ITunes Music Locations - controlling workstations remotely via script?

I do storage administration at a company with over 2000 users scattered across the globe. Predictably, at least have use iTunes. We redirect the "My Documents" folder to a network location to force the backup of critical project data. This creates a huge problem for us. iTunes defaults to using the My Music folder in My Documents. This means we are storing and backing up at least 1TB of music.
I have found that iTunes stores its configuration in xml files in the application data directory in the user profile. I cannot readily figure out where in this file the location is recorded.
Has anyone confronted this problem, and if so, is there a way to control iTunes installs remotely to set the music folder location, via script, GPO or anything at all?

The library location is indeed stored in the iTunesPrefs.xml file. Look for the key "iTunes Library Location:1".
But I have a script that almost does what you want. Here is the perl source:
http://home.comcast.net/~teridon73/itunesscripts/itunesopenlibrary.txt
Here is a compiled EXE for it:
http://home.comcast.net/~teridon73/itunesscripts/itunesopenlibrary.zip
Anyway, the script basically works by setting the library location to a path that you pass to it. It does so by updating the iTunesPrefs.xml file. This file is very small, so you shouldn't need to worry about it!
Of course, the script only works if the iTunesPrefs.xml file already exists. It would be nice if you could include a template iTunesPrefs.xml in your new user creation/login script. If the path is the same for every user, well, then you're done I guess.
If not, you can run the script to set the path to what you really want it to be.
Existing users are a different story. You can run my script to change the library location, of course. But then you also have to move their existing library file and their music back to that location. Well, you don't have to; you can make the users do it themselves! Also, I don't know if that will work as I haven't tested it.
I haven't fully explained everything, but I don't have time right now. I hope at least I've given you some ideas. Of course the optimum solution is an Apple-provide GPO you could use. You can try asking apple for it via either a bugreport (if you have an ADC account), or the feedback page for iTunes:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html
Rob

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How can I play my ITunes music stored on my IMac via Apple TV through my home theatre system and control it from my IMac?

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Thanks for the suggestion. I subsequently realized that my Airplay settings on ITunes are ok. The problem is with the settings on Pure Music. I still havent figured this out. When i stream using just ITunes, it works fine, but when I play music using ITunes / Pure Magic, I still have an issue with Apple TV.

Using remote folders as default iTunes music location

Hello,
I have all my music on a RAID5 Windows server that resides on my LAN. In Windows Media Player, I have the application monitoring my music folder on the server. WMP correctly displays music from the shared folder in my library. In other words, it references the music on the server without copying it to my desktop computer's hard drive. When I play songs, they play "across" the network from the server.
Id there any way to do the same thing in iTunes so that I don't have to actually copy the music to local hard drive? Can I "point" iTunes to my music folder on the server? I can't seem to figure it out! I want to have my various workstations, including two iMacs, using the same music folder so that I don't have duplicate files all over the place.

I have a similar problem. I have a MacBook Pro, Apple TV and Time Capsule. I am only using time capsule to store my 500 GB of music and videos. All system back ups are done on a seperate hard drive.
In order to get apple tv to see all my music on the time capsule, I have to first have itunes see time capsule and then add the music. i of course changed the path and disabled synch so that the music is not trying to copy itself. Since apple decided to make this a three device process, its a pain. Itunes gets the music from time capsule and apple tv sees the folders in itunes then redirects to time capsule to pull the music. If itunes on my laptop is not running or the laptop is not at home, apple tv cant see my music. I have no other pcs as all my systems are in VM's
I have heard rumors on how to resolve this but need some opinions. I have heard that if you copy your itunes library paths from your laptop to the time capsule, that apple tv will see it in TC and pull from there thus having all media from TC going to Applt tv insteat of TC>MBP>APTV
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Having one iTunes music library for multiple computers via TimeCapsule

Hi there,
I'm just wondering how to best set-up my iTunes library. I want the library on my TimeCapsule wireless hard drive, and to be able to set this as the library for multiple computers at home. It's a waste of space to have duplicate libraries on both computers.I had this working with an earlier version of iTunes, but its not working now.
I also want to know how I can get the wireless device to fire up simply by pressing the iTunes icon. If I do this without, iTunes says it can't find the library.
Thanks.

