ITunes Database Editing, How Can It Be Done?

Question

Hi
I have a problem with some *iTunes song links (!)* after marking some changes in the song database using Flash Renamer.
What I did was *change all caps titles* on song files names & folders to propercase, *plus corrected spacing between words*.
I was just orginizing my song library to look uniform to find songs more easily.
It would have been a lot of editing through iTunes one at a time including the folders.
After the edit was done the *song titles are still uppercase in iTunes*, *when I check the songs in explorer their propercase?*
Question:
Is there a way to rescan the database to relink file/folders and edits?
Is there a program to help me fix the song links and edits in iTunes?
How can I fix this problem?
Thank You
Joe....

Answer 1

Questions:
1. Is Tag & Rename a good choice?
I don't know, personally I prefer to use free sofware whenever possible. I generally use iTunes for minor tweaks since that's what I use to populate my iPod. E.g. correct a spelling error, open the containing folder, update the filename, Get info, then find the "missing" file. In the past I've used Magic File Renamer and The Rename to do batch level renames, e.g. rename all tracks to *## <Title>* format. My current preference is for Media Monkey as this works as a player, tagger, including web search, tag from file & path info. etc. and a renamer/reorganiser. It can often find artwork that iTunes cannot or fetch tracknames when all you've entered so far is the album & artist.
2. Not all CD album song files are in the album folders in iTunes, How can this be fixed?
iTunes has a consolidate function which will make new copies (using it's naming rules given below) of any files that are not inside the iTunes Music folder and change the library entry to point to the new copy. Original files are left in place and so could potentially be added again as duplicates. The alternative is to manually place all your files inside the iTunes Music folder, delete the original entries and then reimport the files. Unlike Windows Media Player which can watch your media files and take account of changes, iTunes won't know if you move or rename a file. You have to either take care of things manually or use a third party tool (see below).
3. I would like to consolidate all my subfolders into one folder, Is this possible?
The consolidate function will import all your iTunes Media into the iTunes Music folder. If you let iTunes *Keep the iTunes Music folder organised* it will also organise all the music along the lines of <Album Artist>\<Album>\
\[<Disc No.>-\]<Track No.> <Track Name>. Artist is used if Album Artist is not present. Compilations are stored in Compilations\<Album>\... Disc Nos. are suppressed if the tracks are marked as Disc 1 of 1. or no disc no. is present. File & folder name lengths are clipped at about 35 characters. All invalid characters are transposed to underscores.
If you're asking for one flat level folder with all tracks from all artists & albums mixed into it, then it is certainly possible either manually or with a renamer, but it's not how I would choose to do it. The Artist\Album\Track structure is a good one. Ideally leave it up to iTunes, but if like me you feel you can't then I'd still recommend you use something similar as a starting point.
4. Same question as # 3. but using other folders outside iTunes, A. How will links be affected, B. Is there a fix?
A: Links question answered above...
B: Is there a fix?
*Adding new items/removing orphans*
Try iTunes Folder Watch or iTunes Library Updater. Folder Watch is much faster on the adding files front, can be set to run in the background and includes a useful exclusion feature, however it’s really slow at removing orphans. iTLU is better for this although doing it manually after looking at a list of proposed removals generated by Folder Watch is probably faster still. iTLU can also be set to update iTunes when you've used 3rd party tools to change tag info.
While both the tools above can be used to update iTunes when you've moved things around externally, if you are making piecemeal edits, tidying up the metadata for just one album, then it is often just as easy to remove & reimport an album or relink an individual file without using these tools.
Given that you will be using one application or another to accees your music, populate any media player or backup your media it can fairly be argued that while organising the tags is desirable you really shouldn't concern yourself over the actual filenames & folder structure. Many people are quite happy to let iTunes keep everything organised and it works just fine for them. That said I keep manual control, using full-length filenames, putting compilations in <##> <Title> - <Artist> format and keeping certian areas such as Audiobooks, Comedy & Classical in separate parent folders. All my music is organised within the main iTunes Music folder as this allows the library to be easily relocated & backed up.
Before you undertake any reorganisation you might also want to review my post on Grouping Tracks Into Albums which outlines various issues iTunes & the iPod havve with featured artists, albums with the same name, spelling consistency etc.
tt2