How do I add a description greater than 256 characters?

Why don't you try use any of the ID3 tag editors or importers. There are many online and many are free. That should help you bridge this gap in iTunes. I had the very same problem.

I'm not at my Mac right now, but I think I was using iDentify. I think it actually is on teh App Store too.

It either downloads the tags and artwork from the Movie DB site or you can edit your own. Pretty powerful.
There were other freeware apps I used. Just try to search this forum for ID3 TAG EDITOR. That's where I found them.

There are two description fileds, a long and a short (256 chars).

(from -> http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-complete-guide-to-managin g-itunes-videos/")

"A Note about the “Description” field…

If you’ve ever purchased video content from the iTunes Store, you’ll note that many video tracks come with an extended “Description” field that can be viewed by clicking the small “i” that appears in the description column in iTunes, or by right-clicking on a track and choosing “Show Description.” However, if you’ve ever done any serious tagging with AtomicParsley and its related tools, you may be perplexed by the inability to make this appear for your own content.

The problem is that there are actually two description tags in iTunes. A basic “Description” tag is used for the summary description that appears in the iTunes column view, and this is the tag that is set by AtomicParsley and other related tagging tools. However, there is also a “Long Description” field that is used for the additional pop-up description. Unfortunately, at this time AtomicParsley does not change the Long Description field. However, MetaX can be used to change this field. It is also accessible through AppleScript, and in fact can very easily be managed using the Show Description Script found at Doug’s AppleScripts site."

You can edit both description fields (& most other tags) with MetaZ

-> http://griff.github.io/metaz/

or IDentify.

I use both.

Chris...I'm a novice. Adding movies to itunes and my description keeps cutting off... can I make it stick using itunes somehow?

Thanks.

Tigervision wrote:

Chris...I'm a novice. Adding movies to itunes and my description keeps cutting off... can I make it stick using itunes somehow?

The Description field is only 256 characters.

You can type more in it but it won't stick.

Type as much as you want in the Long Description field.

See my response above.

Thanks Chris, for your reply!

Where is the long description field?

Is it within iTunes somewhere or do you need to use a different program?

In other words, I imported a ripped movie and want to add the description myself.

But don't see the 'Long Description' Field when I right click and get info (I only see the Description field that allows only 256 characters like you said).

Thanks again.

Please read my first response above. The one you first responded to.

It explains.

Chris...

Thanks very much for taking the time.

I kept looking at the MetaZ site and then realized there was an ilounge site at the top of your note.

This seems a little complicated for me 😉.

So to be clear... there is no way to access the long descripiton in iTunes... Right?

(i.e. one must use another program like MetaZ).

That's unfortunate.

Thanks again.

Tigervision wrote:

So to be clear... there is no way to access the long descripiton in iTunes... Right?

(i.e. one must use another program like MetaZ).

Correct.

This seems a little complicated for me .

MetaZ is very simple to use.

I use VideoDrivefor this purpose. You can add descriptions using the Metadata Editor, or search online for missing metadata. Depending on what your DVD was, you could use either one. It can also rip non-protected DVD's and add any video format to iTunes. But in your case you don't need that as you already have compatible M4V files.