Need to know iPhoto Library location programmatically using Applescript

Question

One of my desktop apps I need to know where the iPhoto Library is installed, programmatically. I do not want to pick it from predicted location (/Users/me/Pictures/iPhoto) since power user may have installed it somewhere else.

I'm developing app using Python and I guess Applescript might have way to figure out iPhoto location but I don't know how.

adamh · Answer 1 · 2013-09-24T20:12:56.507

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One method is to use 'defaults'.

Applescript:

set lib_path to do shell script "defaults read com.apple.iphoto LibraryPath"

Should be similar way to do it straight from Python.

A downside to this is if Apple changes the format of iPhotos preference file in the future and it breaks.

edited Sep 24 '13 at 20:12

answered Sep 24 '13 at 06:23

adamh

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Works for iPhoto, but not necessarily with other apps. Try iTunes, for example. – Digital Trauma Sep 24 '13 at 15:43
Better (and correct) way to use 'defaults' is : set iPhotoLibraryFilePath to (do shell script "defaults read com.apple.iphoto LibraryPath") (no grep needed) – Sep 24 '13 at 17:11
Thanks @DigiMonk have simplified answer based on this – adamh Sep 24 '13 at 20:13
@Nilay Anand, wondering why have you un-accepted this answer 4 months later? Has it stopped working for you and the new accepted answer suddenly started working? – adamh Feb 05 '14 at 22:24

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 24 '13 at 13:58

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Why not simply...

set myPath to path to application "iPhoto"

answered Sep 24 '13 at 13:58

adayzdone

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Often the simplest answers are the best - not sure why this is not the accepted one. Also if the path is required with `/` separators instead od `:`, then use this `set myPath to POSIX path of (path to application "iPhoto")` – Digital Trauma Sep 24 '13 at 15:41
The poster asks for the location of the iPhoto Library – Sep 24 '13 at 17:09
DigiMonk, Where do you see that? "need to know where the iPhoto is installed" – adayzdone Sep 24 '13 at 17:38
He's writing: " I do not want to pick it from predicted location (/Users/me/Pictures/iPhoto)". So I assumed "the iPhoto" means the library :) – Sep 24 '13 at 18:15
DigiMonk is correct. I need to fetch all photos stored inside iPhoto (/Users/me/Pictures/iPhoto Library.photolibrary). – Nilay Anand Sep 25 '13 at 05:38

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 24 '13 at 07:46

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Simply invoke the system command which iPhoto (assuming that you can run iPhoto from a shell) and parse the output.

answered Sep 24 '13 at 07:46

Steve Barnes

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What happens in a terminal if you type `which iphoto` - sorry I don't mac so not sure what the case might be. – Steve Barnes Sep 24 '13 at 18:23
I typed `which iphoto` on terminal and it didn't output anything. I'm using OS X 10.8.5 – Nilay Anand Sep 25 '13 at 05:32

foo · Answer 4 · 2013-09-24T18:00:35.407

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[Removed LaunchServices-based answer as OP apparently wants the location of the iPhoto Library, not iPhoto itself.]

OP should look into Karelia's iMedia framework (dev forum), which includes iPhoto support. The Karelia crew have also done a lot of legwork in figuring out how to make it sandbox/AppStore-compatible, which may also be a consideration depending on how the OP plans to distribute the app.

edited Sep 24 '13 at 18:00

answered Sep 24 '13 at 11:02

foo

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Need to know iPhoto Library location programmatically using Applescript

4 Answers4