How do I copy an iTunes folder of 40 playlists?

Question

Using Snow Leopard with iTunes 10.6.3.
I have created a folder under Playlists in my sidebar area. This folder contains 40 seperate playlists of classical music at a total of just about 6Gb.
I'd like to copy this folder to a thumbdrive and be able to open it on another machine using iTunes or an  MP3 player.
What's the proper procedure to do this and will the album artwork also be transferred?
thanks,
Rob

Answer 1

Smart playlist with the rule Has artwork is false should collect up all tracks without artwork. Offhand I don't think there is an easy way to test for embedded vs. store downloaded. Doug's Script Embed Art will make certain.
We'll assume for now the thumbdrive has enough room for this collection of media.
Create a folder at the root of the drive called iTunes.
Create a folder inside that called iTunes Media.
With iTunes closed copy the files iTunes Library(.itl), iTunes Library Extras.itdb, iTunes Library Genius.itdb, sentinel (hidden) and the folder Album Artwork from <User>/Music/iTunes to your new iTunes folder.
Hold down option as you start iTunes and keep holding until asked to choose or create a library. Click choose and browse to the new iTunes folder.
Make sure under iTunes > Preferences > Advanced that the media folder is the new <Drive>/iTunes/iTunes Media folder you created earlier. Correct if not. DO NOT CONSOLIDATE files if prompted at this point.
Remove everything from the library except the 40 playlists. You should be able to make a smart playlist with Playlist is not <Folder> to catch these items. Delete any Mobile Applications separately.
Use File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate files to create local copies of the music files on your drive.
Hold down option as you start iTunes and keep holding until asked to choose or create a library. Click choose and browse to the your original iTunes folder.
The thumbdrive now has a complete subset of your library consisting of just those 40 playlists, that can be opened with another instance of iTunes using the hold-option-start-iTunes method.
An alternative approach would be to make a complete clone of the library, then delete & trash stuff you don't want but that would mean files being copied only to be deleted shortly thereafter.
tt2