iTunes Configuration Help

[Nemphtis]

Greetings.

I own an iPod Touch and as someone who is still a fairly new iPod user, I’m having some trouble getting my head around the iTunes application. After some tweaking, I’ve accidentally done something so that all of my music has been taken out of my nicely organised folders and re-organised in a separate folder by artist name.

My first question is if there is a quick way of fixing this mistake I made, or will I have to manually move each file back into their folders and spend ages doing so. My second question is much more important though; how can I keep my personal way of organising my music files/folders on my PC whilst still allowing iTunes to add any new MP3s to its library when I’ve added a new file to the My Music folder.

Thanks in advance,

Nemphtis

[rockmyplimsoul]

Rule #1: Never move the native files yourself. Otherwise iTunes will lose track of where they went. This means, don't try to "correct" the file structure that iTunes set up for you (more on that later).

Rule #2: If you want to keep your native file organization in a particular way, then be sure to un-check the options "Keep iTunes music folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library" (see Edit/Preferences/Advanced). If you don't do this, your native files will remain where they were, but iTunes will make copies of the files and put them in an organized structure within the "iTunes Music Folder".

Given those two fundamental rules, and what you want to accomplish, you ought to un-check those two options. Now, how do you go about fixing the native file structure? Even though you've already created a library, you could delete its contents and start over since your original files should be where they were -- unless you were monkeying around with them after realizing that iTunes didn't do what you expected. Deleting the library would only delete the copies that iTunes created, so as long as you're not emotionally tied to the iTunes library you've started (e.g. playcounts or song ratings) you could simply select all items and delete them.

But first, make sure that iTunes did in fact create copies by (a) verifying that the two options above were selected, (b) check "Get Info" on several items in the library and see if their file path is NOT the path to the original location that you created, and (c) verify outside of iTunes (e.g. Windows explorer) that iTunes did in fact create a complete set of copies, all organized under the iTunes Music Folder. If all that is true, then you should be able to delete the library contents.

If you do the above, you can simply re-add all your native files (the original copies, not the ones that iTunes created!). Just make sure you have the two options above un-selected first.

Clear as mud?

[rockmyplimsoul]

ps ...

Since you're a stickler for having the native files organized in a particular way (you really don't need to do that with iTunes) you will need to understand a few more things:

Rule #3: If your iTunes preferences are set such that YOU organize the native files in a particular location and format, keep in mind that when you add native files to iTunes it will expect those files to remain in that location and be named the same way. Therefore, once you add a file to iTunes, don't move it or re-name it (see Rule #1).

So given this last rule, how do you handle new music you want to add to the library?

(a) If you want to add a new native file to your library, say a file that you (a-hem) got from another computer, you're going to need to name it and file it according to whatever scheme you're currently using, and then add the file to iTunes. Do not add it to iTunes and then move the file or re-name it. Do all that first, then add to iTunes.

(b) Ripping CDs will put the native files in your designated iTunes music folder. iTunes has no way to know your particular naming or filing conventions, so there's no way to teach iTunes to name the files in a certain way or put them into a particular file/folder structure. Same with iTunes purchases -- they'll get dumped into the iTunes Music Folder that is specified in your Preferences.

[ReyZero]

Basically just turn off the option that has iTunes copy music into it's own folder.
I use this function, but I find it lame that it only has a set amount of characters per name, I'll be looking on my eternal drive with half a song title (granted they're long titles)

[Nemphtis]

Thanks for the reply rockmyplimsoul. Unfortunately iTunes took all of my tracks and moved them to My Music without making copies. So the old locations where my tracks used to be are just folders full of nothing now.

If I check "Keep iTunes music folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library". Will that mean iTunes will organise my music based on artist and then album, and also any files I add to the library will be copied, not cut/pasted into My Music. So let's assume I have a track in My Downloads and I add it to my iTunes library. It copies the track into my Music folder, but there is also the original in My Downloads. Even if I delete the one in My Downloads, will there still be an MP3 copy in My Music to use?

The reason I ask is that I may as well just do that so I don't have to keep two separate music libraries organised. I can just use the iTunes one to keep all my music, even though I'm really clueless as to how to use iTunes properly.

