How to import Finder folders as Albums into Photos app?

Question

Bablooroyal Author

Level 1

19 points

How to import Finder folders as Albums into Photos app?

Hei,

I've my photos organised like this.

Pictures --> Segregated {Folder} --> Birthday {Folder} --> All pics

Pictures --> Segregated {Folder} --> Office outing {Folder} --> All pics

Pictures --> Segregated {Folder} --> Family outing {Folder} --> All pics

Pictures --> Non-segregated {Folder} --> Mobile pics {Folder} --> All pics

Pictures --> Non-segregated {Folder} --> Camera pics {Folder} --> All pics

etc

I imported all the photos into Photos app (which I started using only now).

When I imported the photos, all the photos are sorted and grouped as per the date.

But, I want to create Albums with the same name as the containing folder and put the respective photos in that Album. i.e. an Album named Birthday should be created in Photos app and all photos in Birthday folder should go into the Birthday album.

Is it possible to do with Photos app automatically? I've a total of 24,000 photos in nearly 100 folders. So, creating Albums manually and adding photos is **** of a task.

If Photos app cannot do this automatically, can I use something like Automator or AppleScript to do this? If so, can somebody please provide the steps/AppleScript for this?

-Babloo

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Oct 30, 2016 7:52 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,098 points

Oct 31, 2016 3:42 AM in response to Bablooroyal

In Photos go

File -> New Empty Album - and name it.

It appears as an icon in the Side Bar

Drag the Folder to the icon.

Result: an album with the images from the folder.

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,807 points

Oct 31, 2016 3:26 AM in response to Bablooroyal

If Photos app cannot do this automatically, can I use something like Automator or AppleScript to do this? If so, can somebody please provide the steps/AppleScript for this?

Have a look at the Apple Script posted here in this user tip:

Import Folders of Image Files into Library as Albums

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Answer 3

Bablooroyal Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 31, 2016 3:46 AM in response to léonie

Hei,

This's exactly what I'm looking for. Perfect solution.

Don't know why Google didn't show this post during my numerous searches!!

Accidentally, I came across this post in the landing page of the forum as I logged in to see if anyone replied to my post. I just flagged it and opened my post to find your reply.

Thanks a ton to you and the author of the script.

-Babloo

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Answer 4

Bablooroyal Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 31, 2016 11:07 PM in response to léonie

Hei,

As I mentioned in my previous reply, this is what I was looking for.

As I started using the script, I faced an issue.

For some reason, the import was stopped by the script after importing some of the images.

By now, a good number of albums were created.

When I start import again, I get a confirmation dialog asking if I want to import duplicate items.

I check "Do this for all duplicate items" (don't remember exact words) and click on "Don't import".

As per the script, I've to do this for each duplicate album.

Can the script be modified to do this automatically?

The problem is that I've to be at the computer till all duplicate albums are handled else the operation will be timed out after 600 seconds. Hence forcing me to start all over again.

-Babloo

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Answer 5

léonie

Level 10

200,807 points

Oct 31, 2016 11:56 PM in response to Bablooroyal

If you look at the Apple Script Dictionary for Photos. (Script Editor > File > Open Dictionary) you will see what is supported.

The "Import" command has an option "Skip check for duplicates". By default this option is off, and you will have to confirm how to handle duplicates for each import. duplicates will be imported as well. Or you could set "Skip check for duplicates" to true, but then all duplicates will be imported nd you would need to remove them later.

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