LoBij

Q: Libraries in iTunes

Hello from Paris by night!

 

My name is Laurent, I'm French and I have three question to which I have so far not found any answer, even in an Apple Store...

I'll be grateful to the person who will be able to answer it, and help me progress in the understanding of iTunes :-)

 

My situation:

- I'm on a PC, using Vista as the OS and iTunes to listen to my music

- My hard drive is partitioned between C and D. C for most programs and D for data

- The iTunes program is stored on the C-drive

- My music files are stored under D-drive (I went to Preferences/Advanced and indicated, as the target for the iTunes Media folder: D:\Music\iTunes)

- I can find in my computer library files in 2 places... under C:\Users\Laurent\Music\iTunes but also, for some reason, under D:\Music\iTunes

 

My questions:

- The question #1 is: where are the correct libraries?

  > As I read everywhere, C:\Users\Laurent\Music\iTunes seems to be the default location for libraries, so it would seem that files there libraries are the correct ones (and to confirm this impression, the last updates seem very recent)

  > On the contrary, the libraires stored under D:\Music\iTunes seem to not be updated (the last updates date back to 2009 while I of course made changes to my playlists since then)

=> Am I safe in deleting the library files under D?

(I suspect these files are actually old back-up files that have been put there but never used... but don't know/don't remember/am not sure)


- The question #2 is: is it normal, then, that the iTunes Media Folder only contains the music files, not the libraries?

Indeed, as a matter of fact, if the libraries are stored under C:\Users\Laurent\Music\iTunes (as asked in question 1), this would mean that

> libraries are stored in one place (C:\Users\Laurent\Music\iTunes)

> and music files are stored in another place (D:\Music\iTunes)

=> I find it a bit confusing (but maybe I'm the only one? ;-)) Why would not libraries be also stored with the music files?


- The question 3 is slightly unrelated, but still about iTunes and the libraries... Therefore I have this question... ;-)

The question #3 is: is it normal that while my library file is not even 2MB big, the genius library is >40MB???


I stop here and thank you all for your help and support on this. I look forward to reading your answers.


Kindest regards

Laurent





iPhone 3GS, iOS 6.1.6

Posted on Aug 24, 2014 5:46 PM

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Q: Libraries in iTunes

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Limnos,Solvedanswer

    Limnos Limnos Aug 24, 2014 5:58 PM in response to LoBij
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 24, 2014 5:58 PM in response to LoBij

    1) Very likely safe getting rid of the old ones. If you want to be sure, start iTunes while holding down the shift key and guide it to the .itl library file you want it to use.  If it looks like it's the same one then that's the one you're using.

     

    2) Yes, because that is what you told iTunes to do.  Changing preference settings to put your media (as it says) in a different location does just that.  It starts storing media and only that in a different location.  A library is more than just media so your media files end up in one place and your library files in another.

     

    Your location is the default location but you can have a library file located anywhere you wish.  Many people put entire libraries on a different drive and in fact it is usually recommended you keep your library files with your media.

     

    3) The .itl library files is basically a text listing of where your media files are located, plus other data such as your playlists, ratings, etc.  It isn't media.  2MB is possible if you don't have a very large collection.  Even with a few thousand tracks your library file may only be 15-20MB

     

    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 - plus supplemental information about organizing to new structure https://discussions.apple.com/message/26404702#26404702

     

    Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392 - and making an iTunes library portable.

  • by LoBij,

    LoBij LoBij Aug 24, 2014 6:28 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 24, 2014 6:28 PM in response to Limnos

    Hello Limnos

    Thanks a lot for the detailed and fast answer. That is great!

     

    Re-1, I'm not too sure about the manipulation... If I do like that, am I not going to create a new library or any new file that I would have difficulty to get rid off? Is the operation reversible?

     

    Re-2,THANKS a lot. That is precisely the answer/confirmation/explanation I was looking for, with all elements of context. MERCI!

    Now the question is: if I want to move my library files from C:\Users\Laurent\Music\iTunes) to D:\Music\iTunes,

    a) what should I do? Can I just drag and drop the files?

    b) will iTunes automatically notice that these files have moved or should I tell him/her so?

    c) will this be automatically and permanently be taken into account for the next times I open iTunes?


    Re-3, sorry my question was probably unclear. I'm fine with 2MB for my principal library. I was surprised by the difference in size between my own library (which corresponds to MY music) and the Genius library which is, somewhat, unsollicited, and which is 20x bigger!  Does that make more sens?


    Thanks also for all the links. I knew some, I read some others, and I don't undersand 100% of most of them (too complicated for me :-)) but the little bit I understand is useful!


    Looking forward to your complement of answers! :-)


    Kind regards

    Laurent


  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Aug 25, 2014 6:14 AM in response to LoBij
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 25, 2014 6:14 AM in response to LoBij

    1) Yes, it is reversible.  Starting iTunes this way you should be presented with the option to select a library or create a new one.  If you select one that doesn't seem to be the right one then start iTunes this way again and select a different one until you find the right one again (it sounds like you already have a good idea which is the right one).

     

    I have 4 iTunes libraries on my computer and this is how you switch between them.

     

    2) The way to move a library is to copy all the files to the other location and use the shift+start method to tell the iTunes program which library (in this case a copy of the old one) to use.  Read the last link I provided about making a library portable on how to re-unite your library files.  It would have been best to have simply moved it this way at the start...

     

    3)  I run an old iTunes which I specifically run because it does not have Genius, so I don't know much about its library files.

  • by LoBij,

    LoBij LoBij Aug 25, 2014 6:57 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 25, 2014 6:57 AM in response to Limnos

    Hi Limnos

    Thanks a lot, once again, for your answers.

     

    Re-1, it is great. I tried as you proposed, it was super easy. It also confirmed what I thought. So my D:\Music\iTunes folder is clean, I deleted the old libraries there. The only active libraries are under C:\Users\Laurent\Music\iTunes!

     

    Re-2, the link you posted (and turingtest2's explanations were too technical for me). But that is no big deal, I'm fine with my music files in one place, and the libraries in another one. I understand from your comment that if I move my libraries from C to D, I will always have to start iTunes using the shift + start method, and I prefer not to do so.

     

    Re-3, thanks for the precision.

     

    I'm super grateful for your kind and efficient answers. Once again, huge thanks!

     

    Kindest regards

    L

     



  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Aug 25, 2014 8:15 AM in response to LoBij
    Level 9 (54,277 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 25, 2014 8:15 AM in response to LoBij

    If you relocate your library and start using shift once iTunes will remember your library location.  The only time it will not is if you put the library on a drive that gets disconnected from the computer and the drive is not attached when you start iTunes.  Then you have to shift+start again.

  • by LoBij,

    LoBij LoBij Aug 25, 2014 2:03 PM in response to LoBij
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 25, 2014 2:03 PM in response to LoBij

    Fantastic! Thanks a lot again, Lumnos, for all your help. It is completely clear now!

     

    Kindest regards

    L