The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

Featured Article: BMO Capital Forecasts 2.4M+ Macs For the Quarter

TMO Quick Tip - Consolidating iTunes Libraries

by , 7:30 AM EDT, October 27th, 2006

Not everyone has the luxury of nearly limitless storage space for their iTunes library, and even if you do, it's kind of tough to cart around terabytes of storage when your primary computer is a laptop. Thanks to iTunes 7's Consolidate Library feature, you can add music and videos to iTunes even when your music library hard drive isn't available.

Let's say, for example, you use a MacBook Pro, and your iTunes library lives on a large external hard drive that stays behind when you travel. While you are out and about, you add a new CD you just bought to your iTunes library. Now you have two libraries: One on the hard drive that stays on your desk, and another on your MacBook Pro's built-in hard drive.

When you get back to your desk, here's what to do:

  • Reconnect your iTunes library hard drive to your Mac.
  • Launch iTunes 7.
  • Choose Advanced > Consolidate Library.


Putting your iTunes libraries back together.

iTunes 7 will move the library from your MacBook Pro and add it to the library on your external hard drive.


if you have ideas for Mac related tips that you think other TMO readers might find helpful.

Digg!

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
View Name:Guest
Subject: If only we coulkd have just video on external drive
Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2048 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Subject: iTunes Preferences

Quote
Guest wrote:
when is apple going to allow us to cart our music around on the macbook pro drive and have a legitimate video library we can consolidate to for video?

Edd


You can add songs or videos that are on an external disk (or in another folder on your internal disk) to the iTunes Library without moving them. In fact, you've been able to do that for a long time. In iTunes' preferences, click on Advanced->General, then unclick the box that says, "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library." If that's not what you mean, please be clearer, as it's confusing as to what a "legitimate video library" might be.

View Name:Guest
Subject: hold option
View Name:Guest
Subject:
Comment on this Article


You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.
Log in | Register | Having Problems? Reset TMO Cookies & Try Again
Username:   Password:   Log me on automatically each visit   

You are not logged in, and this post will appear as "Guest." Log in with your username and password from the TMO forums. If you do not have a username, you can register here.
Please note that guests are limited to including a maximum of two URLs per post.


Post A Comment
  Subject


  Your Comments



Please enter the word exactly as you see it in the image above. Registered users aren't prompted for this. Having trouble reading the image get a new one.


Recent Headlines - Updated Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

Tue., 6:55 PM
User Friendly Blog by Ted Landau - Why User Interface Design Matters
4:30 PM
Apple Trackpad Secrets and Technical History
4:05 PM
iPodObserver - Apple: What to Bring When Buying iPhone 3G
3:35 PM
Microsoft: We Have a Noisy Competitor
2:50 PM
Columnist: Safari Security Fails to Learn from Past
2:20 PM
iPodObserver - Services to Unlock Mobile Phones Gaining Momentum
1:00 PM
Daylite 3.7.4 Adds iWork 08, Dialectic Integration
12:20 PM
FoneLink 2.1 Adds Support for More Cell Phones
11:25 AM
Freeway 5.1.3 Adds Chinese Support
11:10 AM
iPodObserver - Rumor: Canadian Apple Stores Won't Sell iPhone 3G
10:35 AM
Microsoft Aligns with Icahn for Yahoo Takeover
10:00 AM
Hot Forum Topic - Is Internet Killing the Video Star?
8:20 AM
iPodObserver - MobileMe Launches on July 10
7:55 AM
iPodObserver - Apple: iPhone 3G Launches at 8AM Friday
6:00 AM
iPO Review - BudFits
 

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • Special Report: WWDC 2008
  • Special Report: iPhone
  • __________
  • Help TMO Grow
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!
  • New Media Expo 2008

Apple Stock Quote

  • AAPL: $179.55. Change Today: +4.39.
  • (Prices delayed up to 20 minutes.)
  • Discuss in our Apple Finance Board

Hot Topics

Apple iTunes

Top Deals From DealsOnTheWeb