Frank, yes. Only one library of the songs and content if it's stuff from the Music Store.
If the music is your own CD rips, then you can put all the music on a central server and have all the computers connect in on your home network.
You do NOT set your iTunes to share their libraries, or look for shared libraries, you manually do the drag-and-drop with your networked music folder into the iTunes library window and each copy of iTunes behaves as if the network volume is it's own.
The only shortcoming to this is if you add music with one machine, the others will NOT have the new songs added to their own library lists unless you drag and drop the songs into the iTunes library manually for each computer.
I have enough music that I have broken down the library list into five folders, A-E, F-J, K-O, P-T, and U-Z. When I add new songs, the folders they're in will be added at the root Music Library folder level, so I can refresh the libraries with the new music THEN manually file it into one of those five correct folders.
This is what my network library looks like:
http://home.comcast.net/~foodandart/Network%20Library.jpg - you can see that I haven't added the Clapton, BBC, Roxy Music, etc, to the library lists for the entire house.
The G4 frankenbeast computer in our living room, is the media server for the house and has the stereo system rigged through it and is used to rip vinyl and watch the video. I still have to refresh the libraries in my husband's laptop, and on my main internet computer, so those albums haven't been filed yet.
Of course the caveat here is that I haven't a single item that's purchased through the Music Store and thusly locked down, since I rip my own LP's and CD's, so everything is much more flexible in how I can handle it.
Deb.

Itunes Music Library via Cloud on macbook

I have my main itunes library on a pc with icloud match service at home. I use a macbook pro at work with icloud to sync with my iphone calendar-contacts etc. I cannot get my itune music list from home pc via cloud to my macbook pro at work. When I turn on itune match on the macbook, it asks if I want to subcribe to match (which I have already subscribed). The macbook is authorized with my itunestore account. Any suggestions?

Unless your TV is capable of converting digital to analogue (most aren't) then passing the audio through the TV won't work/
There are 3rd party converters that would convert optical to analogue.
DAC (Example Only - Not a recommendation or suggestion that this is suitable in your circumstances)

How to combine two iTunes Music Libraries?

So,
I keep two different iTunes Music libraries on an external store like an Time Capsule's share.
The problem I have is that iTunes Helper constantly resets it's Music Location back to the home folder instead of the network path where the actual iTunes Music directory is. This is one of the more annoying features of iTunes.
What I find is that the actual Library stores the path to the files ie. /Volumes/TC/iTunes Music/Directory/filename.mp3
Well the problem is that occasionally the actual mount /Volumes/TC is claimed by a root process and the Finder or disk abritration creates /Volumes/TC-1 for the user with the users permissions and consequently the paths in the iTunes Music Library are no longer valid because iTunes cannot access the file thru /Volumes/TC
So how else can you combine or provide a single iTunes Music Library with the ability to access music that actually exists in multiple iTunes Music Location's without depending on the actual name of the mount point?

Sorry it's the next day, I had to get off of my computer. Yes, you will have to pick a location. I would put it in the iTunes folder, or wherever you need it.
But if you've got all of the music you want to show up in your iTunes library, export it and put it iTunes folder (under music). Hopefully that should do it.
I had a similar problem once, but I solved it by simply dragging all of my music from several different computers (via network connection) to the iTunes music folder. After that if they didn't show up in iTunes I simply hit import and brought them in.
Message was edited by: Fatewolf

ITunes Music Folder

Ok, so I tried downloading a TV show last night from the iTunes store and it said I didn't have enough space on my Hard Drive to complete the download. Well, that threw me off and as I was looking to see what was eating all my memory I noticed that my iTunes Music Folder, when navigated to via the finder, shows I have 30 GB of music files. If I look at the bottom of the iTunes window when the program is open it only shows 14 GB. I did FILE>SHOW DUPLICATES and it only shows 6.5 GB of duplicates. Does anyone know what is going on or how to correct? It is like there is two of every song, but I don't see duplicates in the iTunes Music Folder.

