My iTunes preferences/media folder location keeps going to default

turingtest2 wrote:

Sorry, I sent you my post directly above before I saw this response....

i,

I didn't have time to get a screenshot, but I renamed my test playlist as 1-AM Pop & Classic Rock (4-5*) #1's, copied the updated XML file, corrected to path for the NAS, then used the Playlists > ⋮ > Import from iTunes... command and it imported as expected with the new title.

That's GREAT!

The key things are to make the right edit to the XML file so that the data makes sense from the perspective of the Plex server on the NAS, tell the iTunes Plugin where the XML file is located, then use Music > ⋮ > Scan Library Files followed by Playlists > ⋮ > Import from iTunes...

Editing of the XML file is just making sure it's set to the path such as: volume1/Plex Test or "volume1/Music1 - so that each song has this in front of it. BTW, the XML as it stands already has this. Here's a song from the XML from the Music1 folder on the NAS:

<key>Location</key>string>file://localhost/volume1/Music1/Beach%20Boys/Little%20Duece%20Coupe/Beach%20Boys%20-%20409.m4a</string>

From the sound of things all you need to do for your library in the Music1 folder is remove the second // by, for example, replacing //volume1 with /volume1 and replacing all instances through the XML.

That's already been done. Here's my dilemma: I already tried this on Plex and it won't import the playlists. I'm not sure why, but it probably has to do with creating a new playlists outside of the C: drive (or maybe you don't think so). I didn't use the steps you did this weekend on this library. That said, I would just change the XML path inside Plex and then scan the library (or stop/reboot Plex on the NAS first or after, I'll look at your instructions). Since I can see the import itunes playlists, maybe that would work? My concern is that it didn't work with my Test Plex, but it's worth a shot.

Please let me know what you think.

tt2

THANKS!!

No, I made sure I got rid of the smart playlists on the updated XML that is in the V1/Music1 folder. None exist in the iTunes Volume1 library. And I never created folders for playlists. I've never used that feature.

Anyway, I'm cleaning out some playlists to try and trim it down (I was planning on doing that anyway).

I can't believe I finally got this rolling. I just need to see why I can't get them all in there. I'd read somewhere that Plex has trouble with more than X number but I can't recall for sure. That seems odd that that would be a limitation, but perhaps it is. Worst case, I'll trim and trim to focus on just the best of the playlists.

Any other thoughts, let me know!

You ROCK! Thanks!

You know how I have to edit the XML that's part of the iTunes volume1 library on the C:/My Music folder and remove the second slash? Since that's literally the only thing I have to modify since all my music resides on the NAS natively (so to speak), can I edit the XML and remove the second slash and then copy it back onto the C: music folder so I don't have to do that each and every time I make a change in the library and update it in Plex?

I would do as you suggest and make a COPY first and then edit it, make the change and then save it so it would get copied over the one on the C: drive. You know what I mean, right?

What do you think?

Thanks!

That's good to know (on the characters on a named playlist).

Could you let me know on this question: You know how I have to edit the XML that's part of the iTunes volume1 library on the C:/My Music folder and remove the second slash? Since that's literally the only thing I have to modify since all my music resides on the NAS natively (so to speak), can I edit the XML and remove the second slash and then copy it back onto the C: music folder so I don't have to do that each and every time I make a change in the library and update it in Plex?

I can see a time where, if I can get all the playlists to import, where I'll modify something in iTunes (add a new playlist, adjust another, remove a couple, Etc.), so I'd like to not have to edit the XML that I have right now in my iTunes volume1/Music1 library. I don't want to break anything in that library (if that is even possible) - I just want to make sure.

Thanks for your other replies!!! Much appreciated. Wish me luck getting the other playlists to import.

turingtest2 wrote:

The XML file in your library folder will be updated each time you make a change to the library, e.g. edit a playlist, add some metadata, or just play a track which increases the playcount. Plex should detect metadata changes by itself, but when you want it to update the playlists or you've moved/renamed any files, copy the XML, edit out the unwanted double slashes, save the copy in the volume1/Music1 folder as iTunes Library.xml then use Music > ⋮ > Scan Library Files followed by Playlists > ⋮ > Import from iTunes... with the option to Overwrite existing playlists. The is no point copying the updated file back to C: as Plex isn't going to change it, and you'll want the current version produced by iTunes next time you want to refresh the playlists.

Gotcha.

Tunes is producing the XML file to support your third party software. You cannot "break it" as far as iTunes is concerned as it only writes out the file. It would only read it if you explicitly tried to import the XML file. It will however routinely overwrite it as you use the library with iTunes, so you'll have to edit out the second // every time you want to refresh the playlists in Plex.

Understood. Thanks for the clarity!

tt2

I'm going to finish up sort of a step-by-step process of what got the playlists to show the import feature option in Plex.

