iTunes metadata and artwork

YOU SAID: (in reply to me)

ME: When I look, the script is still showing 1.0.0.1 and says it's the original version. So I'm not sure if the version posted (which I've downloaded again just to make sure) is an updated, correct version.

It is a new script, I start counting both major and minor version numbers at 1. There are four numbers because I copied the layout of the iTunes version number at the outset. I clearly don't need that many.

I just downloaded the EmbedArtwork from the scripts site and then did a compare versions from what I had a couple of months ago at least and it said the scripts match exactly. Both say version 1.0.0.1. so I'm unclear if I'm misunderstanding you, or if the updated script was not posted? Please let me know.

YOU SAID: (in reply to me)

I have done several posts. Last you replied on October 8th, you were going to rework the code on CleanDeadArt.

I'm afraid I cannot work out which specific post you're referring to here, or what I might have been planning to do.

ME: This had to do with you telling me that I should be able to run this script on a hard-drive and have it go through all the folders instead of me going folder-by-folder as I had done before. You alerted me to that fact and suggested I just do it on the main folder and subsequent ones which would be under it and run the script. So for example, if might be the H:/Bill's computer / and then a bunch of folders from A-to-Z underneath in Windows. When I ran the script, it threw an error or something - where it wouldn't complete it. You said you would look into the code. That's what this was about. Not a major issue.

YOU SAID: (in reply to me)

1. The biggest one has to do with the Export/Import and then CustomRenamer process. I actually had some success with this, but it's sporadic and today, coincidentally it didn't work again.

What didn't work? What tracks were you renaming, with what pattern? What did you expect to happen? What actually happened?

<Edit> Now that I've replied to more of this post I see you've mentioned an issue with ExportImport. I'm not sure CustomRenamer is even involved at this point.

ME: Yes, that would be correct. The CustomRenamer is working great. Especially since you showed me how to modify the script. In fact, I've also used the code script so I can make a folder "Soundtracks" and then the artist/album/title go under it as an example. Or for "Radio Plays" and have those all under that folder. That's correct. As for Export/Import, yes that is still my #1 issue by far. I'll post that next.

YOU SAID:

In my version of ExportImport line 518 reads End If. It is an unlikely to cause an error. Visually the code appears to be balanced as far as Ifs and End Ifs goes. Is it the same in your version of the script? Do you recall what edits were made for the update-fix version? I don't seem to have a matching copy here.

ME: I have to use version 1.0.0.17. Any version past this throws an error as the last part of the process:

I can run the Export/Import fine up until when I drag the .txt file over the script. The last working version is 1.0.0.17. Anything past that will throw an error. Each and every script (.18, .19, .20, .21., .22., .23, and .24) will throw the error such as above. .17 works fine - except that I think there were some issues with the ratings not being there, or something. There were reasons you updated the script each time so if you can get the latest script to work, that would be great.

Or perhaps there is an issue I'm not factoring in? Does it have to be in its own folder (the script)? I have done that.

Somewhat related to this, here is something I asked for clarity on:

Aside from the script past .17 not working, can you clarify what the difference is on these two things in preparing for the E/I script and then executing?

1.   Make a playlist

2.   Drag songs from Windows Explorer folder into it

3.   Running Export/Import

4.   Move songs out of the folder they were in

5.   Put new songs with improved fidelity into the same folder

6.   Drag the .txt file onto the script

Versus this:

1.   Highlight a range of songs

2.   Run Export/Import

3.   Move songs out of the folder they were in

4.   Put new songs with improved fidelity into the same folder

5.   Drag the .txt file onto the script

What does making a playlist first, then dragging songs over into itunes do over just highlighting within iTunes and running the E/I script and doing the same thing where I move original songs out and then put the updated fidelity songs into the same folder and then drag and drop the .txt onto the script?

YOU SAID:

The track is not modifiable error suggests either a permissions problem (see Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows - Apple Community), interference by anti-virus software, or in the case of your newly converted files it could be that the software you're using hasn't closed the files yet. Perhaps you need to close that software and/or temporarily disable your AV or set up some folder exclusions.

