Using iPhoto in El Capitan

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Level 1

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Using iPhoto in El Capitan

"If you open iPhoto or Aperture after you upgrade to Photos, you’ll be asked if you want to open your library there or in Photos. Any changes or edits you make in iPhoto aren't reflected in Photos. And any changes or edits you make in Photos will not be reflected in iPhoto."

If the two programs are using the same image library, I would expect that editing an image would affect the image file and therefore show up regardless of which program one uses to open it. What is going on behind the scenes?

I could see editing an image in Photos, but then emailing it using iPhoto because that is so much easier.

Posted on Aug 1, 2016 5:17 AM

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Answer 1

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

742,889 points

Aug 1, 2016 7:08 AM in response to SinceSE30

They use different libraries; Photos imports the iPhoto one and creates hardlinks to the media files when it does, but doesn't look at it afterwards unless told to.

(143775)

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Answer 2

leroydouglas

Level 10

200,178 points

Aug 1, 2016 5:52 PM in response to SinceSE30

I would settle on one or the other, not both.

Sharing in Photos is just as easy?

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Answer 3

LarryHN

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106,142 points

Aug 2, 2016 7:51 AM in response to SinceSE30

If the two programs are using the same image library, I would expect that editing an image would affect the image file and therefore show up regardless of which program one uses to open it. What is going on behind the scenes?

If that were true then all changes would be made to both but it is an incorrect assumption - Photos and iPhoto do not use the same library - each has its own separate library and as you posted there is no connection between the two - changes made to either are only to their library - there is not connection of any sort between them

And as to emailing - not sure what your comment pertains to but emailing is darn simple in Photos - select the photo and press the share icon and send the resulting email

LN

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Answer 4

SinceSE30 Author

Level 1

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Aug 2, 2016 8:10 AM in response to SinceSE30

Thanks to all three helpful responders.

The documentation for Photos implied that the two programs shared a library in El Capitan, which was the source of confusion. Knowing that they are separate libraries is important, and a big disincentive to use both.

Regarding emailing, I am happy to see that they have added that in the El Capitan version of Photos. Share/Email is not a feature of Version 1 that I have.

These responses make me confident in changing to the new OS. The photo emailing feature was the one obstacle to updating the OS and losing iPhoto. (The new features seem mostly to appeal to iPhone users, so they have not been compelling.)

Thanks again!

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Answer 5

Old Toad

Level 10

216,130 points

Aug 2, 2016 11:24 AM in response to SinceSE30

The documentation for Photos implied that the two programs shared a library in El Capitan

No, they share the same image file data via hard links for the original files that were in iPhoto at the time of migration, not libraries.

Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support

The (hard) link between Photos and iPhoto

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Answer 6

léonie

Level 10

200,723 points

Aug 2, 2016 11:28 AM in response to SinceSE30

Regarding emailing, I am happy to see that they have added that in the El Capitan version of Photos. Share/Email is not a feature of Version 1 that I have.

You should be seeing the Mail entry in the Share menu in Photos, even on Yosemite. It has been there all along.

If "Share > Mail" is missing, try this fix: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203129

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Answer 7

SinceSE30 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 2, 2016 11:46 AM in response to léonie

I tried that early on with the computer I got with Yosemite, but unsuccessfully. In System Preferences/Extensions/Share Menu, I have Outlook Mail checked. However, that did not cause it to appear in the Photos Share menu. Perhaps that feature only works with Apple Mail?

It may be a moot point, as I'm installing El Capitan at last.

Thanks for the insightful suggestion!

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Answer 8

léonie

Level 10

200,723 points

Aug 2, 2016 11:57 AM in response to SinceSE30

Perhaps that feature only works with Apple Mail?

Yes, Apple Mail nneds to be set as the default Mail client.

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Answer 9

SinceSE30 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 2, 2016 12:34 PM in response to léonie

Aha! That requirement creates the barrier I cannot pass. Thanks for clarifying that impactful nuance.

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Answer 10

léonie

Level 10

200,723 points

Aug 3, 2016 1:27 AM in response to SinceSE30

Which version of Outlook do you have? If you are up to date and have a version that is fully compatible with el Capitan, Outlook 15.24 for example, you can compose your Mail in Outlook, and then attach the photos from your Photos Library using the Photo Browser. If you click "Pictures" in the toolbar of a "new Mail" window in Outlook , it will show you your Photos Library, for example:

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