how to combine two iTunes libraries

Question

how to combine two iTunes libraries

I am sorry if this question has already been answered--I did a search and read the messages, but I am still confused.

I have 2 (at least) different iTunes libraries saved on an external hard drive (and probably another on my laptop at school) which I use to record my students' voices. How can I combine these libraries so that I only have to deal with one place to find the recordings?

When I look at the external hard drive file listings, I see these file names in the folder for iTunes recordings:
-folder: Album Artwork
-file: iTunes Library (has the iTunes icon)
-file: iTunes Library-auto (has the iTunes icon)
-directory file?: iTunes Library-auto.xml (the icon looks like a Text Edit file)
-directory file?: iTunes Library .xml (the icon looks like a Text Edit file)
-folder: iTunes Music
-folder: Previous iTunes Libraries (with two files of dated iTunes libraries)

How can I combine these libraries so that all the files are in one place?
How do I know which ones to use/keep?

I would appreciate it if someone could walk me through this, as I am having a very hard time here.
Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Mar 24, 2008 2:42 PM

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Answer 1

Fatewolf

Level 1

36 points

Mar 24, 2008 2:56 PM in response to French teacher

I don't know the exact way to do all this, but it should be fairly easy to do. If you drag all of the music you want to keep in the folder labeled iTunes Music (under username-music-iTunes) they should all appear in your library. If they do, you can delete them elsewhere. If they don't, you can go into iTunes, select import and import the files you want.

I hope this is helpful.

Message was edited by: Fatewolf

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Answer 2

Mar 24, 2008 4:00 PM in response to Fatewolf

I may not be explaining this correctly, so please bear with me....

There are a lot of recordings in my iTunes music folder, but I can't access them all the time, even when
I am reading files from the external HD.

How can I combine the libraries so that they will be accessible at the same time?

is that clearer??

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Answer 3

Fatewolf

Level 1

36 points

Mar 24, 2008 5:37 PM in response to French teacher

So do they all show up in iTunes at the same time? If so just hit export library and it should combine it. I'm sorry if that's not what you're looking for.

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Answer 4

Mar 24, 2008 6:43 PM in response to Fatewolf

Will I have to choose a location to export library? Sorry, I'm on a different computer right now, and I won't be able to try this until tomorrow morning.

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Answer 5

Fatewolf

Level 1

36 points

Mar 25, 2008 2:08 PM in response to French teacher

Sorry it's the next day, I had to get off of my computer. Yes, you will have to pick a location. I would put it in the iTunes folder, or wherever you need it.

But if you've got all of the music you want to show up in your iTunes library, export it and put it iTunes folder (under music). Hopefully that should do it.

I had a similar problem once, but I solved it by simply dragging all of my music from several different computers (via network connection) to the iTunes music folder. After that if they didn't show up in iTunes I simply hit import and brought them in.

Message was edited by: Fatewolf

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