Stevoraus
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Confused over still having old iPhotos library and new Photos library

I recently updated to the new Photos software and assumed that as it copied over all my photographs that the old IPhotos library had now gone. However I have just saved some photos from an email and I was asked where I wanted to save them, which I have never been asked before. I accepted the only option it gave me which turned out to be the old IPhotos Library. From what it said that will now be the default for saving any future photos whereas I want them all to go to the new Photos Library as I don't know how to transfer from the old to new library.

 

Looking at the menu option on the email when you go to save it still says "Export to IPhotos" so is this something Apple have not changed in line with the new software?

 

Is it safe to delete the old IPhotos library without losing the photos in the new library or is there another way to get back to Photos being the default option? I don't use ICloud due to the size of my library.

 

Thank you for any advice given.

iMac (21.5-inch Late 2009), iOS 8.3

Posted on Apr 28, 2015 12:26 PM

by léonie,Solvedanswer
léonie léonie
Level 10 (109,018 points)
iCloud
A:

Have you tried to select all attached photos at once in your Mail and to right-click or ctrl-click them?

When I right-click the selected attached photos I am seeing "Export to Photos" as well:

It will only work, if your Photos Library has been enabled as the System Photos Library.

 

Screen Shot 2015-04-30 at 01.15.41CEST.png

 

Is it safe to delete the old IPhotos library without losing the photos in the new library or is there another way to get back to Photos being the default option?

 

Your old iPhoto library does not need much space, because the new Photos Library and the old iPhoto Library are sharing the image files using hard links. It looks like duplicate files, but the files are sharing the same blocks on the disk.

See: Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support

also:   Six Colors: The (hard) link between Photos and iPhoto

 

I would not delete the iPhoto library, before you are very sure, that all photos have been migrated correctly and that you will not need it again.  For example, I found that the migration messed up the capture times of the photos, because the timezones are not converted correctly. In that case it helped to be able to compare the old library with the new library.

 

If there should be unexpected problems with the Photos library, you may need to repeat the migration. Or you may want to use iPhoto for tasks, that Photos cannot do, like adding locations to your photos or doing some batch changing of titles and captions.

Posted on Apr 30, 2015 9:43 AM

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Stevoraus

Q: Confused over still having old iPhotos library and new Photos library

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Apr 28, 2015 1:39 PM in response to Stevoraus
    Level 10 (271,860 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 28, 2015 1:39 PM in response to Stevoraus

    You can delete it, but I would not do so as yet. I would also recommend you keep iPhoto.

  • by léonie,Solvedanswer

    léonie léonie Apr 30, 2015 9:43 AM in response to Stevoraus
    Level 10 (109,018 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 30, 2015 9:43 AM in response to Stevoraus

    Have you tried to select all attached photos at once in your Mail and to right-click or ctrl-click them?

    When I right-click the selected attached photos I am seeing "Export to Photos" as well:

    It will only work, if your Photos Library has been enabled as the System Photos Library.

     

    Screen Shot 2015-04-30 at 01.15.41CEST.png

     

    Is it safe to delete the old IPhotos library without losing the photos in the new library or is there another way to get back to Photos being the default option?

     

    Your old iPhoto library does not need much space, because the new Photos Library and the old iPhoto Library are sharing the image files using hard links. It looks like duplicate files, but the files are sharing the same blocks on the disk.

    See: Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support

    also:   Six Colors: The (hard) link between Photos and iPhoto

     

    I would not delete the iPhoto library, before you are very sure, that all photos have been migrated correctly and that you will not need it again.  For example, I found that the migration messed up the capture times of the photos, because the timezones are not converted correctly. In that case it helped to be able to compare the old library with the new library.

     

    If there should be unexpected problems with the Photos library, you may need to repeat the migration. Or you may want to use iPhoto for tasks, that Photos cannot do, like adding locations to your photos or doing some batch changing of titles and captions.

  • by R C-R,

    R C-R R C-R Apr 29, 2015 5:01 PM in response to léonie
    Level 6 (17,700 points)
    Apr 29, 2015 5:01 PM in response to léonie

    léonie wrote:

    Have you tried to select all attached photos at once in your Mail and to right-click or ctrl-click them?

    When I right-click the selected attached photos I am seeing "Export to Photos" as well:

    It will only work, if your Photos Library has been enabled as the System Photos Library.

    léonie, please check out this discussion in the Lounge area & see if you get different results from what is mentioned there.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Apr 29, 2015 11:10 PM in response to R C-R
    Level 10 (109,018 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 29, 2015 11:10 PM in response to R C-R

    I tested the "Export to Photos"by right clicking  - It is working - both on my MBP and iMac:

    What might be confusing is, that there is no visible confirmation in Mail at all, that the command is doing something. I amseein only the number of photos increase in Photos in the "All Photos" album, where the recent imports will appear at the bottom of the album.

     

    if I try to export photos to Photos, that are already in the library, nothing will happen at all, however

     

    For example:

    The number of photos, before I use "Export to Photos" in Mail (I selected 9 new photos, not yet in the library, then right clicked and used "Export to Photos"):

    Screen Shot 2015-04-30 at 07.36.26CEST.png

    And after two minutes in Photos - all nine photos have duely been imported into my test System Photo Library.

    Screen Shot 2015-04-30 at 07.37.39CEST.png

     

    There is no confirmation in Mail however. I just have to wait, to see something happening in Photos.

    And if I select an item in Mail, that is already in the library, nothing will happen at all, when I try to "Export to Photos".  Probably Photos's duplicate detection on Import will kick in.

  • by Stevoraus,

    Stevoraus Stevoraus Apr 30, 2015 9:42 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 30, 2015 9:42 AM in response to léonie

    Thank you leonie for your great advice and help and also to Kappy and R C-R for their contribution. As you can probably tell I am a bit of a novice but you have all been a great help.

     

    Yes leonie when I now highlight the photos in the email and right click I get the option to save to either iPhoto or Photos. Should of thought of that. Doh! I had only used the drop down arrow which appears when I hover over the top of the email. I will also keep the iPhotos library because as you say Photos doesn't work the same and I have already found that you can't drag and drop from Photos, which I find much easier to do when I am producing newsletters.  Its helpful to know iPhotos is not taking up any more significant space.

     

    Thank you again

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Apr 30, 2015 9:58 AM in response to Stevoraus
    Level 10 (109,018 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 30, 2015 9:58 AM in response to Stevoraus

    You're welcome