Rebuild library, but keep play counts?

My large library has been working great. It is kept on the internal drive. The problem is none of my music is showing up in the media browser of an open dialogue box on any Apple apps (mail, iphoto, etc) and most 3rd party apps. It has been suggested I rebuild the library, which is done by trashing 2 files, iTunes library and the XML file. I hesitate to do this because my gut feeling tells me this will delete metadata, such as play counts. I would really like to keep my play counts, as I do use them in smart playlists? Any thoughts? Thanks.

I don't know if the media browser uses it, but the XML file is provided for third party programs as a way of querying the iTunes database. The name of the XML file is iTunes Music Library.xml if your library is in the standard location of the user's Music folder. If you relocate the library somewhere else the XML file is iTunes Library.xml. Perhaps there is an empty non-updating file in one location and media browser isn't watching the correct one. Or it could be something else entirely. The XML file is safe to delete however, so it's worth a shot if you haven't already tried it. Trashing the library file and rebuilding from the XML is another issue as certain metadata (date added for example) will be lost with that method.
tt2

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Sounds like an issue with the iPhoto Library
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .
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Convert Music while Keeping Play Count, etc.

I've just come to the conclusion that AAC sounds significantly better than MP3 at the same bitrate. I've also noticed from using my own music that a song that's 128-kbps AAC sounds just as good as 160-kbps MP3.
When I first started using iTunes (back in my Windoze days), I imported the majority of my music as 160-kbps MP3 and continued doing so after I got my MBP.
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bcr88 wrote:
Well, that's the problem. I've got everything figured out about how I'd convert my music and remove the originals. But my problem is I don't want to lose my play counts. If were just a couple songs, I could just run up the play count on my own, but I have way too many songs to do that to.
That's why I'm trying to find out if there's some way (a script or another application) to convert my files and keep all that information.
Sorry, but you cannot. Converting music formats creates a new separate file. It is supposed to work that way due to the differences in file qualities and other details. Playcount can only be manipulated by either playing the tracks through or editing the iTunes database (something I do not recommend)

Just upgraded and iPhoto said it has to upgrade library but keeps freezing. Have tried it too many times now and I need those photos ASAP HELP!!

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Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
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Problem: I am missing about 400 out of 3000 songs. There is no reference in the Mac iTunes XML. The Library is 32GB. I have all the movies, which is a large chunk of that. It is very very important that i keep the data related to those song ( play counts, ratings... ).
The songs are in the iTunes Music folder
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Hi,
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Underlined statement is the issue.
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Rebuild library, but keep play counts?

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