cannot view photos in media sidebar

Question

Level 1

2 points

cannot view photos in media sidebar

I am currently using MacOSX 10.6.8 with iPhoto 9.2.3

For some time now I have not been able to view my iPhoto albums e.g. photo files through the Open/Select Finder when viewing the Media tab. It only show the "Place" album and Photo Booth and nothing else. The problem is that I cannot upload photo files to my e-mails, website etc. using the Media tab. My iPhoto library is on an external drive. I have already tried several options, one being deleting the preference files from sidebar preference. Unfortunately nothing has worked. Thanks in advance!

Posted on Apr 27, 2015 7:19 PM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,308 points

Apr 28, 2015 6:11 AM in response to pjfl29

What format is the external drive and how are you connected to it?

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Answer 2

pjfl29 Author

Level 1

2 points

Apr 28, 2015 10:18 AM in response to Yer_Man

NTFS compressed connected via USB directly. It's a Segate portable 4TB. However, I already used a 2TB with the same setup and it worked. I am not sure but maybe when I transferred to the new drive it lost its way.

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

207,409 points

Apr 28, 2015 10:48 AM in response to pjfl29

NTFS compressed connected via USB directly.

There's your problem. An iPhoto Library must be on a volume formatted OS X Extended (journaled). It's not designed to work correctly on any other formatted volume and will eventually crash and corrupt the library. You've been lucky so far but can't rely on it continuning to work OK without problems.

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Answer 4

pjfl29 Author

Level 1

2 points

Apr 28, 2015 10:19 PM in response to Old Toad

Thanks for the insight. No fun for me as my drive is loaded to 3.75TB and I don't have another 4TB drive!

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Answer 5

Old Toad

Level 10

207,409 points

Apr 29, 2015 8:32 AM in response to pjfl29

Then get a smaller EHD just for the iPhoto Library.

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Answer 6

pjfl29 Author

Level 1

2 points

May 28, 2015 5:32 PM in response to pjfl29

Ok. Finally had time to transfer files to a 2TB drive that used before. Formatted it to Mac OS X Ext (journaled), but in the Finder view I still cannot see the albums for iPhoto except for "Places". However, for the iTunes media files I can now see the songs, movies etc. Any reason?

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Answer 7

pjfl29 Author

Level 1

2 points

May 28, 2015 5:34 PM in response to Old Toad

Ok. Finally had time to transfer files to a 2TB drive that used before. Formatted it to Mac OS X Ext (journaled), but in the Finder view I still cannot see the albums for iPhoto except for "Places". However, for the iTunes media files I can now see the songs, movies etc. Any reason?

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Answer 8

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

May 29, 2015 9:31 AM in response to pjfl29

but in the Finder view I still cannot see the albums for iPhoto

You can not view your photos using the finder - only using iPhoto or the media browser

LN

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Answer 9

pjfl29 Author

Level 1

2 points

May 29, 2015 10:11 AM in response to LarryHN

Yes. Media browser is what I meant. Therefore, in any program when I go to view "Pictures" in the media browser to upload a photo it still does not show my Event albums.

Again, this was the case for also the Music and Movies as it did not show any items, but now my songs and movies are viewable on both of the drives regardless of the format.

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Answer 10

Old Toad

Level 10

207,409 points

May 29, 2015 10:15 AM in response to pjfl29

Do the following:

1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down to open the First Aid window. Be sure to follow the circled recommendation in the screenshot.

2 - apply Option #4, Rebuild Database.

3 - if necessary repeat with Option #1, Repair Permissions.

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Answer 11

pjfl29 Author

Level 1

2 points

May 31, 2015 8:50 PM in response to Old Toad

Well, I'm just not having any luck with this. I followed advice, but I still cannot see my photos in the Media menu. I practically tried every option in the image below, but to no avail! I even did a repair on disk permission. Every time, I reboot everything and nothing. There is just a simple disconnect with this software. I am sure it is something simple, but I cannot figure it out. Any other ideas?

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Answer 12

Old Toad

Level 10

207,409 points

Jun 1, 2015 9:02 AM in response to pjfl29

Try the following on the library:

Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library

Download IPhoto Library Manager 4 for OS XC 10.6.8 and iPhoto 8.1.2 and later or iPhoto Library Manager 3 (for OS X 10.5.8 and iPhoto 7.1.5 and earlier) and launch.

Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.

Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu (iPLM 3) or Library ➙ Rebuild Library menu (iPLM 4) option.

In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.

Click on the Create button.

Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

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