[ReyZero]

The way iTunes organizes for me is that whatever I set my default music location to be, say C://User/Music it copies the song from wherever I opened it from and places it into that folder by Music/Artist/Album/TrackNumber SongTitle.format, it will also add disc number if it's a multi-disc album.

Note that it copies the song, meaning I need to delete the old one or it just doubles up my space.

[S2_Mac]

Unfortunately iTunes took all of my tracks and moved them to My Music without making copies. So the old locations where my tracks used to be are just folders full of nothing now.

iTunes only copies files into the designated iTunes Music folder when those files originate outside of the designated iTunes Music folder; in your case, it's a safe bet that you've set your iTunes Music folder as the "My Music" folder. Hence the files were just moved around within "My Music".

So, in response to this question: If I check "Keep iTunes music folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library". Will that mean iTunes will organise my music based on artist and then album, and also any files I add to the library will be copied, not cut/pasted into My Music, the answer is a qualified yes -- provided the files start out somewhere other than My Music, they will be copied into My Music and organized by Artist -> Album -> Track. So, as in your example, if a file is located in your Downloads folder then when it is added to iTunes it will be copied into My Music, and the original will be left in Downloads. And yes -- when the file gets deleted from Downloads it will still exist in My Music.

A note -- unless you use another media player that requires files be stored in My Music, you'd be better off using iTunes to "consolidate" your music files into the "iTunes Music" folder. As things stand now, with your files in "My Music", you will be unable to transfer your iTunes library -- your playlists, ratings, counts, dates added, etc. -- to another operating system. Unless you plan on using XP forever (tempting, I know, but Win7 looks like it might be OK ;-), you should prepare for such a move now, while you still have lottsa disk space. Post again for more info on Consolidating.

(The iTunes philosophy is that the file system is a lousy tool for cataloging music files. Whatever your folder scheme was, iTunes can mimic it plus make it more flexible. Like, if you were filing according to Genre, instead just list your iTunes library and sort the listing by Genre...or make smart playlists that gather up all the tracks belonging to a Genre. To copy the files to another drive, or onto a CD, etc., simply select all the tracks you want to copy and drag them from the iTunes list into a folder; it's that easy. The beauty of the iTunes method really shines when it comes to fixing mistakes -- say you find that a few tracks in an album have been mis-classified. In a file system-based scheme either the album has to be split across genres, or a note has to be added to the folder, or a comment entered into the tracks' tags... with iTunes, there's no need to mess with the underlying filing; just change the tags and iTunes will -- literally -- sort it all out for you. Well, I'll get off the soapbox now ;-)

[Nemphtis]

Unfortunately iTunes took all of my tracks and moved them to My Music without making copies. So the old locations where my tracks used to be are just folders full of nothing now.

iTunes only copies files into the designated iTunes Music folder when those files originate outside of the designated iTunes Music folder; in your case, it's a safe bet that you've set your iTunes Music folder as the "My Music" folder. Hence the files were just moved around within "My Music".

So, in response to this question: If I check "Keep iTunes music folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library". Will that mean iTunes will organise my music based on artist and then album, and also any files I add to the library will be copied, not cut/pasted into My Music, the answer is a qualified yes -- provided the files start out somewhere other than My Music, they will be copied into My Music and organized by Artist -> Album -> Track. So, as in your example, if a file is located in your Downloads folder then when it is added to iTunes it will be copied into My Music, and the original will be left in Downloads. And yes -- when the file gets deleted from Downloads it will still exist in My Music.

A note -- unless you use another media player that requires files be stored in My Music, you'd be better off using iTunes to "consolidate" your music files into the "iTunes Music" folder. As things stand now, with your files in "My Music", you will be unable to transfer your iTunes library -- your playlists, ratings, counts, dates added, etc. -- to another operating system. Unless you plan on using XP forever (tempting, I know, but Win7 looks like it might be OK ;-), you should prepare for such a move now, while you still have lottsa disk space. Post again for more info on Consolidating.

