Moving iPhoto Library to Windows (8.1)

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MikeB4

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Topic # 165678 17-Feb-2015 08:43

I have a large iPhoto library and currently migrating from iMac which is in a slow death to Windows, does anyone know a painless way of moving this library. I currently have a trial version of Phototheca which seams OK but the interface is somewhat dated.

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nedkelly

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Reply # 1240555 17-Feb-2015 09:06

Go into Your User Folder, then Pictures, control click on iPhoto Library and choose Show Package Contents, your photos are saved in the Masters folders by year, then month followed by date of import.

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xontech

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Reply # 1240622 17-Feb-2015 10:23

From memory you do have to be a bit careful when viewing/copying the iPhoto folders over to a Windows machine as I recall iPhoto can use the "/" in the folder names, which is not a valid character for folder names in Windows. This usually means that Windows can't see the folders and/or you can't copy the folder directly to a Windows machine.

chiefie

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Reply # 1240656 17-Feb-2015 10:32

Another easy way to get to the photos effortlessly is from within iPhotos, select any photo and File > Reveal in Finder > Original File. Then navigate up to Masters.

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MikeB4

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Reply # 1240660 17-Feb-2015 10:36

Yeah I looked at that yesterday, that will leave a lot of faffing around, I am lazy I was hoping for a migration where it would carry over events etc.

Mike
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chiefie

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Reply # 1240663 17-Feb-2015 10:38

What does Google says? Surely there are good number of iPhoto exodus.

Check this.

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Tinshed

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Reply # 1240669 17-Feb-2015 10:47

Have you tried the "export" function? That might be one way, although as you have a large photo library that may take some time and require a lot of disk space.

Tinshed
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chiefie

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Reply # 1240677 17-Feb-2015 10:59

Tinshed: Have you tried the "export" function? That might be one way, although as you have a large photo library that may take some time and require a lot of disk space.

The link I linked in above post reply suggested using Export function and can be exported as Event sorted folders. Handy.

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MikeB4

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Reply # 1240680 17-Feb-2015 11:07

I tried the export function, I am probably doing something wrong, it exports OK but trying to import just messes it all up. The closest I have come is with Phototheca so I guess I will buy the full version and mess with that. I just want to do it before my iMac passes from this life. I do have my photos backed up several times including cloud.

Mike
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chiefie

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Reply # 1240683 17-Feb-2015 11:13

KiwiNZ: I tried the export function, I am probably doing something wrong, it exports OK but trying to import just messes it all up. The closest I have come is with Phototheca so I guess I will buy the full version and mess with that. I just want to do it before my iMac passes from this life. I do have my photos backed up several times including cloud.

Ah... You cannot expect the import be directly mirroring the same structure or style as iPhoto though, Windows Photo (or apps) probably have different organisation structure. As long as you can export and all images are there, you can assure the photos are safe.

Having said when you do the import in Windows, you can try and use the Window Photo Import Wizard and point to the event folder - that you've exported from iPhoto - and you can tag or label them.

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Tinshed

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Reply # 1240709 17-Feb-2015 11:41

chiefie:
Tinshed: Have you tried the "export" function? That might be one way, although as you have a large photo library that may take some time and require a lot of disk space.

The link I linked in above post reply suggested using Export function and can be exported as Event sorted folders. Handy.

Ah yes, I see that now :-)

Tinshed
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