Storing iphoto library on EHD

[kikimama]

Just wanted to ask for techie help, and I know I'll find it here.

My little macbook is getting a bit full, but I can't quite stretch to a new one at the moment. I was wondering if moving my iPhoto library to an EHD would help.

It would free up a lot of space, but I'm nervous about moving it in case I screw it up. What's your opinion?

[anke]

I wish I knew.... I use LR and keep all my photos on an EHD. I'm sure somebody will chime in here soon

[maureenreynolds]

I keep a copy of my main library on an ehd but still have the original on the hd. I also have older libraries ONLY on an ehd. I googled this question and came up with a yes answer.

If it were my computer, I'd ask at a genius bar or find this on an Apple site first. Just sayin'.

[echogirl]

Maureen is right,don't do this without help. I've tried and wasn't very successful. My husband tried and ended up needing an apple appt. to do. Having said that it's in folders and (ours at least wasn't organized well) and it just isn't in a great searchable format. But that could be us! lol!

[kikimama]

Thanks guys, that's what I figured. I'm not comfortable doing any of this without an expert to blame, I mean help.

I do have the photos backed up on an EHD and Peter's old laptop at least, so I'll have a think.

[maureenreynolds]

Doris, I'm really not sure what happened to your iPhoto library. I checked three of our Apple computers and the iPhoto library lives in the same location. Under Finder, go to the Pictures folder, and there is the iPhoto library. It is a vivid stacked photos image. That is the iPhoto library if it hasn't been moved. Any iPhoto library will look the same; only the name will be different. Here is the short version of how to move a library and the image. Remember, don't muck about trying to move part of a library. Just move the whole thing.

As I mentioned, I have three additional iPhoto libraries that live on an ehd. Last year, I found that my current library was getting too big, and I created a new library for 2011. At the end of the year, I renamed the library I was using to OLDiPhoto Library and moved it to the ehd. There's probably more info than you need here but that article also discusses Anke's concern.

The only problem I've found when doing the multi library thing is that I have to open the library I want before I upload images. (I do store my images in iPhoto.) The default is the last library used, and sometimes, it's not the one I want for current photos.

I hope this helps but again, be sure you are comfortable with the workings of your own computer. If you are, it's really a simple process, and boy does it open up space on that hd.