Import folders of files from the Finder

Import folders of files from the Finder

If you’ve spent time organizing your image, video, and audio files into a meaningful hierarchy on your computer and you want to keep that organization, you can import a folder of files as a project or drag it directly into the Library inspector. When you import a folder of files or drag it into the Library inspector, the top folder becomes a folder in the Library inspector and any subfolders become projects within the folder.

Import a folder of files from the Finder using the Import command

  1. Choose File > Import > Folders as Projects.

  2. Select the folder of photos that you want to import.

    You can select multiple folders to import by Shift-clicking them.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • To import the top-level folder as a folder in the Aperture library and all of its subfolders as individual projects: Choose Folders and Projects from the Import Folders As pop-up menu.

    • To import the top-level folder as a project and all its subfolders as albums: Choose Projects and Albums from the Import Folders As pop-up menu.

  4. Choose a location for the imported photos by doing one of the following:

    • To store imported originals in the Aperture library: Choose “In the Aperture Library” from the Store Files pop-up menu.

    • To import the files as referenced images stored in their current location on your hard disk: Choose “In their current location” from the Store Files pop-up menu.

    • To store imported originals as referenced images in the Pictures folder on your hard disk: Choose Pictures from the Store Files pop-up menu, then choose whether you want the files moved or copied to the Pictures folder by clicking the “Move files” or “Copy files” button.

    • To store imported originals as referenced images in a location other than the Pictures folder: Choose “Choose” from the Store Files pop-up menu and select a folder. Choose “None” from the Subfolders pop-up menu to specify that the files be stored as separate, individual files in the selected folder. You can also specify that Aperture create a hierarchy of subfolders with specific folder names to hold your files. For more information about creating folders to hold your imported photos, see Import originals for referenced images into folders. Choose whether you want the image files moved or copied to the new location by clicking the “Move files” or “Copy files” button.

  5. Choose a naming convention from the Version Name pop-up menu to specify how you want the photos named.

    For example, choose Original File Name from the Version Name pop-up menu to have your files stored using the original filenames from your camera or card. Choose a name format from the Version Name pop-up menu to have your photos stored using a specified name. If you choose a custom name format, enter a name in the Name Text field. Choose Edit from the Version Name pop-up menu to define a new naming scheme. For more information about naming files, see Automatically name imported photos.

    Click the “Apply to Original filenames” checkbox to rename the original files as well.

  6. Choose how you want Aperture to import RAW + JPEG pairs from the RAW + JPEG pop-up menu.

    For more information about importing RAW + JPEG pairs, see Import RAW + JPEG image pairs.

  7. Click Import.

The top-level folder in the selection either appears as a folder or is converted to a project based on the option you chose from the Import Folders As pop-up menu. If the folder you imported contains a hierarchy of subfolders and photos, the subfolders appear as albums.

Drag folders into Aperture

When you drag folders into the Library inspector, Aperture uses the last import settings you specified to determine how the folders are imported and where they are stored.

  1. In the Finder, locate the folder containing the folders, video files, and audio files you want to import.

  2. Drag the folder to the Library inspector.