Multiple libraries family iCloud

My wife is the family photographer. She takes pics loads them into the Photo app on her mac. She has her own itunes account. There are 3 kids in the family as well - each one has a seperate itunes account as well. We are all in the iCloud family and I upgraded to the 200 gig storage under my iTunes account.
Question: Is it possible to merge my wife's photos with my photos into one library using iCloud?
Or do I have to sign her out of her iCloud account and log my iTunes account on her mac?
What we want at the end of the day - is to have all pics from all devices merge into a single library that we can all see (yes I will probably need more storage but I got the 200 gig just to see what is possible).
Thanks

Hi all..
I hope you don't mind me chiming in here, but I see this as a major flaw in the move from MobileMe to iCloud.
Roderick, based on what your requirements are, this sounds like a viable solution.
Here's the spanner in the works:
Q: Can you have more than 1 iCloud account on each iOS device?
Everything I have found so far points to "No".
If you can't, and you all want to sync "common" contacts, iCal events & numbers/pages stuff, then you have to use 1 common iCloud account. But you will not be able to FaceTime or iMessage each other!
Is my assumption here correct?
I have a MobileMe family pack with 5 me.com addresses. I have kept the "main" one from migrating, so we currently keep all our contacts & calendars synced with that "main" account in MobileMe.
Simple solution for the time being, but what happens in June 2012 when MobileMe is retired?
Frustrated-dot-com!!

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ITunes Multiple Libraries and iCloud.

I currently have two separate iTiunes libraries. One 'home' library (mainly music) stored on an external HD (my Time Capsule) and one 'work' library (mainly language CDs and downloaded Podcasts) held on my Macbook Pro. I use the same Apple ID for both.
I would want to continue to keep these separate in the future, and I am concerned that iCloud implementation, with automatic synchronisation, might try to 'mix' the two.
Does anyone know if maintaining separate libraries like this is still posssible with iCloud??
Currently using iTunes 10.2.2
Thanks in advance

Welcome to the Apple Community.
Assuming each library uses the same iTunes account, iTunes match will amalgamate all your content.

How do icloud and itunes match work with multiple libraries?

How do icloud and itunes match work with multiple libraries?

This forum is for troubleshooting compatibility issues between Macs and Windows, not iTunes. You'll probably want to repost your question in the iTunes discussions:
http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=150

Multiple libraries or multiple accounts ?

Hi,
At the moment, everybody in the family is using my apple ID and it's getting difficult to manage because I don't want to share my password to avoid high expenses and also when the kids get older, it will be a problem.
So I need to know which is better for my family's future : multiple libraries on one account or creating different users on my computer with different itunes accounts ?
Also if I have different accounts, can I share music and apps ?
Thanks

I recommend you get her her own iTunes account for purchasing from the iTunes store.
You/she can add gift cards instead of using your credit card so you won't have to worry about how much she purchases.
should I just have one account and create a new library for her music and videos?
Create her own iTunes account and create her own library by creating a new computer login for her.
She will have her own iTunes library in her own computer account.

Multiple Libraries on 1 computer?

Hi,
I was wondering is it possible to set up multiple libraries on one computer? For example if multiple family members using the same computer but w/ vastly different musical tastes all have iPods is there a way to set iTunes up where I wouldn't have to deal w/ all of my other family member's songs?

These links should help:
Natalie Beresford: Multiple iPods/iTunes Installations
How to use multiple iPods with one computer
How to share music between different accounts on a single computer

Multiple Libraries for Multiple Users on iTunes

Is there a way - using iTunes 7 - to have multiple libraries? Our family shares a computer and I would love to have separate libraries.
Thanks.
Tas804

Hi there
Hold down the 'alt' key for a couple of seconds when you launch iTunes from the dock.
You should get a prompt to create a new library, or choose another library to launch.
Good luck
noel

Multiple libraries on one Mac recognised by iPods?

I would like to have all my music in one location but have multiple libraries for different members of my family. When I plug in an iPod, say my daughter's, I want it to know whose iPod it is, and open the relevant library (my daughter's) so that I can sync that iPod with that library. Possible? Thanks.

To create or access a second (or more) library, hold down the Option key (or Shift key in Windows) when launching iTunes. 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. The new library will be empty until you add content to it. To get back to your original library you need to close iTunes and open it again while holding down the shift key, this time choose to open an existing library and navigate to its location. Multiple libraries 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 -Mac
Another option is to create a separate Mac User account for each person on your computer. Different user 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

Multiple libraries, projects and reorganizing for the new year

I have used Aperture since 1.0 and really like it but the growing pains are still present - over time of use, I've ended up with multiple libraries [2 main ones and 2-3 little ones that probably can be safely archived]. I want to start fresh in the new year and have a new Library that is my main one, my only one in fact == is it possible/feasible/desireable to export projects from Library A and B and then import the ones i want into my 2007 Library the way my new organizing system will be? I mainly have images according to geography and people [e.g. people in locations versus family and friends]. Can I consolidate all my Libraries into one new one for use in the future ?? Will exporting each project and then importing into my new master Library work??

