Keeping iTunes Library current on 2 computers w/media on Ext. Drive

I recently moved my iTunes media files - just the media, not the entire iTunes folder that is inside the Music folder on my desktop Mac - to an external hard drive for two reasons: I was running out of space and I wanted to have the same library/files available on my laptop.
I did NOT move the other folders (Album Artwork, Mobile Applications, Playlists, Previous iTunes Libraries) or files (iTunes Library, iTunes Library Extras, iTunes Library Genius, iTunes Music Library) that are located inside the Music/iTunes folders.
Everything was working fine on both computers - Consolidated the library on the external drive and did the Change the location of the iTunes Media folder in Preferences on both computers, no problem.
However I added two movies and a few songs to my desktop Mac yesterday - all showed up and played fine after adding them - but when I plug the external drive into my laptop, the new additions don't appear in the library.
Am I right in guessing that it is because the iTunes Library file on the laptop isn't the same as the one on the desktop computer?
Is there a way to add them to the library listing on the laptop? If yes, is that something I need to do every time I connect the external drive to the laptop if I've added things from the desktop computer (I never add stuff on the laptop).
OR
Should I have put the entire iTunes folder - files, folder and media - onto the external drive?
If so, does that mean there shouldn't be an iTunes folder in the Music folder at all on either computer and everything be located on the external drive?
Thanks for your help - I'm a bit flummoxed with all this!
Beth

Beth Trachtenberg wrote:
I did NOT move the other folders (Album Artwork, Mobile Applications, Playlists, Previous iTunes Libraries) or files (iTunes Library, iTunes Library Extras, iTunes Library Genius, iTunes Music Library) that are located inside the Music/iTunes folders.
should be no problem. i'm doing this also.
Everything was working fine on both computers - Consolidated the library on the external drive and did the Change the location of the iTunes Media folder in Preferences on both computers, no problem.
However I added two movies and a few songs to my desktop Mac yesterday - all showed up and played fine after adding them - but when I plug the external drive into my laptop, the new additions don't appear in the library.
if you're purchasing content from the iTMS, you could use _*Home Sharing*_ to automatically add new content to all machines on your local network.
Am I right in guessing that it is because the iTunes Library file on the laptop isn't the same as the one on the desktop computer?
yes.
Is there a way to add them to the library listing on the laptop? If yes, is that something I need to do every time I connect the external drive to the laptop if I've added things from the desktop computer (I never add stuff on the laptop).
basically, yes. however, there's _*Home Sharing*_ and ... see below.
Should I have put the entire iTunes folder - files, folder and media - onto the external drive?
that's one possibility, however, only one Mac @ a time could access that library. there are other options:
*the easy way*
check out TuneRanger.
*the more involved way*
click here for tips/information.
JGG

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You will have to engage a split library which means you will have to start answering questions on this forum because you will need to learn a lot about how iTunes works in order not that have a big mess at the end of it all. It also won't be easy when the time comes to relocate it all to different drives.
You can go to advanced preferences and turn off organize media and copy to items to media folder when adding items to library. Next read about how to selectively consolidate items to the external drive.
Sept. 2010, Consolidate selected content - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2589812 and April 2014, https://discussions.apple.com/message/25414357
"...selected the new tracks directly in iTunes, Control-clicked on the selection, and saw that now you can consolidate selected items." - http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20090919000326840
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If you add tracks in bunches to iTunes and want them to go to different media folders you will need to either add them by holding down the option key while dragging if the desired media folder is not the one set in preferences, or by changing the media folder in preferences. Changing media folder preferences only applies to new files added, not old ones.
Okay, I am going to stop typing because you might just reply to me, "Oh, okay, forget it," and I don't need the exercise.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391

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Hi, apologies if I've posted in the wrong place. I hope someone will be able to point me in the right direction with this.
Basically, I have two computers, iMac and Powerbook, and want to create a big iTunes library on an external hard drive that I can access on both computers. Home sharing is out, given that they are on different networks.
I've worked out how to do this, but any ratings etc. that I do on one computer aren't recognised on the other.
I am going to keep one copy of the library etc files on my iMac so that iTunes will continue to function without asking me to choose a library every time. But is there any way of keeping a copy of this file on the hard drive too, that will update automatically when any changes have been made to ratings etc?
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Normally, I would have said this couldn't be done. But I recently started using a product that might just be able to do it.
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What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
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1) Share the whole library. Disadvantages: a) Somebody makes changes you don't like then there's no way to undo it easily. b) The library file can only be open on one computer at a time.
2) Share just media. Each user has their own library file but share media files. Multiple people can run iTunes at the same time. Gets slightly tricky making sure each computer is up to date on new media added.
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Keeping iTunes Library current on 2 computers w/media on Ext. Drive

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