Print Page - Old to New User

In order to solve a problem with iPhoto, I had to create a new user account. Now that it is working correctly, I need to transfer "stuff" from the old user to the new one. things like address book entries, email and network data, applications, etc., basically everything except the old iPhoto. How do I do this? What (easiest) is the best way to do it?

I don't use iPhoto but with many apps, holding the option key down when you open the app will allow you to pick the "library" that the app uses for "stuff". Shut down/Quit iPhoto and try that. It will help, of course, if you know where the iPhoto library (where all the images are stored) is on your drive. I think it's normally in your "Documents" directory.

Actually, iPhoto has a "Switch to Library..." item in the File Menu, that might show you which one it's already using (a new one, no doubt) and others it "sees". Either way, there should be a "Other Library" button that will give you the standard Navigation dialog where you can get to the old User's Documents directory... assuming you have Administrator privileges.

BTW, I tried the Help function of iPhoto (9.5.1) and it claimed it could not access any Help pages.

That's just one more reason to not use the app!

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Aug 9 2014, 12:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't use iPhoto but with many apps, holding the option key down when you open the app will allow you to pick the "library" that the app uses for "stuff". Shut down/Quit iPhoto and try that. It will help, of course, if you know where the iPhoto library (where all the images are stored) is on your drive. I think it's normally in your "Documents" directory.

Actually, iPhoto has a "Switch to Library..." item in the File Menu, that might show you which one it's already using (a new one, no doubt) and others it "sees". Either way, there should be a "Other Library" button that will give you the standard Navigation dialog where you can get to the old User's Documents directory... assuming you have Administrator privileges.

BTW, I tried the Help function of iPhoto (9.5.1) and it claimed it could not access any Help pages.

That's just one more reason to not use the app!

Um, Jim, I think Steve wants to move everything BUT the iPhoto library to his new account.

I think the best way to do it would be to clone everything to an external drive, delete the old iPhoto library that doesn't work, then manually move the new one to the cloned drive, make sure it works, and then use Migration Assistant to move everything back to the new account. I *think* that should work.

Strange that you ask that now - I'm about to do a very similar thing this evening with my cousin's iMac. She inherited it from my late uncle, so we're now setting it up for her, as well as upgrading everything to Mavericks. I'll let you know if my recommended method works (we don't have an iPhoto issue, but there is the issue of moving stuff from an old account (his, which she'd been using) into a new account which is hers.)

I do now remember there being a big problem with iPhoto not finding/displaying most of his photos... but having slept since then (apparently still being asleep?)...

OTOH, "iPhoto" and the "iPhoto Library" are two different things, so it certainly may be worth seeing if the newly installed version can now find/display what the possibly corrupted version could not. Of course, without know what was done to reach the current situation, it's possible that it was the Library that was corrupt, not the app.

QUOTE(Paddy @ Aug 9 2014, 04:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Aug 9 2014, 12:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't use iPhoto but with many apps, holding the option key down when you open the app will allow you to pick the "library" that the app uses for "stuff". Shut down/Quit iPhoto and try that. It will help, of course, if you know where the iPhoto library (where all the images are stored) is on your drive. I think it's normally in your "Documents" directory.

Actually, iPhoto has a "Switch to Library..." item in the File Menu, that might show you which one it's already using (a new one, no doubt) and others it "sees". Either way, there should be a "Other Library" button that will give you the standard Navigation dialog where you can get to the old User's Documents directory... assuming you have Administrator privileges.

BTW, I tried the Help function of iPhoto (9.5.1) and it claimed it could not access any Help pages.

That's just one more reason to not use the app!

Um, Jim, I think Steve wants to move everything BUT the iPhoto library to his new account.

I think the best way to do it would be to clone everything to an external drive, delete the old iPhoto library that doesn't work, then manually move the new one to the cloned drive, make sure it works, and then use Migration Assistant to move everything back to the new account. I *think* that should work.

Strange that you ask that now - I'm about to do a very similar thing this evening with my cousin's iMac. She inherited it from my late uncle, so we're now setting it up for her, as well as upgrading everything to Mavericks. I'll let you know if my recommended method works (we don't have an iPhoto issue, but there is the issue of moving stuff from an old account (his, which she'd been using) into a new account which is hers.)

Paddy

How did it go.I was not able to move the modified iPhoto library back to the new user with MA. Had to go the old tried and true "Drag and Drop" method, with some authentication of folders since the mods to iPhoto came from different Users. Very tricky.

Apparently, the huge size of photo groups, not individual files, caused such a slow down of iPhoto that it was barely running. So, I had to break them into smaller groups and the import them into the new library. After which, I used iPhoto Duplicate Cleaner to get rid of most duplicates. Still some were left and I had to delete those manually. Also, when dumping iPhoto Trash, try not to have too many files there also, as it will take forever.

Believe me, after this is over with, I'm burning photo files onto CDs.