it is possible and likely that you have song files in your iTunes music folder that aren't referenced in your iTunes library. in other words, there are files in your iTunes music folder that iTunes doesn't know about.
for an unknow reason, you may have duplicate your songs using the finder. you can validate this by doing a "Get info" in iTunes on a song for which you see duplicate using the Finder. The Get info will show you the path of the selected song in the General tab. The duplicate you will see in the finder would have a difference in the name. This will allow you to manually discriminate which song is referenced in iTunes. But this could be a tedious task.
At this point, you will need to clean up this mess and there is several way to go. the simplest could be to drag'n drop your whole iTunes Music File into the iTunes window in order to have iTunes reference all your files and then, clean up the duplicates.
you may think of other way to go, but this will not be simple if you have a large library.

ITunes cannot locates music files

I recently purchased a new Asus with Windows 8 and successfully (or so I thought) transferred music from my i phone 4. The computer is authorised. My phone recently became full as I have a lot of music, so I unticked some music and attempted to re-sync. All the files in ITunes then got an '!' symbol by them which means it could not locate files and removed everything from my phone.
After wasting many hours, I have managed to download all the applications and some music that I have purchased via ITunes - although most STILL has the ! by them and the store says I have downloaded them and won't let me do it again.
I have also changed the preferences to locate files from various copies I have made on external drives still with no success.
Strangely, when I have the I phone plugged in to the computer and as I'm syncing, it shows all of the audio files on the blue bar but just as it finishes syncing it reverts back to about 6 GB with the items in para 2 above.
Any ideas on how I get I Tunes to find the files??? I have loads of music loaded from CDs over the years and really don't want to spend the rest of my life reloading them.
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Debbie

Hello 2305deb,
We have an article to help find your missing media. Named iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads it can be found here http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1408.
Resolution
Follow the steps below to locate your missing iTunes media.
Resume any interrupted downloads
Choose Store > Check for Available Downloads from the iTunes menu. Click Resume if any downloads are listed as unfinished. For more information see How to resume interrupted iTunes Store downloads.
Check your iTunes media folder
For Mac OS X
For Windows 7 and Windows Vista
For Windows XP
Check your Trash/Recycle Bin
Check the Trash (Mac) or the Recycle Bin (Windows). If you're able to find any of your missing items, you can re-add them back to your iTunes library.
Mac OS X: Control + click (or right-click) on the item and choose Put Back.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista: Right-click on the item and choose Restore.
Windows XP: Right-click on the item and choose Restore.
If after restoring the item from the trash your media doesn't reappear in your iTunes library. You will need to locate the restored file in your iTunes Media folder and drag the item into your iTunes library window.
There are different instructions depending on the version of windows you have.
It is possible that you may need to re create the iTunes library and IF that is the case then here is an article to assist with that
iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451
Take care,
Sterling

Option to disable iTunes volume control for remote speakers?

I have noticed that with iTunes 10, the option to disable the volume control for remote speakers seems to have disappeared from Preferences>Devices. If you click the "?" button, the help window gives an explanation of what its for but the option to check/uncheck it clearly isn't there. Since iTunes 10, streaming my music from my iMac to my Denon receiver via Airtunes/Airplay with an Airport Express has been disappointing. The volume is far too low. With version 9 and every version prior, the volume control option was always there in preferences and I always had it disabled; music came through loud and clear but since this option appears to no longer exist, the volume through the Denon receiver fails to impress, even with the iTunes volume slider at max.
Anyone else noticed steaming volume too low? If so, agree that it's a bug?
Message was edited by: Brian I.

