Multiple iMac users and iTunes

I have setup our iMac with multiple users. I migrated all our digital music to one user and found all the cover art, etc to make it work well. Now I want to allow all the other users to access that music library. I have tried everything from adding the files from a shared folder to exporting it to physically copying all the files and cover art to a different folder for each user. Exporting doesn't work at all, and there doesn't seem to be a way to simply share the same music files across users on an iMac. The closest was physically copying the files, but that means gigabytes of duplicated files for each user, and it still loses some of the covert art. There has to be a solution to this, or Apple has missed a critical function for the multiple user feature. Please help.

Quit iTunes.
Move \Music\iTunes\ folder to the Shared folder.
Hold Option when starting iTunes and select *Choose existing library* then select the iTunes library file in \Shared\iTunes\.
iTunes can only be opened by one user at a time so each will need to quit iTunes when they are off the computer.

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La121485 wrote:
how do I move a playlist from one lib to Iphone if phone not sync'd with that lib / pc?
You create the playlist on the other computer which may require moving or copying of the media from the first computer to the second computer.

Multiple ipods users and one computer

Our household has several iPods but use one computer. I just purchased a new iPod and when I connected to the computer (Windows XP) it allowed me to identify my ipod but sunced the other ipod user's music. I'm lost - how can I or can I maintain 2 different syncs?

When the iPods belong to different people, there are basically three ways of using multiple iPods on a computer and these involve:
a) Sharing a single iTunes library
b) Creating Multiple Libraries in a single user account
c) Creating multiple user accounts.
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Sharing a Library and/or User Account
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It's also possible to have multiple libraries in a single account. To create or access a second (or more) library, hold down the Shift key (or the Option key on a Mac) when launching iTunes 7. In the resulting dialogue you will get the option to create a new library or navigate to the other Library.
Note: You can only have one Library open at a time and iTunes will default to the last library opened if you don't use the keyboard command to choose one. This can prove tricky when using multiple iPods, if you don't use the keyboard command you can risk syncing to the wrong library: Using multiple iTunes libraries -Windows
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Another option is to create a separate User account for each person on your PC or Mac. Different accounts by definition would give you completely separate libraries. Each account has it's own iTunes folder, Library and iTunes Music folder and you load it with CDs etc just as you did with your original one. The iPod can be set to update however the owner chooses, sync all, manual or sync specific playlists
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You could also create multiple user accounts. iTunes libraries are separated by uer account, so a new account will have an empty library.
To set up another User Account in Windows, open Control Panel, and select User Accounts. Create a new account (see the sidebar for help) and then log into that account. (You can use fast user swiching to leave yourself loged in and switch between the two accounts. Just go to Start -> Log Off -> Switch User) Once you are logged into the new account, open iTunes and you will see an empty library ready for you to fill with music. Hope this helps!

ITunes will not open in Windows 7 for one User. All I get is the Licence Agreement pane and when I click YES nothing further happens. I have set up a second user and iTunes opens without problem in that User window.

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Many thanks for your reply. Yes I carried out the suggested procedure in safe mode , which did not resolve the issue and so this is what led me to set up a second User account. iTunes opened without problem in this second account and so I looked at the User-specific troubleshooting but I just could not locate the iTunes Preference files no matter how much searching I did.
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The easiest way to accomplish want you want is to transfer what content you want to the separate iTunes library under each user account. To transfer content from your library to your wife's library so that she can use it on her phone, do this:
1. Launch iTunes under your wife's login.
2. Sign her out of iTunes & then you sign in.
3. iTunes>Preferences>Devices>Disable auto-sync when an iPod/iPhone is connected.
4. Connect your phone, DO NOT SYNC!
5. Store>Authorize this Computer(only have to do this once).
6. File Transfer Purchases(all of the purchased content on your phone will be transferred to your wife's library).
7. When complete, eject your phone, sign out of iTunes, sign your wife back in.
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This way you can share content(permitted under the EUSLA) and still maintain your separate logins. Do the same under your login if you want to share content from your wife's library.
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Move your /Music/iTunes folder to /Users/Shared/ folder.
Hold Option and launch iTunes.
Select *Choose library* and select the iTunes folder in /Users/Shared/.
Quit iTunes.
Have your wife log into her account.
Hold Option and launch iTunes.
Select *Choose library* and select the iTunes folder in /Users/Shared/.
Quit iTunes.
That's it.
Only one user can be logged into iTunes at a time so if you are using Fast User switching and the other user wants to open iTunes, you must quit iTunes before switching users.

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Hello. I have a 350 Mhz Blueberry slot-loading iMac that I have just upgraded by installing an 80GB HD and OS X.2.8. I am running minimum RAM right now (128MB) with an upgrade coming soon. My question is - I want to run iTunes and buy music from the iTunes store. The OS X.2 came with iTunes 3, which doesn't even show the Store as a browsing option. I don't have the minimum processor speed nor the CD burner required by iTunes 6. But I do have an iPod Shuffle, a USB port and an iTunes gift certificate. Can I upgrade to a newer version of iTunes that is not 6? Can I load my Shuffle from my trusty old CRT iMac (previously, I was using my husband's PC laptop, not my favorite thing)? If there is another version that I can use, does anyone have a download link.
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Hi
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I'll explain what I have and what I want to do.
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Multiple iMac users and iTunes

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