(The iTunes philosophy is that the file system is a lousy tool for cataloging music files. Whatever your folder scheme was, iTunes can mimic it plus make it more flexible. Like, if you were filing according to Genre, instead just list your iTunes library and sort the listing by Genre...or make smart playlists that gather up all the tracks belonging to a Genre. To copy the files to another drive, or onto a CD, etc., simply select all the tracks you want to copy and drag them from the iTunes list into a folder; it's that easy. The beauty of the iTunes method really shines when it comes to fixing mistakes -- say you find that a few tracks in an album have been mis-classified. In a file system-based scheme either the album has to be split across genres, or a note has to be added to the folder, or a comment entered into the tracks' tags... with iTunes, there's no need to mess with the underlying filing; just change the tags and iTunes will -- literally -- sort it all out for you. Well, I'll get off the soapbox now ;-)

That's correct, I had all of my music in My Music and I chose the My Music folder as my iTunes folder. Also yes, I would like information on the Consolidate thing. I noticed it in the settings but I have no idea how Consolidate works and I was afraid I might end up wiping my entire music collection by accident so I didn't want to mess around with the settings too much.

I have moved my iTunes music folder back to the default My User/Music/iTunes instead of just User/My Music. But my songs haven't moved into the iTunes folder, they are still in the same place. How can I get them to move?

[S2_Mac]

First off, put those files back where they were (grrrr ;-) The file paths of your music files have to be exactly what they were before you moved this folder, so put it back where it came from; if you changed its name, change it back.

When you think you've got things right, test by selecting a track in iTunes and right-clicking for Get Info -- if a dialog comes up complaining that the file can't be found, there's something wrong with the filepaths; double-check that your music-containing folders are just like they were before.

When everything's running good, you can Consolidate:
1) In iTunes Edit menu -> Preferences -> Advanced, click the "Reset" button up in the "iTunes Music folder location" area; then click the OK button to save prefs

2) Then choose the iTunes File menu -> Library -> Consolidate Library command. iTunes will copy every file that it knows about into the "iTunes Music" folder in the "iTunes" folder, storing them according to its Artist -> Album -> Track scheme. When copying is done, test (as above); if things are running good you can delete whatever music files aren't in the "iTunes Music" folder.

Now you can back up all your iTunes stuff just by making a copy of the "iTunes" folder, When you move to another computer -- whether it's XP, Vista, or Mac -- you'll just have to copy your old computer's "iTunes" folder into the correct location on the new computer, and everything will be just the same. (Small lie; photos aren't included in the "iTunes" folder.)

[Nemphtis]

First off, put those files back where they were (grrrr ;-) The file paths of your music files have to be exactly what they were before you moved this folder, so put it back where it came from; if you changed its name, change it back.

When you think you've got things right, test by selecting a track in iTunes and right-clicking for Get Info -- if a dialog comes up complaining that the file can't be found, there's something wrong with the filepaths; double-check that your music-containing folders are just like they were before.

When everything's running good, you can Consolidate:
1) In iTunes Edit menu -> Preferences -> Advanced, click the "Reset" button up in the "iTunes Music folder location" area; then click the OK button to save prefs

2) Then choose the iTunes File menu -> Library -> Consolidate Library command. iTunes will copy every file that it knows about into the "iTunes Music" folder in the "iTunes" folder, storing them according to its Artist -> Album -> Track scheme. When copying is done, test (as above); if things are running good you can delete whatever music files aren't in the "iTunes Music" folder.

Now you can back up all your iTunes stuff just by making a copy of the "iTunes" folder, When you move to another computer -- whether it's XP, Vista, or Mac -- you'll just have to copy your old computer's "iTunes" folder into the correct location on the new computer, and everything will be just the same. (Small lie; photos aren't included in the "iTunes" folder.)

My files now get copied into my iTunes folder when I add a new folder/file to the library. iTunes organises the music itself, basically meaning I have both of those boxes ticked in the user preferences.
I consolidated my library so it copied all my stuff into the folder too. All the tracks seem to be working fine in iTunes from what I can tell.

I think that solves my main problem now, so thanks for all the tips on how to sort it out guys. I'm not yet 100% on how playlists and libraries work, but I will leave that mystery for another day. I appreciate the detailed advice though. :]

[ReyZero]

Playlists don't actually contain the file, they just have the link per say
Example being, if you were to somehow get a playlist that contained a song that doesn't exist in the library (I believe playlists automatically delete the song anyway) then it will just skip it since it won't be able to find it.
Library is basically a master playlist that stores every song file, only used with iTunes