10.4: Store Aperture libraries on multiple volumes
Dec 20, '05 06:31:00AM
Contributed by: Anonymous
Question: Would you like to store Aperture Library files across multiple drives?
If your answer is "yes!," then you'll be pleased to know it's quite possible to do so, using symbolic links in the Aperture Library package to point to any folder or project of your choice.
Here's what you need to do:
- Open Terminal
- Change directory (cd) into the Aperture library -- by default, this is kept in your Pictures folder, so cd ~/Pictures/Aperture Library.aplibrary.
- At the desired location within the library, create a symbolic link to a folder: ln -s Target Alias_Name.
- Open Aperture, and drag folders/projects from the Aperture Library to the linked-to drive. Note that because the Library spans across multiple drives, moving projects will take longer.
I would suggest using this to link to a folder. Projects can be moved under this within Aperture. Look at the folder you linked to, and you will see the newly moved / created / edited projects.
If you link to a project, then be sure to add .approject to the end of your link. Be careful -- funny things might happen, and it could get confusing because symbolic links are moved, and not the projects themselves. Deleting a linked project in Aperture only deletes the link and not the project itself. On a positive note, working with a linked project is exactly the same as working with a project in the original Aperture Library.
Warning: Do not link to a project in an Aperture Library, or have the same project appear twice in a Library. Editing one might cause data integrity problems.
Here is a possible structure:
- Aperture Library = ~/Pictures/Aperture Library.aplibrary
- Folder and Projects on Drive0 = /Volumes/Drive0/Aperture
- Folder and Projects on Drive1 = /Volumes/Drive1/Aperture
Examples for this Structure:
$ cd ~/Pictures/Aperture Library.aplibrary/
$ ln -s /Volumes/Drive0/Aperture Drive0
$ ln -s /Volumes/Drive1/Aperture Drive1
If the drive is not mounted, then it will appear grayed-out in Aperture. To access a project on this drive, first mount it. Aperture will be able to see it without restarting. However, don't click on it until the drive is mounted, or you might have to restart Aperture to see the project.
Please give this a try and provide feedback in the comments ... but remember: Back up first!!!
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