Copy iTunes tracks between libraries

Jan 04, '07 07:30:00AM

Contributed by: DougAdams

iTunes users who use the Multiple Library feature may be interested in batch-adding tracks from one library to another. Here's one way of doing just that:

  1. Select the tracks you want copied from the current library and create a new playlist for them (Shift-Command-N, or File -> New Playlist From Selection).
  2. Select that new playlist in the Source column and then choose File -> Export. Save the resulting .txt file to your Desktop (a different nice out-of-the-way place would do as well).
  3. Quit iTunes. Then re-start iTunes and load another library (Option-click when starting iTunes).
  4. Select File -> Import and navigate to the .txt file you just exported to the Desktop. Click OK. The tracks will be added to the current library. (You can Trash the .txt file after importing.)
If you care to, you can open the original library and remove the playlist you created, and/or the tracks you just copied. Just don't Trash the files -- unless you know that they have been copied to another iTunes Music Library folder!

[robg adds: If you work with multiple iTunes libraries, you might want to check out Doug's $10 iTunes Library Manager package. It makes the management of multiple libraries quite simple; you can use it for free for two libraries, or pay the shareware fee to manage an unlimited number of libraries.]

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