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User profile for user: Jimzgoldfinch
Jimzgoldfinch Author
User level: Level 7
28,393 points

Rename Music Library.musiclibrary

Hi,

I have a few libraries located in various locations. One on main computer hard drive, second and third on different external drives.


Each library was created from the ITunes Library.itl for each location. Each library has the same name ie Music Library.musiclibrary. Should I rename the second and third file.


The reason I ask is that I encountered a strange situation where some tracks on library2 where linking to library1 instead of the library 2. The tracks in library 2 are mainly Apple Lossless with an iTunes Match AAC version on Library 1. I resolve the problem by recreating new library from original itl file.


Suggestions please


Jim

Posted on Oct 16, 2019 5:33 AM

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User profile for user: turingtest2
turingtest2
User level: Level 10
274,282 points

Posted on Oct 17, 2019 8:21 AM

Hi Jim,


When generating the new Catalina Music libraries for your second and third libraries on the external drives where did you choose to save those library files? I don't think the name of the file matters as long as each is in a separate folder and the relevant media folder is available when the library is opened. As with iTunes in the past you still have to use the option-start method to switch between them rather than clicking the file you want to open. I've also discovered you have to disconnect all of your devices which is a pain if you're trying to switch libraries remotely.


tt2

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User profile for user: turingtest2
turingtest2
User level: Level 10
274,282 points

Oct 17, 2019 8:21 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Hi Jim,


When generating the new Catalina Music libraries for your second and third libraries on the external drives where did you choose to save those library files? I don't think the name of the file matters as long as each is in a separate folder and the relevant media folder is available when the library is opened. As with iTunes in the past you still have to use the option-start method to switch between them rather than clicking the file you want to open. I've also discovered you have to disconnect all of your devices which is a pain if you're trying to switch libraries remotely.


tt2

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User profile for user: Jimzgoldfinch
Jimzgoldfinch Author
User level: Level 7
28,393 points

Oct 17, 2019 9:07 AM in response to turingtest2

Hi Steve,

I save the library files in the folder that contains my media and previous iTunes files. This is the way I have always done it and never had to rename the iTunes library.itl file. There I won't need to rename the Music Library file.


This update has caused me more agro than any previous update. I am encountering problems that I have not had before e.g. how a file link was created with another library.


Jim

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User profile for user: Jimzgoldfinch
Jimzgoldfinch Author
User level: Level 7
28,393 points

Oct 20, 2019 7:37 AM in response to turingtest2

Hi Steve,

I seem to be going round in circles with this.


I created a new library on another external drive rather than use the existing library.itl file on that drive. All tracks were included in previous iTunes library - I added them to the new library. As expected, it took ages to complete and imbedded artwork was not displaying. To cut a long story short, I then added some tracks from the other external drive which had been disconnected whilst creating the new library.


I could not understand why, using automatically add to music, was not working. On checking preferences I noticed that the Media location folder was showing the other libraries location instead of the current libraries location.


I closed music app and disconnected the other external drive . When I reopened music app the Media location folder was showing correctly.


Next I detached the new external drive and reattached the other one (which is my main source of lossless music). Next I opened music on another different external drive that includes backups of Amazon sourced music. To my surprise I noticed that the media location folder was pointing to my lossless files.


I have now disconnected those additional external drive, leaving only my lossless files drive and my time machine drive.


Do you know what could be causing this conflict?


Jim

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User profile for user: turingtest2
turingtest2
User level: Level 10
274,282 points

Oct 20, 2019 9:17 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

I haven't had a chance to fully explore the behaviour of library switching with Music, but with iTunes it used to be that if you switched from one portable library to another each would use an iTunes Media folder in the same folder as the .itl file. If you switched from a split library where the media folder is on some unrelated path the media folder wouldn't change when you changed libraries. Perhaps something similar is going on here.


tt2

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Rename Music Library.musiclibrary

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