idolamore

Q: How do I keep one iPhoto library updated on two Macs without copying the entire library each time?

Sorry if this has been asked many times before, I've looked, but can't find an answer to my particular questions...

 

Currently I keep my iPhoto library on two different Macs by periodically copying the entire iPhoto library package from the main computer on to an external HD and then loading in iPhoto on the second machine.

 

The issue is that this is very time consuming and I am finding myself doing it less and less, meaning that I am often without recent photos I want access to on the second Mac. Is there an efficient way to copy only the new photos/videos added since the last copy was made on to the hard drive, that I can then add to the library on the second machine without replacing the whole library?

 

I wondered if it was possible to use incremental back-up software to back-up to the external drive that I could then use to update the second mac. The issue here would be that I would have to replace the whole library on the second mac each time, but at least that would be a quicker process than also having to copy the whole library from the first mac in the first place.

 

Or can I just select the most recent photos and videos from within iPhoto and batch export them via the external HD to the second mac? I think i read that this doesn't copy all information such as edits though? Or am I mistaken?

 

If none of this is possible in the way I am requiring, could anybody suggest an alternative photo storage software for Mac which I can have more control over?

Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5), 2 x 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, 8 GB 1066 MHz DDR3

Posted on May 31, 2016 6:29 AM

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Q: How do I keep one iPhoto library updated on two Macs without copying the entire library each time?

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  • by LarryHN,Solvedanswer

    LarryHN LarryHN May 31, 2016 10:14 AM in response to idolamore
    Level 10 (84,725 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 31, 2016 10:14 AM in response to idolamore

    Yes you can use an incremental backup or a clone program (like Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper) to update the second library - this will not merge libraries so do not do it is you make any changes to the second library on that machine - it only makes library 2 exactly the same as library 1 each time you run it

     

    LN

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad May 31, 2016 10:21 AM in response to idolamore
    Level 10 (141,125 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 31, 2016 10:21 AM in response to idolamore

    Keep the library on the external HD or a portable EHD and run it from there with both machines.  The EHD will have to be formatted as shown in this screenshot:

    ignoreownership.jpg

     

    Excellent portable EHDs can be found at otherworldcomputing.com:   OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro.

    OTsig.png