Questions regarding "Category" field in iTunes

Question

Level 1

36 points

Questions regarding "Category" field in iTunes

I'm looking for a way to label all songs without vocals as "Instrumental", and thought that the "Category" field appeared to be the best way to do this. Unfortunately, I find that there's no way to edit this field. It doesn't even appear in any of the windows when I use "File/Get Info". The field is always empty, but there's no way to enter any information in it. What the heck is it for if it's not used, and you can't do anything with it yourself?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Oct 31, 2007 9:00 AM

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Answer 1

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Oct 31, 2007 10:44 AM in response to incredulous

Are you talking about the "Genre" field? If so, it won't let you just type in whatever you want?
Patrick

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Answer 2

incredulous Author

Level 1

36 points

Oct 31, 2007 12:26 PM in response to PT

No, I'm not talking about the Genre field. I don't want to change that. I need a separate field where I can designate the song as instrumental without affecting the genre.

I know that I could put together a playlist, but I'd prefer to have a field, and "Category" seemed perfect for this. At least it did until I found that you can see it, but not touch it (even though it's empty).

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Answer 3

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Oct 31, 2007 12:46 PM in response to incredulous

I will have to look when I get home since I am not on an iTunes enabled computer at the moment. I don't recall a "Category" field off the top of my head. "Grouping" perhaps? I'll look tonight.
Patrick

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Answer 4

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Oct 31, 2007 2:21 PM in response to incredulous

OK I see you can pull it up in the headers for the library and nothing is in it and you can also sort and do Smart playlist by catagory, but as you said, there doesn't appear to be a place in iTunes to actually enter anything in that field.
However, as I mentioned above, there is the "Grouping" field which you CAN edit and maybe that is the place where you can add the word "Instrumental" and then you can create playlists or whatever by making a rule to be Grouping is Instrumental?
Patrick

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Answer 5

PT

Level 7

20,894 points

Oct 31, 2007 2:38 PM in response to incredulous

On playing with it further it would appear that the "Category" header seems to be a Podcast specific field. Still no place to change it in the Get Info of Podcasts, but if I turn on that header in the Podcast section of iTunes, this is the only area where many of the tracks actually have something filled in there.
So I say go with the "Grouping" field to do what you want.
Patrick

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Answer 6

incredulous Author

Level 1

36 points

Nov 3, 2007 9:08 PM in response to PT

I thought "Grouping" was to piece together different movements in a classical piece. I think the best solution is to use the "Description" field.

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