I don't have the option "Upgrade to iTunes Media Organization". The only two options I have in "Organize Library" are: "Consolidate Files" and "Re-organize files in the folder "iTunes Media"".
Windows XP
The article that you came here from refers to much older versions of iTunes (iTunes 8 & 9. We're on iTunes 11 now). What are you trying to achieve?
New wording for the same feature...
tt2
Well, I selected the "Re-organize files in the folder "iTunes Music" (File > Library > Organise Library) hoping that iTunes would create a new 'Media' folder containing folders for Audiobooks, Music, Podcasts, etc.
In result, though, my old 'iTunes Music'is still where it was before, containing old "Artist", "Album", etc. folders exactly where they were before...
The only change made was transferring the audio files to a new 'Music' folder (within 'iTunes Music'), and creating 'Audiobooks', 'Podcasts, etc. folders in the old 'iTunes Music' folder.
And where's the 'Media' folder that's supposed to be in iTunes folder?
Does this "new" structure make sense?
The 'Music' folder in 'iTunes Music'; 'Audiobooks', 'Podcasts', etc. in 'iTunes Music'....
Or do I do something wrong?
Use Edit > Preferences > Advanced. What is the location of the media folder there? Where is your iTunes Library.itl file?
tt2
The whole iTunes folder is on an external HD.
I was after details to give you relevant advice... See this thread for some background. Changing from the old layout to the new one affects where artist folders, apps, iPod games and ringtones are stored. It doesn't automatically change the name of the media folder. From the sound of things the library might not be in quite the right shape now, which may impact on exactly what has moved around. Have a look inside the higher level artist folders. Are the tracks inside, or are they empty apart from hidden artwork files?
tt2
In the meantime, I noticed that after 'Re-organising files in the "iTunes Music" folder', the 'iTunes Media' folder did actually appear in the iTunes folder. But it only contains 'Automatically add to iTunes' folder. And that's it.
All my audio files (or at least 99.9% of them) are now in the new 'Music' folder which is in 'iTunes Music' folder.
Very interesting why 'Music' folder wasn't created in 'iTunes Media' folder
and folders like 'Audiobooks', 'Podcasts', etc. were created inside 'iTunes Music'.
Perhaps I should have checked the option 'Consolidate files' but then I would have had the original files in their original location (ie 'iTunes Music' folder) and could have ended up manually deleting them all...
I read on different forums that after that 're-organisation' people had to delete the duplicates manually.
Oh, what a mess!
OK, let's take it slowly. Please give me some more information so I can give you the correct advice.
Am I correct in thinking that you have the following folders where X: is the drive letter of the external drive
X:\iTunes
X:\iTunes\iTunes Media
X:\iTunes\iTunes Music
... that the bulk of your media is somewhere inside X:\iTunes\iTunes Music, and that under Edit > Preferences > Advanced the media folder is listed as X:\iTunes\iTunes Media?
If I'm wrong please provide the equivalent information.
I'd recommend that you do not consolidate at this point in time, particularly if your iTunes library is larger than the remaining free space on the drive.
tt2
The structure of my iTunes folders is as follows (after re-organizing):
X:\iTunes\
Album Artwork
Cache (folder containing folders and subfolders)
Download (folder containing folders and subfolders)
Local (folder empty)
Automatically Add to iTunes
iTunes Media (folder empty)
Automatically Add to iTunes
itunes Music
Artist 1
Album 1 (folder empty)
Album 2 (folder empty)
Album 3 (folder empty)
Artist 2
Album 1 (folder empty)
Album 2 (folder empty)
Album 3 (folder empty)
Artist 3 etc.
Audiobooks
Author 1
Chapter/Episode
Author 2
Chapter/Episode
etc.
Music
Artist 1
Album 1
Audio file
Artist 2
Album 1
Audio file
Artist 3
Album 1
Audio file
Podcasts
Programme 1
Audio file 1, Audio file 2, Audio file 3, etc.
Programme 2
Audio file 1, Audio file 2, Audio file 3, etc.
Programme 3
Audio file 1, Audio file 2, Audio file 3, etc.
etc.
Previous iTunes Libraries
Album Artwork
Cache (containing folders and subfolders)
Download (folder empty)
iTunes Media
Automatically Add to iTunes (folder empty)
Downloads (folder empty)
Podcasts (folder empty)
Previous iTunes Libraries
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date) Extras.itdb
iTunes Library (date) Genius.itdb
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).xml
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date) Extras.itdb
iTunes Library (date) Genius.itdb
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).xml
iTunes Library (date) Extras.itdb
iTunes Library (date) Genius.itdb
iTunes Library (date).xml
iTunes Media folder location (as shown above):
X:\iTunes\iTunes Music
Ok, one more piece of information please. Can you check which of the various *.itl files is the active library? It will be the one with the most recent modified date. If you're not sure my script iTunesInfo should be able to reveal the information. The nested Previous iTunes Libraries folders and dated .itdb/.xml files hint that it might not be in the expected location of X:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl.
tt2
Sorry, I've made some minor corrections.
