Consolidate multiple libraries including ratings, playlists ...e.t.c ????

hi all,
i got crazy. i have started for a long time ago with several installations on different computers with itunes. (i know, bad decision)
i would like to consolidate all libraries into a new one including ratings, infos, playlists e.t.c
i don`t know how to do that, have anybody any idea ?
cheers
apathic

I have never tried this, but in theory it should work:
If you want to move all of the music files to one hard disk and combine all the library files into one, try this:
1. Connect your external drive to computer A, and change your music folder location (iTunes prefs > Advanced > General) to be a folder on you external drive.
2. Choose Consolidate Library from the Advanced menu. This will copy all your music files (but not ratings and playlists, that is the next part) to the external drive.
3. Once the copy has finished, choose Export Library from the File menu, and export the library file to the external drive.
4. Now connect the external drive to computer B.
5. Choose Import from the File menu in iTunes and point it to the library file on the external drive.
Does that work?

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Consolidate multiple libraries

I am trying to combine multiple iTunes libraries containing duplicate media files. I moved EVERYTHING to my external hard drive. What is the best way to consolidate and organize the new Music file in iTunes?

I have never tried this, but in theory it should work:
If you want to move all of the music files to one hard disk and combine all the library files into one, try this:
1. Connect your external drive to computer A, and change your music folder location (iTunes prefs > Advanced > General) to be a folder on you external drive.
2. Choose Consolidate Library from the Advanced menu. This will copy all your music files (but not ratings and playlists, that is the next part) to the external drive.
3. Once the copy has finished, choose Export Library from the File menu, and export the library file to the external drive.
4. Now connect the external drive to computer B.
5. Choose Import from the File menu in iTunes and point it to the library file on the external drive.
Does that work?

How to consolidate multiple libraries residing on diff computers same owner

I have one PC, one Mac and each has it's own iTunes library. I would like to combine the libraries so I can put diff playlists on 2 diff iPods, one for working out and one for easy listening. And do so without deleting songs in the synchronization process. How do I do this?

Assuming all of the new music in the iTunes library you are transferring from is purchased music, I think the easiest solution would be to use your iPod to transfer the music. Sync it with the computer you want to transfer from, then plug it into the computer you want to transfer to and create the master library on. An option will pop up to Transfer Purchases and automatically copy them into the library. if they are different accounts then you will need to authorize the computer to play these older purchases.
If they are not purchases from the iTunes Store, then you will have to manually drag each music file from it's location of the hard drive (right click on the song and show in finder) to the other iTunes library. I find it easier to put them on the desktop in a folder and then add the whole folder into iTunes and let it work it's organizational magic, then delete the folder I originally created.

Restore and consolidate multiple libraries from DVD

Hi,
although I think this is probably a common question I have yet to find an answer in the forums.
To free some HDD space, I have backed up parts of my iPhoto 09 lib to DVD and deleted them from the library. Of course, some albums that had photos of these parts in them, are now incomplete.
Meanwhile I have bought a bigger HDD that could accomodate the whole library again. Is there a way to restore the photos from those DVDs to get back to the lib I had before? To even complete the albums again would be best.
But so far, when I reimport the pictures from DVD, iPhoto does not even recognize modified pictures and their originals, they are each shown as separate pictures.
Sigh, any help?

Copy the Library intact from the DVD to the Desktop and then use the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager ($20) to merge them.
Or, when you see the disk show up in the iPhoto Window drag the Events from the disk to the Library heading on the left of the iPhoto Window.
Regards
TD

I got married,and my wife and I have multiple libraries with several iTunes id's how do we consolidate all of our music

how do we consolidate multiple libraries? My wife had 2 or 3 different apple id's she changed emails and forgot passwords. please help

Apparently, you cannot do that:
Set up your Apple ID for iCloud and iTunes - Apple Support
If you have made purchases using more than one ID, call Apple Support and state your case. I have heard that they may be able to do something to help you.
I do not know why Apple makes it so easy to create Apple IDs; they suggest creating them left and right, but make it very difficult to undo once a person realizes how bad it is to use multiple Apple IDs for the same purpose, for example, iTunes Store, or App Store purchases.

Creating - using multiple libraries

Using iPhoto 8
Can you point me to a tech note or other paper on the subject?

