More > JRiver Media Center 26 for Mac
Need help setting up Portable Library for an external HD
RoderickGI:
The file wasn't deleted but was moved to the Mac and put in the /Volumes/E/Music/My Music... folder. RM&CF did what it was asked.
Hans' situation is very different to yours, as he has only one copy of the Library, and it resides on his NAS all the time. He isn't copying the Library over to the PC at all. That changes how RM&CF functions.
Not editing on the Mac is the best current solution. At least not editing anything to do with file names and locations. Tagging and similar changes should work fine.
We shall have to wait to see if Matt has time to come up with a solution otherwise.
tangolovers:
But I didn't run RM&CM, I only used it to view the Original path. Does it get used by default when you change Filename(name) using Rename?
I think I too am only using one Library and one DB if I'm not mistaken. When I move my external HD to my Mac I do a Library Restore from the external HD rather than copying it to the Mac. Although it didn't occur to me to change my File Locations for Library Backups to the "E" drive, I just hadn't gotten that far yet as I haven't done a Library Backup from the Mac.
Anyhow, I will heed your advice for now. ;D
HaWi:
--- Quote from: tangolovers on August 03, 2020, 06:03:08 pm ---Hello Hans -- thank you for the long and detailed explanation. But I have to admit, I had a hard time following some of it. :P
When you refer to Base Path in this context, do you mean the path displayed when you do "Locate" or RM&CF? That was my understanding.
--- End quote ---
Yes, that is it.
--- Quote from: tangolovers on August 03, 2020, 06:03:08 pm ---I created my source Library on an external HD "E" from a PC, so on my PC's I don't need a Portable Library. On the Mac I use portable library rule E:|/Volumes/E which all seems to work fine until I try to edit a file on the Mac.
On the Mac, when I simply Rename Filename(name) here's what happens:
1) Filename(path) changed from from E:\Music\My Music... to /Volumes/E/Music/My Music...
2) Playback failed on that file
3) It deleted the original file on the HD "E" (yikes!) :o
4) Base Path (i.e. using Locate or Original path in RM&CF) was still /Volumes/E/Music/My Music...
What's really scary is that the deleted file can only be recovered if you have a backup of your music handy. Fortunately, I was able to restore it from a backup, but very concerning that simply changing Filename(name) could make my files disappear from the HD!
--- End quote ---
As Roderick said, the file was moved, based on the Base Path. I had similar issues with files seemingly disappearing (but actually being moved) until I got the Base Path and Portable Rule correct on both ends.
--- Quote from: tangolovers on August 03, 2020, 06:03:08 pm ---As for the "Home Base" you are referring to, I believe that is when my "E" drive is plugged into either of my PCs. And it remains correct after performing the edits. What changes is the Filename(path).
--- End quote ---
Yes, but you can make either of your machines the "Home Base". On this machine, the Base Path and [filename (path)] are identical. This is assuming you are loading the same library from all machines.
--- Quote from: tangolovers on August 03, 2020, 06:03:08 pm ---
I'm just not understanding how it's possible to edit these files on the Mac and have it continue to work on the Mac (and the PC - my main platform) as well as updating the HD "E" without deleting the files. It sounds like you had luck with this which is why I was curious... but I'm not comprehending how it doesn't change your Filename(path) and break everything.
--- End quote ---
I was assuming your library is on the same external drive as the media and that you are using that same library both on Windows and the Mac.
I believe it works this way: When you edit on the "Home Base" machine (no Portable Rule) everything works as usual. When you load the same library from a different location, and want to edit fields that change the media files, the Base Path needs to point to where the media are, so it is different from the Base Path on the "Home Base". I believe, but I am not certain, that the Portable Rule only pertains to serving the music for playing. Because the path to the media is different from the "Home Base" Path, the Portable Rule needs to translate it so that the server correctly points to the media folder. However, the path to translate is different from the Base Path in that it does not contain the actual media folder itself, but anything above it, I believe. In my case the Base Path is /data/music (NAS) and /Volumes/music (iMac) but the the Portable Rule on the NAS is /Volumes|/data.
I think I know where the difference to your case comes from: My NAS Base Path is /data/music because in /data there is a Symbolic Link that points to /music, where all the media folders and files are. So it is actually equivalent to /Volumes/music on the iMac. Sorry, I know this is complicated but should be easier in your case because in your case the Base Path should always point to the media folder. So if your music is in a folder E:\Music\My Music on Windows then that is the Base Path on Windows. On the Mac, the Base Path would likely be /Volumes/E/Music/My Music. The Portable Rule would probably be E:\Music|/Volumes/E/Music.
The [filename (path)] should always remain E:\Music\My Music.
I noticed the <Space> between My and Music. That might generate an issue in translation between Windows and MacOS. I would remove it and rename the folder to MyMusic.
Sorry for the many edits!
HaWi:
One more thing. From what you described, I believe that you are still using different libraries. One on each machine, it looks like. If you want to use only one library you would have to move it from your Windows machine to the portable drive. That shouldn't be too much of a problem once you have located the library. Unfortunately, I do not know where MC keeps libraries in Windows. There may be better methods than copy/paste to create a copy of your library on the external drive. I'm sure Roderick or Matt can help with that if you want to do that.
If you do that make sure you keep frequent backups on one of your machines so that you can restore to the drive if necessary. The same is true of the media as well.
RoderickGI:
--- Quote from: tangolovers on August 04, 2020, 10:37:56 am ---But I didn't run RM&CM, I only used it to view the Original path. Does it get used by default when you change Filename(name) using Rename?
--- End quote ---
Are you sure you didn't click OK instead of Cancel?
--- Quote from: tangolovers on August 04, 2020, 10:37:56 am ---I think I too am only using one Library and one DB if I'm not mistaken.
--- End quote ---
You are using multiple Libraries, which happen to be copies of each other. Hans has only one Library that is stored on his NAS and never gets moved.
You could put the MC Library on the E: drive, and open that from each computer. But you will see a slow down of MC functions, as it needs to access the data via USB instead of SATA. There may be other issues. Generally putting a Library on an external drive or NAS is not recommended, although it does work, as Hans' configuration proves.
--- Quote from: HaWi on August 04, 2020, 11:20:54 am ---There may be better methods than copy/paste to create a copy of your library on the external drive.
--- End quote ---
There certainly is a better way, and it is the way Susie is doing it: Backup the Library on the source installation, Restore the backup to the target installation. That transfers everything necessary except Cover Art. Thumbnails are rebuilt on each computer, however external Cover Art files in the Cover Art directory aren't transferred. It would probably pay to have the Cover Art directory moved to the external drive... but that may create problems for the Mac, unless the PL rules also apply to Cover Art lookups. We haven't really discussed Cover Art use with a Portable Library in detail. It may be fine.
Oh. The space in the "My Music" directory name is fine. MC handles that no problem, on Mac and Windows.
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