Referenced files cannot locate original

Question

Level 1

8 points

Referenced files cannot locate original

I've been working with iPhoto/Aperture for a number of years. I have a library of referenced files that cannot locate originals (because I unknowingly deleted the originals when I was trying to clear space on my SSD - I should have relocated the originals to the external HD but instead just copied them over and then deleted the original library from my computer; at the time, I had no idea of managed vs referenced). Time machine backup not an option as I did this over a year ago. Is there anything I can do with these referenced files, when relocating originals is impossible? Unfortunately, there are lots of family photos in this library. Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2011), OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), null

Posted on Jun 29, 2016 7:56 AM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Jun 29, 2016 8:11 AM in response to Sburnett82

I should have relocated the originals to the external HD but instead just copied them over and then deleted the original library from my computer).

You still have the originals on the external drive?

Then you can try to reconnect them - see this page in the Aperture manual: http://documentation.apple.com/en/aperture/usermanual/index.html#chapter=5%26sec tion=16

If an image is offline or modified in some way that makes it unrecognizable as the original referenced image, you can still select it and Aperture can reconnect the master for the specific image.

To reconnect an offline referenced image

Reconnect the hard disk holding the referenced image’s master, or otherwise locate or make the file available to Aperture for reconnecting.
Select the project that contains the offline image you want to reconnect, or select the offline image in the Browser.
Choose File > Locate Referenced Files.
If necessary, click the Show Reconnect Options button.
At the top of the dialog, select the file path for the master that you want to reconnect. A thumbnail of the image and some identifying metadata appear.
In the bottom half of the dialog, navigate to the location of the referenced image’s master on the hard disk and select the master.You can follow the file path listed for a selected image in the top of the dialog.When you select the file, a thumbnail of the image and metadata appear, allowing you to compare them to the thumbnail and metadata in the upper part of the dialog to make sure you’ve selected the correct file.
Click Reconnect to reconnect a specific image, or click Reconnect All to reconnect all selected images.

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Jun 29, 2016 8:12 AM in response to léonie

If you do no longer have copies of your original images you can try to save the previews as jpeg images. Select the images in Aperture's browser and drag them to a folder on the Desktop.

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Answer 3

Sburnett82 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 29, 2016 8:31 AM in response to léonie

Unfortunately the copies are on the external HD. The originals were what I deleted from my computer. 😟

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Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Jun 29, 2016 8:38 AM in response to Sburnett82

If the copies on the external have the same filenames as the originally referenced files you should be able to reconnect to the copies of your master files just as described in the user guide. Have you tried that? What happens, if you select an image with a missing original and use the command "File > Locate Referenced Files" ?

The reconnect window should allow you to connect to the copy on the external drive.

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