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Trying to create multiple libraries

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ferday:
i do use multiple libraries for working with portable libraries

if you want to do it, make sure you choose the initial path so that it's somewhere on the fastest drive in the system (usually c:).  if you load MC onto a new computer, just copy the library file to the new computer and load that library - keep in mind you may have to change file paths since the files may be somewhere else on the new computer

for multiple file types though the easiest is using view schemes, right click your favourite audio view scheme, and click "customize this view"
on the right side under settings, scroll down to "save this view"

now right click the Audio parent and add new view, and load the preset you've saved.  but now go into customize view again, and under settings click "set rules for file display"

in the window that comes up, choose your file type that you only want to see

you can do this for all 3 types (wav, flac, mp3) or as many as you want of course.  now those views will only see the specific file type, but you can have another view that sees them all as well so you can manage it all as one library with all the same library settings etc.

wgapel:
I'm putting this on hold for now because I did not understand your instructions. I would like to come back to this topic at a later date. Please do not close thread.

MusicHawk:
Simple (and not-so simple) things to know that helped me years ago:

1. Library location is where MC puts it's database files. No particular limitations other than having sufficient space, but MC tries to make it simple by using a default location...unless you set it to something else, which I always do, because I want to avoid having the username be part of the path, so my library is PC-agnostic. For instance, c:\data\jrmc\library\

2. Storage of your media files (mp3, flac, whatever) is typically in a different location, could be same drive, different drive, NAS. MC will suggest a location but I like to use a specific folder tree, always the same, on every PC, since I started using MC/MJ almost 15 years ago. For instance, c:\data\jrmc\music\

3. But, if the same library is to be shared among PCs (as I do), it's quite easy IF the library and media paths on all PCs are identical. Then, just copy the library files and use them.

4. If media storage location must vary among PCs, one with just drive C:, the other with a second hard drive or network drive that is preferred, there are tricks to give all such locations the same drive letter, therefore the same media storage path. Such as, always store media at m:\media\jrmc\, on every PC. On the PC that has a physical M: drive, just use it.

On the PC that only has drive C:, make it think there is also a drive M:. First make a folder that will pretend to be M:, such as folder c:\mdrive (folder name doesn't matter, but keep it simple). Then use MS-DOS command SUBST something like this: subst m: c:\mdrive. Then put the media files in physical drive c:\mdrive\media\jrmc, but tell MC the files are at m:\media\jrmc, same as the PC that has an actual M: drive.

The beauty is, once the folders and SUBST (if needed) are set up, there's never a need to do anything to the library itself. I've done this for years. Once I set up ALL my media files on drive M: (whether physical or virtual on a given PC), it works great, across a dozen generations of PCs, never had to change the library contents, MC always sees library files and media files at the same location.

NOTICE: My examples points 1, 2 and 3 used drive c: for simplicity, but really, I always use drive m: as explained above.

5. Cover art seems simple but there are many options. Instead of the default location, I tell MC to use a separate folder that contains ALL cover art, on drive M: (physical or virtual), such as m:\media\jrmc\coverart\. I do not embed images in the music files because that makes the files larger (I have a huge library so efficient storage is a consideration. But there are situations where embedding images, or using MCs other cover art options, are desirable. Contemplating and choosing a cover art method is almost a separate field of study within MC.

6. By always having MC's files on the same real/virtual location M:, to copy the entire MC library from Main PC to Secondary PC is simple. I just copy m:media\jrmc to the identical location on the second PC. MC on both PCs is set to use identical paths for everything. All the library files, media files, and cover art files are copied from/to the identical path, so everything works the same on both PCs, nothing to diddle with.

DISCLAIMER: MC is amazingly versatile, with many variations (and contradictions) to the above that also work well. There's rarely only one way, and few will agree on any particular "best" way. Search MC22 and prior forum sections to discover all kinds of advice. So, the best advice is, think first about the result you want, including whatever simplicity vs. flexibility you might require, etc.

wgapel:
Thanks MusicHawk, I understand how MC works a little more now.  Since I bought a NAS which only purpose is to store and stream media can I put the library location on the NAS using the network path to the NAS. I would be doing what you suggest sort of then my library location would be the same for all PC's right? Media location is on NAS using network path now. If I did that would my library update on the NAS (including playlists, last played, etc) when I used MC on any of the PC's.

JimH:
You can put the media files themselves on the NAS, but don't move your MC library (the database) there for performance reasons.

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