Q: iTunes 11.2.1 lost our library
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May 18, 2014 6:58 AMby Limnos,I share my library with my husband on our MacBook Pro with OS X 10.9.3, today when I went to update iTunes using his login I wasn't able to access it.
So this is a question about using OSX so you can log into his user account (presumably the administrator account) so you can update software, not a question about iTunes specifically?
having to navigate every time I update to /users/shared/iTunes
Why are you dong this? If all your library files are in the Shared folder, start iTunes from your account with the option/alt key held down and guide it to the .itl in the shared file. When you click the iTunes icon in your account in future it will start using that library.
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May 18, 2014 9:45 AMby Loretta5ue,Both of us are Administrators on the computer. He is able to read and write in the finder but when we open the library after iTunes updates he gets this:
While using my account I can see the library. If we try to change the library we lose the library.
Because updating iTunes always gives us this problem, I have to intall it and update the libraries. Today we can't do it.
These screen shots were taken using his account.
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May 18, 2014 10:08 AMby Chris CA,Note that only one person at a time can be using the same iTunes library.
If you are logged into yoru comuter account and have iTunes open then use Fast User Switching to open your husbands account, he cannot open the same iTunes libary.
You must quit iTunes before switching to another user and launching iTunes.
Why does your photo above show only the iTunes library.itl file in the Shared folder?
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May 18, 2014 10:38 AMby Loretta5ue,Yup, we know that only 1 user can be logged in at a time.
I'm no longer sure which one of the 2 itl files is the correct one. Here's the screenshot using my login:
I was hoping that apple would make it easier for families to share libraries but it doesn't seem like that's ever going to happen. Mike thinks that apple wants us to buy another computer, I say they want us to buy the music twice.
At any rate both files are locked for him. We're probably just going to use my (computer) account from now on.
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May 18, 2014 11:13 AMby Limnos,HelpfulWhile you can have variations on the standard, here's what your iTunes folders should look like, not what you are showing (which is probably why it isn't working):
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
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536 and https://discussions.apple.com/message/17457605
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May 18, 2014 11:40 AMby Loretta5ue,Thanks, I'll look at those. Apple remoted into our laptop a couple of years ago to set it up. When Mike launched iTunes after an install a couple months ago things got messy. Looks like I have some clean-up work to do now that I can see the library in iTunes using my logon.
I'll report back.
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May 18, 2014 4:25 PMby Limnos,Read the part about changing permissions on the iTunes folder in: https://discussions.apple.com/message/11583914
iTunes: Missing folder or incorrect permissions may prevent authorization - http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1277 - Shared folder issues with Store authorization.
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May 18, 2014 4:40 PMby Loretta5ue,Both account have Read/Write access!!! So neither of those links work for my issue.
I've found and cleanned up the files but the 2nd Admin still can't open the library even when it's closed by the 1st Admin.
I went ahead and made a 2nd copy of the library and he can now see his playlists, but now we don't know how we're going to share new purchases.
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May 18, 2014 6:17 PMby Chris CA,You need an iTunes library.itl file.
You don't use an iTunes library file with a date in it. That is an old, backed up copy...
Loretta5ue wrote:
Yup, we know that only 1 user can be logged in at a time.
I'm no longer sure which one of the 2 itl files is the correct one. Here's the screenshot using my login:
The folders in your screen shot are all messed up.
You need an /iTunes/ folder.
In this folder should be some files like this...
(the green highlighted iTunes library.itl is the one you will use)
(looking at yours again, its not that bad).
To keep things straight, try this...
Quit iTunes.
Go to /Users/Shared/
Find the folder named /Previous iTunes Libraries/ and rename it /Shared iTunes/
Now inside the /Shared/iTunes/ folder find the file iTunes library 2014-05-18.itl and rename it iTunes library.itl.
Also, remove 2014-05-18 from the iTunes library 2014-05-18 Extras.itdb and iTunes library 2014-05-18 Genius.itdb.
Now hold Option and launch iTunes.
Select Choose library... and select /Users/Shared/Shared iTunes/ folder then click Okay. (no need to select the specific iTunes library.itl file inside this folder)
Now go to iTunes prefs > Advanced and make sure the iTunes Media folder location is set to /Users/Shared/Shared iTunes/iTunes Media/ folder.
Post back after you do this.
Don't freak out if everything is not showing up in iTunes as you have some other folders that need attention.
You have some extra iTunes folders directly in /Users/Shared/ that should not be there.
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May 19, 2014 1:38 AMby Loretta5ue,It still doesn't see him having permission to the library.
When I navigate to the files in iTunes the .xml file isn't fully visible.
For now I have him set up with his own library under "Mike's iTunes". But this is going to get messy fast.It already gave us this message:
So I can see having 2 libraries being a problem.
I should note that I've had to point his iTunes to the correct library every time I've updated iTunes and this 11.2.1 version is the 1st time it's given me this much trouble. In the past everything both of you have written was able to get us back to having 1 library.
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May 19, 2014 6:45 AMby Chris CA,Now you've got a Mike's iTunes folder and a Music folder inside the Shared iTunes library folder.
Where is the iTunes Media folder?
When I navigate to the files in iTunes the .xml file isn't fully visible
Because the iTunes library.xml file is not used by iTunes. Ignore it.
iTunes uses the iTunes library.itl.
When opening a library, simply select the folder then click Okay.
Quit iTunes.
Select the Shared iTunes library in the Finder.
Right click - get info.
Uncheck Shared then recheck it.
