Barry Brewster

Q: some photos dont appear when bigger than thumbnail

I have been using iphoto for years. I usually make some albums into books so have experience with that. This latest import of several hundred photos has some photos not showing. All I get is a black screen with a silver triangle and an "!" mark in the middle? Any help gratefully received.

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Jun 4, 2016 10:05 PM

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Q: some photos dont appear when bigger than thumbnail

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  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jun 4, 2016 10:13 PM in response to Barry Brewster
    Level 10 (139,547 points)
    iLife
    Jun 4, 2016 10:13 PM in response to Barry Brewster

    The ! means that iPhoto cannot find the original file.

     

    Option 1

    Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.

     

     

    If that fails:

     

    Option 2

    Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)

     

     

    This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.

     

     

    Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.  

     

     

    Regards

     

     

     

    TD

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Jun 5, 2016 5:15 AM in response to Barry Brewster
    Level 10 (84,725 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 5, 2016 5:15 AM in response to Barry Brewster

    That means the connection to the original is broken - this can be caused by one of two reasons

     

    1 - use action changing the library either directly using the finder or using Malwear like MacKeeper or CleanMyMac - if you have destroyed your library with your actions or by running cleanup software then the only solution is to restore your backup from before you did this

     

    2 - library corruption - if it is not #1 then backup your iPHoto library and launch iPhoto while holding down the option and command keys and repair permissions and then rebuild the database - if this does not work use iPhoto Library Manager to rebuild the library

     

    LN