Photos Won't scan 75% of Library

Where will Apple put my photos if I conform?

They are stored inside the library package.

Can I get to them manually?

If you use Photos as intended you don't need to access the original files manually. If you need one for use outside of the library for purposes other than editing just export the original or edited versions, whichever you need, to the Desktop and use from there.

They are

For use in other apps, if the app has been updated to work with the new system and Photos you can access the photos thru the media browser in that app.

What happens if I want to migrate them to some other platform in the future?

You can export either the original or edited versions to folders on the hard drive. There is an AppleScript that will export the albums from Photos to folders with the same name on the hard drive.

Managing the images with Photos lets you assign keywords, titles, descriptions to them for greater organization purposes like many professional DAM (digital asset management) apps do. Also editing is nondestructive as the original file is always keep untouched as the digital negative.

The script I mentioned and others can be accessed here: Thematic Index to Photos for Mac Related User Tips:

Photos is stuck about 25% through my photo library.

Are you trying to migrate a library to Photos, open a Photos library or repair a Photos library?

download and run Etrecheck. Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

So you're using a "referenced" library, right? Are all of the image files jpegs? Is Photos freezing during the import of image files or just when opening the library.

Try creating a new library and import the folders into the library by dropping them on the Photos icon in the Dock. A new library may get by the

In the import window check the "Keep Folder Organization" checkbox.

That will give you an album in the side bar for each folder imported with the same name as the folder. That will give you essentially the same folder organization as you have on the hard drive.

You have read this user tip and are aware of the downsides of using a "referenced" library, right?

:Disadvantages of a Referenced Library in Photos

Importing folders into Photos with that checkbox checked will give you the same folder organization as you have on the hard drive.

In Finder: In Photos:

You do not "put photos" into a smart album - you create a smart album with a specific criteria and it shows all photos meeting that criteria - in the case I posted all referenced phoros

make a smart album (file menu ==> new smart album) for -- Photo - is - referenced -- and open the album and select all and use the Photos file menu ==> consolidate command

The only smart album you show is "Jims smart album" and you are not showing it's contents - Smart albums show with a gear icon to the left of them like the ones here

LN

Here are some user tips to help you migrate to Photos: Notes on Migrating an iPhoto Library from iPhoto to Photos for Mac plus some general tips for new users:

Photos 3.0 vs iPhoto 9.6.1: Features and Capabilities

Moments in Photos are the New Events.

External Editors in Photos Are Here

Photo Editing Extensions for Photos for Mac

Thematic Index to Photos for Mac Related User Tips:

The last link is probably the most valuable as it's a list of tips sorted by area of use or theme.

I imported my photo folder.

What do you mean by "my photo folder"? Is is just a normal Finder folder with your image files in it? What did you import into? From where are you importing?

I don't use iPhoto.

What do you use?

Conforming is a crazy statement since every decision you make requires that you conform to the results of that decision - if you decide to fly on a vacation you have to conform to TSA and airline rules and the airline schedules, if you decide to drive you have to conform to the driving rules, if you decide to take the bus you have to conform with the bus line rules and schedules, etc - with Photos you have many choices and if you choose to use the Photos application (which is totally optional) then likewise you have to conform to the rules - as to where you store your photos you have two options, referenced and managed and each decision means you have to conform with the rules of that decision - with the referenced library they are now well implemented and the rules are pretty hard to follow and even if you do there are situations where you get in big trouble like replacing defective hardware of moving to a new system not to mention the very high likely hood of user error causing major problem

As to "conforming" it is trivial once your library is working which I do not think it is now - if it is then simply make a smart album (file menu ==> new smart album) for -- Photo - is - referenced -- and open the album and select all and use the Photos file menu ==> consolidate command to make a manager library - once it is managed and tested you can backup everything up and delete the photos outside the library

Or you can start over using the directions Old Toad provided to keep the folder organization you have (probably the best for you)

And if you start over with a new empty library the issue you posted about should be gone

LN

You don't exactly "get pictures into a smart album". A smart album is a database query. It "contains" (displays) the photos that match the query. For example, if you created the smart album with the single criterion "Camera model" "includes" "Canon", the smart album would display all photos in your library that are marked as being taken with a Canon camera.

What criteria did you define for your smart album?

If you are copying imported items to the Photos library then you have a managed library not a referenced library which is a good idea - referenced libraries are not a good idea

So you have a different problem

What software did you last use this library with (what did you just upgrade from)? What version of the OS do you now have?

LN