What do you want to know? How to create another Library?
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'
How to choose a library to open?
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
You can only have one Library open at a time.
Managing Multiple Libraries - including moving pics/albums/rolls and metadata between them - is greatly facilitated by using iPhoto Library Manager
Regards
TD

Does it work well to have multiple libraries?

I just got a new iMac and am trying to sort out the best way to deal with all the images. I've got a library on my powerbook, and one on a Mac Pro at work and a library from my old G5 iMac.
One thought is to have separate libraries, and from this point on, create a new library for each year.
Anyone have experience with this, and want to advise me?
thanks

Yes it's perfectly possible.
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' to pick between them. The same menu gives you the option to Create a new Library.
Managing Multiple Libraries - including moving pics/albums/rolls and metadata between them - is greatly facilitated by using iPhoto Library Manager
You can only access one Library at a time, however. That means quitting iPhoto to search or view a Library. It can be inconvenient.
As iPhoto is good for 250,000 images in a Library, why would you bother?
Regards
TD

Multiple libraries/smart playlists for different disks, or sort by location

Hey.
My iTunes music is physically stored on my computer's local hard disk, on an external hard disk, and on a remote server from which I stream online. When my computer is disconnected from my external hard disk or from the internet, I don't want to seeing unreachable tracks in my iTunes library; I'd rather have a list of songs which are available for me to play. I'd like to create multiple libraries, one for each disk.
Or I'd like to create smart playlists which automatically fill with content from specified locations (as opposed to content added by artist, duration, last playtime, etc).
Or I'd like to be able to sort my library based on physical file location.
As far as I've searched, this isn't yet possible. Anyone know how to make this work, or know how to suggest this feature to Apple?
Thanks.
iTunes
iTunes 6.0.5.20 Windows XP Pro
iTunes 6.0.5.20 Windows XP Pro

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. This worked but it doesnt seem to be consistent.. not sure if the fact that I have a smart playlist based on another smart playlist (only because I want 5 anded conditions + 1 or'd which is playcount=0) and hence something goes wrong?
Any better way overall to manage these? I now have 4 pairs of these.
Also, any way to have a Smart Playlist that selects only video? They have the Media Kind = Podcast, but no Media Type = Video..
Many thanks,
Vik

Managing multiple libraries for multiple family members

I have four family members with multiple iTune libraries, including two that need to be age appropriate for our children. To add to this burden, we now have an iPad as well. How do I best manage these libraries, minimizing duplicate purchases, enabling each to have store accounts for gift card purchases, and sync each iPod simply for those not familiar with the apple software? Can I merge our libraries, create different users with their songs and accounts for purchases and syncing logins? We have two operating systems in the home, mac and pc? Argh, this is cumbersome, my library has over 4000 items, other family members have much smaller libraries, but would like their own individual libraries. Should I merge and make separate playlists for each user? If so, how can I incorporate my own vast library of playlists already created?
Help me please, any suggestions?
Rob Mc

There are 3 options. See this page:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1495
My advice is to use option #1 and have each user with a separate windows userID. They can each keep their own itunes library database file with ratings, play counts, playlists.
Have all the library content in a public folder to avoid filling the PC's hard drive with duplicates.
You can use a 3rd-party utility program like iTunes Folder Watch to update all the libraries when new content gets added.
Method #2 is easiest, but then ratings and play counts will not be separated. Also, they have to remember to log out of the itunes store and log in with their own ID when making purchases. Something to watch for when kids are involved with their own gift cards....this is not a problem with method #1.
Method #3 seems to give a lot of people grief because all users MUST use a shift-start of itunes to choose their own library. Woe has fallen on many who have tried this method.
As for using both Mac & PC, itunes & ipods are designed to only sync with one PC. There is a way around that, but you either have to do a lot of manual backing up and copying, or buy something like TuneRanger.

