I'm a switcher who's having iTunes issues. Here's what I've got:
Old Windows PC:
New iMac:
In both my old and new iTunes folders, I have both the iTunes Library.xml and iTunes Music Library.xml files (Why, I don't know). I followed this LifeHacker guide to changing the XML files to correct the paths to the new folders and files (i.e., converting the XML files from Windows to Mac format). In my case, I did Find & Replace in both the XML files to change the file locations from file://localhost/M:/Artist Folder (old path from PC) to file://localhost/Users/username/Music/Artist Folder (new path on Mac).
After doing all of this, I then copied my tweaked XML files into the iTunes folder (where they belong), thus replacing the iTunes-generated versions. I then dragged my whole Music folder (on the Mac) into the iTunes library so that it could add all the files. All my Smart Playlists transferred just fine, as expected. I can not figure out how to make my non-Smart Playlists transfer. I've tried multiple variations of the XML Find & Replace to see what might work. I've also tried just importing the tweaked files. Nothing is working.
Could it be because on my PC, I had the iTunes (library files) folder sitting in my music drive, rather than have the Music in the iTunes/iTunes Media folder? If that's the case, is there an extra change I needed to make in the XML to note that my Library.xml files were sitting on an atypical folder level relative to the actual MP3s?
I've read other directions that involve using the "Consolidate" and "Keep Organized" features, but I really don't want to do that. I don't like the way that iTunes makes a separate folder for every artist who happens to be on one of my many compilations. I'd rather not have the "Just let iTunes organize everything" debate if there's a way to fix my problem without doing that.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Old Windows PC:
- Music Files located at: M: (the drive letter that I had dedicated to all my music) -- I guess that in the XML file(s) would be: file://localhost/M:
- iTunes Library Files (.itl and .xml) located at: M:/iTunes
New iMac:
- Music Files located at: Users/username/Music -- XML version would be: file://localhost/Users/username/Music
- iTunes Library Files (.itl and .xml) located at: Users/username/Music/iTunes
In both my old and new iTunes folders, I have both the iTunes Library.xml and iTunes Music Library.xml files (Why, I don't know). I followed this LifeHacker guide to changing the XML files to correct the paths to the new folders and files (i.e., converting the XML files from Windows to Mac format). In my case, I did Find & Replace in both the XML files to change the file locations from file://localhost/M:/Artist Folder (old path from PC) to file://localhost/Users/username/Music/Artist Folder (new path on Mac).
After doing all of this, I then copied my tweaked XML files into the iTunes folder (where they belong), thus replacing the iTunes-generated versions. I then dragged my whole Music folder (on the Mac) into the iTunes library so that it could add all the files. All my Smart Playlists transferred just fine, as expected. I can not figure out how to make my non-Smart Playlists transfer. I've tried multiple variations of the XML Find & Replace to see what might work. I've also tried just importing the tweaked files. Nothing is working.
Could it be because on my PC, I had the iTunes (library files) folder sitting in my music drive, rather than have the Music in the iTunes/iTunes Media folder? If that's the case, is there an extra change I needed to make in the XML to note that my Library.xml files were sitting on an atypical folder level relative to the actual MP3s?
I've read other directions that involve using the "Consolidate" and "Keep Organized" features, but I really don't want to do that. I don't like the way that iTunes makes a separate folder for every artist who happens to be on one of my many compilations. I'd rather not have the "Just let iTunes organize everything" debate if there's a way to fix my problem without doing that.
Any help is greatly appreciated.