Should I have Two libraries?

In an effort to free space I came across the fact that I have two libraries. This may be a function of a Migration I attempted when I switched to a newer iMac. One library sits as a folder on the Macintosh HD main drive. It has the pillars logo on the folder and contains many folders ranging from "Application Support" to "Widgets". Then a little bit below that I have a folder called System with a big X as its logo. Under that folder is another Library with the pillars icon on its cover. These files while similar have some differences. They range from "Accessibility" to "Widget Resources". The System Library folder doesn't have "Dictionaries" which I find in the other Library.
Any ideas? Should they be merged? Should one be deleted? Are they both viable?

Yes, you should; there's also a Library in each account's home folder. Leave them as is.
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I have two libraries on separate computers. If i turned itunes match on in both computers would the two libraries merge? So if my iphone normally syncs with my laptop would i still only get the iphones library or would i get both as one?

I have two libraries on separate computers. If i turned itunes match on in both computers would the two libraries merge? So if my iphone normally syncs with my laptop would i still only get the iphones library or would i get both as one?

Yes, the two libraries should merge. However, you need to turn on match on one computer and let it finish before adding the second library.
Once you turn march on n your phone then you don't sync it with iTunes, but the merged library will show up on the phone. If you don't turn on match on your phone and continue to sync then all of the music from both libraries should be available to sync to it.
The only bit I can't confirm is what happens if you try to sync music to the phone which isnt actually downloaded into iTunes. Im not in a position to test that, but maybe someone else can help.

Is it posible to have two libraries on one computer?

My brother and I use the same computer for our iPod's. He is 12 and probably shouldn't have some of the same songs that I have. Is it posible to have two libraries on one computer?

we each have our own user acounts in XP, but iTunes is present in all user accounts on the PC. So what I import or purchase to iTunes using my XP user is only seen by me or is it linked to all users?
I appreciate your help with this!!!

It appears I have two libraries and now my ipos classic will not sync

It appears I have two libraries on itunes and now can't sync my ipod any ideas

Hello cathyfrombeckenham,
After reviewing your post, I have located an article that can help in this situation. It contains helpful advice concerning multiple iTunes libraries:
iTunes 11 for Windows: Use multiple iTunes libraries
You can have more than one iTunes library. For example, you could have a library of holiday music that wouldn’t appear in iTunes the rest of the year. Or you could keep your music in a library on your computer and your movies in a library on an external hard disk.
Create or use a different iTunes library
If iTunes is open, quit it.
Hold down the Shift key while you open iTunes (from the Start menu, choose All Programs > iTunes > iTunes).
In the window that appears, do one of the following:
Create a new library:
Click Create Library.
Choose a different library:
Click Choose Library.
In each library you create, you can select different preferences for the iTunes Media folder, the types of content that are displayed, parental settings, and the library name. To set preferences for a library, choose Edit > Preferences while using the library.
You can name your iTunes library (the folder containing your iTunes content and the iTunes Library.itl file) whatever you like.
Tip: For best results, if you create additional iTunes libraries, don’t name the new libraries “iTunes” or “iTunes Music.” Make sure each iTunes library has its own unique name so you’ll know which is which.
Thank you for contributing to Apple Support Communities.
Cheers,
BobbyD

Why can't i have two libraries on the same itouch?

i have music on two different computers that i want on my itouch. I can't transfer the music from one computer to the other. Why isn't my itouch letting me have multiple libraries on it? it should let me put all the music i want on it from any computer if it is authorized by my account

Because it wasn't designed to work that way. Send your feedback to Apple.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipodtouch.html
Basic troubleshooting steps
17" 2.2GHz i7 Quad-Core MacBook Pro  8G RAM  750G HD + OCZ Vertex 3 SSD Boot HD 
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I have Two mac, should I have two iphoto library?