ME: Seems like that's not the case given that I NEVER get an error message with version 1.0.0.17. So I think we need to figure out why .18-.24 throw errors. 

YOU SAID:

I don't know why the script isn't embedding the images in all the files if they're all selected when you run EmbediTunesArtwork. I can take a look at the code. I know I tested it earlier on and the first pass updated each track in my selection, and running it again only updated the image in the folder, so I was probably trying to avoid

redundantly embedding the same image over and over. It is quite possible I have introduced an error there somewhere while trying to optimise the behaviour.

ME: This is the least of my concerns, but yeah, if you can see an error in the code, that would be great if it were solved.

YOU SAID:

Check the mp3 for internal errors with MP3 val - http://mp3val.sourceforge.net/.

Is the image you're embedding a ,jpg file, or something else? What dimensions?

ME: I'll let you know if I find out anything. There are a few images which are larger than others. Perhaps that's the issue. I'll check it out.

It's Saturday evening here. I didn't necessarily expect to hear back from you today since it's a weekend, but you've replied on weekends before (which is very nice of you). Nothing more to report really, except to say that the BIGGEST, MAJOR issue I'm having is that the Export/Import is losing file locations. Here's an example capture below. These are identical artist-titles. The only thing different is the file extension.

You can see the exclamation marks. So I have to browse, track-by-track to link them up again. AND, I have to browse from a different, previous (?) browse so I sometimes have to go through about 4-5 different folder clicks to get to the right folder. Quite the pain.

Now what I did try today again was doing (with all songs highlighted in windows before running the script, and while dropping the .txt file on it. And I'm using 1.0.0.17 version as that's the only one that doesn't crash).

1. create a playlist
2. drag songs from windows into it
3. run E/I script
4. Move out titles to be replaced.
5. Copy new titles in (...am I supposed to "move them in? Does that make a difference?)
6. Then I drag the .txt that was created and then I go to iTunes.

Then what I end up with is several missing titles (some make it sometimes, some don't) - or in the case of the capture above, ALL the titles aren't linked.

I do not get what's wrong. And I'm just starting this project portion now that I've done all the grunt work on converting songs and cleaning up, etc. If this is what I have to do for the rest of the project, I'm going to have to reconsider the whole project. I do hope you can find out what's wrong with the script versions .18 - through .24. And also what I might be doing wrong.

As presented yesterday, should I be using a different folder each time before I run E/I script? That would be a major pain if so.

I pray you'll reply quickly as I can get a lot done over the Christmas break if you can help solve my issues. Thank you as always.

Stay safe and I hope to hear from you soon!

Clarify a portion I just posted above:

Now what I did try today again was doing a playlist inside windows first and I dragged the songs into itunes/playlist. Then, with all songs highlighted in windows, I'll run the script. I'll replace the songs with the upgraded audio (same exact artist/title) and then drop the .txt file onto the script. And I'm using 1.0.0.17 version as that's the only one that doesn't crash).

Even doing that had several titles that get missed. Perhaps it's the Media Monkey ALAC conversion that I'm using within that program? I suppose I could try the other program I used earlier.

Cheers!

Oh, and finally, if I let iTunes try to find the rest of the missing songs/links

And is there a way I can have iTunes go to the right folder in linking the songs back up if I'm forced to do that)? Maybe after the first browse, is there a way to click something or tell iTunes this is the browse to do now (the folder I just went to for the missing link/song?)

One final thing, I noticed with 1.0.0.17 that artwork doesn't always carry over either. I ran a smart playlist that you showed me how to do and I see some missing artwork that should have carried over from identical artist-title to artist-title when using E/I script. That might be something version .17 didn't do right that you noticed. Anyway, version .23 is the one that I last knew you worked on, though there is a version .24 (you may have done that, but we didn't exchange about it). Keeping my fingers crossed so I don't have to keep doing more work than would be necessary if things worked right (or something I'm not doing right). Thanks!

