macbookairuser64

Q: Migratedphotolibrary file has doubled the memory space taken by photos

I have read all the posts and advice about the "migratedphotolibrary" and I am still puzzled. What they say does not  seem to be true.  This migratedphotolibrary seems to have doubled the memory space consumed by my photos, and I would like to get this space back   I would like to delete the migratedphotolibrary if it is a duplication.  Is that possible? 

I went from having 30Gb of photos to having almost 30 Gb in the new Photos library, and 29 GB in this migratedphotolibrary.

The advice says this is not a duplication, but I am sorry, it reads that way in "Get Info", and definitely brings my scant Macbook Air memory (biggest default in an otherwise great product) to almost full.

What can I do?  I am backing up both files and I am going to try to delete the migrated one to free up the 29Gb.  This seems like a very buggy way of doing things, though.  Is it supposed to be this funky?

Any suggestions?  Please don't say anything about "hard linked" which makes no sense at all, linguistically or technically.  I just want to keep my existing photos, add new ones, in a rational manner, and use the new program, Photos (which seems pretty nice) , without any fuss.    Thanks.

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Dec 25, 2015 10:04 AM

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Q: Migratedphotolibrary file has doubled the memory space taken by photos

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  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Dec 25, 2015 10:13 AM in response to macbookairuser64
    Level 10 (85,032 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Dec 25, 2015 10:13 AM in response to macbookairuser64

    You are wrong but there is no danger loss by deleting the migrated iPhoto library unless you need it and your archive does not work

     

    As to answering since you demand we not tell you the actual facts then there is no way to help you - you do what you please and good luck

     

    LN

  • by macbookairuser64,

    macbookairuser64 macbookairuser64 Dec 25, 2015 10:22 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2015 10:22 AM in response to LarryHN

    But why do I see twice the memory consumed in "Pictures"? One folder for Photos, and a roughly equivalent sized one for Migratedphotolibrary?  When I do the math on my machine of these and all the other files, plus available space, this adds up to my total capacity, 128Gb

     

    By the way, I would really like to understand why, but the expression "hard linked" is really hard for an average consumer to understand. It kind of suggests that the files are necessary to keep.

  • by macbookairuser64,

    macbookairuser64 macbookairuser64 Dec 25, 2015 10:47 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2015 10:47 AM in response to LarryHN

    But why do I see twice the memory consumed in "Pictures"? One folder for Photos, and a roughly equivalent sized one for Migratedphotolibrary?  When I do the math on my machine of these and all the other files, plus available space, this adds up to my total capacity, 128Gb

     

    By the way, I would really like to understand why, but the expression "hard linked" is really hard for an average consumer to understand. It kind of suggests that the files are necessary to keep.

     

    Sorry if I sounded snappy, it is just kind of frustrating.  When you said I was wrong, which part am I wrong about?  The doubling of memory consumption?  I do archive with Time Machine, so I see your point of about having everything archived if absolutely lost elsewhere.  But I am just confused about it being on my very limited computer hard disk.  Seems redundant. 

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Dec 25, 2015 11:01 AM in response to macbookairuser64
    Level 10 (85,032 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Dec 25, 2015 11:01 AM in response to macbookairuser64

    It is impossible to answer since you demand that we not explain HardLinks (which is the only answer)

     

    Please don't say anything about "hard linked" which makes no sense at all, linguistically or technically.

     

    Since you do not what the answer do not read this link  --  Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support

     

    But again since you will never know the answer just go ahead and archive (totally different than a backup) the migrated iPhoto library and then delete it

     

    LN

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Dec 25, 2015 2:17 PM in response to macbookairuser64
    Level 10 (141,304 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 25, 2015 2:17 PM in response to macbookairuser64

    Read this post by léonie and it is a very good explanation of hard links and how they work with iPhoto and Photos:

    Depending on the size of your originals the disk space should increase by no more than  about 20% of the size of the original library.

    You can check, if the files are linked or not with a simple test in the Terminal:

     

    If two files are hard linked, the inode numbers will be identical, when you list the file with the ls -licommand in the Terminal:

     

    For example, looking into the packages of an new migrated Photos library and the original iPhoto Library.  Everything looks duplicated with the same size:

     

    SS1.png

     

    The Terminal is showing this, when I type "ls -li " into the Terminal and drag one of the master files behind this command:

     

    Hermione:~ dreschle$ ls -li /Users/dreschle/Pictures/Photos\ Library\ 2.photoslibrary/Masters/2015/05/28/20150528-184932/IMG_0966.JPG

    39167952 -rw-r--r--@ 3 dreschle  staff  1283723 25 Mai 12:00 /Users/dreschle/Pictures/Photos Library 2.photoslibrary/Masters/2015/05/28/20150528-184932/IMG_0966.JPG

     

    Hermione:~ dreschle$ ls -li /Users/dreschle/Pictures/iPhoto\ Library.migratedphotolibrary/Masters/2015/05/28/20150528-184932/IMG_0966.JPG

    39167952 -rw-r--r--@ 3 dreschle  staff  1283723 25 Mai 12:00 /Users/dreschle/Pictures/iPhoto Library.migratedphotolibrary/Masters/2015/05/28/20150528-184932/IMG_0966.JPG

     

    In both libraries are the files listed with the identical inode number 39167952,  meaning they are linking to the same physical file in the file table.  For the Finder both files are separate, regular files and so it is reporting the size twice.

     

    When I compared the used space on my hard drive right after migrating the test library with 40 photos, the used storage had not been increased much:

    ss2.png

     

     

    SantaToad2.PNG

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Dec 25, 2015 2:29 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 10 (85,032 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Dec 25, 2015 2:29 PM in response to Old Toad

    But the OP specific forbid the use of the only word that answers their question - you broke their firm rule

     

    Please don't say anything about "hard linked" which makes no sense at all, linguistically or technically.

     

    Given their emphatic demand there is no possible way to help them except for them to trash the iPhoto library

     

    just go ahead and archive (totally different than a backup) the migrated iPhoto library and then delete it

     

    LN

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Dec 25, 2015 2:33 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 10 (141,304 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 25, 2015 2:33 PM in response to LarryHN

    Bah Humbug, Larry.

    SantaToad2.PNG

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Dec 25, 2015 2:40 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 10 (85,032 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Dec 25, 2015 2:40 PM in response to Old Toad

    And merry Christmas to your and Karen -  quiet a bunch on your beautiful card

     

    LN

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Dec 26, 2015 9:22 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 10 (141,304 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 26, 2015 9:22 AM in response to LarryHN

    Thanks.  Have a Happy New Year.

    OTNewYear.png