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    Ben Aggus
    iPhoto 11 library not compatible with SugarSync?
    Topic posted November 8, 2010 by Ben Aggus, last edited December 29, 2011
    4598 Views, 18 Comments
    Title:
    iPhoto 11 library not compatible with SugarSync?
    Summary:
    I'm not able to backup my iPhoto 11 library. It seems the folder structure of the package is hardwired in SugarSync, and it is not compatible with the new library structure.
    Content:

    I'm trying to use SugarSync to backup my iPhoto library. Previously, I just backed up the "originals" folder inside the iPhoto library package. This worked well.

    The new iPhoto has moved the "originals" folder to a new folder called "masters". Whereas I used to be able to select a folder from inside the package, the current version of SugarSync will only let me backup the entire iPhoto library package. 

    The problem is that even if I select the entire package, I do not see "Masters" as one of the sub-folders in the SugarSync File Manager. I'm thinking that SugarSync has some special logic to handle iPhoto libraries, but that logic is not compatible with the new version of iPhoto. The filesize of my library is ~13GB, but SugarSync was only seeing ~6GB worth of files to back up, which tells me that it's not backing up the originals.

    Comment

     

    • Show/Hide Replies
      Admin
      posted November 8, 2010 by Admin

      Hi Ben,

      File bundles and Resource Forks are not supported under SugarSync because we found these files can become corrupt if synced.  It's been this way for quite a while so we're speculating you may have set up your sync folder back before we stopped allowing people to navigate into packages.

      • Ben Aggus
        posted November 8, 2010 by Ben Aggus

        Hmm. I think there needs to be an issue created for this. While the tree browser does NOT allow you to navigate into packages, you CAN drag a folder from an open package (finder window) to the "manage sync folders" window and it will allow you to add that folder. That's how I added the "masters" folder from the iPhoto package using the latest version of SugarSync. 

        SugarSync should disallow you to drag package folders to the "manage sync folders" window, or otherwise detect that the folder is part of a package and disallow it.

        I agree the files can be corrupted. I learned the hard way!

    • Admin
      posted November 8, 2010 by Admin

      We'll open a bug and let our engineering team know that - thanks.

    • Show/Hide Replies
      Ax
      posted November 23, 2010 by Ax

      It's sad that one can no longer see and back-up package contents... my primary use of my SugarSync account has been the automatic (and seamless) back-up my iPhoto library, and selecting the entire "pictures" folder is just not acceptable. So unless there is something that can be done to change this, I am sadly going to have to cancel my account.

      --

      • Kevin Pryce
        posted February 2, 2011 by Kevin Pryce

        I also would love to use sugarsync to sync and back up package files, but will have to cancel account as well.  Please allow this feature.

    • Anil Patel
      posted December 9, 2010 by Anil Patel

      I would love to have the feature to automatically backup and sync my iPhoto database.  My iPhoto library is almost 30 GB.  It is such a tedious action to copy it to each of my computers once I change or add 1 picture to it.  It would be great if SugarSync can figure this out (examine the package contents and update accordingly).

    • James English
      posted January 1, 2011 by James English

      Is this going to be fixed for iPhoto 11? I use SS on 3 PC's, an iPhone and iPad with no significant issues. My wife and daughter use Mac's and I am upgrading them to iPhoto 11 tonight. I was just going to see about getting them onto SS (which is another topic I will post in a minute) but if it will not sync iPhoto 11 then it will not serve our needs for them.

    • Show/Hide Replies
      Jill Davis
      posted February 16, 2011 by Jill Davis

      What a drag.   I have imported all my photos (from 3 different laptops) into iphoto 11.  Is it true that I cannot use Sugar Sync to back them up?  SO frustrating.   My Sugar Sync account should be ready for renewal pretty soon.  Can someone suggest an alternative sync site that works with iphoto? Does dropbox? Mozy? Others?

      • Amanda, Community Moderator
        posted February 17, 2011 by Amanda, Community Moderator

        Hi Jill- 

        With all versions of iPhoto, we do support backing up the library to the cloud. However, we don’t support syncing across multiple computers.

        You can absolutely back up your entire iPhoto 11 library.

        Thanks!

    • Show/Hide Replies
      Jill Davis
      posted February 17, 2011 by Jill Davis

      Hi Amanda. 

      Thanks so much for your reply.  All I want to do is to back up my library (not share accross computers)  so that works perfectly. 

      One question though - where on earth is my itunes "originals" folder??  I cannot locate it using Finder. 

