Don't want playback to copy to library

If I play a file - music, or movie - iTunes automatically makes a copy of the file and puts it in one of its folders. Is there some way I can stop that? I want it to copy when I import something into the library, but for one-time only playbacks, it's annoying to have to keep deleting files.

Roger Barre wrote:
What I want is for it to make a copy when I want to add it to the library. But sometimes I just want to play it once and not add it to the library. Is the only way to do that to play it with QT?
Roger, Yes, QT or some other player that is not iTunes. (I use Winamp for exactly that purpose, but not on the Mac.)
When you decide you want it in the library, then play it in iTunes.
And, it sounds like you want the "Copy files..." option on.
Is there no way to play it in iTunes and not add it to the library automatically?
Correct. There is no way. That is how iTunes works.

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Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

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Hi turingtest2,
Thank you for replying. I've been looking at your posts about setting up iTunes using an external drive. A bit of background info. My old computer broke down, so I got a new one from work. I've always kept my music files on my external drive (I have around 170GB of music). I didn't follow the suggestions in the "migrate iTunes library" post because my old computer died on me. However, I've looked at your posts about lay out of the iTunes folders. Before connecting to iTunes on the new computer, I had reorganized my iTunes folder on my E: external drive, and created an iTunes folder which contains an iTunes Media subfolder. The music files are in a Music folder, which is in the iTunes Media folder. I've also put the following files in my iTunes folder: iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Library Extras.itdb, iTunes Library Genius.itdb, iTunes Music Library.xml, as well as sentinel. I then followed the advice you gave bmw99 on 2 Nov 2013 at 9.58 (sorry, can't copy the exact answer).
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I'm at work at the moment, but will be back home in about 10 hours, so I can be more specific about folders / files names.
I'm glad you picked up my message and greatly appreciate your help.
Patrice

Don't want playback to copy to library

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