iTunes Library file mystery

Question

iTunes Library file mystery

Opened iTunes (12.3.2.35) and all my music, 19,000 songs (and all the iTunes other content) was gone. Replaced the iTunes Library file with a previous version and nothing changed. Manually added some music, quit iTunes, reopened iTunes and the songs are gone. Gone through variations on this process for 2 days now and no closer to a solution or an explanation as to this bizarre behavior.

FYI, I keep my iTunes library (and all related files) on a networked MacPro, and have for more than 10 years with no issues.

Anyone else experiencing anything similar?

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), 16 gigs RAM, 6 terabytes

Posted on Feb 12, 2016 9:42 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

411,223 points

Feb 12, 2016 1:19 PM in response to Robert Rabner

If nothing changed then it means iTunes is not using the library file you think it is. Start iTunes while holding down the option/alt key and select your desired library file.

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Answer 2

Feb 12, 2016 2:24 PM in response to Limnos

Limnos, thanks very much for the reply. Only wish it was that simple. I've gone so far as to switch out library files from previous back ups and still getting the same result. Been on the phone with Apple engineers most of the day and they are stumped as well.

The only thing that brings my 19,000+ songs back is viewing the iTuneslibrary.itl file in "get info" and stripping off the .itl extension. Then iTunes sees it.

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

411,223 points

Feb 12, 2016 2:49 PM in response to Robert Rabner

Can you go to the Mac Pro and see how things work there? When trying to isolate a problem it is best to minimize variables in the system such as excluding networks.

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Answer 4

turingtest2

Level 10

272,761 points

Feb 12, 2016 5:07 PM in response to Robert Rabner

Robert Rabner wrote:

The only thing that brings my 19,000+ songs back is viewing the iTuneslibrary.itl file in "get info" and stripping off the .itl extension. Then iTunes sees it.

Hi Robert,

iTunes Library.itl is the modern name for the library file on a Mac, but back in the day it would have been called simply iTunes Library. If your library started out in an older build of iTunes that might be why the older version of the name works. You can hold down option when starting iTunes to choose a specific file.

tt2

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Answer 5

Feb 13, 2016 11:48 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks, that's interesting. I guess I'm just wondering why all of a sudden it became an issue and if it's a symptom of something else. The library is still a mess, after a scan I'm "missing" 8,000 songs.

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Answer 6

turingtest2

Level 10

272,761 points

Feb 13, 2016 12:44 PM in response to Robert Rabner

See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash for more on reconnecting to the right library file and Make a split library portable for some background on the default layout for the library. The the songs missing from the listing in the library, or missing from the folder where they are expected to be? Do you see exclamation marks in iTunes? Do you have a backup of the library that could be restored or any devices that hold lost content?

Is this the same library you are referring to here? Re: Why is iTunes duplicating my songs?

tt2

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Answer 7

Feb 13, 2016 1:14 PM in response to turingtest2

That is my post regarding the duplicated library. I'm trying to find an application that will work outside of iTunes ideally and filter by shortest file name.

I am seeing the exclamation marks "lots of them" in iTunes. The missing songs exist they have just lost their connection to iTunes.

I do have a back up of "almost" my entire iTunes music folder, it's about 60 days behind so I'm reluctant to use it (just yet anyway). I'm thinking that once I figure out a way to solve my duplicate songs problem and I get back to my normal 19,000 song library, I'm just gonna completely start over and import my music, movies and tv shows into an empty iTunes. I know I'll loose playlists but I'm willing to deal with that. Any thoughts?

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Answer 8

turingtest2

Level 10

272,761 points

Feb 13, 2016 1:47 PM in response to Robert Rabner

I have scripts for repairing mislaid files and deduping, but they only run in Windows. You could take a look at Doug's Scripts to see what's on offer. Working via iTunes rather than the file system would seem to be a better approach. My FindTracks script attempts to repair each broken list which preserves ratings, play counts and playlist membership. I don't think Doug has anything that works in the same way, but there should be one to clean all missing tracks, and iTunes can add in anything that is in the media folder that it doesn't already know about. Dupin or Dupin Lite 2 should manage duplicates. I haven't tested them so I don't know exactly how they behave. My Windows script merges play counts, playlist membership and highest rating, and copes with various situations such as multiple entires to the same file, one active and one missing file, or keeping the largest (assumes best quality) when the same track exists in different sizes/formats.

tt2

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Answer 9

Feb 14, 2016 7:26 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks, I've been examining Dougs script and it may do the trick. The reason I'm more inclined to work outside of iTunes is a little complicated. The library file I was able to load had the correct song count at about 19,000 so it won't see the piles of duplicates unless I intentionally load all 55,000 songs and then run a de-dupping program. However If I can accomplish my goal outside of iTunes and just treat them as duplicate files it may reduce a few steps.

I want to thank you for you insight and assistance in this process.

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Answer 10

turingtest2

Level 10

272,761 points

Feb 14, 2016 7:43 AM in response to Robert Rabner

The trouble is that you don't know which of the two or three copies of each track iTunes is currently connected to. Clean all but the one with the shortest name and you may have 19,000 dead links to repair.

tt2

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Answer 11

Feb 14, 2016 10:52 AM in response to turingtest2

Good point. That's why I planned on starting over after I cull down the files I was just going to do clean import of all the music into a "new" ITunes Library. I know I'll play counts, ratings and playlists but it's a trade off I'm willing to make. Unless I'm missing something.

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Answer 12

turingtest2

Level 10

272,761 points

Feb 14, 2016 12:17 PM in response to Robert Rabner

No, if you don't mind losing ratings, play counts, playlists etc. then that approach should be OK.

tt2

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