This is the more accurate picture of the structure of my iTunes folders (after re-organizing):
THE ACTIVE DIRECTORY .itl is the sixth up from the end
X:\iTunes\
Album Artwork
Cache (folder containing folders and subfolders)
Download (folder containing folders and subfolders)
Local (folder empty)
Automatically Add to iTunes
iTunes Media (folder empty)
Automatically Add to iTunes
iTunes Music
Artist 1
Album 1 (folder empty)
Album 2 (folder empty)
Album 3 (folder empty)
Artist 2
Album 1 (folder empty)
Album 2 (folder empty)
Album 3 (folder empty)
Artist 3 etc.
Audiobooks
Author 1
Chapter/Episode
Author 2
Chapter/Episode
etc.
Music
Artist 1
Album 1
Audio file
Artist 2
Album 1
Audio file
Artist 3
Album 1
Audio file
Podcasts
Programme 1
Audio file 1, Audio file 2, Audio file 3, etc.
Programme 2
Audio file 1, Audio file 2, Audio file 3, etc.
Programme 3
Audio file 1, Audio file 2, Audio file 3, etc.
etc.
Previous iTunes Libraries
Album Artwork
Cache (containing folders and subfolders)
Download (folder empty)
iTunes Media
Automatically Add to iTunes (folder empty)
Downloads (folder empty)
Podcasts (folder empty)
Previous iTunes Libraries
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date) Genius.itdb
iTunes Library (date) Genius.itdb
iTunes Library (date).xml
iTunes Library (date) Extras.itdb
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date).xml
iTunes Library (date) Extras.itdb
iTunes Library (date) Extras.itdb
iTunes Library (date) Genius.itdb
iTunes Library (date).xml
iTunes Library (date).itl
iTunes Library (date) Extras.itdb
iTunes Library (date) Genius.itdb
iTunes Library (date).itl - ***ACTIVE LIBRARY***
iTunes Library (date).xml
iTunes Music Library.xml
Temp File 1.tmp
Temp File 2.tmp
Temp File.tmp
iTunes Media folder location (as shown above):
X:\iTunes\iTunes Music
Create a new folder X:\Temp and move the following folders from their current locations into it:
X:\iTunes\Album Artwork
X:\iTunes\Automatically Add to iTunes
X:\iTunes\iTunes Media
X:\iTunes\iTunes Music\<Artist> (leaving behind the <Media Kind> folders)
Copy the active .itl library file and corresponding .itdb & .xml files (those with the same date) and a hidden file called sentinel up into X:\iTunes
Remove the trailing dates from the four dated files copied above.
Move the folder X:\Previous iTunes Libraries\Album Artwork into X:\iTunes
Click the icon that launches iTunes and immediately press and hold down the shift key, keep holding until asked to choose or create a library, click choose, then browse to and open X:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl
Check the media folder under Edit > Preferences > Advanced still shows as X:\iTunes iTunes Music.
Close iTunes, rename X:\iTunes\iTunes Music as X:\iTunes\iTunes Media then start iTunes. Check that the media folder under Edit > Preferences > Advanced now shows as X:\iTunes iTunes Media. If not, correct the value, decline any offer to consolidate, close iTunes and reopen.
Check that your media plays.
Move everything from inside X:\iTunes\Previous iTunes Libraries folder with the exception of the three most recent .itl files into X:\Temp. Delete X:\Temp only when you are sure all is well and that it contains nothing that you want to recover.
tt2
It seems I missed some backslashes. Corrections in red.
turingtest2 wrote:
Create a new folder X:\Temp and move the following folders from their current locations into it:
X:\iTunes\Album Artwork
X:\iTunes\Automatically Add to iTunes
X:\iTunes\iTunes Media
X:\iTunes\iTunes Music\<Artist> (leaving behind the <Media Kind> folders)
Copy the active .itl library file and corresponding .itdb & .xml files (those with the same date) and a hidden file called sentinel up into X:\iTunes
Remove the trailing dates from the four dated files copied above.
Move the folder X:\Previous iTunes Libraries\Album Artwork into X:\iTunes
Click the icon that launches iTunes and immediately press and hold down the shift key, keep holding until asked to choose or create a library, click choose, then browse to and open X:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl
Check the media folder under Edit > Preferences > Advanced still shows as X:\iTunes\iTunes Music.
Close iTunes, rename X:\iTunes\iTunes Music as X:\iTunes\iTunes Media then start iTunes. Check that the media folder under Edit > Preferences > Advanced now shows as X:\iTunes\iTunes Media. If not, correct the value, decline any offer to consolidate, close iTunes and reopen.
Check that your media plays.
Move everything from inside X:\iTunes\Previous iTunes Libraries folder with the exception of the three most recent .itl files into X:\Temp. Delete X:\Temp only when you are sure all is well and that it contains nothing that you want to recover.
tt2
tt2
Thanks for your continued assistance, tt2.
However, re-naming any directories in any stage results in the tracks not being able to find their paths....
I should have numbered the steps above so it would be easier to see how far you got... Were you able to the clear away the empty folders and get iTunes connected to the library file located at X:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl ?
tt2
No option "Upgrade to iTunes Media Organization".