Hello,

I was just wondering if you might be able to give me some idea on when you could reply to my responses to your replies from Dec 9? I would be really grateful if you could figure out what I'm doing wrong. I'm absolutely at the point now where I'm going to do all the music conversions. I've worked through a massive number of things on my end unrelated to your scripts and advice (too much to cover here, and nothing you'd really care about anyway), but I am at the point where I have to figure out the best approach if you're not able to figure out - either what I'm doing wrong, or is wrong with the Export/Import scripts. Even version 1.0.0.17 isn't really working per my numerous recent posts of response to you.

I'm at wits end about what I can do. If you can get this righted for me, it would be a HUGE relief and expedite my progress probably a hundred-fold.

Don't mean to bug, I'm just asking if you have any idea when you'd have time to reply. And I'll offer again that I'm willing to pay for the help if that's doable (within reason of course, haha).

Thanks so much!

I've discovered more issues as I've been slowly and methodically working my way through things.

Using 1.0.0.17 - since it's the only one that won't throw the error.

Pros:  It completes the process on the Import.

Cons:

1.     Loses track of songs. Rarely, if ever, will it see all the songs so I have to go through one-by-one. 

CustomRenamer:

Pros: Works through the script

Cons:

1.     I discovered that Album Titles will mostly be missing.

2.     Also discovered that the Year will also be missing on many of the song(s)

3.     I also discovered that the year can be wrong on some files - as though it's not respecting the correct years.

What script can I run so that the Album title and year (metadata) all carries over to the windows explorer?  I don't think

it's EmbedAlbumArt or CreateFolderArt - neither of those has to do with that.

I'm glad I caught this. And I definitely had these albums/years showing up in Windows explorer before.

Because I'm awaiting feedback, I'm kind of not sure which way to turn. But as concise as I can be, here is what i'm needing help with.

1. Confirm the exact process to get the Export/Import to work properly. Try to replicate my situation which would be.
2. Confirm/explain the difference between creating a playlist and dragging files from windows explorer into the playlist, versus just highlighting songs in a search.
3. See why the album title/year (and maybe other metadata I haven't noticed yet) isn't carrying over to Windows explorer after I run CustomRenamer. Perhaps that script has some issue? The actual result in the new Drive and subsequent folder(s) the new baud rates are going into comes out correctly - it's just the album and year (and perhaps more) are not showing up in windows explorer. This could be (and likely is) why you updated version 1.0.017 to later builds 1.0.0.18 through .24. But since I can't get those scripts to run successfully, my only solve is to use .17 version.
4. After I've already run several artists as I have begun this final home stretch, is there a script that could run and add those to missing metadata (re: #3 above) so I don't have to manually do this?
5. Is there a problem between the Media Monkey converting from .wav (or .flac) to ALAC M4A files and those I convert using DBPowerAmp? I only mention as an attempt to figure this out.

You were also going to try and update the EmbedAlbumArt so that I could run it on an entire drive versus going through folder by folder. You had said it should work but when I did, it wouldn't work. This is very low on my priority list.

Thanks. I do hope to hear from you. You spoiled me with so much quick reply and help along the way so I'm just very frustrated as this is all slowing me down big-time. I'm appreciative, as always, so please post back when you can, and as soon as you can. Thank you.

I am so sorry to hit you again as I know I'm being redundant but I went and looked through a lot of other music I have already upgraded fidelity and moved to the new drive. The Year is missing from all of them (though I had previously put the album name manually and just didn't bring it up yet I don't think). But it's critically important that all the metadata get carried over.

As per the recent post directly above this one; is their a script I can run that will update the year (and album)? Or modify an existing one that will work. It seems to me that the CustomRenamer is only doing this (?) because that's all that's in the script?

MEDIA\MUSIC\<Artist>\<Album>\<Artist>- <Name>?

I tried modifying the script to add "Year" but it didn't work. And since the Artist and then Album name is what creates the respective folders, I don't think that is why the album and year isn't showing up in windows explorer.

Thanks.

Thank you for your reply. Duly noted on the flac.

One more question: does it matter where the .txt file is created that you drag & drop? I wouldn't think so but just thought I'd ask.

Cheers!

Just FYI I only tried Lossless and AIFF today. No other file types.

I will try this on the iTunes 12.3 computer (I'll update it to the latest version first) and let you know.