1 -Changing the drive letter: Since my library contains 16400+ files - this may not be a practical solution if change must be done file by file - unless I can change the drive letter at ONCE in the library - Is there a way to change the drive letter in all the file name in ONE operation. This operation may be too intrusive for data integrity
2 - Map the USB drive as the Z drive: I tried that - but since my Windows knowledge is limited - I have not found how to change the drive letter mapping for a USB drive - Network drive Yes - but USB drive - No - I will seek help from Windows knowledgeable friends on this - this is a very simple and elegant solution if I get it working.
3 - Import both drives: too complex for now for me to tackle
4 - Set up a second library: I like that option since this would allow the libraries to be temporarely out of sync - I found the Library option: "clone library". If I execute that option - will it clone only the library (tags) or all the media files as well? If this clones only the library INFO - that would be the way to go. I will wait your comments before proceeding. The main library will be pointing toward the NAS Z: drive and Second Library will be pointing toward the USB D: Drive.
On changing the drive letter (in the JRiver MC library)You can change the drive letter for all your files in one operation.
the JRiver Wiki has information on moving files. Here is one page of interest:
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Moving_FilesSearch for other relevant pages in the Wiki.
Note that you can use JRiver MC to physically move or copy files OR change the location where JRiver expects to find a file. In either case, you select a number of files, right click and choose the appropriate command.
Mapping USB driveIf the NAS is not connected (and there is no drive Z), you can assign the USB drive to drive Z using the Computer Management faciliuty.
From the start menu, click on "Computer". Then right click on "computer" in the left pane. The Computer Management program will start up and display a window. Under storage, click on "Disk Management". In the center pane, there will be a list of drives currently connected to your computer. Right click on The line for your USB drive and choose "Change drive letter...".
To go back to using the NAS drive as drive Z, you would start with the USB drive not connected and go through the steps I described above.
However, you would need to go through this process each time you change from using one drive to the other.
Setting up a second libraryCloning the library does not create another copy of the music files. More than one library can point to the same copy of the music files.
You could create a new library with no files in the database. (Copy all the music files to the USB drive if you haven't done so.) Then import the files from the USB drive. The disadvantage is that any information that was in the original library and not in the files will not be present in the new library.
OR you could create a new library, cloning it from your existing library.
Any database only information will be present in the new library as it existed when you cloned the original library. Then change the drive letter to
Two cautions: Some of the changes may cause problems if you don't do the right thing. Make sure that you have backup copies of your music files and backups of the library files before you start. Experiment on a few files before you do anything that will affect your entire music library.
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Topic: One Library - Two media repositories (Read 3730 times)