Mediasource Organizer Multiple Librari

I have a large MP3 collection in my "PC Music Library" and would like to set up sub-libraries so that my wife's and my favourites can be browsed more easily. Obviously I can set up playlists <EM>ad infinitum </EM>but these don't then enable me to narrow the playlist down further by genre (for instance), change the display order (which stays in the order added) and all the usual bells and whisltes available from the full PC Music Library view.
As I suspect that this cannot be done with this program, can anyone recommend a music organiser that can have multiple libraries/sub-libraries?

mdowers wrote:
As you will see a couple of posts below I had already considered this approach, however, I just had a thought about YOUR stated preference for a single library for all users, regardless of their logon. Wouldn't this simply be a case of pointing each users options/settings library selection to the same database file (naturally stored in a shared directory)?
You can't do this in MediaSource. Believe me I've tried - even hacked the Registry to point to a shared folder but CMS keeps rewriting it back to what it was. It then creates an empty library in the standard location.
Each user's PC Music Library is stored within the User's profile - specifically in the C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Creative\Media Database folder.
That's why I liked PlayCenter - you could have one library in a shared area and point all users at it. But in PC I couldn't get it to detect my MuVo N200.
mdowers wrote:
In terms of the first, without physically having two root music directories, one for each user, which the individual music libraries would monitor (together with their respecti've sub-directories), I think the act of manually including only the folders of interest applicable to each user's library would be time prohibiti've. Also I must say I would not be too enamoured by allowing my PC novice wife to get into settings/options menus as <EM>there be dragons there</EM>!.
If you and your wife logon using different usernames then you can have different libraries but they can both be full of music that is stored in a shared area of your hard dri've. This is how I have mine set up now with the Media Sniffer set up to sniff the shared area. That way if one person rips a new CD then the other person gets the option of importing the tracks next time they log in.
Will that not meet your needs?
micromouse wrote:
After that, switch to your wife's PC music Library via Tools->Settings->PC Music Library. then import only those tracks that your wife wants.
MM - mdowers doesn't want to let his wife loose in Settings.
PB
Message Edited by PeeBee on 09-5-2005 07:53 PM

Multiple Libraries on one computer

I want to store more music in iTunes than my iPod has room for (original iPod). I want to use one library for music that I don't want on my iPod and the other for the music I want to sync. I also want to be able to move music back and forth between the them.
How do I store music in multiple libraries on one computer without making separate computer user accounts or using the playlist work around?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, apple-rules

Yes, I am referring to the auto syncing of playlists. Not all of my music is assigned to playlists and I don't want to create them - too many songs.
As I mentioned in my original post:
I want to store more music in iTunes than my iPod has room for (original iPod). I want to use one library for music that I don't want on my iPod and the other for the music I want to sync. I also want to be able to move music back and forth between the them.
I want to be able to store music in iTunes and play that music in iTunes without having them downloaded to my iPod. It would be nice to have a Library in iTunes that can be separate from the iPod stuff.
I think I found a work around (#12). Until I get a better solution I am going to create a master folder to which I will move all my music that I do not want syncing to my iPod. Then, I will do a manual sync and exclude that folder.
Thanks everyone.

ITunes match with multiple libraries

I can't seem to find a satisfactory answer to this. Namely, how does iTunes Match treat multiple libraries on the same Mac. In my case, I spent a lot of time segregating my music. Thus, I have a rock library, a classical library, an instrumental (Windham Hill and Narada) library, an ambient recording library. It makes sense to me to do this rather that dump everything into one pot. That way, I can load a Touch with a specific library and don't have to create a zillion playlists. Using the same iTunes login, how will Match treat these different libraries? Will it only concern itself with what it finds in the currently open library? How will it treat different iPod Touches that are linked to a specific library? Will it want to push the wrong music to a Touch? Would appreciate any thoughts.

One person sets up Match on their computer using the iTunes account. Uploads everything to match.
I would recommend waiting until that person is done, and do computers one at a time. No particular reason, just seems sensible.
Next person sets up match using same iTunes account details. Uploads their stuff. They will then see everything the previous user put into the system, unless you select "Hide music not on this computer" in the view menu. Previous user will now see their stuff too.
Rinse and repeat.
This is how it worked with my multiple machines anyway... As long as every computer uses the same iTunes account for the store, you all get access to the same Match account.