      Many thanks,

      Jill

      • Amanda, Community Moderator
        posted February 17, 2011 by Amanda, Community Moderator

        Hi Jill-

        I'm glad SugarSync fits the bill.

        As soon as I posted my reply I found out that my remark about the originals folder was incorrect--sorry! Please disregard that sentence entirely.

        However, the most important thing is that we do support backing up iPhoto libraries.

        Thanks!

    • Show/Hide Replies
      James Ford
      posted April 27, 2011 by James Ford

      But SugarSync does not see or recognize the iphoto library.  It is in my Pictures Folder in finder but when I try go to the Picture Folder in SugarSync it does not see the iphoto library.  Why is this? 

      • SugarSync Product Management
        posted April 28, 2011 by SugarSync Product Management

        James,

        It should work if you select the parent folder (I think in your case, "Pictures" is the parent of your iPhoto package).

        But I personally do something different - I sync only the "master" photos in the iPhoto package.  iPhoto has a lot of baggage - in the iPhoto package, there are sub-folders that are full of thumbnails of every photo, there are folders for resized photos that have been synced to iPod, etc.  For me, it's a cleaner operation to just sync the masters folder, but it's really a matter of personal preference.  In my case, I don't sync the index files that contain ratings, etc.  If you want everything, you should sync at the parent level.

        But if you want to sync only your master photos, try this: In Mac Finder, go to your main iPhoto file (aka "package") and right-click on it. You should see an option "Show Package Contents".  Click that and it will open the package and you'll see lots of sub-folders.  You should have a main photo folder called "Masters". 

        Now, open the SugarSync Manage Sync Folders dialog (click the SugarSync icon in your menu bar, then click "Manage Sync Folders".  You'll see a column for "This Computer".  

        Drag the folder "Masters" from Mac Finder directly into the SugarSync window - drop the folder into the "This Computer" column.  Then click OK in SugarSync to start the upload.

        This approach will allow you to backup your original photos that you put into iPhoto.  iPhoto is it a little complicated - it keeps separate folders for Masters, a separate folder for thumbnails, and a separate folder for modified photos (e.g., photos that you resized and cropped), a separate folder for ratings and other iPhoto metadata, etc.  This approach is clean way to sync just the masters.

        Hope this helps.

        iPhoto subfolders.png (206KB)
    • Show/Hide Replies
      Sylvain Mossière
      posted May 18, 2011 by Sylvain Mossière

      Hello, 

      Backing up is a good thing but... are there plans to support symlinks and therefore iphoto syncing between computers ?

      Would be such a nice feature for mac users. Or maybe I should migrate to aperture...or Dropbox ;-) Anyway I was disapointed when knowing SugarSync does not fully support iPhoto library syncing :-( hope it will change.

      • SugarSync Product Management
        posted May 23, 2011 by SugarSync Product Management

        Sylvain,

        In general, syncing database-driven applications like iPhoto or iTunes is a bad idea.  These programs are designed to manage all file add/removals/edits on their own.  You can confuse and possibly corrupt the program's database by dragging files into folder structure manually - the program wouldn't know that new photos have arrived and the program's index would not be updated.  Syncing these folders automatically using SugarSync could lead to inconsistent databases also.

        • Laurence Cope
          posted May 25, 2011 by Laurence Cope

          HI. I am a new user and just wanted to point out that although you are correct if you sync parts of the iPhoto library, if you sync the entire library it includes the whole database and everything. So if you then open iPhoto on the new machine its as if that iPhoto was the one from the previous machine. Only if you start syncing bits of the iPhoto library do you get your issue.

          I would like to be able to open iPhoto (and iTunes) on my second machine and see the photos (and music). So this is something I am searching for. It would be good if SS can include the whole library sync. and not parts of it, and therefore not result in corruption.

        • Laurence Cope
          posted May 27, 2011 by Laurence Cope

          I have another query... if I can backup the files to SugarSync, why then cant I not download them and then use it as a library? Or can I download them? What happens if I did? So basically have a one way sync/backup. If my work machine ever did become corrupt its not a big deal because my main home machine still has the uncorrupt libraries.

          My thought is that I dont necessarily need to keep my iTunes or iPhoto in constant sync with my work machine, nor do I need changes in work to go back home. All I want is to be able to listen to my music and look at my iPhotos/Movies in work, WITHOUT having to copy whatever song/photo/movie to my work machine in addition to home. I dont want to manage two libraries and manually try to keep them in sync. But once every few weeks I would like to download the up to date backup of them on SS onto my work machine so I do keep up to date, but not right away. Thats OK.

          Is this possible?