How do I split an existing library into multiple libraries?

Question

I currently have ~95 GB of music and ~300 GB of movies in iTunes and I’ve stored all of it on an external hard drive. I’m getting a new Mac Book Pro with a 320 GB Hard Drive and I was hoping to migrate the music so it would be stored on the internal hard drive and leave the movies on the external.
I found a page on Apple’s web site (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iTunesMac/7.6/en/15499.html) that says,
“You can have more than one iTunes library.… you could use separate libraries to keep your music on your computer and your movies on an external hard disk.”
However it does not explain how to split the libraries once you’ve already got everything stored in the same place. I have a ton of playlists and other file info that I’m afraid of losing or messing up if I just simply move the folder. The “Consolidate Library” method is a great way to move the entire library from one location to another, but is there an easy way to move only certain parts of the library (i.e. just the music)? Is this change even advisable?
I’ve also tried to create a second library in my current computer (PowerBook running 10.4.11 and iTunes 8.0.2) just to see how it worked and noticed that iTunes Preferences only allowed for one location for the ‘iTunes music’ folder on the ‘Advanced’ Tab.
Put differently, I created 2 empty libraries, A & B. I changed the location of the music folder in the Advanced tab of preferences for B and closed the application. I then opened the application for library A and checked the preferences tab. The location for A’s music folder had now been changed to match B.
I must be misunderstanding something but it appears that you can have 2 separate libraries but they both must have the same preferences and be stored in the same folder and, hence, the same location. So how does that work if you want to continue to add music to the internal and add movies to the external?

Answer 1

Hi Paulac303,
There are probably many ways to do this, but I know the following two methods work...
First of all, are you splitting your library down the middle, or just want a new iTunes library with a few of the old things in it?  The reason I ask is because that might decide which method is for you.
(1) If splitting library roughly in half, then copy the original iTunes library to a new name.  Open iTune with the new library name via holding down the option key while opening iTunes --- eventually a menu opens that asks if you want to create a new library or choose an old one.  Choose the copy of your library.  When it opens, delete everything (highlight and press the delete key) you don't want in this library.  Quit iTune and open your original library and delete everything from it that you didn't delete in the copy.  You're done.
(2) If you just want to add a few of your old things to a new library, then hold down the option key while opening iTune.  Once again the menu opens that asks if you with to create a new library or choose an old one.  Pick Create Library.  Then you can import any of your old songs/movies into your new library.  The actual music media files are typically located in the directory /Users/<yourusername>/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/<artist>/<album>/<song> or perhaps in /Users/<yourusername>/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music/<artist>/<album>/<song>  Sometimes the <artist> directory is under a Collections/ directory, but you'll find what you want.  Just Add to Library the artists/albums/songs you want in your new library.  If you wish you can then open your old library and delete the items you transferred to the new one.
Hope this helps,
Switon