I wholeheartedly agree with "I also used to disable the volume control to reduce the amount that my computer interferes with the sound before it gets to the external DAC." There is no reason why Apple shouldn't restore this important setting option as the volume control does negatively affect sound quality in a high-end set-up and we'd rather not just take their word for it that the volume control's maximum setting is the same as disabling it. Why does the volume slider change the output level even when using the Airport Express' digital output? It shouldn't, and it seems the sound is now being force sent through a stupid digital volume control for no good reason. If for no other reason the "disable" option should be restored to avoid inadvertent volume changes via the Remote app for iPod Touch and iPhone. Strangely as compared to several other posts here, my perceived volume level now seems louder than before, not softer as others are reporting. People that are serious about sound quality do not want iTunes or AirPlay (formerly AirTunes) to manipulate the volume level or any other aspect of the sound at all ever, as it can't help but only hurt. I also thought the "disable" setting was available in the Airport Utility previously, but it's vanished from there too.

How do I use the time capsule to share itunes music between multiple apple devices? Also, is it possible to control the music on one device using another, and how do you set this up?

How do I use the time capsule to share itunes music between multiple apple devices? Also, is it possible to control the music on one device using another, and how do you set this up?

unless i'm missing something, i think you got mixed up, this is easy google for walk throughs
i'm assuming this is the new 3tb tc AC or 'tower' shape, if so, its wifi will run circles around your at&t device
unplug the at&t box for a minute and plug it back in
factory reset your tc - unplug it, hold down reset and keep holding while you plug it back in - only release reset when amber light flashes in 10-20s
connect the tc to your at&t box via eth in the wan port, wait 1 minute, open airport utility look in 'other wifi devices' to setup the tc
create a new wifi network (give it a different name than your at&t one) and put the tc in bridge mode (it may do this automatically for you, but you should double check) under the 'network' tab
login to your at&t router and disable wifi on it
add new clients to the new wifi network, and point your Macs to the time machine for backups

Does iTunes share music only over Network or via Airport across any network

Hello my name is Bill and I am running an unsecure network. There, I got it out and I feel terrible about it. Please read on to see if you can help me.
The other day I was on my iTunes and noticed another user's music folder pop up along the side bar. It said Leyla's Music. I don't know any Leyla. This leads to the question in the Subject line.
Maybe my question is vague so I'll try to clarify. I've just moved to Istanbul and bought a Turkish modem. It will only run its installation CD on a PC. I have an old Windows 98 laptop that I was able to set up the network. However, I am unable to change security settings because my old Windows 98 doesn't have the right font set to read the CD program.
Normally, I have my music on a LaCie connected via USB to my iMac. I then share the music so that I can pull it up anywhere in the house on my Powerbook. How does it physically share the music. In other words, does the user have to be on my network or does airport just broadcast a signal to any iTunes in the area, be that on the same network or a different one?
Differently put, is Leyla poaching on my network or is she just picking up my iTunes signal? I have already added a password to my music but want to know if I need to get a new computer or something else to get this network secured to my MAC addresses only. (oh yeah, I tried to update the WIN98 font set but couldn't find it on microsoft.com)
Thanks for looking,
Bill
20" Intel iMac Mac OS X (10.4)

I'm having the same issue, but I have recently changed a lot of things. With so many variables I don't know where to start, but maybe we can figure out a common one...
I have 2 individual libraries, one on my Laptop, another (extended library) on an external drive, I changed my DNS to open DNS, I have recently added an Apple TV, added 2 Airport Express and setup 'Simplify Media' to share my library over the internet. Has anyone with the same issue have any of this in common?
I can no longer connect to my iTunes Library via the iPhone Apple Remote, shared through Apple TV or as a shared Library in iTunes.

Is it possible to control an itunes library located on an iMAC from a

I am trying to set up a sound system for a blind person using an ipad as a controller. The itunes music library is located on a iMAC and there is a Wifi network with an Airport Express located elsewhere. The ipad has the Remote App and Airport utility. The library is in excess of 64 Gb so cannot be stored on the ipad (16Gb) I can access and play from the library using the touch screen but Siri does not recognise the library and merely says that there is nothing on the ipad - which is literally correct. Is there any way that I can achieve this? The iPad is running iOS 6.1

Unfortunately, I don't see a solution to your problem.

How can I get iTunes to locate my music?

