Cant get access to MAC Photos Library under the Pictures Folder

RootsMagic
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RM 9 for Mac I have all my photos in Photos Library with a separate folder for my genealogy media. I cant get beyond the Pictures Folder because the Photos Library is grayed out.

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Google query answer

(https://www.remodelormove.com/why-is-my-photo-library-greyed-out-on-mac/)

photo library needs repair or photos is not set as default photo app.

3

RM9 on the Mac expects all media to be in ‘normal’ folders. The Photos Library is a database that would need special code within RM9 if it were to be able to directly access photos in there. That might be possible with some future RM enhancement, but I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for it if you were to request it and others supported that request.

If you have photos in Photos that you want to use as media within RM, then you will have to Export them from Photos and put them into a regular folder. If your native format for photos in Photos is HEIF, then I think you will have to export them in some other format, probably JPEG/JPG being the most suitable.

4

I just tried it now - if you get to the dialogue to select a photo on your Mac, at the bottom of the left column of the file select dialogue, choose “Photos” and that will show you all the photos in your Photos database

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although admittedly I don’t see a way there to select a particular folder in your Photos library.

But the best option is not to rely on Photos to store these files - the format of the Photos library “package” (previously iPhoto) has changed over the years, and the path to individual images changes, and so they can’t be “found” by other software like RootsMagic or Reunion. Keeping the photos that are linked to your RootsMagic file outside of Photos, and probably preferably in the RootsMagic suggested location is probably a better idea.

But to answer your initial question, it is possible for RootsMagic 9 to see inside the Photos library package. (That’s Apple speak for the kind of file that shows only a single icon, but represents hundreds, or thousands, or tens of thousands, individual files.

Roger

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If the images collected in the Photos Genealogy sub-folder are compatible with those RootsMagic can display (and to avoid unnecessary duplication), wouldn’t the straightforward option be to create an ‘alias’ for that subfolder and place the alias pointer file in the default location where RootsMagic expects to find images?

This, of course, will only work if the user only uses macOS, although Windows does have a similar but not directly compatible option.

1 Like
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No - the arrangements of files and folders in the “Photos Library” “Package” are not what is represented in the Photos application - so a folder created in the Photos application for the genealogy photos, isn’t an actual folder that you can create an alias for.

Here’s a view of what is normally shown when one selects an image from the Photos library

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  • note the top section that shows the folders and albums in the Photos application that allows you to select a sub-folder - that section was shown in RootsMagic’s file open dialog box, presumably for reasons that only RootsMagic knows…

Roger

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  1. the mac photos library is a complex database of images and edits stored in obtusely named subfolders never meant to be seen.
  2. you can add media from the photos library if it is open, you select RM add media…drop here and go to the appropriate image. The trick is to hold your cursor on the drop window until it activates and then let go.
  3. the best approach is to keep genealogy images/pdfs/etc in nested folders at the Finder level and NOT in your photos library.
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Thanks Rooty. I can actually see the photos just fine. It’ just that Roots Magic wasn’t able to access them through Photos. I created a seperate “Genealogy Files” folder under “Finder” and therefore my Genealogy media resides outside of Mac Photos. Roots Magic can easily access the new folder but again, all the photos are greyed out. I’m trying to use the fix broken links feature, but can’t get the ability for roots magic to access the jpeg files.

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Thanks theKiwi. I created a seperate “Genealogy Files” folder under “Finder” and moved my photos to a “Media” folder under that. Now my Genealogy media resides outside of Mac Photos. Roots Magic can easily access the new folder but again, all the photos are greyed out. I’m trying to use the fix broken links feature, but can’t get the ability for roots magic to access the jpeg files.