:phew:

Glad you got all your images back! I'm sure there are hundreds of hours worth of work in them!

QUOTE

Believe me, after this is over with, I'm burning photo files onto CDs

You do realize, I hope, that there are growing concerns about the reliability of CDs/DVDs. There are many museums/publishers/etc. now seeing deterioration in these things that were supposed to last for decades! Of course, most new computers don't even come with optical drives... Just my opinion, but I'd suggest going with an app that's supported by a company who is in the business of supporting images. Who knows what the next version of iPhoto will be like once Apple finishes combining it with Aperture. I'm just hoping it doesn't end up like Pages/Numbers/Keynote.

QUOTE(Steve_J @ Aug 19 2014, 04:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE(Paddy @ Aug 9 2014, 04:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Aug 9 2014, 12:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't use iPhoto but with many apps, holding the option key down when you open the app will allow you to pick the "library" that the app uses for "stuff". Shut down/Quit iPhoto and try that. It will help, of course, if you know where the iPhoto library (where all the images are stored) is on your drive. I think it's normally in your "Documents" directory.

Actually, iPhoto has a "Switch to Library..." item in the File Menu, that might show you which one it's already using (a new one, no doubt) and others it "sees". Either way, there should be a "Other Library" button that will give you the standard Navigation dialog where you can get to the old User's Documents directory... assuming you have Administrator privileges.

BTW, I tried the Help function of iPhoto (9.5.1) and it claimed it could not access any Help pages.

That's just one more reason to not use the app!

Um, Jim, I think Steve wants to move everything BUT the iPhoto library to his new account.

I think the best way to do it would be to clone everything to an external drive, delete the old iPhoto library that doesn't work, then manually move the new one to the cloned drive, make sure it works, and then use Migration Assistant to move everything back to the new account. I *think* that should work.

Strange that you ask that now - I'm about to do a very similar thing this evening with my cousin's iMac. She inherited it from my late uncle, so we're now setting it up for her, as well as upgrading everything to Mavericks. I'll let you know if my recommended method works (we don't have an iPhoto issue, but there is the issue of moving stuff from an old account (his, which she'd been using) into a new account which is hers.)

Paddy

How did it go.I was not able to move the modified iPhoto library back to the new user with MA. Had to go the old tried and true "Drag and Drop" method, with some authentication of folders since the mods to iPhoto came from different Users. Very tricky.

Apparently, the huge size of photo groups, not individual files, caused such a slow down of iPhoto that it was barely running. So, I had to break them into smaller groups and the import them into the new library. After which, I used iPhoto Duplicate Cleaner to get rid of most duplicates. Still some were left and I had to delete those manually. Also, when dumping iPhoto Trash, try not to have too many files there also, as it will take forever.

Believe me, after this is over with, I'm burning photo files onto CDs.

:phew:

Well, we had lots of fun with permissions, that's for sure. We did get everything moved, but I think my cousin will be buying Lightroom - she's no more a fan of iPhoto than I am, for ALL the reasons you've stated and more. Bloody awful pig-headed piece of software, if you ask me, when it comes to how it catalogues and stores photos.

With Lightroom, YOU remain in complete control of where your photos are stored (and it doesn't have to be in the same place for all, either - it's entirely up to YOU) and how they're catalogued. Plus it's a far more capable editor. It's probably my favorite, couldn't-possibly-live-without-it software. It's available to purchase too - you don't have to go the Adobe pay-forever Cloud route. At $135 for the full version at Amazon or $79 if you qualify for the education version, it's well worth it, IMHO, for anyone who enjoys photography but doesn't enjoy squabbling with iPhoto. You might want to download the trial version for a month to see how you like it. LR 6 was expected this spring, then the summer, then the fall...no real idea now. I saw on one rumour site today that it will be March 2015. That's well beyond what I'd expect, so I'd take that with a bag of salt or two.

http://www.adobe.com/ca/downloads.edu.html

I've been 'playing' with Lightroom 5 for a couple of weeks. It is way more useful for even a complete Novice like me than I would have ever thought! I pretty sure I'll buy it before the 30-day trial is over. That's a big investment for me! I generally never buy any s/w over $90!

At least not since FileMaker Pro from back in 2007(?).

The "cataloging" function (a major part of the app, actually) works seamlessly with the OS. No need to even a Finder window; it's all in the app (even external drives).

And it never makes a duplicate unless you ask it to!

Of course, it will complain, if you move stuff around when the app is not running, but it won't die/choke/crash!

If anyone is looking for really excellent video tutorials on Lightroom, check out Julianne Kost's videos here:

http://tv.adobe.com/show/the-complete-pict...julieanne-kost/

Yep. She has excellent diction and a through knowledge of the app... and she uses a Mac!

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Welcome to Techsurvivors => Tech => Topic started by: Steve_J on August 09, 2014, 10:40:31 AM