How to separate 2 libraries stored as 1?

martynb wrote:

Hi tt2, I hope you'll be patient with me, I've always used the alt key to switch between libraries, but at the moment nothing I select on the Macbook will open the AAC library therein, so I cannot change the location value to let iTunes consolidate to the new location.

I can do what I did before, on the Macbook, open the AAC library on the external HDD, then in the Preferences Advanced Panel change the location, this time to Users/MyName/Music/iTunes/Media Folder. Then 'Consolidate'.

What is the path to the library on the external? What is the path to the media folder on the external?

You should be able to use one of the two methods below.

Option 1. If the media folder is inside the library folder then you can delete the entire non-functioning iTunes folder on the internal drive, copy the working external library folder from the external into Users/<User>/Music and, if necessary rename the folder as iTunes, open the iTunes library on the internal and it should work.

Option 2. If the layout is different then delete the entire non-functioning iTunes folder on the internal drive, copy the library folder into Users/<User>/Music, rename the folder as iTunes if necessary, open iTunes on the internal, set the iTunes media folder to Users/<User>/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media and consolidate.

tt2

martynb wrote:

Hi tt2, every time I read your advice it seems simple, but then I look at what I have and my heart sinks....

On my External HDD I have 2 Folders

First ...

iPod AAC (Folder) Contains the following all on the same level:-

Album Art (Folder)

Auto Add to itunes (Folder)

iPod Games (Folder)

iTunes Library (doc)

iTunes Library Extras.itdb

iTunes Library Genius.itdb

iTunes Library.xml

iTunes Media (Folder only contains auto add iTunes)

Previous iTunes Libraries (Folder)

151 Temp Files (all Greyed out)

Temp File.tmp (Greyed out)

Throw all the temp files away, they're not needed.

Rename iTunes Library to iTunes Library.itl

Start this iTunes with the library file ../iPod (AAC)/iTunes Library.itl

Change the media folder location under Preferences > Advanced to ../iPod (AAC)/iTunes Media

At this point iTunes may offer to consolidate your files to the new folder. I would recommend that you decline and use the Relocate Selected script as this will avoid duplicating files, the originals of which you then have to clean up later, but it is up to you. Your game plan should be to get every file that this library is connected to stored inside ../iPod (AAC)/iTunes Media.

If it is available, use the menu item File > Library > Organize Library > Rearrange files in the folder "iTunes Media".

If you have consolidated, or iTunes has taken care of it in the last step, then iTunes should have copied any iPod Games files into ../iPod (AAC)/iTunes Media/iPod Games. If so you can remove the redundant copy of the folder at ../iPod (AAC)/iPod Games. Otherwise drag that folder into iTunes Media and manually repair the links in the library by selecting and fixing each game in turn.

Delete the folder ../iPod (AAC)/Automatically Add to iTunes.

This library is now portable. You should be able to copy the entire folder to any new path, rename the main folder if desired, and open the library on any computer using the same build of iTunes.

Second...

Lossless Store (Folder) Contains the following all on the same level:-

All the Artist Folders containing the Albums and tracks for both the AAC and Lossless LIbraries

iPod Games (Folder)

iTunes Library (doc)

iTunes Library Extras.itdb

iTunes Library Genius.itdb

iTunes Library.xml

iTunes Media (Folder contains just auto add iTunes)

905 Temp Files (all greyed out)

Can you make any sense of this.........

Thanks.

...and an Album Artwork (Folder)?

Throw all the temp files away, they're not needed.

Rename iTunes Library to iTunes Library.itl

Start this iTunes with the library file ../Lossless Store/iTunes Library.itl

Change the media folder location under Preferences > Advanced to ../Lossless Store/iTunes Media

At this point iTunes may offer to consolidate your files to the new folder. I would recommend that you decline and use the Relocate Selected script as this will avoid duplicating files, the originals of which you then have to clean up later, but it is up to you. Your game plan should be to get every file that this library is connected to stored inside ../Lossless Store/iTunes Media.

If it is available, use the menu item File > Library > Organize Library > Rearrange files in the folder "iTunes Media".

If you have consolidated, or iTunes has taken care of it in the last step, then iTunes should have copied any iPod Games files into ../Lossless Store/iTunes Media/iPod Games. If so you can remove the redundant copy of the folder at ../Lossless Store/iPod Games. Otherwise drag that folder into iTunes Media and manually repair the links in the library by selecting and fixing each game in turn.

Delete the folder ../Lossless Store/Automatically Add to iTunes.

If you consolidated at earlier stages, rather than using the script, you should now have a bunch of artist folders that neither library is connected to. Move these to another folder, e.g. <Root>/Temp, and make sure both libraries function properly before final destruction.

This library is now portable. You should be able to copy the entire folder to any new path, rename the main folder if desired, and open the library on any computer using the same build of iTunes.

Given all the reorganization you might as well delete both of the Previous iTunes Libraries folders as there will be no going back to them now.

tt2

The method I gave you earlier should work, presuming you still want to separate the two libraries. If you start off with a fresh library then you will lose ratings, playlists, playcounts etc. but as long as all your files are tagged it should work out OK.

tt2

No worries. BTW just in case it escaped your attention iTunes now supports downsampling on the fly as media is copied to your devices so, in principle, you can sync your device with your "lossless" collection, but put 192k files on the device without needing separate libraries.

tt2

Device > Summary tab > Options panel, choice of 128, 192 or 256k.

Not used the feature myself but I presume it does what it says...

tt2