mountainbike2001

Q: Correct iTunes File structure

I have seriously messed up mu itunes files. Between moving the libraries between HDD's and copying and pasting songs, I have created a big big mess. All the files are there - but I need to know what the correct file structure is.. .> itunes>music>media. etc etc. thanks

imac, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Feb 2, 2011 5:27 AM

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Q: Correct iTunes File structure

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  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jun 19, 2014 9:39 AM in response to rsc1969
    Level 9 (54,543 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 19, 2014 9:39 AM in response to rsc1969

    Start a whole new library.  If only a fraction of your songs are appearing in iTunes then iTunes won't know what to do with the ones it doesn't know exist or cannot find.  Sorry about the jumbled links below but the new forum software has made a mess of displaying my reference links.

     

    What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660 More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391 iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847 Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536 and https://discussions.apple.com/message/17457605

  • by rsc1969,

    rsc1969 rsc1969 Jun 19, 2014 10:00 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 19, 2014 10:00 AM in response to Limnos

    Thanks. Just a few follow-up questions:

     

    1) In order to make a new library, should I create something like a folder called "iTunes 2" and place it on the same level as my current "iTunes" folder, which now contains all the messed up sub folder structure?

     

    2) If so, how do I go about getting the music (i do NOT care about ratings and play counts. I DO really want to preserve all my playlists and groupings) into the new library?

     

    3) I assume once #1 and #2 are completed, I can delete the old "itunes" folder, correct?

     

    Thanks again!

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jun 19, 2014 10:10 AM in response to rsc1969
    Level 10 (87,806 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 19, 2014 10:10 AM in response to rsc1969

    Do the playlists have all the songs that you want in them? Do those tracks all play? Adding the content that isn't in the library is easy enough. File > Add Folder to Library will take care of that, although best to check your options for Keep... & Copy... and the current media folder before you start. File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate files will bring in whatever is outside the media folder and turning Keep... off and then back on again should tidy up any inconsistencies inside it.

     

    tt2

  • by rsc1969,

    rsc1969 rsc1969 Jun 19, 2014 10:17 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 19, 2014 10:17 AM in response to turingtest2

    Thanks.  But I am a bit confused.  Should I do the "Add Folder" option or the "Consolidate" option?  It seems that, based on what you have said (if I am understanding it all correctly), both should work?

     

    One thing I would like to do, though, is get a well-organized folder and then delete the current mess that I have.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jun 19, 2014 11:11 AM in response to rsc1969
    Level 10 (87,806 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 19, 2014 11:11 AM in response to rsc1969

    Start with some more details.

     

    What is the location of the media folder under iTunes > Preferences > Advanced?

    What are the settings for Keep... & Copy... on the same tab?

    Do you know the path to your active library file?

    Normally it would be <User>/Music/iTunes/iTunes Library.itl but you can choose a different one, and sometimes people get connected to one inside ../iTunes/Previous iTunes Libraries after a crash.

     

    tt2

  • by rsc1969,

    rsc1969 rsc1969 Jun 20, 2014 9:14 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2014 9:14 AM in response to turingtest2

    thanks.  I created a new library and had the computer scan for music.  all my music was imported.  the playlists were not.  But, I found the old library that has the playlists and I am exporting them and then importing them into the new library.  The old library is several layers down in the folder structure, so I don't want to mess moving it.  Once I have all the playlists imported to the new library, I will delete the old one.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Jun 20, 2014 9:47 AM in response to rsc1969
    Level 9 (79,653 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 20, 2014 9:47 AM in response to rsc1969

    rsc1969 wrote:

     

    thanks.  I created a new library and had the computer scan for music.  all my music was imported.

    Note that when files are added to iTunes, the original is left in place.

    If it found files that were not in your previous iTunes folder (which you are going to delete), you should hunt those down and delete them also.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jun 20, 2014 10:42 AM in response to rsc1969
    Level 10 (87,806 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 20, 2014 10:42 AM in response to rsc1969

    OK. Once you have a library that has all your media and all playlists you can consolidate the media to a new path if needed. Ideally the working library would be at <some path>/iTunes/iTunes Library.itl and the media consolidated to the folder <some path>/iTunes/iTunes Media, as this is the layout which makes it simple to move the whole library as a unit from <some path>/iTunes to <another path>/iTunes without breaking the connections between the library database and the media.

     

    tt2

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jul 16, 2014 1:06 PM in response to rsc1969
    Level 10 (87,806 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 16, 2014 1:06 PM in response to rsc1969

    Sorry to be so late replying... I've had two lost attempts at replying to this thread. Third time lucky I hope.

     

    Adding the content that isn't in the library is easy enough. File > Add Folder to Library will take care of that, although best to check your options for Keep... & Copy... and the current media folder before you start. File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate files will bring in whatever is outside the media folder and turning Keep... off and then back on again should tidy up any inconsistencies inside it.

     

    Once you have a library that has all your media and all playlists you can consolidate the media to a new path if needed. Ideally the working library would be at <some path>\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl and the media consolidated to the folder <some path>\iTunes\iTunes Media, as this is the layout which makes it simple to move the whole library as a unit from <some path>\iTunes to <another path>\iTunes without breaking the connections between the library database and the media.

     

    See Make a split library portable for a more recent update of my split library advice.

     

    tt2

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