Modified photos have unmodified thumbnails even after rebuild

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Level 1

63 points

Modified photos have unmodified thumbnails even after rebuild

I recently upgrade to the latest version if iPhoto 6 and am noticing a problem I don't think existed with iPhoto 5: When I edit an image -- even within iPhoto using the built-in cropping/effects tools -- the associated thumbnail remains that of the original image. If I double-click the thumbnail to open it for editing again, I see the correctly saved edited image. If I make a slideshow, the correctly saved edited images are used. But the thumbnails never seems to get updated, no matter what I do.

From searching the archives here and Googling around, I gather other people have had similar issues with thumbnails. I tried the reopening iPhoto and rebuilding the thumbnail databases (though not the complete database). This didn't help at all! The list of thumbnails still represents the original unmodified images even after the rebuild.

What should I do? I gather there are some thumbnail archive files somewhere in the iPhoto Library folder; perhaps they are not being rebuilt properly for some reason? Should I (after backing up) deleting these files and then rebuild the thumbnail databases again?

This has surely got to be some kind of glitch in iPhoto 6 -- I'm sure I didn't see this problem in previous versions.

iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Apr 16, 2007 7:25 AM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,984 points

Apr 16, 2007 7:33 AM in response to carlaz

carlaz

Try rebuilding the database. Hold down the apple and option (or alt) keys and launch iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose the top three options.

If that doesn't work, there are three files in the iPhoto Library Folder

Thumb32Segment.data
Thumb64Segment.data
ThumbJPEGSegment.data

Move these three files to the desktop and restart iPhoto. This should force iPhoto to rebuild them. If it does successfully, you can trash the three on your desktop. If things are worse, but them back.

Regards

TD

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Answer 2

carlaz Author

Level 1

63 points

Apr 16, 2007 7:36 AM in response to Yer_Man

Try rebuilding the database. Hold down the apple
and option (or alt) keys and launch iPhoto. Use
the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose the top
three options.

Yeah, that's exactly what I've tried so far, but it didn't work.

If that doesn't work, there are three files in the
iPhoto Library Folder
Thumb32Segment.data
Thumb64Segment.data
ThumbJPEGSegment.data
Move these three files to the desktop and restart
iPhoto. This should force iPhoto to rebuild them. If
it does successfully, you can trash the three on your
desktop. If things are worse, but them back.

OK, that's what I'll try next!

Cheers,
Carl

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Answer 3

carlaz Author

Level 1

63 points

Apr 17, 2007 9:31 AM in response to Yer_Man

If that doesn't work, there are three files in the
iPhoto Library Folder
Thumb32Segment.data
Thumb64Segment.data
ThumbJPEGSegment.data
Move these three files to the desktop and restart
iPhoto. This should force iPhoto to rebuild them. If
it does successfully, you can trash the three on your
desktop. If things are worse, but them back.

OK, this didn't work. Things aren't worse, but they are the same: iPhoto still shows me thumbnails of unedited images after this latest rebuild, even though correctly showing me edited images when I double-click to open, run a slide show, etc.

At this point, it seems like iPhoto 6 is determined to show me thumbnails of original, unedited images no matter what!

Any more suggestions for fixes? (Beyond waiting in hope for future updates, that is ....)

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Answer 4

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,984 points

Apr 17, 2007 11:29 AM in response to carlaz

carlaz

I wouldn't hold out any hope of an update fixing your issue, this is peculiar to your set up, I'm afraid.

Somethings to try:

1. Check your HD with Disk Utility

2. Check the permissions on your Library: Download BatchMod from

http://macchampion.com/arbysoft/

And apply it to the iPhoto Library Folder using the settings found here:

http://homepage.mac.com/toad.hall/.Pictures/Forum/BatChmod.png

(Credit to Old Toad for this one).

(Note: Disk Utility only checks and repairs permissions on System files, BatchMod does it on User files.

3. Create a new account (SystemPreferences -> Accounts.) In that space create an iPhoto library, import a few pics and see if the problem occurs there too.

Regards

TD

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Answer 5

Apr 21, 2007 8:34 AM in response to carlaz

I have a similar problem but it's not uniform with all photos. Also, I've done all the suggestions - rebuilding the caches that are suggested in this discussion - and still the problem persists.

I will modify a photo, save it - and the thumbnail has all the changes that I've made. When I double click on the photo - the version that appears is the original with none of the modifications shown. Moreover, when I put the modified photo into a book or slide show - it also reverts to the original. The tricky part about this problem is that it happens only with some of the photos - particulary ones that I took in 2000 or 2001 and imported into iPhoto. The more recent photos do just fine.

Is there something with the format of the old photos??? They are jpegs. I don't know if there is something about the files that I need to adjust. Maybe there is something with the old photo editor that I used.

Any advice would be appreciated.

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Answer 6

Smtr

Level 5

5,450 points

Apr 21, 2007 8:09 PM in response to DougSailor

Maybe there is something with the old photo editor that I used.

If you opened the photo from the editor and did not access it from within iPhoto, then saved the edited photo directly into the iPhoto Library folder, then this would explain why iPhoto can't find the edited version. In order for an edited photos to be correctly saved into the iPhoto library, you must set up the editing application as your external editor and open the photo from within iPhoto.

