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# Duplicating a library

If you want to make an exact copy of one of your libraries, either as a backup or as part of moving a library to another disk, you can do so one of two ways.

- Choose the library you want to copy and choose the "Duplicate Library" command from the File menu. You will be prompted to choose a location to store the new copy of the library. iPhoto Library Manager will copy the library and, when it's done, it will automatically appear in your library list.
- Choose the library you want to copy and choose "Reveal Library in Finder" from the File menu. You can then use the Finder to copy the library to the location you want the copy to be. After it is done, if you want to work with that library in iPhoto Library Manager, add it to your library list.

Note: if you have unchecked the "Copy items into the iPhoto library" checkbox in the Advanced section of iPhoto's preferences, and have since imported photos into your library that refer to photos outside the iPhoto library, any such photos will not be copied anywhere. The duplicate copy of the library will simply refer to the same photos in the same locations. If you're duplicating the library with the intention of transferring it to another machine, the duplicate library will not be able to find any of the external photos if they are not available from that machine.

<< Removing a library
Moving a library >>