rbiii
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Q: Problems rebuilding my library

My late 2009 2.53 GHz Mac mini is running 10.8.2, and iTunes 10.7. My library is about 15,000 songs, and dates back to 2002, over a series of machines.

 

iTunes runs off of the internal, boot drive, and the library itself is on an external drive.

 

Recently, iTunes has been quitting unexpectedly, and I figured I needed to break down and rebuild the library, which I have never done before. I found and reviewed the relevant Apple article "How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists", and I thought I would be in business.

 

The first time I opened iTunes with the XML file removed and the ITL file deleted (yes, I have backups), and after I imported the XML file, iTunes began importing all of the files from the external and copying them onto the internal drive. iTunes yelped at me about not having enough space, of course.

 

Next, I replaced the orginal XML and ITL files, opened up iTunes and removed the movies and TV shows (they can easily be readded on their own, and appear in no playlists). So again I backup the XML and ITL files, remove them, open up iTunes, and I go through the import process of all of the music. It seems it's all okay, and then I see that all of the files' "Date Added" values are gone, replaced with the time of this import. Also, many of my nested smart playlists are broken. I can likely fix the latter, but I wanted to retain the date added field, so I threw this all out.

 

Based on another thread here, when I next opened up iTunes (without an XML or ITL file), I pointed the iTunes at the right folder on my external drive for my library, and went through the XML import _again_. Again, the Date Added field was wrong, even though this time I was not reimporting the files, as they were staying right where they started.

 

So I am stumped. Can anyone please suggest how to manage to rebuild my library in a way that retains the Date Added data? If I could keep my smart playlists unbroken, that would be great, but I can manage them if need be.

 

Sorry to make this so long - hopefully google will help someone else with similar problems find this someday and save them some of my frustration.

Posted on Dec 10, 2012 9:05 PM

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rbiii

Q: Problems rebuilding my library

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  • by rbiii,

    rbiii rbiii Dec 13, 2012 9:33 PM in response to rbiii
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 13, 2012 9:33 PM in response to rbiii

    So sad - no suggestions from anyone? Sigh.

  • by Alan Edinger,

    Alan Edinger Alan Edinger Jan 7, 2014 12:02 AM in response to rbiii
    Level 4 (1,627 points)
    Jan 7, 2014 12:02 AM in response to rbiii

    rbiii,

     

         The .ITL file contains all of the iTunes configuration data for your music, podcasts etc. When this file is removed iTunes will self-rebuild this master document.

     

         And since the document is created as new all of your music etc is re-registered with iTunes including things like play count, playlists, grouping, etc. This data is contained in the .ITL document not with a particular song itself. Also, the added date that you are frustrated with is correct because it does reflect the date that you have added music to the system—which is your rebuild date. So all these items are effectively deleted when the .ITL document is deleted.

     

         The various Apple documents describing this, such as the one you cited explain this fact.

     

         A single trac itself contains just basic meta-data such as Genre and Artist, but not any iTunes specific info like 'Date Added.'

     

    -Alan

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660