How do I get iTunes to automatically drop files from it's list that I have deleted?

Question

When I delete files (such as podcasts) for soeme reson iTunes does not see that it's gone. The file stays on the list oniTunes with a ! next to it as well as on the iPod. Is there a setting that will fix this issue?

Answer 1

For the benefit of anyone else who reads this thread, looking for help...
iTunes manages all those simple tasks so that human beings can think about, and get on with, making the more interesting decisions in life. Reliving us of the drugery of life's chores is what computers are best at.
iTunes can remember the number of times any song has been played. While I personally don't worry too much about that, I do use the play count to manage my Smart Playlists.
ITunes offers Smart Playlists, where you set the rules and then iTunes adds and removes songs from the playlist for you, according to those rules. When a Sync (between iTunes and the iPod) takes place, the Playlists on the iPod are updated for you, which means that you don't have to manually move songs in and out of Playlists. (See my use of the iPod, below.)
iTunes can display your Music Library in many different ways, allowing you to find any particular piece of music in your Library, sort that music and generally manage your Library.
iTunes can list songs in last played order, so consider the following scenario: the iPod is connected to the car stereo, but as the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, you are unable to find out the name of the song playing, because you're busy driving. But if you make a note of the time the song finishes playing, or a note of any other song played just before or after, then after the next Sync of the iPod with iTunes, it's then a simple task to get iTunes to list the Last Played times and you can easily find the song that you were interested in. (This happens to me all the time with new albums.)
Everyone has their own preferences for how they listen to their music. iTunes makes it possible to choose the options that suit you, as an individual.
If ever your iPod gets so confused that it needs to be restored, all content is removed from the iPod when you perform a Restore function (using iTunes). After the Restore has been completed, iTunes will put your Library back onto your iPod for you. So within minutes, a very large Library, complete with your Playlists, is added back to your iPod. You could not do that manually without missing out some of your choices or making errors.
When you replace your iPod, either as a result of updating to a newer model, theft or breakage of your old iPod, or simply because it's worn out, iTunes will put your Library onto your new device and you will have all your choices available immediately.
For my own use of the iPod and iTunes, I like to listen to a varied selection of songs, from different styles and moods, but without knowing what's coming next. To this end, I have a Smart Playlist which automatically compiles a playlist of songs, by looking at other Playlists and that fits my preference very well. When I Sync the iPod with iTunes, that Playlist is automatically updated, and songs that have been played are removed from the list. New songs are added. Some songs are left out of that Smart Playlist for:
2-star rated songs, thireteen months
3-star rated songs, 5 months
4&5-star rated songs, 4 months
unrated songs, not played for 14 months, 50 songs only added to this list
...and 80 songs I have never played are added to the list
It's like having my own radio station, with my own personal choice, not that of a music streaming service, and I never get "bored of hearing the same song too frequently". Imagine managing that manually!
Of course, none of this may be enough for some people. It's a free world, choose an alternative make of media player. There's no need to come here and moan about iTunes though, we don't need to know.
I would be curious to know what came first. Tossing the iPod into a box, or creating this thread.
Message was edited by: the fiend