ITunes Library too big; how do I create an abbreviated 2nd?

Hello. I've searched the forum but was unable to find the answer to my situation.
I have a rather large library of music and find iTunes incapable of keeping it organized. It is stored on an external hard drive. I would like to create a second--technically itentical but abbreviated--library, feeding from the same files (so no duplicate copies of existing songs). Is there a way to do this?
I am the only user on my computer.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

I have already tried several times to create a new library but each time it builds a new folder and duplicates the files as I add them.
OK, you are almost there!
In that new library, before you add any files, go to Preferences > Advanced, and make sure that "Keep..." and "Copy..." are both turned off.
Then any new songs you add will reference the existing file, without moving or duplicating anything.
Try it with a few files to start, so you can see how it behaves, before you do the masses. Pls let us know how it works out!

Similar Messages

ITunes Library too big - how to fit on Mini?

My iTunes library got too big, and I got the message saying "you don't have any more room on the Mini so we'll make you a playlist and put some cool songs in that list". I said okay, and went to work. When I got home, I figured I'd delete some stuff to make the library smaller. And I deleted the playlist that iTunes made! DOH!
I have tried uninstalling, reinstalling, resetting. When I try to synch I get the message "we can't move anything because the playlists you want to move don't exist". So I tried making new playlists. That didn't work.
Any ideas?

hi Jorgi!
folks get that message when they have "automatically update selected playlists only" selected in their itunes "ipod" preference tab.
plug in the ipod, and wait until it shows up in the sourcelist. go "edit > preferences" and click the "ipod" tab.
under "automatically update selected playlists only", there's a list of playlists. deselect any (in the preference tab) that no longer exist (in your sourcelist), and select the ones you want to sync to the mini.
love, b

ITunes library too big - what to do?

My iTunes library is quickly approaching the 2 TB mark and filling my Time Capsule. What can I do?
Is there a way to spread an iTunes library over multiple hard drives but have iTunes treat it as one giant library still (meaning I don't have to switch between accounts or break up the library?). I have a lot of video content and want it to work seamlessly with my original Apple TV (streaming video content over WiFi) so breaking it all up is not a good option.
What is the best solution? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

I assume you're not using the Time Capsule to store the library...I tried that once and while it works, sometimes the drive is so asleep that it doesn't access all the media right away and you get the exclamation points.
I'm using a Drobo firewired into a Mac Mini, myself. I store the movies/TV on the Drobo, which right now is at 6TB (expandable to 10TB at least), and has its own redundancy and drive health checking. The rest is stored on the Mac Mini and Time Machine backs that up.
I will say the best enhancement iTunes could make for folks like us is to have a default folder, but for each media type (music, movie, TV show, etc) allow you to override the default. Right now when I download a new video source, I delete the reference from the library, move the file to my Drobo, then copy it back in holding down the Option key (which overrides the auto-move when you tell it to keep your library organized).

IPhoto library too big -- how do I sort video, size to remove/archive?

Okay folks. So my iphoto library has gotten so big, I can't even install updates on my MacBook. Normally with any files on my computer, I can sort by size...see who's hogging up space and what I don't need. Not only can I not sort by size, I really have no way of managing these files in finder.
Advice?
Saw previous posts about "no sort by size". Someone even said "iPhoto is a photo manager, not a file manager" -- cute, but at some point the space runs out.

I really have no way of managing these files in finder.
It is strongly recommended that you do not use the finder to delete, move or otherwise modify any files within the iPhoto library - doing so risks corrupting your library and losing data
If you want to delete anything in the iPhoto library you must us the iPhoto program to do it
To identify your movies you can make a smart album for all items with the keyword = movie - selecting one and looking in the information window at the lower left hand corner will show you its size
LN

ITunes library too big for Nano

I have a 4G nano and about 45G on my computer. Is there a way that I can make a playlist to transfer onto my nano rather than just letting iTunes make a selection?
mac book pro 17" Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Switch the iPod to manual update and enable disk use
The first thing you need to do is make sure have configured your iPod to enable disk use. To do this:
Open iTunes on your computer.
Connect your iPod to your computer and wait for it to appear in iTunes.
Select your iPod in the Source pane under the Devices section to display your iPod preferences in the main library window.
Click the Summary tab in the main iTunes window.
Click the Manually manage music button. Changing from automatic updating to manual puts a check mark by Enable disk use. A message says
"Disabling automatic update requires manually unmounting the iPod before each disconnect."
Click OK in the message window.
Click Apply in the iPod preferences section of the iTunes window.

