Help with manually setting up iTunes folder on external HDD?

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Help with manually setting up iTunes folder on external HDD?

Hi,

I was trying to consolidate a couple of my iTunes libraries and I think I really messed things up...moved some things around I shouldn't have. Now iTunes can only find some my songs, but, not, all of them. The reason for the consolidation is because I just acquired a used Mac Pro and wanted to put all of my music on an external HDD to free up space on the internal HDD. Can someone please show me what the iTunes folder is supposed to look like by default (list, column view)?

Many thanks.

Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Jun 6, 2015 4:04 AM

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Answer 1

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Limnos

Level 10

411,121 points

Jun 6, 2015 4:12 AM in response to Tangerine_Dream

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 - plus supplemental information about organizing to new structure https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6477809?answerId=26404702022#26404702022

Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392 and making an iTunes library portable.

It is the iTunes Library.itl file that is the key element. It is a catalog database. iTunes uses this to tell it what is in your library and where it is. Your files can be perfectly organized but unless the .itl is created with the correct references you will see broken links.

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Answer 2

Jun 6, 2015 4:56 AM in response to Limnos

Many thanks! I think I deleted the .itl file, by accident. Based on the image you provided, I think the most practical and easiest thing for me to do at this point would be to reinstall iTunes...start from the beginning, in other words. How do I do with this without losing my music?

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

411,121 points

Jun 6, 2015 5:21 AM in response to Tangerine_Dream

"iTunes" is the application and you don't need to reinstall that.

If you have the .xml -->

ASC user turingtest2 help document: Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6561

iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451

Otherwise simply start iTunes. If it can't find a .itl it will offer to create a blank one. Drag your media files to the Automatically Add To iTunes folder.

iTunes 9: Understanding the "Automatically Add to iTunes" folder. - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3832 - Files put into this folder are actually moved from this folder onto the correct location in the iTunes Media folder.

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Answer 4

Jun 6, 2015 7:56 AM in response to Limnos

I still couldn't figure it out. I ended up reducing my song library significantly to only the songs I want (about 10 GB's worth). I am comfortable with all the music being on my internal HDD now size-wize. However, even when I put the song library in the iTunes Media Folder on my internal HDD, and set the Advanced setting in Preferences within iTunes to default...my music does not show up. Please see pics. I get the exclamation point enclosed within a circle for all of my songs when opening my library within iTunes. Any idea what I am doing wrong? Thanks.