I have two mac, mbp13" and imac white 24"
I am facing a big problem with TWO MACs.
I went to travel with my mbp13" one week before. I copy the whole iphoto library into mbp in order to sync it with my ipod. Also, I import all the photo into mbp iphoto library during the vacation. All the photo are well manage with event, tab, rating, faces, etc.
What should I do in order to put 'this event' with all managed data from mbp13" into the imac24" iphoto library? Is there any other ways to reach such goal?
I have never used two macs before, please give me some advise for the best use of them. thanks!
Message was edited by: future20447

What do you mean by "Sync".
The general term means when two Libraries (A and B) are compared and files in Library A are copied to Library B, while files in Library B are also copied to Library A so that both Libraries are identical.
This is bi-directional copying and *you cannot do this with automatically with iPhoto*. No Syncing software is capable of parsing the iPhoto Library in this manner. One or both of your Libraries will be damaged if you try this.
You can have uni-directional copying - files in Library A are copied to Library B - this is essentially backing up. Obviously you can also copy from Library B to Library A.
The nearest you can get to syncing is to use iPhoto Library Manager to move files/Albums/Events plus assoicated metadata between Libraries. This process cannot be automated.
Regards
TD

I have two libraries on the same computer but different logins, there is my user account for the computer and then there is my grandma's, how do i get my music without having to resync on both libraries?

this computer has two logins, my grandma's (which is the administrator) and mine, itunes is on both logins but on my login i have some music there and hers i have my other music.. i want to be able to redownload my music on my ipod touch with out having to resync back and forth between libraries.. how do i combine the libraries because if i go with one or the other i lose my music i have purchased, on both libaries the music belongs to me not my grandma,
Also, a few weeks ago, I loaned the IPOD to somebody and they told me that evidently the IPOD had been hacked and that it had lost all the music. When I got it back, I re-synced it and got some of the music back. After talking to other people, I now suspect that my "friend" tried to do something he wasn't suppose to to and the IPOD shut down or that he was trying to create an Apple ID of his own without paying for it. Now that I have it back, I just want to get the music back that I paid for that is already associated with my ID and that is in my two libraries. I can see them in there (on the computer), I just can't access them to download them on the IPOD. Can you help?

There are actually a few methods for using more than one iPod on a single computer: How To Use Multiple iPods with One Computer
Just to summarise what's in the link above:
Method one is to have two Mac or Windows user accounts which by definition would give you two completely separate libraries.
Method two is to set your preferences so that either one or both iPods get updated with only certain playlists within one library. If you've had no success with this you can have a look through the guide on this page: Loading songs onto iPod automatically
Another option when using a single library is to set one or both of the iPods to manual update: Managing content manually on iPod
You can read about Windows user accounts here: Using Windows XP User Accounts

Can I have two libraries on one iTunes program?

I have two different iPods - one a nano, one a video - and I'm trying to create a way to install on the video iPod its own separate songs without having it import all the original nano's songs from its library. SO FRUSTRATING.
Do I really have to import all 400 songs from my nano's library onto the video, and then go from there importing new songs for the video iPod? And why, when I installed the video iPod's iTunes CD, was a new iTunes application not created in order to keep the two different iPods' independent of one another?
Any assistance would be immensely appreciated.

First of all there can only be one iTUnes with one library on a user account in windows. There is afew programs that will create 2 librarys but you most likly will not need this.
You can create 2 user accounts on windows for each iPOd, but thats usually for 2 people using one PC that want there own separate iTUnes and music.
If both iPods are yours you will most likly want to set one ipod (Most Likly the nano) to "Auto update selected playlist" and select which playlist you want on that nano. to do this connect the nano, rightclick it in iTUnes, hit options and set it. then the video iPOd since its bigger in size you can leave it set on its default of "Auto update all songs".
Another note just so you know, it is possiable to connect 2 ipods at the same time, but HIGHLY recommened NOT TO DO THIS because it can confuse iTUnes and the ipod service running in the background of windows and cause you and iTUnes major headaches

Why can't I have two libraries?

I have two computers and it won't allow me to add all my music to my iPhone 3G. I can put all my music on it then hook it up to another computer then it wants to delete it and sync it with all the other music. Its either I delete all of it from the other computer or I don't put songs on it from another PC. Is there a way around this?

I have a MBP and a Windows PC. Purchased a program called TuneRanger which sync's/copies both library's so they are always the same. Not that problem is gone...

I have two libraries now. One for iPhoto and one for Photos

The Photos library is significantly smaller than the the iPhoto library. 70gb versus 105 gb.
I read I can delete the older iPhoto program and library but why would it be so much larger if it is based on the same photos. Why isn't the new Photos Library the same size?
Thanks
glen

You cannot have two different TC setups.. at least until Mountain Lion.. it did introduce some changes but I am not sure if you can setup two different configurations for TM.. you can use two different devices to back up to. I doubt this will help you.
You might be better using a real backup software.. superduper, CCC, chronosync etc.
The TC by default is available to any Mac in the network to do backups. TM will sort itself out and put each computer on a different backup. These are kept in separate sparsebundles.. so that is all fine.

