How do I sync iTunes with Windows Explorer?

[Snookerman]

I want the music and the videos that I have on the computer in different folders to automatically change when I change them in the iTunes library and I want the iTunes library to change when I change something in Windows Explorer.

For example, I removed all the unnecessary comments from all mp3s on my computer in iTunes and I don't want to have to search around every folder to do it manually for every mp3, I just want them all to sync with iTunes. The same goes the other way, If I remove or rename or add a new file in my Music folders, I want iTunes to automatically update the library.

I searched for an answer everywhere but all I could find required me to download some other program and it still didn't do all I wanted. I figure that there should be some simpler solution in the setting on iTunes but I just cant find it. Please help me! Thanks!

 

[i.shaun]

I can't think of any way to do what you asked. From what I gather, you have multiple folders with files, and want them all to be inside iTunes, and to have the library updated when you physically edit them, or when you edit them in iTunes.


Have you tried importing all music into the iTunes library (letting it copy everything), and letting iTunes control it all? That is what I do, and I find it much more efficient. Any file I open, will open -- and copy itself to itunes. I can then delete the original. iTunes copies it to an Artist Folder, and also an album folder, if available. File names are edited automatically by itunes, usually "track # - Title.mp3" I deleted all track #s, so now it is just "title.mp3"

 

[Snookerman]

That sounds great! Could you explain more in detail how to do that? Sorry if it's a stupid question, I'm new to iTunes.

 

[i.shaun]

That sounds great! Could you explain more in detail how to do that? Sorry if it's a stupid question, I'm new to iTunes.

Simply go into iTunes preferences.

Select the place you wish to have the library (Default on Windows is "My Documents\My Music\iTunes\"

Check the "Copy files to iTunes music folder when adding to library"

and Check "Keep iTunes Music folder organized"


now Open iTunes -- if it has stuff in it already, remove it (you can move to recycle bin, or keep files)

Now that you have a blank Library, Open one of the other folders you have with music, highlight and drag them all into iTunes. iTunes will then copy the files, and place them in organized folders and sub folders for you. This may take some time. If you have .wma files, it may have to convert them, thus taking more time.

once all your folders have been copied to iTunes, you'll have 2 copies of everything. One copy inside "my documents\my music\iTunes\music\"

and one copy in "where_ever\they\were\before\you copied them"

Verify that your music is all in iTunes, and works. Check out the iTunes music folder too in order to verify they were all successfully copied. Once verified to your liking, it is safe to delete the original files you copied. To be extra safe, burn the folders to mp3/data CDs before deleting.


Now you're ready to use iTunes. You'll notice all file names in iTunes is taken from the ID tags, and you can edit them as easily as you can with a file in Windows Explorer. Double-click, and re-name it.

In order to burn CDs, simply highlight all you want, and drag it to the "playlists" section. iTunes creates a playlist for you, and there is a button on the bottom right to "burn" // Make sure you have selected the type of Disc in iTunes preferences first. It can be set to burn a certain disc when you click burn. Set it to audio CD, Mp3 Cd, or Mp3 DVD.


To edit multiple items at once, Highlight them, and click "get info" or "properties" (get info is for macs only I think)

You'll be presented with a window for edited general information for multiple tittles, such as "Artist" "Album" "Genre" etc... I do this a lot to make files Uniform.

No more "Metallica" "metallica" "metalliA" "Metalica" "metalica"

Each of those different spellings makes iTunes create a separate artist folder for each one. By editing them all to say "Metallica" they all transfer to a single artist folder.

You may notice some folders in iTunes to be "@www.mp3.com" or something, if you have downloaded a couple of songs off file sharing networks. Even though "Artist" is right, inside the ID tag, "Album artist" is what it's using. Simply remove the info from the "album artist" field, or change it to the right name.

You can also just not download music for that very annoying reason.


Let me know if you have anymore iTunes questions. I may not be the most knowledgeable person here, but I have gotten used to iTunes, and even use it on my windows machine (i used to be a winamp guy)

 

[Snookerman]

Thanks a lot! That is exactly what I needed, to be able to use iTunes as a batch renaming tool since I was aware of the "power" of "get info". When I installed iTunes I did check to keep the folder organized but that was obviously not enough. Now I'll be able to satisfy my OCD and make everything perfect!

I have one more question, do you know if I can add contact to my iPod without having to sync with Outlook or whatever program is in the drop-down list? I just want to add a few contacts for my trip, I don't want to add the entire contact-list, and syncing is a bit scary, I like adding everything myself.
Thanks for your help mate!

 

[i.shaun]

Thanks a lot! That is exactly what I needed, to be able to use iTunes as a batch renaming tool since I was aware of the "power" of "get info". When I installed iTunes I did check to keep the folder organized but that was obviously not enough. Now I'll be able to satisfy my OCD and make everything perfect!

I have one more question, do you know if I can add contact to my iPod without having to sync with Outlook or whatever program is in the drop-down list? I just want to add a few contacts for my trip, I don't want to add the entire contact-list, and syncing is a bit scary, I like adding everything myself.
Thanks for your help mate!

as far as I know it only can sync contacts from the address book of Mail/outlook.


ipod touch actually has the option of adding them yourself from the ipod. Maybe you can make another address book, with the select contacts you want, and sync that, I'm not sure.