Using folders to sort iTunes by location of files

Question

I recently got an iTunes Shuffle and like it. I like iTunes but am extremely disappointed with a few glaring problems with it.
1. There is no way to set up a sort or playlist based on location;
2. Any other sort or criteria for a playlist mixes music without regard to catagory from previous software systems;
3. There is no way to delete a song, folder, playlist, etc. once it's created and/or added to the library or even a playlist.
After searching the forums, help files, and WWW to find nothing helpful I figured out my own way to do these but it involves setting up things a little differently - non-documented use. Someone else may find this helpful. That's the reason for this posting.
Once iTunes is installed there are two files called "iTunes Library.itl" and "iTunes Music Library.xml" in a folder called "iTunes". This folder will probably be in your MyDocuments folder in a subfolder called MyMusic. You'll have to find it. These two files are the library. iTunes will run fine without them but there will be no library if they are gone. That's the key.
If you are reluctant, do a back up of your library by selecting the top menu "File" and selecting "Export Library". Next you are going to have to delete everything and start all over again, but it will be quick and much better when you're done.
I have my music grouped based on folder name - type of music, artist, album, etc. For instance, one folder is named Upbeat Classical but has about 400 different files from different artists, genres, type of music, etc. Even though it says classical, any tune that sounds classical (often New Age, Instrumental, even Techno) and has an active tempo to it is included. This will allow anyone to now use iTunes to group based on those folders (or any other grouping of your choice).
1.) Start iTunes and see what is in your library. You want it to be blank. If not, close iTunes. Find the two files named above and delete them. Now start iTunes again and look at the library to make sure it's empty.
2.) Go the the top menu "File" and select "Add Folder to Library". Find the folder you want and select it. This will load ONLY that folder into the library.
3.) Go to the top menu "Edit" and select "Select All". Now all the songs in that folder are highlighted.
4.) Go to the top menu "File" or right mouse click on the highlighted selections and select "Get Info". At this point you may get a warning that what you do will affect multiple files. That's what you want to do so pass it by.
5.) Once in the "Multiple Song Information" sub-window, use the Grouping bar and write in the name you want to use. Since I use folder names I do it this way - \Folder Name\ and press the OK button.
6.) To check, right mouse click on the top bar showing the titles of each column. click on Groupings so it has a check mark in front of it and you will see a new column called Grouping. They should all have the same entry now.
Here's the important key. These changes remain even when you delete the library.
Now that you have your first folder done, go back and delete the two files at the beginning again. Do this same process again for the next folder. Continue to delete the library and start with the next folder until all your folder are done. At this point all the files have their folder name in the Groupings information slot and you can now import all the folders you want and mix, match, create playlists, etc. based on location or what ever other category you set your groupings up as.
Unfortunately, this doesn't address deleting a song once it's in the library, but that's a different problem.
I hope this helps some of you.
Dr. Ken Rich
IBM Windows 2000

Answer 1

Wow.
The way you have suggested doing this is really far, far too much and lots of unnecessary work.
Might as well wash your clothes in the creek, send them to the dry cleaners then come home and wash & dry them and put them away.
Note that when you delete the library.itl, you dlete EVERYTHING from the library. This includes ratings, playcounts, date added, last played.
What if you want to create a new grouping (in the way you suggest) in a year?
You lose ALL the info you have added in the meantime and get to start from scratch.
1. There is no way to set up a sort or playlist based on location;
No idea what you mean by “location”. Do you mean where the songs are located on you computer?
You can create a new playlist, then drag the foder directly intot th eiplaylist in iTunes. iTunes will add the songs to the library and to the playlist. No need to even add the grouping.
Can’t think of why the location of the music would be a concern. They should all be in the iTunes music folder.
Any reason you are concerned with where the specific songs are located?
2. Any other sort or criteria for a playlist mixes music without regard to catagory from previous software systems
3. There is no way to delete a song, folder, playlist, etc. once it's created and/or added to the library or even a playlist.
Very easy. Select it and press Delete.
These two files are the library. iTunes will run fine without them
Not really, which is why iTunes creates them if they are not there.
The library.itl is where song info is stored. Location, rating, date added, last played.
iTunes creates the library.xml fro other programs to use to access iTunes music. The library.xml is created by iTunes for other programs to access the library. iTunes itself does not use it.
I have my music grouped based on folder name - type of music, artist, album, etc. For instance, one folder is named Upbeat Classical but has about 400 different files from different artists, genres, type of music, etc.
So if you want to find your Kenny G, you have to know exactly how you decided to categorize it. Is it under classical, new age, instrumental, or ???
You can simply find what you want in iTunes then drag it directly from iTunes to where to you want.
Add something to the groupings in iTunes. No need to erase everything.
Then sort by Grouping.
Again iTunes is a music manager. Use it to manage your music. Make sure you r ID3 tags are correct and it’s very, very simple to sort, view specific songs, artists, albums or whatever with only a few mouse click.