Another possibility occurs when editing in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements creates a layered .psd file. If you do a straight Save, then iPhoto won't recognize it because of the change of extension. You have to either flatten the image and save as a jpeg, or (to keep the layers) save to a location OUTside of the iPhoto library and import as a new original.

...it happens only with some of the photos - particulary ones that I took in 2000 or 2001 and imported into iPhoto.

Did you edit them before or after importing to the library? All new imports are considered Originals; there is no way to link an edited version to its original if the edits took place prior to the import. If you imported the photos, opened them for editing from within iPhoto, and saved with the same name and file extension, then the edited version should appear in your library.

It's weird that your thumbnail does show the changes, though. It does suggest some sort of database corruption.

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Answer 7

carlaz Author

Level 1

63 points

May 1, 2007 2:49 AM in response to Yer_Man

2. Check the permissions on your Library: Download
BatchMod from
http://macchampion.com/arbysoft/
And apply it to the iPhoto Library Folder using the
settings found here:
http://homepage.mac.com/toad.hall/.Pictures/Forum/BatC
hmod.png

I haven't tried this yet, but I wonder if permissions could be the issue? I put the iPhoto Library Folder in the Shared directory on my iBook's internal drive, so that my wife and I could each access it when logged in to our different accounts. Could there be a permissions problem relating to this? Maybe I should move the the iPhoto Library Folder to an external drive for which the ignore permissions setting is engaged?

As an added note, though iPhoto is itself clever enough to show me the edited images when I double click on them, the Google Picasa plug in grabs the original images. That could just be a Picasa weirdness, though ....

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Answer 8

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,984 points

May 1, 2007 3:44 AM in response to carlaz

carlaz

It could be a permissions issue - if iPhoto has not sufficient permissions to write to the DATA folder (where the thumbnails live), for instance.

However, is it possible that you both have tried to read or write to the db at the same time?

This is highly likely to cause db corruption, which could also account for this anomaly. The fact that the Picassa plug-in is not reading the Modified versions does tend to support the idea that the db has been damaged.

Regards

TD

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Answer 9

carlaz Author

Level 1

63 points

May 1, 2007 5:00 AM in response to Yer_Man

However, is it possible that you both have tried to
read or write to the db at the same time?

I couldn't say for sure, but it's certainly possible.

This is highly likely to cause db corruption, which
could also account for this anomaly. The fact that
the Picassa plug-in is not reading the Modified
versions does tend to support the idea that the db
has been damaged.

Right, I've backed up again, and am rebuilding the whole spiel -- previously I've only rebuilt the thumbnails -- but perhaps they're just a symptom of deeper database corruption, something that perhaps iPhoto 6is more finicky about than earlier versions.

After I try that, I'll also relocate the iPhoto Library to an external drive, setting up for sharing between multiple users in a way more in line with Apple's guidelines ( http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304890).

Fingers crossed!

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Answer 10

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,984 points

May 1, 2007 7:41 AM in response to carlaz

Fingers Crossed is correct.

No matter what form of library sharing you try multiple openings or writes will cause db corruption. The simple fact of the matter is that it's a single user app, end of story. It simply does not have the wherewithal to negotiate between simultaneous users. That's why they have photo sharing, at best a workaround.

If the db is corrupted then you'll need to create and populate a new library.

To create and populate a new library:

Note this will give you a working library with the same film rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, books, calendars etc.

Move the iPhoto Library Folder to the desktop

Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.

Go into the iPhoto Library Folder on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual rolls to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.

When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library Folder on your desktop.

In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.

Regards

TD

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Answer 11

Old Toad

Level 10

215,864 points

May 1, 2007 11:04 AM in response to carlaz

carlaz:

If you rebuild does not work you might try moving the contents of the Data folder to the trash and the rebuild again with the first three options. That will force creation of new thumbnail files. Another way that will work when the normal rebuild does not is to use iPhoto LIbrary Manager as follows:

Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library

Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.

Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your User/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.

Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File->Rebuild Library menu option

In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.

Click on the Create button.

Note: It may take some time to create the new library if you have a lot of photos. One user reported that with a library of about 5,000 images it took about 12 hours so plan ahead.

Yes, putting the library on an external HD with the ownership turned off is the best way to share a library.

Do you Twango?

MBP 2.16Ghz; G5 Dual Core 2GHz, 2G RAM ea, 250G HD; G4 Dual 1Ghz, 1.5G RAM; Mac OS X (10.4.9) 22" LCD, 710G FW HDs, Canon: SD700IS/i850/LIDE 50, Epson R200, 30G iPod, 2G Nano

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Answer 12

carlaz Author

Level 1

63 points

May 2, 2007 1:33 AM in response to Yer_Man

OK, the full rebuild of my iPhoto Library, using the Cmd-Option technique when launching, seems to have fixed my problem. When iPhoto came back up, it displayed thumbnails correctly (showing edited versions) and the Picasa plug-in uploaded a sample album that correctly shows edited versions.

Hurrah!

Yeah, I'm guessing setting up so that two users could open iPhoto at once is what messed things up for me. I'll move the library off to a shared external volume, as recommended.

Thanks all! 🙂

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