Richard Hogg

Q: Library Organization

I recently upgraded my MBP hard drive and have moved my iTunes library from an external HD onto the new one.  While my library was on the external drive it was organized as /Volumes/External/iTunes Library/ then individual folders for Music, Movies, Audio Books, Tones and whatever else.  iTunes would then put new music in the Music folder, new movies in the Movies folder, etc.

 

Now I moved the library (drag and drop) to ~/Music/iTunes with the individual media folders just as before and changed the library location in iTunes accordingly. But now instead of putting new media in their respective folders it lumps them all into the top directory (in the same folder as the Music or Movies folders instead of inside them). 

 

Is there any way to get iTunes to go back to the way it was while I was using the external hd?

 

iTunes 12.1.2

 

Thanks!

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Jun 1, 2015 5:26 PM

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Q: Library Organization

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  • by judysings,

    judysings judysings Jun 3, 2015 2:15 PM in response to Richard Hogg
    Community Specialists
    Jun 3, 2015 2:15 PM in response to Richard Hogg

    Hello Richard Hogg,

    The resource below explains how the iTunes Library and container folders are organized.  Take a look at the file paths and the options for media organiation in the Advanced pane of iTunes Preferences.

    Is it possible that you do not have the options to "Keep iTunes Media folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" enabled?

     

    Locate and organize your iTunes files - Apple Support
    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204668

     

    Copying music to and keeping the iTunes Media folder organized

    You can select these options on the Advanced pane of iTunes preferences:

     

    • "Keep iTunes Media folder organized." Learn more about how iTunes 9 and later organizes your media.
    • "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library." Select this option to store all of your media files in the iTunes Media folder. Since they're all in one location, you can easily transfer or back up your media.

      When you import media into iTunes from a CD, it's automatically added to your iTunes Media folder. If you add media to iTunes another way (choosing "Add to library" from the File menu or by dragging an MP3 file into iTunes), it might not be added to your iTunes Media folder.

     

     

    Locating the file for an item you see in iTunes

     

    If you're not sure where iTunes stores your content, iTunes will show you what it knows about your media in the Get Info window. To access the Get Info window, select a file in iTunes and then choose File > Get Info.

     

     

     

     

    I hope this information helps ....

     

    - Judy

  • by Richard Hogg,

    Richard Hogg Richard Hogg Jun 3, 2015 2:57 PM in response to judysings
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2015 2:57 PM in response to judysings

    Hi Judy,

     

    In the following images, the highlighted folders are/were the folders I designated as the top library directory in iTunes.  Here's the layout of my library on the external (as organized by iTunes):

    Screen Shot 2015-06-03 at 5.46.00 PM.png

    Here it is on the new HD:

    Screen Shot 2015-06-03 at 5.45.40 PM.png

    And here are my current "Advanced" settings:

    Screen Shot 2015-06-03 at 5.46.21 PM.png

    You can see that with the new HD iTunes is placing imported items in the top directory instead of the "Music" folder.  Do I need to name the folders something specific for iTunes to recognize where to put things?

  • by judysings,

    judysings judysings Jun 4, 2015 11:55 AM in response to Richard Hogg
    Community Specialists
    Jun 4, 2015 11:55 AM in response to Richard Hogg

    Hi Richard Hogg,

    Even though you have enabled the "Keep iTunes Media folder organized" in the Advanced pane of iTunes Preferences, I don't see the iTunes Media folder  (/Users/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media) in the screenshot of your New HD.  

    If you need assistance with your iTunes application, here is the link for iTunes support:

    http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/

    Cheers,

    - Judy

  • by turingtest2,Apple recommended

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jun 4, 2015 12:38 PM in response to Richard Hogg
    Level 10 (86,976 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 4, 2015 12:38 PM in response to Richard Hogg

    See Make a split library portable for some background. It looks like your library is using the old layout instead of the new one. File > Library > Organize Library > Rearrange files... should sort that issue out.

     

    tt2

  • by Richard Hogg,

    Richard Hogg Richard Hogg Jun 4, 2015 1:18 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 4, 2015 1:18 PM in response to turingtest2

    turingtest2,

    I'm importing a new album now, and lo and behold, it's going to the proper place!  Thanks!

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Jun 4, 2015 1:29 PM in response to Richard Hogg
    Level 10 (86,976 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 4, 2015 1:29 PM in response to Richard Hogg

    You're welcome.

     

    tt2

  • by judysings,

    judysings judysings Jun 8, 2015 2:21 PM in response to Richard Hogg
    Community Specialists
    Jun 8, 2015 2:21 PM in response to Richard Hogg

    Hi Richard,

    Glad to hear you are up and running again thanks to Turingtest2's excellent advice.

    Enjoy your music!

    - Judy