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Removing duplicate file references in library

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AlreadyFree:
I just recently built a new computer and transferred my MC library over from an old laptop. The location of my music folder is different from what it was on the old computer but the file structure within the music folder is the same. I tried several different ways to import my old library into MC and then update it to the new file location. I finally managed to get it done without losing my playlists but now I have duplicates of almost every song. It would make sense if one file reference was for the old location and the other pointed to the new location but both references of every song points to the new updated location somehow. How do I remove the duplicates? I've searched through the forums and the best solution I've seen is to delete the entire library and re-import. But sadly, since MC deletes playlist entries if the corresponding library entry is removed, if I simply delete the library and re-import then I lose all my playlists. That's what I've been trying to avoid. Is there any solution to this?

I'm surprised MC doesn't have a "clean library" function (either a manual function or an automatic function) that removes duplicate references to the same file location. MC already automatically removes file references for files that have been removed from disk so it would seem to make sense that removing duplicate file references would be included in the same function. (Although that again causes a problem for maintaining playlists. I have to walk on eggshells to make sure I don't move or alter a file that's referenced in a playlist because if I do the playlist entry will be automatically removed without me even realizing it. MC should make any alteration to playlists strictly manual. If you change a file location you have to manually update playlists but at least the integrity of the playlist is kept intact. Attempting to play a playlist where a reference points to a missing file will simply skip that song and proceed to the next.)

JimH:
You may have the same files in two locations.  For example:

C:\Music
and
C:\Music2

Set up Auto-import to import from only the one you want.

Search for the one you don't want in the search window in the upper right corner.

Delete those files.  Read carefully.

AlreadyFree:
No, I don't have the same files in two different locations. Auto-Import is only setup to to import my Music folder and that folder is meticulously curated (there are no file duplicates within the folder). Also, as previously stated, the duplicate references in MC both point to the same file location, checked by looking at the file location set in the tags and also using the "Locate file on hard disk" function, which opens the same hard disk location for both duplicates.

JimH:
Compare two of the duplicates to see where they came from.  You can hover your mouse over them.

AlreadyFree:

--- Quote from: JimH on July 21, 2024, 03:02:22 pm ---Compare two of the duplicates to see where they came from.  You can hover your mouse over them.

--- End quote ---

By "where they come from" do you mean where the actual file is located on the hard drive? If yes, I've already said twice that each 2 duplicate entries listed in MC are pointing to the same file on the hard drive. Example: I have 2 entries in MC for Bob Dylan - Desolation Row. Both entries point to E:\Music\Ripped Music\Bob Dylan\1965 - Highway 61 Revisited\09 - Bob Dylan - Desolation Row.mp3

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