possible to move mp3 file location?

[mookiemeister]

Sometime I like to reorganize my mp3 files on my HD differently than what iTunes want. So I turned off the preference to have iTunes automatically organize my music folder. But I like to move those files around and not erase the rating/play count info. Is it possible to move mp3 files around your harddrive in iTunes? Right now, I move mp3 files using Windows Explorer, but then iTunes complained about not able to find the mp3 files, then I have to manually tell it every single mp3 files' new location. Very tedious. Want a way to automate this process.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Starboard]

I take it you're in WinXp. I don't know if this will work the same way. On my mac, if I keep iTunes open while I move my files around, iTunes keeps track of the changes as it's happening. I have no idea if that works with Win version.

[mookiemeister]

Originally posted by Starboard
I take it you're in WinXp. I don't know if this will work the same way. On my mac, if I keep iTunes open while I move my files around, iTunes keeps track of the changes as it's happening. I have no idea if that works with Win version.

Yes. I use XP Pro. What program on Mac do you use to move files around? Is it a file browser program included with iTunes? I use Windows Explorer to move files around and it's not being updated by iTunes automatically even when iTunes is running. I just test it again to make sure it's not working on XP.

[ashawley]

No, I don't believe the iTunes supports that on XP (or Windows at all).

Maybe a bigger question is what is the need you have to move your tunes around at all? I frankly never browse by folder anymore anyway.

Do you have "browse" mode turned on in iTunes? You might find that using iTunes to navigate through your tunes is much quicker than Explorer. I know I have.

Adam

[mookiemeister]

Originally posted by ashawley
No, I don't believe the iTunes supports that on XP (or Windows at all).

Maybe a bigger question is what is the need you have to move your tunes around at all? I frankly never browse by folder anymore anyway.

Do you have "browse" mode turned on in iTunes? You might find that using iTunes to navigate through your tunes is much quicker than Explorer. I know I have.

Adam

When I first start ripping my CDs, I use different program and organized the mp3 files according to artist then album. Then when I moved to iTunes, the first time it asked me if it should organize the files for me, I stupidly answered yes. So all my files were reorganized. Songs that are in the same album are no longer located together in the folder if the album has many artists. Anyways, I still prefer to keep those songs from same album under same folder. That's why I asked if there is a way to automatically update iTunes info of the file location. But if it's not, it's no big deal. I just need to manually change the directory myself. A bit of hassle to put those files back to the way I wanted them.

[Safe Hex]

Originally posted by: mookiemeister

When I first start ripping my CDs, I use different program and organized the mp3 files according to artist then album. Then when I moved to iTunes, the first time it asked me if it should organize the files for me, I stupidly answered yes. So all my files were reorganized. Songs that are in the same album are no longer located together in the folder if the album has many artists. Anyways, I still prefer to keep those songs from same album under same folder. That's why I asked if there is a way to automatically update iTunes info of the file location. But if it's not, it's no big deal. I just need to manually change the directory myself. A bit of hassle to put those files back to the way I wanted them.iTunes, before I noticed, clobbered a huge directory of files. I've just started playing with TagScan (http://www.rialnet.ru/~serega/files/tagscan.zip) and it's put the files back into a "usable" format again. It's quite the program.

I bring in ALL of my files in an "incoming" directory, preview them and then move them to their ultimate destination.

I just wish there was a "rescan" database in iTunes, rather than just "Import Folder" so you have 5 copies of the same song. Is there a database repair/scan/delete program?

Those blue exclamation marks drive me crazy!

[Starboard]

Originally posted by mookiemeister
Yes. I use XP Pro. What program on Mac do you use to move files around? Is it a file browser program included with iTunes? I use Windows Explorer to move files around and it's not being updated by iTunes automatically even when iTunes is running. I just test it again to make sure it's not working on XP.

No, in OSX, it's just in the finder (=Windows Explorer in XP?). No special programs.

too bad, it isn't able to keep track in XP. I'm sure there are sharewares or freewares out there that will help you relink music. On the Mac, we have AppleScripts that can help with that, even if iTunes doesn't keep track of file relocations.

I do agree that iTunes doesn't organize files as effectively. A compilation CD or a sountrack, will be ripped to different folders under the artists' name rather than keeping all the music under the same folder. That annoyed me everytime.

[AndyH]

Originally posted by Starboard
I do agree that iTunes doesn't organize files as effectively. A compilation CD or a sountrack, will be ripped to different folders under the artists' name rather than keeping all the music under the same folder. That annoyed me everytime.
Prior to importing the CD, get info on the tracks and select the "Part of a compilation" check box. This will help keep your compilations together, instead of throwing each individual song into separate artist folders.

[Starboard]

Originally posted by AndyH
Prior to importing the CD, get info on the tracks and select the "Part of a compilation" check box. This will help keep your compilations together, instead of throwing each individual song into separate artist folders.

no kidding! i've been using iTunes since day one, and I never figured that out, I feel like an idiot. thanx.