Another library organization question

Is there a way to configure itunes so that it would import files into the library exactly the same way as they are organized in folders on the hard drive (each folder is an album and would not use the id3 tags to organize the songs)?

No, you must put the music into the iTunes library to load it onto an iPod.
You can make iTunes just save the location of your music files rather than copying them into the iTunes Music folder.
Go to Edit>>Preferences>>Advanced>>general and uncheck "Copy to iTunes Music folder when adding to library".
If you also uncheck "Keep iTunes Music folder organised" as well, iTunes will not interfere at all with how you have your files organised.

Similar Messages

Another Library Sync Question

Hi. A slight variation on an often asked question - but one I haven't found asked elsewhere on the forums:
So, my old computer died and I don't have a backup of my iPhone contents. I'm trying to sync to a new instance of iTunes on my new laptop.
I have my mp3 collection on an exteral hard drive, so I can just rebuild the collection on my iPhone if it comes to it.
The thing is, my mp3 collection is up in the 50,000's and I want to transfer the same 10,000ish to my iPhone out of it ... if possible without starting from scratch.
So the question is, is it possible to get itunes to recognize that the songs on the iPhone are actually in it's library - but only a subset of the library needs syncing?
Thanks!

I didn't find any other free ones, and Tuneranger is discontinued and doesn't work right anyway. I resorted to using itunes on the mac mini and the option to show files not in it's library to do a manual sync. I did not try rsync on the w8 machine to push files over because I was worried it would mess up the database files.

Source/Library organization question

Album songs listed on right side do not appear as albums under
"Library" on the left pane. How do i get iTunes to list it this way?
Thanks
Windows XP Pro

Individual Albums are not listed under the 'Source Pane' (the left most frame) within iTunes.
Within iTunes, try this:
- Edit=>Show Browser

I need to know all the questions below. I had to restore my computer to original state and now even if I sign on it won't let me sync my ipad or iphone. the message is that it is synced to another library and it could wipe out my data on the ipad.

I need to know all the questions below. I had to restore my computer to original state and now even if I sign on it won't let me sync my ipad or iphone. the message is that it is synced to another library and it could wipe out my data on the ipad. Am I understanding correctly? I am running Windows 7 but have never had any problems. Thanks

You need iTunes on the computer. There is no iTunes for your phone. See:
Locked Out, Forgot Lock or Restrictions Passcode, or Need to Restore Your Device: Several Alternative Solutions
1. iOS- Forgotten passcode or device disabled after entering wrong passcode
2. iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: Wrong passcode results in red disabled screen
3. Restoring iPod touch after forgotten passcode
4. What to Do If You've Forgotten Your iPhone's Passcode
5. iOS- Understanding passcodes
6. iTunes 10 for Mac- Update and restore software on iPod, iPhone, or iPad
Forgotten Restrictions Passcode Help
You will need to restore your device as New to remove a Restrictions passcode. Go through the normal process to restore your device, but when you see the options to restore as New or from a backup, be sure to choose New.
Also, see iTunes- Restoring iOS software.

IPod Touch syncing to another library

This question involves 3 iPod touches and 1 computer! I am asking this question for my parents who are not that iTunes savy as of yet.
They both have iPod touches that were once synced to their computer. My nephew came over and hooked his iPod up to their computer a while back and now at the top it will say (my nephews name's iPod) even though his iPod is not plugged in. How can they get his name off of there? When my stepmom plugs her ipod up, she wants to see her name same as my dad. When I opened iTunes and clicked on Preferences then Devices, I see BOTH my stepmoms and Dad's iPods listed. My nephews is not listed but that same computer was used to get his iPod up and running at one point.
My folks are scared they will lose all their music if they hook up their iPod's then click the wrong thing.
Secondly when they (my parents) plug their ipods up to the computer its says their iPods are synced to another library. It gives them an option of Erase and Sync or Transfer Store Purchases. All the songs in the current library on the screen is songs my parents both added to their library. This is the CORRECT library according to them. For now, I just had them click cancel.
So my stepmom said at one point she could sign in with her login and sync her iPod and then my Dad could sync his iPod under her login name. They said he didn't have to log her out then log back in with his user email address. Could this be a problem?
Now if they each signed in with their own user and password, can they have their own separate playlists and libraries even though its on the SAME computer?
Would Erase and Sync be the best option? I recently had to use Senuti for Mac for my own iPod for a similar issue but I think that might be a bit complicated for them to learn if I suggested that option LOL!
Im trying to make this as painless as possible for them so they can get back to downloading music and apps. Even though its saying their iPods are syncing to another library, all the music on the screen MATCHES everything that is currently on their iPod's now. This is why I was pushing more for them to do an Erase and Sync.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks!!

