HT201610: About iTunes library files

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elmatus

Q: iTunes still has organized library when this option is unchecked

I have a Mac mini late 2012 with OS X Mavericks

 

When I am in iTunes I press CMD+,  for entering preferences.

I go to Advanced.

I uncheck "Keep Itunes Media Folder organized"

But when I go to /Users/x/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media   The songs are still placed in autor and album folders.

 

How can I change it to be only one folder in iTunes Media?

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Mar 20, 2014 2:12 PM

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Q: iTunes still has organized library when this option is unchecked

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  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Mar 20, 2014 2:48 PM in response to elmatus
    Level 10 (85,361 points)
    iPod
    Mar 20, 2014 2:48 PM in response to elmatus

    Turning the option off leaves everything exactly where it is. Files will no longer move if you update their tags, but anything you rip or download with iTunes will still go into the default layout...

     

    tt2

  • by elmatus,

    elmatus elmatus Mar 23, 2014 10:21 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2014 10:21 AM in response to turingtest2

    I deleted all the songs in the library.

    Then re add them and iTunes still creates Artist and Album folders.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Mar 23, 2014 10:32 AM in response to elmatus
    Level 10 (85,361 points)
    iPod
    Mar 23, 2014 10:32 AM in response to elmatus

    If the originals are stored outside the iTunes Media folder, and the option Copy to iTunes Media folder when adding to the library is enabled, then iTunes will make copies in the standard <Media Folder>\Music\<Artist>\<Album> structure...

     

    tt2

  • by elmatus,

    elmatus elmatus Mar 23, 2014 10:35 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2014 10:35 AM in response to turingtest2

    Yes copy to folder is enable. It is possible to copy them without that structure?

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Mar 23, 2014 10:45 AM in response to elmatus
    Level 10 (85,361 points)
    iPod
    Mar 23, 2014 10:45 AM in response to elmatus

    No. Like anything ripped or downloaded iTunes will use the default stucture for anything copied into the media folder or consolidated later. There are no options to the stucture. You can turn off both the options to Keep... & Copy... and then iTunes will connect to the original files wherever they happen to be. As and when the time comes to move the library to a new drive or computer it will be much easier if all content is inside the iTunes Media folder, which in turn is inside the main iTunes folder.

     

    tt2

  • by elmatus,

    elmatus elmatus Mar 23, 2014 10:49 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2014 10:49 AM in response to turingtest2

    So if I copy all my music to iTunes Media folder and then open then with iTunes wont generate any problem? Because in my old computer I remember having all my music structureted in a folder called iTunes U inside iTunes folder.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Mar 23, 2014 11:18 AM in response to elmatus
    Level 10 (85,361 points)
    iPod
    Mar 23, 2014 11:18 AM in response to elmatus

    I suspect the media folder was incorrectly set. <Media Folder>\iTunes U is normally an area for educational podcasts.

     

    You need to have both Keep... & Copy... turned off, then anything you add to iTunes will stay where it is, and no copies will be created. FileRenamer from Doug's Scripts might help you reorganize things your way...

     

    tt2