I've been thinking just a little about what features I would like the next rev of aperture to have. Though I haven't thought through the specifics, easier and more efficient use and management of multiple libraries, projects etc would be nice. Whole aperture projects referenced from multiple libraries or some such? (I said I hadn't thought it through!)
It's over a year since aperture came out, macworld is coming up, and I suspect that 2.0 will be released eventually some time in the future, perhaps with changes (maybe even improvements!) in library and project workflow.
So while I too am considering how to organize my own aperture materials I am currently holding off for bit just in case there might maybe possibly be (Conjecture Warning!!!) something new announced soon....
MBP17 2.16 ghz 2gb 120gb Mac OS X (10.4.8)
MBP17 2.16 ghz 2gb 120gb Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I got married,and my wife and I have multiple libraries with several iTunes id's how do we consolidate all of our music

how do we consolidate multiple libraries? My wife had 2 or 3 different apple id's she changed emails and forgot passwords. please help

Apparently, you cannot do that:
Set up your Apple ID for iCloud and iTunes - Apple Support
If you have made purchases using more than one ID, call Apple Support and state your case. I have heard that they may be able to do something to help you.
I do not know why Apple makes it so easy to create Apple IDs; they suggest creating them left and right, but make it very difficult to undo once a person realizes how bad it is to use multiple Apple IDs for the same purpose, for example, iTunes Store, or App Store purchases.

Multiple Libraries - Best practice

I have been using iphoto for the last 5 years, At the end of the year I move the library to an external drive and use iphoto buddy to point to it. Now I have 6-7 libraries and I would rather have everything, together.
What has people found out is the best way to combine libraries so that all files end up in 1 directory on the firewire drive and then the best way to move this years photos from the hardrive to the ext drive, later? Or is having multiple libraries the best?
Seems like i am always moving files to and from libraries and i loss any structure and backing it up is a pain. am i missing something here? Thanks in advance
jf

Jeff:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. The only way at present to merger multiple libraries into one library and retain keywords, rolls, etc, is to use the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager. That will get you one library. If that library gets very large then you might have a storage problem on your boot drive where you want to keep adequate free space for optimal performance. In that case multiple libraries might be best for you.
FWIW here's my photo strategy. I keep my photos in folder based on the shoot (each upload from the camera after an event, usually family get togethers) in folders dated for the event and a brief description. I then import that folder into iPhoto to get a roll with the same name. Since I take the step to upload before importing to iPhoto I also batch rename the files with the international date format: YYYY-MM-DD-01.jpg and so forth.
With iPhoto's new capability of using only aliases for the original/source files (I kept my original folders as a backup on a second drive) I used those original source folders for my combined library by importing those folders into a new V6 library using the alias method. So, for 17,400+ photos that take up 27G on my second drive, my iPhoto library on my boot drive only takes up 8G. This is very valuable for PB owners who can't afford that much library space on the boot drive. The one downside to the alias method is that if you delete a photo from the library the source/original file does not get deleted. Hopefully that will be in the next update.
If the external is dismounted the library is still useable in that you can view thumbnails, create, delete and move albums, add comments and keywords (but with some effort). You can't do anything that requires moving the thumbnails or edit. I've created a workflow to convert from a conventional iPhoto library structure to an alias based one.
The downside to converting as I mentioned is that you will lose keywords, albums, etc. due to the conversion. So it's not for everyone.
Bottom line: for combining/merging libraries iPhoto Library Manager is the only option at the present time. Hope this has bee of some help to you.

Multiple Libraries on one computer

I want to store more music in iTunes than my iPod has room for (original iPod). I want to use one library for music that I don't want on my iPod and the other for the music I want to sync. I also want to be able to move music back and forth between the them.
How do I store music in multiple libraries on one computer without making separate computer user accounts or using the playlist work around?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, apple-rules

Yes, I am referring to the auto syncing of playlists. Not all of my music is assigned to playlists and I don't want to create them - too many songs.
As I mentioned in my original post:
I want to store more music in iTunes than my iPod has room for (original iPod). I want to use one library for music that I don't want on my iPod and the other for the music I want to sync. I also want to be able to move music back and forth between the them.
I want to be able to store music in iTunes and play that music in iTunes without having them downloaded to my iPod. It would be nice to have a Library in iTunes that can be separate from the iPod stuff.
I think I found a work around (#12). Until I get a better solution I am going to create a master folder to which I will move all my music that I do not want syncing to my iPod. Then, I will do a manual sync and exclude that folder.
Thanks everyone.

How do I go from using a single Apple ID with multiple libraries to using home sharing?

