Managing Files
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.
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 addedand this presumes you have "Keep iTunes Media folder organized" setbut 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: 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.
NEW: Drop to Playlist
If you like the "Automatically Add to iTunes" folder that is created with iTunes 9, which allows you to drop files to it to add to iTunes, you may like Drop to Playlist. This is a droplet that will add files dropped on it to your iTunes library and then copy them to a specific user playlist that you 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.
UPDATED: PDF Adder v3.0
PDF Adder v3.0 is a collection of three AppleScripts that assist with adding PDF files to iTunes as "digital booklet" PDF tracks. Each provides a method for easily supplying Artist and Album tag data which is then applied to the newly-added PDF track:
- Add as PDF to iTunes is a PDF Service workflow that, when installed, will be available in the PDF pop-up menu of the Print Dialog. It allows you to save the current document as a PDF file (from any application that uses the Print Dialog) and add it to iTunes.
- PDF Adder is an applet that will let you choose an existing PDF file and add it to iTunes. It can be installed in iTunes' Scripts folder for easy access from iTunes Script menu.
- PDF Dropper is a droplet that lets you add a PDF file to iTunes by drag-and-drop.
This latest incarnation has been updated for Leopard/Snow Leopard. The last update was in 2006.
UPDATED: Music Folder Files Not Added, v1.1
Music Folder Files Not Added is an application 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. Includes options to Add a selection of found files to iTunes or move them to the Trash.
This latest version fixes a problem with file paths containing single-quote characters.
UPDATED: Quick Convert v2.8
Quick Convert will convert all or just the selected tracks of the selected Playlist using your choice of available iTunes encoders, restoring your Preferences-set encoder afterwards. Works with importing selected CD tracks, too.
Additionally, you can:
- copy all converted/imported tracks to a new playlist
- choose to remove and/or delete the original tracks and/or files
- if you have selected the AAC encoder you can choose to make the tracks "bookmarkable" and re-add the converted files to the Audiobooks library
Latest version is compatible with iTunes 7.7.1 and accounts for DOS-formatted drives during M4B conversion.
UPDATED: Lossless to AAC Workflow v2.1
Lossless to AAC Workflow is a set of two scripts which assist with importing/managing Apple Lossless audio files and sending converted AAC copies to a mounted iPod set to "manually manage songs and videos".
Lossless to AAC Workflow (CD->iPod):
- Imports each enabled CD track as an Apple Lossless file
- Makes a converted AAC copy of each imported Lossless file
- Adds the AAC file to iPod, deleting the original AAC from iTunes.
Lossless to AAC Workflow (iTunes->iPod):
- Makes a converted AAC copy of each Lossless track selected in iTunes
- Adds the AAC file to iPod, deleting the original AAC from iTunes.
In this way you can keep archived Lossless files on your hard drive, and manageable AAC files on your iPod.
This latest version fixes an issue with intermittent copying.
UPDATED: Rip to iPod v2.1
Rip To iPod v2.1 will import each enabled (checkmarked) CD track to iTunes and immediately copy it to iPod, removing the track from the iTunes library and deleting the original file, thus giving the appearance of seamless CD-to-iPod importing. You can also change your encoder on-the-fly and your Preferences-set encoder will be restored after the rip. Requires that iPod be set to "Manually manage music and videos". iPods set to sync are ignored.
This latest version fixes an issue with intermittent copying.
NEW: Add from Amazon MP3 Folder v1.0
Is it just that the Amazon MP3 Downloader application won't automatically add downloads to my iTunes or is this a Windows-only feature? Didn't bother to find out for myself because I decided to have a script do it instead. Add from Amazon MP3 Folder will let you choose the Album folders from your "Amazon MP3" downloads folder and add their files to iTunes. Optionally, if you allow iTunes to "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library", you can choose to move the original folder(s) and files out of the "Amazon MP3" download folder and to the Trash after they're added to iTunes. Saves a few keystrokes.
It occurred to me to make this a Folder Action--so that files get added as soon as they hit the "Amazon MP3" downloads folder--but Folder Actions can be dicey when working with internet-downloading files. So, you've got to run this from the iTunes Script menu.
I've also included the script "Open Amazon MP3 Folder" that will open your Amazon MP3 downloads folder and make it the frontmost window in the Finder. This script can be run from iTunes' Script menu as well.