Recover media from iPod
See this post from forum regular Zevoneer for options on moving your iPod data back to your computer.
tt2

I moved my itunes library to an external hard drive and now when I try to sync my ipad it says it is already synced to another library.

I moved my itunes library to an external hard drive and then I tried to sync my ipad. I got a message that says my ipad is synced to another library and it will erase my ipad, which I don't want to do. I'm not sure how to fix this problem, any ideas?

Ok. progress...
So is your media folder called iTunes Music or iTunes Media? And does it have a folder called Music inside it?
Before going any further you should first attempt to use File > Library > Organize Library > Rearrange files in the folder "<Media Folder>" (ignore if grayed out). This will make sure that any iPod Games or Mobile Applications get placed inside the iTunes Media folder which is needed for portability.
If your iTunes Media folder is called iTunes Music, close iTunes, rename the folder as iTunes Media and start iTunes again. iTunes will automatically adjust. Close iTunes again.
On your external drive rearrange the folders that you have already copied there so that they match the layout in your active library. You should end up with a folder called X:\iTunes where X: is the external drive letter, and the media folder is X:\iTunes\iTunes Media. If the library layout was upgraded then you will need to create a Music folder inside this and move all the artist folders and Compilations into Music. You will also need to copy iPod Games and Mobile Applications from your internal drive into the new media folder. Next copy the files iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Library Extras.itdb, iTunes Library Genius.itdb, sentinel and the folder Album Artwork from the internal drive into X:\iTunes. The preceding manipulations should make the internal and external copies of your library match without you having to copy all of the media over again.
Now hold shift as you start iTunes. Click choose, browse to and open X:\iTunes\iTunes Library.itl.
Finally use File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate files. This will ensure that any stray files that might have been added from outside your original media folder will be copied into the new one.
You can now reclaim the space used by your library on the internal drive, however before you do so I would advise you to obtain another external drive and make use of this backup tip.
tt2

ITunes Library organization in one folder...

I have a Mac Mini which serves as the family Video Server to an AppleTV (and all the other Mac / iDevices we own). It is running Lion 10.7.4, with iTunes 10.6.1.
The iTunes library is set up on a connected Drobo via USB. iTunes runs on the Mac Mini's internal HD (of course), but the Library is located on the Drobo.
This is what I want: I want the iTunes folder (including the iTunes Media folder, and all the xml / library files) to all be on the Drobo, in one self contained folder, as though it was on the Mac Mini. For some reason, iTunes chooses to keep the library files etc, on the Mini itself, when the movie / TV files are on the Drobo. Everything works as it should, but I want a tidy iTunes folder on the Drobo itself, with nothing on the Mini (which will make moving the entire library easier in the future, if necessary).
Regardless of my Choosing to Consolidate library / Organize Libfary (which do nothing not even a progress bar), nothing happens.
Here is the current state of my iTunes:
This is on the Mac Mini: (contains no media files, they're all on the Drobo)
This is on the Drobo: (contains the actual movies and television show files)
This is what I want on the Drobo only, to contain everything in one folder, rather than split between two drives.
Is this possible? If so, how? Do I need to start from scratch? I will if that is the only way.
I currently have a little over 550GB of movies and TV shows.
Thanks,
Sal