Alright, a couple days ago I found myself with a problem. iTunes could not locate my music. I went on the internet looking up solutions and loe and behold... they didn't work. Then, just today, I found one that put myself in another mess. It had me go get my iTunes Music Library and post it on my desktop, then delete my iTunes Library itself. Then I was to import the iTunes Music Library back into iTunes. Makes sense right? Didn't work either. When I tried to upload it back on, it just said "Unable to upload because some files cannot be found." Now not only do I not have the files themselves in iTunes (I still have this iTunes Music Library to keep record of what they were), but my computer cannot find where they are.
Keep in mind my raw music files are not the same as my library, I had edited, deleted, etc several songs to my liking.
I even tried pasting all of the raw music into iTunes (hopefully it would remember where they were) and deleting them, but then when I tried importing the iTunes Music Library again, it STILL could not find them.
Can anyone think of any solutions to my dilemma? Any help will be appreciated!

Typical reasons for missing files are, you've deleted the files, they are on a disconnected external drive, or the drive has a changed drive letter, you've moved the folder where the files live in some other fashion, a third party app has rearranged the files, or iTunes has got confused about the layout they are supposed to be in.
Generally you need to work out what has happend, reverse the action and everything will be alright again. If it is something you can't/don't want to undo, e.g. a drive letter change, then as long as you can track down the current location of the folder containing the media then my script FindTracks should be able to reconnect it to iTunes.
tt2

How can I play music from the icloud using apple tv (2) controled by remote app on iphone so the TV is switched off but stereo on

I was blown away when I started using the new remote app with Apple tv to play music from my iMac on my best music speakers in the living room!!! However there are still 2 things required to make things ultra simple:
1 Not to have my iMac switched on to have to stream music to the Apple tv (I've now started using iTunes Match which has almost fixed this one)
2 Not have to have my TV switched on to control my amplifier through the apple tv. (I can do this using the remote app on the iphone but only for music streaming from my iMac it wont work for music I have in iCloud, apart from music now playing. I can't search/browse any other music)
If this is fixed it will be absolutely awesome!!! As my apple tv will replace all the HIFI separates apart form my amplifier and I can control what music my amp plays using the best user interface in the world my iphone/ipad
Dylan

Hi, I don't have this bug. I can play music through my apple tv with the TV switched off and use the apple remote app to control the apple tv.
My problem involves:
icloud music ----> broadband router ----> apple tv ---->music amplifier. Using the remote app on the iphone to control whats playing. This almost works but in the remote app you can only see the currently playing song, you can't search/browse your music in the icloud (itunes match).
What does work is:
iMac-itunes music ----> apple tv ---->music amplifier controlled by the remote app in the iphone with teh tv off. I can view my itunes library with the tv off using the iphone remote app. I would like to do this but using my music in iCloud. That would be awesome!!!

Can't locate my itunes music

i have a new mac mini, and am having a few snags....
i imported all my iTunes from my PC, and was playing them on my mini. i was having problems getting them to work with frontrow. it said "this song can't be played in itunes" but it DID play if i wasn't using front row.
when imported my songs from my pc i did it via my ipod. i have about 12 gigs of music, and i noticed, after listening to music on my mac and syncing my ipod to itunes in my mac, that on my hard drive i had used over 30 gigs of space, so i figured that my library was on itunes AND on the desktop so i trashed the itunes folder that was on the desktop. now itunes says that my songs can't be found when i click on them to play them. other than a few papers i put on my mini, my itunes collection was the only other thing that i added, and it is about 12 gigs. after trashing the itunes folder on my desktop, when i click 'get info' on my hard drive it says that i have used 16.57 gigs. could my music be still lurking somewhere on my hard drive somewhere? because 16 gigs seems like a lot of space for just the factory software. i really don't want to reformat my ipod, copy all the music from my pc, extract it from my ipod, import it into itunes on my mac, then sync my ipod with itunes ALL OVER AGAIN. please help

Check in Home > Music > iTunes > iTunes Music and see if you recognise any of the artists (if there are any).
If there's music there, then check in iTunes (Edit > Preferences > Advanced > General) to see where iTunes thinks your music folder is located. If that says Desktop, change it to the folder mentioned above.
Hope this helps.

ITunes Music Locations - controlling workstations remotely via script?

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