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Size of Files, Size of Library
It's not the size of your "iTunes Media" files that best describes how big your media file collection is. Often, querying Correspondents will report that their iTunes Media folder is so many GBs (or so many days-worth). But if that total includes a lot of video then the number of files is smaller than the same-sized folder containing just 128kbps audio files (eg: my "Star Trek" with Extras at 6GB+ is a little smaller than my "Compilations" folder which contains over a thousand files). Very few of my scripts and apps directly work on the files in the iTunes Media folder anyway, so in many cases its size is irrelevant; scripts work with tracks in iTunes, so the number of tracks is more important than the size of their files. A better relative measurement for comparison purposes is the size of your "iTunes Music Library.xml" file (located in ~/Music/iTunes). It has an entry for each track in your library and all (well, most) playlists. Therefore, the more tracks and playlists you have the larger the XML file will be.
Roll Yer Own iTunes LP
Apple has posted everything you need "to create a rich, interactive experience around your music and movies. All right in iTunes." It's a complete development guide including templates, best practices, and the latest TuneKit.
Apps Not Displaying
On further investigation, it appears that AppleScript applications with bundles are not displaying in the iTunes 9.0.2 Script menu. This means that any app written under 10.6 will not appear since app bundles are the default application build style. Apps written without bundles pre-10.6 will display. Regular scripts, with or without bundles, seem fine.
UPDATE: ScriptPal is a good workaround.
iTunes 9.0.2 is Released
iTunes 9.0.2 has been released. "iTunes 9.0.2 adds support for Apple TV software version 3.0, adds an option for a dark background for Grid View, and improves support for accessibility." Meaning that AppleTV has been updated, too, with support for iTunes LP and Extras, internet radio, and Genius. Nice.
NEW: Music Folder Files Not Added v2.0
Well, depending on your point of view, perhaps this is an update. Music Folder Files Not Added v2.0 is a Snow Leopard-only application (MFFNA v1.1 is still posted and will run on Tiger and Leopard) that will list the file paths of the files in your designated "iTunes Music" folder which are not in iTunes' library. Additionally, you can select a different parent folder and its contents will be compared to the iTunes library. You can then Add a selection of found files to iTunes or move them to the Trash.
This version was developed with Xcode using the new AppleScriptObjC framework and as such will only run on Snow Leopard.
NEW: Make Add-to-Playlist-Droplet
After posting Drop to Playlist recently, I went crazy for the droplets. This new script, Make Add-to-Playlist-Droplet, will create AppleScript droplets that perform a function similar to iTunes 9's "Automatically Add to iTunes" folder but for individual playlists. Simply select a playlist and run the script to create a droplet that references the selected playlist. Once such a droplet is created, drag-and-dropping files to its icon in the Finder will add the files to your iTunes library and copy the new tracks directly to the playlist that the droplet references. The script will allow you to create as many droplets for as may playlists as you like.
UPDATED: De-Genre v3.0
Macworld's Chris Breen mentioned De-Genre in his recent column and it occurred to me that I should freshen that one up.
De-Genre v3.0 re-assigns the Library tracks of selected Genres to another Genre so that the original—and consequently un-assigned—Genres disappear from iTunes' Genre pop-up list. This latest version runs as universal binary and includes the aforementioned freshening-up of code.
Gathering Far-Flung Files
I've gotten several emails lately inquiring about scripts and apps that can assist with gathering up far-flung files from old music folders. It's the sort of thing that happens when you move to a new computer, upgrade iTunes, and add hard drives without doing the requisite housekeeping at the time (or on a regular basis). This is fairly typical:
Throughout the last 4-5 years, Iʻve ended up with an enormous bunch of music which is all on one of my hard drives, and Iʻd like to consolidate all of it, get rid of the dupes, junk/damaged recordings, etc. For instance, some of the data are backups of my old iTunes libraries that I created before upgrading to newer versions. I like the way the script addToLib works. but Iʻm looking for a way that I can accomplish the same thing without moving the music from each album folder, and then Trashing each folder individually.
I've been recommending using Music Folder Files Not Added which allows you to scan a folder any number of folders deep for files not in the iTunes database and optionally add them. Of course, you may still want to Trash the folder once the files are added—and this presumes you have "Keep iTunes Media folder organized" set—but you'll only have to move the single parent folder to the Trash and not dozens of sub-folders. And if duplicates are a problem, there's always Dupin, right?. Yes, still some work involved (after all, it took a long time for you to make that mess!) but operating on one set of parent folders at a time will make the process easier.
UPDATED: Embed Artwork v2.0
I've updated Brian Webster's Embed Artwork as universal binary, but otherwise there are no changes. This script simply re-embeds artwork into the files of the selected tracks. Handy for ensuring that artwork data travels with a file.
UPDATED: Drop to Playlist v1.1
My friend David Bills asked that Drop to Playlist include the "Purchased" playlist in its selection settings. Done! (boodely-OOP!).
Drop to Playlist v1.1 is an AppleScript droplet that will add files dropped on it to your iTunes library and copy them to a specific user playlist set in the droplet's preferences. The preference setting is accessed by double-clicking the droplet, and can be changed when required. Handy when placed in the Finder toolbar or sidebar.