I have two libraries within iPhoto, however can't find or open the non-default library and can't find a way to even locate the non-default library.

My iPhoto software got set up with two separate libraries of photos, one marked as default. I have saved photos to the non-default library, however now can't seem to find a way to open the non-default library. Every once in a while when I open iPhoto it will ask me, but usually it just opens the default library. How can I open the non-dafult library of photos?

When you launch iPhoto with the option key depressed you'll get this window:
Click to view full size
All libraries on your hard drive (and on external drives) will be listed and the currently used library will be listed as (default).
OT

I need to rename my itunes library, as I have two libraries on 2 different Mac's with the same name. Can this be done?

Hi, I have an iMac in one room and a Mac Mini in another. Each is set up independantly and I unfortunately gave the same iTunes Library name to both libraries, which is now making it impossible for me to use my iPhone as a remote to both libraries. I prefer to have 2 different libraries.
Can I rename one library and if so, how?
Cheers

You can change the name from iTunes preferences.
If you choose to share your entire library, its name appears in the iTunes window (below Shared) on other local computers set up to look for shared libraries. To change the name others see, choose iTunes > Preferences, click General, and type a new name in the Library Name field.
From iTunes 10 for Mac: Share your iTunes library

But can you have two libraries open at the same time?

I have a few libraries stored externally, that I don't acceess much as they have older images, and my main current library. I was wondering whether, with the new management scheme, it would recognize the external libraries as source images, linked to my main library, so that when I'm connected to the external drive, they appear in my main library, fully editable, but when the external is offline, they appear as linked offline previews.
In other words, will the other libraries be suitable as "other" source folders?
Mark

I have a few libraries stored externally, that I
don't acceess much as they have older images, and my
main current library. I was wondering whether, with
the new management scheme, it would recognize the
external libraries as source images, linked to my
main library, so that when I'm connected to the
external drive, they appear in my main library, fully
editable, but when the external is offline, they
appear as linked offline previews.
In other words, will the other libraries be suitable
as "other" source folders?
I don't know if it would quite work like that, but you could import all the projects from those other libraries, then use the new tools to move the master files back to those external drives. Then you would essentially have what you were looking for, which is one central library with some master images held offline in case you needed them later.

I have had to do a system recovery on my desktop computer. In re-installing iTunes, I am told that I have two libraries. How do I access the old one.

I have had to do a system recovery on my desktop computer and it was 'wiped'. iTunes had to be reinstalled. However, I can't access my old library. I am told that there are now two of them. I need to get to the old one.

I had to wipe my computer clean and I had backed up my I tunes on an external hard drive, but I also had all my music on my Ipod. Now that I reinstalled Itunes, it can't locate all my music that I have on my ipod. Did you find a way to do this? Please help if you have a solution.
Thanks

Aperture 3 - Possible to have two libraries - one RAW, one JPEG?

I'm running out of hard disk space on my MacBook, wondering if it's possible to split my Aperture library (which is mostly RAW files) into two - one as it is, and one with high-res JPEGs. So that I can keep the JPEGs on my laptop, taking up little space, and keep the RAWs for when they're needed on an external drive.

Yes, for your existing images. What you do when you import requires a little more planning. There are two sets of JPGs being referred to. One set is the JPGs which your camera creates when you shoot RAW+JPG. The other set is the JPGs which Aperture creates as Image Previews. I shoot RAW only, import RAW to referenced Libraries on external hard drives, and let Aperture create and manage the Previews. These Previews are available whenever the Library is available. For most users, having one Referenced Library suffices: keep the Library (which contains the JPG Previews) on your system hard drive, and keep the Referenced files on an external drive (which, btw, need not be super fast). As pointed out, you are responsible for backing up both the Library and your Referenced files (the Library does not contain the files; backing up the Library will not back up the Referenced files).
I do not ever use or want camera-created JPGs. If you do, you will need to create an import workflow which puts things where you want them.

Should I have Two libraries?

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