kenamac1
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Q: Why does my Finder indicate that my "iphoto library" is 13gb and "photo lib" is 15gb?

Why does my Finder indicate that my "iphoto library" is 13gb and "photo library" is 15gb if they are supposed to 1 library used by both?

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on May 1, 2015 2:07 PM

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kenamac1

Q: Why does my Finder indicate that my "iphoto library" is 13gb and "photo lib" is 15gb?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Niel,Helpful

    Niel Niel May 2, 2015 4:56 PM in response to kenamac1
    Level 10 (314,533 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 2, 2015 4:56 PM in response to kenamac1

    Because it's counting the hard-linked items as separate ones. Some of the overhead data isn't hard-linked.

     

    (126929)

  • by kenamac1,

    kenamac1 kenamac1 May 2, 2015 7:48 AM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 2, 2015 7:48 AM in response to Niel

    Thanks Neil, so if I wanted to free up space, I could dump one?  & if I removed the Iphoto, will Iphoto will IPhoto link to the "Photo Library" as has been suggested by other things I've read?  Photo doesn't have some of the features I like so I'd like to be able use both from time to time.

    Kenamac

  • by LarryHN,Helpful

    LarryHN LarryHN May 2, 2015 4:55 PM in response to kenamac1
    Level 10 (85,678 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 2, 2015 4:55 PM in response to kenamac1

    Yes - but it saves very little space - only the database overhead - the main part the photos ae only there once

     

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

     

     

    And it is not a good idea since you might want the iPhoto library later and if it is gone it is gone  --  so it is probably not a good idea to delete either library

     

    LN

  • by kenamac1,

    kenamac1 kenamac1 May 2, 2015 9:57 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 2, 2015 9:57 AM in response to LarryHN

    Thanks Larry, but sorry if I'm being dense, but are you saying that the space being used is not 13gb (Iphoto) + 15 gb (Photo) = 28gb?  And that if I toss the iPhoto Lib I won't save 13gb?  That's what I not getting about this 'shared' library.

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel May 2, 2015 5:19 PM in response to kenamac1
    Level 10 (314,533 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 2, 2015 5:19 PM in response to kenamac1

    1. Yes.

    2. Yes. You'd only save the space used by the overhead data; while the photo files exist in both, they only count once towards the amount of disk space used.

     

    (126984)

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 2, 2015 6:54 PM in response to kenamac1
    Level 10 (85,678 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 2, 2015 6:54 PM in response to kenamac1

    kenamac1 wrote:

     

    Thanks Larry, but sorry if I'm being dense, but are you saying that the space being used is not 13gb (Iphoto) + 15 gb (Photo) = 28gb?  And that if I toss the iPhoto Lib I won't save 13gb?  That's what I not getting about this 'shared' library.

     

    Yes that is exactly what I said - and what the article I liked said with a somewhat detailed description

     

    Basically both libraries  use Linux HardLinks to the original photos - the finder sees each has containing the compete set of photos although the photos are only on disk once

     

     

    And deleting one library only deletes the links and a few overhead items - so again as I said would save very little space

     

    LN

  • by kenamac1,

    kenamac1 kenamac1 May 3, 2015 1:41 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 3, 2015 1:41 PM in response to LarryHN

    OK, thanks!  So bottom line, my photos take up 28gb and I would save 13gb if I tossed the Iphoto, but that's not much space as you see it and not worth the trouble.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 3, 2015 1:47 PM in response to kenamac1
    Level 10 (85,678 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 3, 2015 1:47 PM in response to kenamac1

    kenamac1 wrote:

     

    OK, thanks!  So bottom line, my photos take up 28gb and I would save 13gb if I tossed the Iphoto, but that's not much space as you see it and not worth the trouble.

     

     

    No once again the bottom line for the third or fourth or fifth time is

     

    And deleting one library only deletes the links and a few overhead items - so again as I said would save very little space

    In your case the savings is probably about 2 GB - NOT 13 GB and you photos take up about 13 GB total

     

    as explained and explained and explained the photos are not duplicated but hard linked and deleting the iPhoto library deletes only the links and a bit of overhead thus saving very little space

     

    LN