Do you think doing the D:/ drive portion was instrumental in this working? I never ultimately used that drive or test artist/album that you set up on your end. Meaning I did do the process and there was the Plex Test folder on the NAS and in Plex (still is). I'm just wondering if you think that has to happen?

I still am not sure how that played into things. I realize it doesn't matter but I thought I might be able to help someone down the road if I notice them having the same issue I had and wanted to know.

I know it didn't work until that happened so logic would suggest it did.

Thanks!!

turingtest2 wrote:

If you want iTunes and Plex to be consistent you should make edits in iTunes, then get Plex to refresh its view of metadata using Music > ⋮ > Manage Library > Refresh All Metadata. Contrary to my earlier comment I am now not certain that Plex will automatically detect a change where the file name/path isn't updated at the same time. Changing the path means that one file is removed, and a new one added, and Plex will thus read the updated metadata of the "new" file.

I have not done the "refresh all metadata" because of the message that it shows " " which I was nervous about - worrying that it might replace MY metadata. Here's the message.. How would you interpret this?

Plex will normally scan for new and removed files in the media folder on a regular basis. You can change the settings for this at Settings > Library > Scan my library periodically. You can force an update using Music > ⋮ > Scan Library Files.

I have a check next to the "scan my library periodically" (and have had the entire time I've used Plex.

To get Plex to update the imported iTunes playlists you need to make suitable edits to the XML file generated or exported from iTunes, place the edited version at the path specified under Settings > Plugins > iTunes library XML path then use Playlists > ⋮ > Import from iTunes... and select the option to Overwrite existing playlists.

I sent a post last night showing two examples of the behavior. Basically, if I have done nothing but change the name of a playlist in iTunes, it appears to replace the one prior. Meaning if I had "Bee Gees playlist 70s" and changed it to "Bee Gees 70s" but did nothing to the playlist otherwise, it imported and replaced the original in Plex. When I did some changes to a playlist (just sorted it different, the music was 100% the same) but didn't change the name and imported it, it imported it again so I had two same-name files. I did the "overwrite existing" for sure. I'm not sure but I'm guessing Plex somehow detected the change inside the playlist. Woud you expect that behavior?

If you have specific examples of tracks that are missing from a playlist after import please post back the full path and the relevant location property from the edited XML file so that I can compare the two values and, perhaps, see what might be causing an issue for Plex. I seem to be able to freely use & and ' in titles and paths without there being any issues.

So far I haven't gotten that far to test but I haven't noticed any missing files.

I believe you also mentioned that some of the details of imported tracks were incorrect in Plex. For files in mp3 format a possible explanation might be multiple tags as discussed in Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows - Apple Community where this more than one tag, and iTunes may have updated one while Plex reads data from another. Plex also has some sort of agent that attempts to fetch missing metadata when it can fill in some of the properties. This might explain some of the values you've seen under Tags > Moods. Again a specific example that I can attempt to recreate here might help me work out what is going on and try to come up with a workaround.

The basic issue there is there's a bunch of missing album names. But as I researched it further, I noticed that the transfer of ID3 tags from the MP3 files to ALAC was either lost, or wasn't in Windows to begin with. This was a phenomenon I didn't even realize back then. I assumed that if the data was in iTunes, it should be in the ID3 tags. This was first sort of discovered when there was a lot of missing artwork. And I checked the XML file and the album title is there (I believe) so it seems to me that it should show up in Plex. Unless there's a script that can take the XML for a song and apply it to Windows Explorer for said file, then I'll likely need to either update it in Windows or in Plex. I have actually been updating it in Plex using a smart playlist for "unknown" "album title". It's arduous but it's manageable.

As for MOODS, there isn't any data in any of the songs as there was no ID3 tags for that that I ever used/entered. The ratings for the individual songs does appear to mostly be there though there are some that are missing as well (same as Album titles). Some album art is missing sporadically.

tt2

Thoughts kind sir? THANK YOU!!!

turingtest2 wrote:

A subscription to Apple Music shouldn't cause any changes in your locally stored media. That said I do recall an occasional issue with purchases where the store version of metadata can reassert itself over local changes. The solution there is to hide the purchase from your purchase history and then your local matched/uploaded version of the metadata will rule. When working with a synced copy of the library on another computer or device you may occasionally find that matching is imperfect, e.g. the secondary library gets a clean copy of what was originally an explicit track.

Before starting a subscription you should take a complete backup of your library. You might want to test the waters with Apple Music by creating a separate library (which will initially include all of your purchases) and then selectively add content to that library.

I'll do that.

When you have a subscription to Apple Music any content downloaded from the service goes into <Media Folder>\Apple Music. Apart from that it all works as normal. Each individual .itl file is optionally enabled for Apple Music/iCloud Music Library.

tt2

Thanks!