Can't See My Pictures--Just Empty Boxes

Danny

Welcome to the Apple Discussions

You've already tried to rebuild the database, what happens when you double click on a box, as though the thumbnail was there? Does the pic open up full sized?

If so remove the following files:
Thumb64Segment.data
Thumb32Segment.data
ThumbJPGSegment.data

iPhoto should recreate them next time you start up.

Regards

TD

Danny:

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. What do you see in the library, empty thumbnail spaces or empty edit windows? Is it all the photos or just some? Check in the Originals folder to make sure you have the full sized image files in the subfolders. They should all be there. Also do you have folder in the iPhoto Library folder titled "Recent Imports" or something like that?

Do you have a backup copy of the iPhoto Library folder or the iPhoto library database file, Library6.iPhoto?

If not and since you've tried rebuilding the library with no success you're going to have to start with a new library and import the image files from the Originals folder of the current library. Here's how:

Creating a new library while preserving the rolls from the original.

1. Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
   
2. Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
   
3. Drag the Originals folder from the desktop into the open iPhoto window.

This will create a new library with the same rolls as the original library. However dates on the rolls may be different but can be edited as you would the roll title.

Once this is completed you can delete the Originals folder from the desktop and the iPhoto Llibrary folder. If desired, you can keep the older library folder to try other fixes on it.

In the future I recommend you make a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto file after each import and after doing a lot of editing and organizing in the library. Then if you experience a similar crash all you need to do is replace the damaged database file with the backup copy and you'll be back to the same place in the library as when you make the backup. See the tip at the end of my signature.

If you have a recent backup copy of the library post back and we can go from there.

Do you Twango?

TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Danny

Moving the iPhoto Library Folder to the desktop is simply an easy way to get iPhoto to create a new library. Instead, hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. Create a new library (give it a distinctive name) and then progress as described above, dragging Roll folders from the Originals folder.

Regards

TD

ONLY if you're current library location is customized (located somewhere other than the default user / Pictures location), then close iPhoto, go into your user / Library / Preferences folder, and move "com.apple.iPhoto.plist" out of there (to the desktop or someplace else). Then restart iPhoto. It should be a new, empty library showing...nothing at all in iPhoto. Close iPhoto, then go to user / Pictures and delete all of the new files in there (iPhoto created them when you last launched after deleting/relocating "com.apple.iPhoto.plist"), and relaunch iPhoto. It will ask you if you want to create a new libary or locate an exisiting one. Choose to locate an existing library, and navigate to the folder for your previous libary in your customized location. Select that one and iPhoto should open your library with all of the thumbs and images displaying properly. (If your library is in the default location to begin with, you'll need to move it first for this process to work correctly and not overwrite your info!!!)

Mercyboy,

This shouldn't be necessary to open iPhoto in a new location. If the iPhoto Library folder is moved properly, that is in its entirety, then pointing iPhoto to its new location is very simple. Hold down the Option key while launching iPhoto. A dialog box will open with the option to "Choose Library." Click this, and you can navigate to the iPhoto Library in its new location.

Also, it's a very dangerous thing to go to user / Pictures and delete all of the new files in there because people might misunderstand this to include the library6.iPhoto file. Deleting this file will trash all albums, books, keywords, titles, ratings, ... and require the unfortunate user to recreate the entire library from scratch. It is much better to stay OUT of the iPhoto Library folder altogether. The one exception is to make a duplicate of the Library6.iPhoto file to use as backup.

Use Option-Launch to point iPhoto to the location of the library. This feature also works if you choose to keep more than one library, to switch between them.

Can you see the thumbnails and not the large version OR no thumbnails nor large versions?

Removing the Library6.iPhoto file will do exactly what you experienced. If the other library is a backup of the one on your boot drive you can try replacing the Library6.iPhoto file on the boot drive with the one from the external HD library. That file is the key to iPhoto and should be backed up frequently, i.e. like after any import or after any organizational or editing you've done. (think of it a doing a Save frequently). With the Automator application that I created you can do it as often as you'd like by putting it into the Dock and then clicking on it whenever you want.