Make a split library portable
Here are the typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
In the layout above, with the media folder (everything in the red box) inside the library folder, the library is considered to be portable. A portable library can be moved from one path to another without breaking the links between the library and the media and being self-contained is much easier to backup.
You can rearrange things to make a split library portable by taking a number of small steps which don't break the library.
Before you start any media files that are outside of the media folder will need to be consolidated. If the library is in the old style layout then it should ideally be be upgraded to iTunes Media Organisation (Library > Organise Library > Rearrange files in the folder <Media Folder>) to ensure that iPod Games, Mobile Applications etc. are brought inside the media folder.
The basic non-fatal manipulations are:
You can connect to an alternate set of library files by holding down Shift (Win) or Option (Mac) when starting iTunes.
You can move the library files to a new location as long as the media stays put.
You can move the library files and the media together if the media folder is a direct subfolder of the library folder.
If you have already moved/copied the media content from a subfolder of the library folder to a different location then you only need to copy the library files for it to appear as if you have moved the entire library in the way allowed above. I.e. just copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder.
You can rename the media folder to iTunes Media (if it isn't already) if the media folder is inside the library folder.
iTunes uses the name of the folder holding the library files as the window title. Having made a library "portable" you may need to take a final step of renaming the library folder to iTunes or, if the library files have ended up at the root of a drive, moving all of the library files and content folders into a new folder called iTunes.
After each change you need to open, test and close the relevant library before attempting another change. If a change broke the library, undo it or revert to using the previous set of library files.
In essence all you need to do to make your library portable is copy the library files into the parent folder of the media folder on the external/secondary drive and use the hold-down-shift/option-when-starting-iTunes method to connect to it. Other manipulations may be required to normalize the library so that the library and media folders have standard names.
tt2

My wife can no longer transfer music from her library onto her iphone 3gs. When I click manage music manually it says she has another library, nothing has changed and everything is up to date. Help!

We have seperate profiles too, on our windows laptop, and seperate music libraries, and mine works fine... Managing music manually says she has another library connected, but this is simply not the case. When I check in preferences, it has the correct filepath... So now nothing from her library with transfer over. Using iTunes 11.01 but this happened on 11.

Why have Apple made this so bloody annoyingly complicated. She bought a downloader from the Apple store and downloaded music on her phone which I subsiquently downloaded to our laptop. I placed this music into the iTunes Folder. I even went ot the correct location to see if it was there, and it was! But now, nothing in her library will transfer, even purchased music. Clicking on the Manage Music Manually button only makes it say that she has more than one library and her phone will be wiped if she goes any further. What is the bloody story with iTunes!!? It looks lovely but works like something out of the dark ages. No wonder people are moving to Android in droves...
Anyway, any help, ideas or criticisms will be welcomed. Nothing I have tried (updates etc) has worked. I have checked the files in question, the format is fine, they even play in iTunes which means they must exist. I have physically checked this too, so what's the story???

File Library Organize Library Reorganize files Now can't locate music. How do I get my music back in the playlists. Still all in folders in music file?? HELP!

I recently downloaded iTunes 10, found my library and things looked great..........UNTIL.....I clicked on the reorganize files box in the 'Organize Library' window. Now all my music has a little ! next to it and says it cannot locate the song. I have all the music still in the folders but iTunes not being able to locate it. How do I get everything back the way it was??

if I set up another library, will that affect my ipod?
You will be given the chance to sync that iPod when it is connected if the iPod is set to sync automatically; if you choose that option, the music will be erased from the iPod. If not, you can transfer purchased content from the iPod and add additional music to it. Click here for more information.
If I set up another library, do I go to that one when using my ipod.
Yes.
(31404)

PC hard drive died and I have replaced it. Need to import the music on my iPod, but get a message that it's synced with another library (old hard drive). How do I import the music onto new hard drive? Senuti's just for macs.No old hard drive to copy.

My PC hard drive died and I have replaced it. Need to import the music on my classic iPod, but get a message that it's synced with another library (old hard drive). How do I import the music onto the new hard drive? Senuti (one respondent's suggestion) is just for macs. I have no old hard drive to copy to the new hard drive (another respondent's suggestion.)

See this older thread from another forum member Zevoneer on different ways to copy music from your iPod back to your PC.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2417169?start=0&tstart=0
B-rock

PC died and in turn my main iTunes library. iPhone was synced to it. Now when I try to connect to another library it tells me the phone must be wiped clean before I can manage music with new library. Any way around that? Don't want to lose music.

My PC died and in turn so did my main iTunes library. My iPhone was synced to the library that is gone. Now when I try to connect to another library, it tells me the phone must be wiped clean before I can manage music with new library. Any way around that? I don't want to lose the music that is on my phone. I am looking for a way to tell the phone to "forget" the old library and let me start working with a new library.

