Macskywalker

Q: Missing .xml file and ratings...

Hello, I moved my itunes collection to another sdd disk, but forgot to consolidate, now i have lost my ratings. Ithought i could get the .xml file back on my timecapsule back up so was not too worried, only to realise that TC doesnt keep the .XML files... any solution for that !?

 

Thank you !

Tiago

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), iPad mini, iPhone 5

Posted on Apr 7, 2014 3:08 AM

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Q: Missing .xml file and ratings...

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  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Apr 7, 2014 6:20 AM in response to Macskywalker
    Level 9 (54,353 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 7, 2014 6:20 AM in response to Macskywalker

    iTunes doesn't use the .xml, it makes it for other applications to use.  iTunes uses the .itl 

     

    You wouldn't have moved the whole library by consolidating.  You should have dragged/copied the whole iTunes folder with all the files and folders it contained to the other drive, including the critical library.itl file.  I am omitting some details but you didn't provide a very detailed outline of your setup or methodology so I don't know where to be specific about what to be done.

     

    Time Capsule stores whatever you tell it to store.  I don't know what you told it to store or how you were using it with your iTunes collection.  If you were keeping only media on your TC, and your library files (everything else in the iTunes folder) on your internal drive which you then swapped out, then your ratings and playlists are on the old drive and nowhere else.  Bascially they are in the library.itl file.  If you no longer have that or the .xml file (which can be used to rebuild your library but does not contain ratings) you may have to build a library from scratch (at least you have the media files).

  • by Macskywalker,

    Macskywalker Macskywalker Apr 7, 2014 12:58 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 12:58 PM in response to Limnos

    Thank you Limnos for your reply !

     

    You are right i didnt give too many details... I did copied the whole iTunes folder from my main HD to an external SD, thinking it would keep everything together.

     

    regarding TimeCapsule, i tell him to store everything. Well i never told it to exclude anything. So i am expecting it to store everything, right !?

     

    so if i can go back to my original .itl file how should i move it or import it !?

    If i can't access it anymore, it means i lost all the ratings !?

     

    I just checked the TC again, and there are iTunes.itl files, many of them actually but the most recent one if from september 2013 although i backed up last week.

     

    sorry for so many questions... and thanks for your help !

    Tiago

  • by Macskywalker,

    Macskywalker Macskywalker Apr 7, 2014 1:07 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 1:07 PM in response to Limnos

    Limnos, i am Sorry but just now also realised that even though i thought i had deleted the original iTunes folder from my main HD, (because i wanted to use only the SDD (its a small Flash Memory module that i can keep all the time in my MacBookAir and gives me another 128GB of memory...) and that i was using the newly created iTunes folder from the SDD...(i was pretty sure i imported my new library from there...) but now just realised that it seems that the system recreated an iTunes folder on my HD as well...

    Now all, the itunes files seemed to have been modified today or yesterday. But the itunes files in the SDD have been touched apparently since 24th of march (the day i transfered everything to the SDD...) and it has .xml and .tl files !!

    So maybe with a bit of luck my ratings etc are there... ??

    Now, 2 questions :

    -first how can i be sure which data file is iTunes using right now to play the music !?

    -second : can i delete again the more recent itunes files ( on my HDD) and ask itunes to only use the older files that are now on my SDD ? by importing library !?

     

    Cheers !

    Tiago

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Apr 7, 2014 1:46 PM in response to Macskywalker
    Level 9 (54,353 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 7, 2014 1:46 PM in response to Macskywalker

    Probably the easiest way to tell which library is being used is to open iTunes, play part of a track.  Playing a track will update the library file in use.  Check "Date Modified" in Finder.

     

    Sorry, I am getting a bit lost on this.  Perhaps this information on how to move libraries may help you resolve this:

     

    If you use iTunes' default preferences settings:  Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive.  Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows) so you get a prompt to select a library, then guide it to the iTunes Library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.

     

    If you put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music  then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there.  (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)

     

    Longer answers if for any reason you do not think all library files are inside your iTunes folder (changed preferences settings at some point):

     

    iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.

     

    For the record there's this reference for iTunes 11 but it really doesn't strike me as having the specifics you need. iTunes 11 for Mac: Move your library to another computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12168

     

    2011 ilounge article: Transferring your iTunes library - http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/  - An article with good background information (similar to the links above), particularly if you are not sure your media files are all grouped for quick answer above. Unfortunately under the single term "transferring library" it describes two very different moves; relocating just your media (not  really transferring your library and not recommended unless you really need this configuration), and relocating media+database (really your whole "library").  Make sure you understand the difference before electing to move only media.
     
    Windows users see tip at: https://discussions.apple.com/message/18879381

     


    Do not confuse moving your whole folder and library with moving just media files as in

     

    iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449

     

    What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660

     

    More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management

     

    What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html

     

    Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391

  • by Macskywalker,

    Macskywalker Macskywalker Apr 8, 2014 6:09 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 8, 2014 6:09 AM in response to Limnos

    Thank you very much for your efforts !

    i will try to have a look today or tomorrow !

     

    In the meantime if anyone else has had the same issue please do not hesitate to fill us in !!

     

    Limnos, i will give you some feedback asap !

    T.

  • by Macskywalker,Solvedanswer

    Macskywalker Macskywalker Apr 9, 2014 8:19 AM in response to Macskywalker
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 9, 2014 8:19 AM in response to Macskywalker

    Its seems i found the solution thanks to your infos and posts !

     

    Since i found a pre-library move .itl file... i just copied it and replaced it on the new library and bam ! my ratings, counts etc are back !!!

     

    Great ! Thank you very much ! for your support Limnos !!

    What do you do in life !?