21 PM

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Q: iPhoto to Photos Shared Library Issue

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  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Apr 16, 2015 11:13 PM in response to AB4001
    Level 10 (139,485 points)
    iLife
    Apr 16, 2015 11:13 PM in response to AB4001

    It's very simple: if you're trying to share a library across accounts it must be on an external disk, formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and set to ignore ownership and permissions. (This is true of iPhoto, too btw. It's quite a fluke that you haven't been having the same problem with it.)

  • by LarryHN,Apple recommended

    LarryHN LarryHN Apr 17, 2015 5:55 AM in response to AB4001
    Level 10 (84,217 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 17, 2015 5:55 AM in response to AB4001
  • by AB4001,

    AB4001 AB4001 Apr 17, 2015 6:59 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 17, 2015 6:59 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    Thank you for providing the answer.  I however don't think having to purchase an external hard drive and having a separate "thing" with a cord on my desk is a good solution for me.  Not to mention I have no clue what "extended journaled yada yada yada...." means. 

     

    Solution seems a bit contrary to the Apple way of a simple  "all in one" computer shared by the family for us non-techies.  I was always able to share the same library of photos before this upgrade (I guess I was lucky) and on every PC I owned before switching.  I realize there are other ways to "share" photos, but for me being able open the same library (with quick access) on the internal hard drive was an easy solution for us for many years and I wish I could simply continue doing the same. 

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Apr 18, 2015 12:28 AM in response to AB4001
    Level 10 (139,485 points)
    iLife
    Apr 18, 2015 12:28 AM in response to AB4001

    Was there a question there?

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Apr 20, 2015 9:31 AM in response to AB4001
    Level 10 (140,918 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 20, 2015 9:31 AM in response to AB4001

    You're mentioning two different subjects here:  photo sharing and library sharing. 

     

    Currently Apple utilizes the iCloud and it's My Photo Stream, Shared Photos Streams and iCloud Photo Library to share photos.  the latter can also sync libraries between devices that are signed in to the same Apple ID.  However, it requires purchasing additional iCloud space to house large libraries.

     

    For sharing libraries the Apple document that Larry provided the link for is how it must be done. The following is from that document:

    To share your iPhoto library, you need to move the iPhoto library to a volume where permissions are ignored.

     

     

    but for me being able open the same library (with quick access) on the internal hard drive was an easy solution for us for many years and I wish I could simply continue doing the same.

    Opening a library from an external HD is no more difficult or takes more steps than from an internal HD. One you point iPhoto to that library it becomes the default library from then on.  And having the library on the external HD frees up space on your boot drive.

    OTsig.png

  • by Garrett5131,

    Garrett5131 Garrett5131 Oct 17, 2015 1:30 PM in response to AB4001
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 17, 2015 1:30 PM in response to AB4001

    I just upgraded to Mac OS X El Capitan and iPhoto was updated. After the update iPhoto no longer allowed me to share my photo library between accounts on the same computer. Just like you, it worked for all previous OSes (I did not upgrade to Yosemite) with the photo library existing on the \Shared internal drive. I don't understand why Apple is now blocking this feature and making the customer purchase external harddrive to share photos between accounts. This is a major back step for Apple.

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Oct 17, 2015 2:34 PM in response to Garrett5131
    Level 10 (139,485 points)
    iLife
    Oct 17, 2015 2:34 PM in response to Garrett5131

    While you have been lucky up to this, there have been issues with the Library in the Users/Shared folder for many version of iPhoto and the OS not just this one. The problem at heart is that you're not sharing files but a rather complex database. The database wants to control the permissions on its elements, but the Finder does too, hence the problem. Solution, put it in a place where the Finder doesn't conflict. That cannot be the start up drive - or your Mac won't start up.

     

    Apple aren’t forcing you to do anything you know. You don't have to use iPhoto or Photos. You can use any app you prefer. You have plenty of choice.