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30 Most Recent RSS FeediTunes AppleScript Delete Bug Moreso
A lister on the AppleScript mailing list writes:
The Scripting Interface Guidelines agree with you: make and delete should be used to create/destroy objects completely, while add and remove should be used to add/remove existing objects to sub-groups. e.g. Compare Address Book, which uses add and remove to add/remove existing person objects to group objects. iTunes predates the SIG, however, and while its scripting interface is fairly extensive it does suffer a number of longstanding design quirks.
Yep. I'd be happy if they just made it like it used to be.
iTunes 7.6 AppleScript Delete Bug
The more I think about the delete issue, mentioned below, the more I think this is a bug and not a feature. I have filed a bug report in any case. Although, I do like that you can trash a file from within iTunes, I do not like that you cannot preserve a track's file. A dandy way for delete to work would be as follows:
1) delete a track from a playlist to just remove it from the playlist.
2) delete a track from its Master Playlist to remove it from iTunes entirely but preserve the file (I tried this hoping it would work, but it does not).
2) delete a track from library playlist 1 to remove it from iTunes entirely AND trash its file.
(I don't know why there isn't a remove command in iTunes, which would make more syntactic sense. The Finder's AppleScript delete command will send a file to the Trash.)
Needless to say, this bug affects several scripts which use delete to remove a track from iTunes without actually trashing the file. For instance, Make Bookmarkable will delete a track from iTunes and then re-add it. Under iTunes 7.6, the track's file is moved to the Trash; when it is re-added, unless the user has "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library" checked in Preferences, iTunes will presume the track's location is the Trash. Empty the Trash and bye-bye file. This is exactly what is happening to some users.
I can only hope that Apple will see this as a serious bug--it being part of the AppleScript component of iTunes, I am sorry to say that I think it is doubtful--and fix it soon.
Delete Bug or Feature?
I just noticed this today using iTunes 7.6, but I do not know how long this "situation" has existed.
As far as I've always known, when you delete a track from a playlist using AppleScript, the track is removed from the playlist; when you delete a track from library playlist 1 (the Main library), the track is removed entirely from iTunes. In both cases, the track's file remained in its location in the Music folder. Today I noticed that when doing a delete from library playlist 1, the track was not only removed from iTunes but its file was moved to the Trash! I could not figure out a way to keep the file from doing so. I tried deleting it from its Master Library--in this case the "Music" playlist--but it still went to the Trash. Deleting from a simple playlist worked as expected: the track was removed from the playlist but remained in the Master Library.
Recently, some users of Make Bookmarkable wondered where their tracks went and it turns out they were moved to the Trash. Not so bad, since the bookmarkable copy was re-added (I believe). Still, this is not the behavior I expect when using delete. And until recently this wasn't the behavior anyway.
If this is how delete works now, then there is no way to remove a track from iTunes via AppleScript and subsequently keep its file, which is an option when you manually delete a track using the Delete key.
So, what's up with that?
UPDATE: Make Bookmarkable v2.2
The iTunes 7.6 update has some troubles, AppleScript-wise. I'm not exactly sure where the problem is, however, the first evidence of it occurs with Make Bookmarkable. An "Apple Event timeout" error occurs when multiple tracks are selected. I have posted a workaround and I am investigating the problem so I can file a bug report with Apple.
Site is Slow to Load
My hosting company is experiencing some server trouble and as a result--so they report--access to the site will be slow through the day on January 18 while they effect repairs. Sorry about that!
iTunes 7.6 and QuickTime 7.4 Released
Apple has released updates to iTunes and QuickTime. I'll be on the lookout for AppleScript features and post info when necessary.
Interesting and Interestinger
This article at TUAW indicates an update for iTunes and possible details of iTunes-compatible files appearing on FOX DVDs. FOX has a site which seems to confirm it.
Lifehacker's 23 Best iTunes Add-ons
Thanks to Adam Pash at Lifehacker for including this site in their 23 Best iTunes Add-ons list. The list includes eleven Mac apps/utilities, eight for Windows, and four for Windows/Mac.
Macworld Deals With Dupes
Nice blog-post mench of Dupin by Mr. C. Breen over at Macworld.
Dupin v1.2 Released
I posted an update to Dupin on Monday, but wasn't able to get around to mentioning it here. Dupin, as you may know, is an application that helps you manage your iTunes duplicates. Updated in Dupin version 1.2:
- Added Preference to toggle Keeper designation as checkmarked (default) or un-checkmarked
- Added Preference to use bit rate rounding to account for ABR-encoded AAC files
- Added "Customize Toolbar..." menu command in View Menu; moved "Show/Hide Toolbar" to View Menu
- Added notification when updating Playlists popup
- Corrected error thrown by .MID files
- Revised code syntax interpreted ambiguously under OS 10.4 (Tiger)
- Revised label text in Filter Controls window
- Fixed problem during Purge if source Playlist had been re-selected
- Fixed rare problem causing hang-up while switching Spaces or applications during Purge
- Updated Help pages
- Minor performance enhancements
Many thanks to the Dupin beta-testers with the wicked pimped-out computer configurations.
