Keeping iTunes library on portable HD? - probs with database files!

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84 points

Keeping iTunes library on portable HD? - probs with database files!

I have my music collection on a portable HD, which I use at work and at home.

I add music and update file info at work, but I've learned that although I run the app from the portable HD the database info is kept in the User's Music folder on that machine. Thus, when I get home I don't have the up-to-date file info on my home mac!

Is there a way to change the default location for the database files that iTunes uses? If I could make the portable HD the default location I think I could access 1 constantly updated iTunes library without having to 'Add to Library' and import XML files.

Is this just wishful thinking, or is there a workaround or app which can do this automatically?

Thanks, Lee.

Home: 1.4Ghz Mini 1Gb S'drive B'tooth A'port 17 TFT; Work: 1.25Ghz G4 1Gb S'driv, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Mar 7, 2006 2:02 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 7, 2006 8:07 AM in response to Lee Vickers

There's a great workaround for this. It's not specifically for iTunes, but I think it will work in your case. It's called "Symbolic Linking" and basically works the way an alias used to work in OS9.

Check this out and let me know if it's helpful. You'd be replacing the actual database with this new "symbolic link" and then storing your database on the portable drive.

http://www.pure-mac.com/cmm.html#symboliclinker

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Answer 2

Mar 7, 2006 8:09 AM in response to Lee Vickers

BAD LINK: Sorry. Here's a good one...

http://seiryu.home.comcast.net/symboliclinker.html

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Answer 3

Lee Vickers Author

Level 1

84 points

Mar 7, 2006 8:30 AM in response to Paul Threatt

Thanks. Trouble is that iTunes always defaults back to the user's music folder to store the database. I could move the database to my portable HD, but next time I open iTunes it starts to build a new database file inside users/username/music.

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Answer 4

Mar 8, 2006 8:00 AM in response to Lee Vickers

One work around is to just copy the files on one computer and then copy then to the other when you get home. A pain for sure but iTunes likes certain files in certain locations.

You can also check in Dougs Scripts http://www.dougscripts.com/itunes/index.php

MJ

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Answer 5

Lee Vickers Author

Level 1

84 points

Mar 8, 2006 8:44 AM in response to Mike Johnson12

One work around is to just copy the files on one computer and then copy then to the other when you get home.

That's what I do; File/Add to Library, then sort window by date, add the recent ones.

Trouble is things like ratings are kept in the .xml file, in the username/music folder of the local machine, not in the ID3 tags and therefore are not imported with the music!

I have tried to import the .xml file from one mac to the other and keep them synchronised with sync software but iTunes doesn't like it. I've corrupted a 4000-track library like this and started from scratch, so I'm loathe to mess with that again!

The scripts look interesting though. Thanks.

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