Q: When I migrate from iPhoto to Photos, will my iPhoto's albums remain intact in the new app?
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Sep 23, 2015 6:56 PMby LarryHN,HelpfulALbums yes
Folders yes
Smart albums maybe depending on the criteria ( criteria that Photos doe s not support like events and location will not rule transfer)
projects - maybe - Photos is substantially different here and it would be best to finish project prior to migrating or to at least keep iPhoto going so you can finish them
see How Photos handles content and metadata from iPhoto and Aperture - Apple Support
LN
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Sep 24, 2015 1:07 PMby LarryHN,Helpfuland you may find this comparison helpful too
Photos 1.0.1 vs iPhoto 9.6.1: Features and Capabilities
LN
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Sep 24, 2015 1:43 PMby Old Toad,The following may also help you to use Photos:
Moments in Photos are the new Events, i.e. groupings of photos sorted by date taken.
When the iPhoto Library was first migrated to Photos there is a folder created in the sidebar titled iPhoto Events and all migrated iPhoto Events (which are now Moments) are represented by an album in that folder. To open the sidebar if it's not already open use the Option+Command+S key combination.
NOTE: It's been reported by several users that if the Event albums are moved out of the iPhoto Library folder in the sidebar they may disappear. It's not widespread but several users have reported that issue. Therefore, if you want to assure that you keep those Event albums don't move them outside the iPhoto Events folder.
There's a way to simulate events in Photos.
When new photos are imported into the Photos library go to the Last Import smart album, select all the photos and use the File ➙ New Album menu option or use the key combination Command+N. Name it as desired. It will appear just above the iPhoto Events folder where you can drag it into the iPhoto Events folder
When you click on the iPhoto Events folder you'll get a simulated iPhoto Events window.
The downside to the simulation is that the Albums/Events can only be sorted automatically by Title. But they can also be sorted manually, either in the sidebar or in the folder's window at the right. This will change with the release of Photos 2 with El Capitan this fall. That will allow the sorting by date or title, ascending or descending.
Tell Apple what missing features you'd like restored or new features added in Photos via Apple-Photos Feedback.
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Sep 24, 2015 2:17 PMby AliceInquires,Thank you for that additional information.
I looked at your comparison chart, which was most helpful, and am a bit disheartened to find some of the tools I use to organize will be gone. I almost never use events so really don't care a lot about that. I do use folders and albums, so am happy they will be intact. However, within albums I use flags and stars along with the ability to sort ascending or descending as a primary means of organizing albums, moving the photos I am working on to the top of the page with 5 stars and sorting on descending.
For example, we had some whales feeding at a local cove recently. Photographing whales is challenging, so I came home with 350 photos with maybe a couple dozen worth paying attention to and only a half dozen worth the final cut. So easy to sort through those with stars and move the contenders to the top with stars and giving 5 stars to the final edits of the best ones.
Based on what I'm reading, not only will I be looking for a new organization strategy, but will also lose a decade's worth of organization when I migrate. Sounds as if those albums will be intact but the organization within the album will be gone. I have some albums with over 1000 photos. Looks as if I should create some new, smaller albums before migrating.
Also, I back-up to an external drive using time machine, on a regular basis, but am in the process of also putting my photo files separately on an external hard drive that can then be accessed by other computers via USB. I keep experimenting with strategies but have not yet found one I like. What is the easiest way to end up with a copy of each complete photo file (not just a thumbnail) on my external drive. Maybe export the library? Drag and drop the iPhoto library icon to the external drive? If I export the library does any organization go with the files or do I just have 25,000+ random photos on the external drive.
Sorry for for the rudimentary questions. I'm pretty good at the photo part of things but a lot more basic with the computer part. Learned photo with film and a darkroom so have been on a never ending learning curve with digital.
Thanks to everyone for all the help here.
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Sep 24, 2015 2:32 PMby Old Toad,What is the easiest way to end up with a copy of each complete photo file (not just a thumbnail) on my external drive.
Backup the Photo Library package as that will preserve your photos, edits, keywords, titles, projects, etc. Either drag and drop to an external HD that is formatted OS X Extended (journaled) with ownership set to be ignored or use a backup application. One of the easiest to setup and use is Time Machine which comes with every Mac.
Also I notice we have El Capitan and a second version of Photos coming out soon. Perhaps I should wait for that to release and settle in, given I have already waited so long?
If you haven't migrated to Photos yet that would probably be a good move. Before you migrate run the iPhoto First Aid on the library and repair library permissions (#1) and rebuild the library database (#4).