It has always been very basic to always maintain a backup copy of your computer for just such an occasion.
Use your backup copy of your computer to put everything on the new one.
It sounds like you have failed to do this, which is not good at all.
You will have to transfer your itunes purchases from your iphone. Authorize your computer for your itunes account
About iTunes Store authorization and deauthorization
Open itunes, plug in iphone, do NOT sync, click File>Transfer Purchases
When you do sync you will lose your pics ( photo library - synced from your old computer), your itunes content ( music, apps, videos,etc) , your contacts and your calendars. So do NOT sync yet. This is why a backup copy is so important.
Enter one unique contact and calendar entry on your computer.
When you first sync, you should get the option to merger the data. Choose it.
If you want your pics, then you will need to e-mail them to yourself before you sync. They will not be of the original quality as they are reduced when synced to iphone.
When all is as goos as it can be, then backup your computer, and always maintain the backup.

IPod Touch "already synced with another library", Corrupt Backup?

I plugged my iPod into the only PC it's ever been plugged into today, and it came up with "This Ipod is already synced with another library" when I tried to sync it. I tried a variety of solutions I found on the internet, but none seemed to work.
So, I decided to give in and do "Erase and Sync". Before I did that, however, I created a new encrypted backup of the iPod using the option in the iPod summary window. I erased the iPod and re-synced, so it has all of my music and apps on it now.
However, whenever I try to restore from the backup, I get a message akin to "The restore cannot complete due to an error" (with no identification of the error. Immediately following this, the iPod begins to say "This iPod is already synced with another library" again, and I'm forced to start over.
The iPod is in a workable condition - all of my music and apps were saved, after all. However, none of my settings are in place, and I would really like to avoid having to set everything up again. Is there a way to un-corrupt the backup (or undo whatever has happened to it) so that I can get my settings back? Or am I out of luck?

I think that, for some reason, none of the backups that were being made are listed any longer. The only ones listed are four that have timestamps after I erased, one with the earliest timestamp that's the encrypted backup, and another without a time stamp that I'm also assuming is later. I might give that one a try, but I'm not sure that it will work...

I am trying to backup my Itunes onto my external hard drive. I am at the step where I on Itunes, click on File - Library - Organize library. I am suppose to check mark both boxes there, It won't allow me to check mark the second box, why? How to fix this.

I am trying to backup my Itunes onto my external hard drive. I am at the step where I on Itunes, click on File ->Library ->Organize library. I am suppose to check mark both boxes there, the first being "Consolidate Files" & the second being "Reorganize files in the folder 'Itunes Media'. I am able to checkmark the first box but It won't allow me to check mark the second box, why? How can i fix this? Please help!

Well you must have made a mistake somewhere. The last instruction of step four reads:
When you've found your iTunes library folder, drag that folder to your external hard drive. This will begin the iTunes backup. The amount of time the backup will take depends on the size of your library. When the transfer is done, your backup is complete and your external hard drive can be disconnected.
Normally dragging content from to a new location on a different drive will result in a copy action which is what you were supposed to do. At a guess you somehow managed to move the iTunes folder. Then when you started iTunes it created a new blank library for you assuming it had just been installed rather that raising a warning.
Close iTunes. Rename the iTunes folder on the internal drive as iTunes (Empty) then copy the iTunes folder from the external back into the User's Music folder. Start iTunes. All should be well.
When you've made sure it all works please read my User Tip and use that method to backup in future. Since you already have a folder with the backup in place you can skip the "Make New" operation in the fourth step and simply choose the external folder.
tt2

How do i get an itunes library on a new computer to manage my iphone4? It says another library is managing the iphone

I uploaded the purchased tunes, then used pod to pc to upload the other songs. Now it will not manage the iphone library. It says another library is managing the iphone

I have a dead Quad Pro
Susan,
how dead is your computer?
Did the system drive survive? You could get try to remove the drive from the mac and have it put into an enclosue, so you can use it as an external drive.
But if the system drive is dead as well, I do not see a way to read the data on your dead computer.
-- Léonie

My ipod is somehow synced to another library, because I plugged the charger to a wall. How can I sync my ipod shuffle back to the original Itunes library without erasing my current data in the Ipod shuffle?

My ipod is somehow synced to another library, because I plugged the charger to a wall. How can I sync my ipod shuffle back to the original Itunes library without erasing my current data in the Ipod shuffle?

",the owner sold the ipod without clearing the songs and since the songs were not puchased from the itunes store then i believe i now own the songs"
Not true at all.
It does not matter where the songs came from, they are not yours and the previous owner does not own the right to distribute them to others.
The law is the same with downloads and cds and any other medium.

Another library organization question

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