Until now my wife and I have opted to share our iTunes/Apple ID and use multiple libraries to manage our iPhones. This has become increasingly difficult...with issues such as having apps I've downloaded that she doesn't want automatically downloading to her library and even her phone. Now, add in the fact that I want to continue to manage my iTunes library from our PC and allow her to manage hers from her new MacBook Pro and we have good reason to move to home sharing with separate Apple IDs for each of us.
My question is the logistics of doing so. Not only do we need to replicate her existing library on a new Apple ID, but then we need to migrate all the necessary files over to her MacBook Pro. Quite honestly, I don't even know where to begin. Is it possible to associate her existing library with her new Apple ID without having to create her library from scratch? Then is there anyway to migrate only the items in her library over to her MacBook Pro as opposed having to move all of our music & apps? Where do I begin?
Thanks!

Okay...I misunderstood and thought we needed separate ID's...but I see we actually need to use the same ID which simplifies things in my mind a bit. But still some followups...
1) What do you mean by restore the library on her computer? Simply open her library file in iTunes?
2) On our current machine...media is actually split between a couple folders but all under the My Music folder. But there are multiple subfolders (iTunes, Her iPhone, and Amazon MP3). I presume as long as I copy over the entire My Music folder there shouldn't be any access issues when the library is opened on her machine?
3) Is there any easy way to get rid of all the extra files that she doesn't have in her library? For instance, all my music and apps that she doesn't actually want, is there any easy way of separating those out from the files that are actually linked to in her library? Vice versa for me...once we've go her library set up on her machine, any easy way to purge all the extra files from my PC that aren't actually in my library?
Thanks!

Multiple Libraries & duplicates

I am sure that my problem is common so hopefully this post will help other people solve similar problems. It may have been answered in other posts although nothing has popped out as a clear and concise way to solve how to deal with multiple libraries and duplicate pictures.
I have over the years created, edited and merged various iPhoto libraries. I now have such a mess of pictures and libraries I don't know what to do to organize them all. The smallest library is about 10GB, the largest about 45GB. I purchased iPhoto Library Manager and Duplicate Annihilator. I have attempted to merge some of the libraries but that didn't work that well. It created yet another library and more duplicates. I then (foolishly) attempted to drag and drop a library file and that created extra pics like thumbnails of the all the faces.
So is there an easier way that sifting thru about 30,000 images?
Do I deal with the duplicates in each separate library first, then merge and do it again. Or attempt a total merge, then scan for duplicates?
Another approach I thought about is to work directly with the originals in the library contents.
I am lucky that I haven't spent too much time with albums, books etc. There is some metadata (comments, maps and faces), but nothing to serious.

Try using a free tool, ExifRenamer (http://www.qdev.de/?location=mac/exifrenamer)
Do not use this tool on files inside of iPhoto Library. You can use the tool only with originals, in simple file format. So you probably need to export the files from iPhoto first before using the tool.
It renames photo/video file names to date/time they were taken. You'd drop a folder containing the files onto ExifRenamer icon, and the files will be renamed. Pretty simple. You can specify the format of file name and other settings to your preference first. Once the files are renamed, you'd drop them into folders based on year/quarter/month.
Basically you'd reorganize the files in this folder structure
2009_01
2009_02
2010_03
Or you could work with
2009-q1 (for Jan - March)
2009-q2 (for Apr - June)
As you are dropping the renamed files into their directories, you may be asked to overwrite files, which you should do.
Once you've renamed the files, you can reimport them into iPhoto Library. I recommend one iPhoto Library for 1 year. Maybe you could keep more years in 1 iPhoto Library. My personal preference is 1 iPhoto Library for 1 year.
Lastly, please make a good backup and test before proceeding. I recommend this.
-Let Time Machine run with iPhoto closed.
-Export all photos from iPhoto into a separate folder. This is for backup and not to be touched.
-Export all photos from iPhoto or duplicate the folder you created in previous step. Work with this folder when using ExifRenamer. Start working with small sets of files initially until you are comfortable.

ITunes match with multiple libraries

I can't seem to find a satisfactory answer to this. Namely, how does iTunes Match treat multiple libraries on the same Mac. In my case, I spent a lot of time segregating my music. Thus, I have a rock library, a classical library, an instrumental (Windham Hill and Narada) library, an ambient recording library. It makes sense to me to do this rather that dump everything into one pot. That way, I can load a Touch with a specific library and don't have to create a zillion playlists. Using the same iTunes login, how will Match treat these different libraries? Will it only concern itself with what it finds in the currently open library? How will it treat different iPod Touches that are linked to a specific library? Will it want to push the wrong music to a Touch? Would appreciate any thoughts.

One person sets up Match on their computer using the iTunes account. Uploads everything to match.
I would recommend waiting until that person is done, and do computers one at a time. No particular reason, just seems sensible.
Next person sets up match using same iTunes account details. Uploads their stuff. They will then see everything the previous user put into the system, unless you select "Hide music not on this computer" in the view menu. Previous user will now see their stuff too.
Rinse and repeat.
This is how it worked with my multiple machines anyway... As long as every computer uses the same iTunes account for the store, you all get access to the same Match account.

Multiple libraries family iCloud

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