Help with Multiple libraries and one storage location for files

I cannot get an answer to this question anywhere and was really hoping that The [H] would be able to help.
Here is my current set up that allows my wife and I to have completely independent libraries and ratings, but use the same files:
-Shared folder with MP3s on a network drive.
-Two PCs, each with it's own Ipod associated to it with individual libraries but all pointing to the same network share for MP3 Files.
-Each PC is using the SAME Itunes account for downloads.
-Each account has it's own library folder also on a network share.
Now to my question(s)/problem with downloaded content:
(1) Is there any way to have a file that is downloaded from Itunes be automatically placed in a shared location accessible to both Libraries? (Say if I download the latest Jack Johnson album, can it automatically show up in my wife's library and vice versa?)
(2) Is there any way to share the album artwork versus having two copies of everything(one for each library)?
So my goal is to have two libraries with a central location for ALL files, including anything downloaded from Itunes by each individual user. Is this possible?

Have your wife transfer all purchases from the iPad into iTunes, backup her iPad and then sync with iTunes. Everything ... All media and other content will be available in that iTunes library and she will have a current backup.
Assuming that your son will still be sharing your wife's Apple ID (he is too young to have one of his own) .... When you set up his iPad, restore the iPad from your wife's backup and then select only the content that you want your son to have on his iPad in the iTunes library and then sync that iPad with iTunes.
The game progress is stored in the backup and should transfer onto his device when you restore from your wife's backup. You can always delete any content (apps, movies, music) that you don't want your son to have on the iPad, if you missed it when you synced with iTunes after setting the device up for him.
You can set your sync preferences - any way that you want to - for both devices and still use the same iTunes library for both iPads. So ... Yes you can sync any apps that you want to his iPad and any apps that your wife wants to her iPad. You just need to restore your son's iPad from your wife's backup in order to get his game progress onto his iPad.
In case you need these....
Transfer purchases.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1848
How to backup and restore from a backup
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766
Remember to have your wife backup her iPad just before you restore his iPad from the backup so that his most recent progress will be available in the backup.

Managing multiple libraries

Hello everyone,
is there a way (even through a third-party add-on) to manage multiple libraries (I actually need to have only 2 libraries) in iTunes?
I'm asking so because I need to move part of my podcast collection to an external drive (I want to keep only the most "important" podcasts in my Mac and the rest of them in a external drive). But I'd like to make this change transparent to iTunes (I don't want to choose the library I want to mount every time I use iTunes).
Thanks and have a nice weekend.
Sig

I'm asking so because I need to move part of my podcast collection to an external drive (I want to keep only the most "important" podcasts in my Mac and the rest of them in a external drive).
You don't need a separate library to do this.
iTunes prefs -> Advanced.
Set the *iTunes media folder location* to the external.
In iTunes, select the items you want on the external then right click -> Consolidate selected files.
This will copy these to the external drive.
You can then delete them from the internal.
Then set iTunes prefs -> Advanced, *iTunes media folder location* back to the internal.
I'm looking for something integrated within iTunes
Then no, you cannot manage separate libraries except holding Option when starting and selecting the library you want.

Multiple libraries, projects and reorganizing for the new year

I have used Aperture since 1.0 and really like it but the growing pains are still present - over time of use, I've ended up with multiple libraries [2 main ones and 2-3 little ones that probably can be safely archived]. I want to start fresh in the new year and have a new Library that is my main one, my only one in fact == is it possible/feasible/desireable to export projects from Library A and B and then import the ones i want into my 2007 Library the way my new organizing system will be? I mainly have images according to geography and people [e.g. people in locations versus family and friends]. Can I consolidate all my Libraries into one new one for use in the future ?? Will exporting each project and then importing into my new master Library work??

I've been thinking just a little about what features I would like the next rev of aperture to have. Though I haven't thought through the specifics, easier and more efficient use and management of multiple libraries, projects etc would be nice. Whole aperture projects referenced from multiple libraries or some such? (I said I hadn't thought it through!)
It's over a year since aperture came out, macworld is coming up, and I suspect that 2.0 will be released eventually some time in the future, perhaps with changes (maybe even improvements!) in library and project workflow.
So while I too am considering how to organize my own aperture materials I am currently holding off for bit just in case there might maybe possibly be (Conjecture Warning!!!) something new announced soon....
MBP17 2.16 ghz 2gb 120gb Mac OS X (10.4.8)
MBP17 2.16 ghz 2gb 120gb Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Consolidate multiple libraries including ratings, playlists ...e.t.c ????

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