Time Machine iTunes Library too big for new Macbook Air

My Macbook Pro went out of commission some time ago, I was fortunate enough to be able to get a Macbook Air to replace it. I had a Time Machine backup of all my old files on an external hard drive, however I had quite an extensive music library that is far too large for my current storage. I do have a backup computer with Windows 7. Is there some way I can access my full music library (over 200 gb) on a different computer through the Time Machine backup or in some fashion so I can put the music I want onto my new computer?

NEVERMIND I FOUND A SOLUTION

I just upgraded my mac book to 10.6.8 and downloaded the new version of itunes. When I try to open it and error message appears saying, "The iTunes Library file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder.

I just upgraded my mac book to 10.6.8 and downloaded the new version of itunes. When I try to open it and error message appears saying, "The iTunes Library file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder in the "Music" folder."
I have tried a few things but iTunes closes right after i click okay. Anyone know anything?

Look in your Home > Music folder. There should be an iTunes folder there and it should have a number of files and folders including one called library.itl You want to guide iTunes to that file. If you don't see that file or folder then in your next post you will have to be very specific as to what you do see or how you have your iTunes set up because that's where it should be according to default settings.

I am trying to open iTunes on my Windows 7 PC and am getting the following message...the itunes library can not be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder in the "Music" folder. Any ideas?

I am trying to open iTunes on my Windows 7 PC and am getting the following message...the itunes library can not be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder in the "Music" folder. Any ideas?

Let's try this first. Hold down the Shift key while you try to launch iTunes. You should eventually see the following dialog:
Click "Choose library". Browse to inside the following location (depending on what operating system you're running):
Operating System
Default location of iTunes library
Microsoft Windows XP
\Documents and Settings\[your username]\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\
Microsoft Windows Vista
\Users\[your username]\Music\iTunes\
Microsoft Windows 7
\Users\[your username]\My Music\iTunes\
... and open the iTunes library you find in there.

TS3494 my iTunes has stopped working on my mac book pro 13" when i try oping it it saysThe iTunes Library file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder in the "Music" folder.

my iTunes has stopped working on my mac book pro 13" when i try oping it it saysThe iTunes Library file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the “iTunes” folder in the “Music” folder. i dont know what to do i need my itunes back

Hi pgarard1,
If you are having issues with launching iTunes after an update, you may want to take a look at the troubleshooting in the following article:
iTunes for Windows: Doesn't open after upgrading in Windows Vista or Windows 7
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2363
Regards,
- Brenden

The chracters displayed in the emails for me on iPad 4 (not on PC) are too big. how can I get the chracters smaller?

The chracters appeared in the emails for me on iPad 4 (not on PC) are too big. how can I get the chracters smaller?

Do you have Large Text turned on? See Settings > General > Accessibility > Large Text.

Installed itunes on my windows xp. getting message itunes library itl cannot be read because created by newer verson of itunes. should i remove in control panel

install itunes on my pc windows xp. got message: itunes library itl cannot be read because created by newer version of itunes. should i go to add/remove programs & uninstall then reinstall?

Never mind sorted it out lol. Somebody did a system restore of a week or so. I had done the update during that time and it was lost. Just redownloaded itunes from the internet and its working fine now.

ITunes library too large

When connecting MBP to Apple TV prompt appears "iTunes library too large"

iTunes prefs -> Advvanced.
SEt the iTunes library to a new drive.
It will still use the songs in the old location but new stuff will go to the new location.

One specific webites's zoom is too big how can I decrease the zoom. (the font is normal) If I open new tab for new site that's normal. Im using a laptop. THANKS

One specific webites's zoom is too big how can I decrease the zoom. (the font is normal) If I open new tab for new site that's normal. Im using a laptop. THANKS

Reset the page zoom on pages that cause problems: <b>View > Zoom > Reset</b> (Ctrl+0 (zero); Cmd+0 on Mac)
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Zoom_text_of_web_pages

Alert SID .log file size too big ,How to keep it under control

alert<SID>.log file size too big ,How to keep it under control?
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 182032983 Aug 29 07:14 alert_g54nha.log

Metalink Note:296354.1

Library too big?

Hi there;
Just a quick question, if my iTunes library is too big, for instance i have 160gb ATV and my library is 200gb. Is it possible from the ATV, using the remote to select different movies, tv shows and songs to sync or does that have to be done from iTunes. For example; lets say im using ATV and because my library is too large i cannot sync everything. Using ATV am i able to say, remove movie X from the ATV which will create room on the ATV and thus sync movie Y or does that all have to be done using iTunes?

Scud89 wrote:
oh, i didnt know that. so if my library is too big i can simply sync as much as possible, and then whatever doesnt fit can be streamed directly to ATV??
yes

ITunes Library too big; how do I create an abbreviated 2nd?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for