MediaMonkey iTunes plugin (d_itunes4.dll)

[markstuartwalker]

New version http://www.mediamonkey.com/addons/brows ... or-itunes/ 4.0.3.2048

Tested against MM 4.0.0.1459, iTunes 10.5 on Windows 7 64 bit.

8/11/2011
* Error trap retries added in syncPlaycount to solve MM and iTunes both updating playcounts
10/11/2011
* Additional prompt and usage of Device.TerminateThreads() used when no content found in iTunes
* Hidden config skipDeleteEmptyFolders and closeMMafterSync added
* Further checks in getItunesLibrarySourceName it now searches for a Library type rather than the first one <------------ For Anubis
* getItunesLibrarySourceName triggered at sync start as well as init
* Hidden config skipEmptyiTunesCheck added
11/11/2011
* Config code tabularised (no functional change)

[aprzybylo]

I have a question regarding delete from device option. If there's a file that is on device and not in sync list it deletes it from device with the option to confirm that. however the only thing that is shown is the file name on the device that doesn't say anything about the song. Would it be possible to display soing name/artist to have any idea of the song being deleted?

[markstuartwalker]

I have a question regarding delete from device option. If there's a file that is on device and not in sync list it deletes it from device with the option to confirm that. however the only thing that is shown is the file name on the device that doesn't say anything about the song. Would it be possible to display soing name/artist to have any idea of the song being deleted?

Errrrr, no. This is to do with the way in which MM recognises the tracks on the device - they are presented just as the internal MM ID reference. By doing this, renaming a track still allows it to be recognised and playcounts sync'd.

In practice most users don't switch the option to prompt to confirm switch on - they simply let the items be deleted quietly in background. By doing this the IDs are never seen.

I shall add this to the FAQ list.

[Anubis]

I've done some work and suspect that I now know the answer. Can you look in the registry and tell me what the value of the 'sourcename' entry is? Also, expand the iTunes node in MM (while iTunes is running) and tell me what nodes appear. I have "Library" and "Radio".

registry sourcename = Library
ITunes node in MM = Library & Radio

Here are screen shots
http://www.evernote.com/shard/s101/sh/0 ... f3ea2e1aea

Later today I will update to your latest version of the plug in and MM4.
I'll let you know how I get on.
btw, I will be making notes in my Evernote note as can be linked to at the above link.

[GD3771730]

Hello,

With MM 4.0.0.1459 (RC-5) and d_itunes4.dll 4.0.3.2048, the settings
- Copy artwork to file tags
- Remove image from tags if larger than...
are not taken into account during a sync with itunes (conversion to AAC or M4A).

Artwork is ALWAYS copied to file tags, even with the option unchecked. When the artwork is abundant and consist in many linked files, the resulting M4A file can become huge.
When specifying 1 kB in the second setting, nothing is discarded.

Best regards.

Gil

[markstuartwalker]

Hello,

With MM 4.0.0.1459 (RC-5) and d_itunes4.dll 4.0.3.2048, the settings
- Copy artwork to file tags
- Remove image from tags if larger than...
are not taken into account during a sync with itunes (conversion to AAC or M4A).

Artwork is ALWAYS copied to file tags, even with the option unchecked. When the artwork is abundant and consist in many linked files, the resulting M4A file can become huge.
When specifying 1 kB in the second setting, nothing is discarded.

Best regards.

Gil

Thank you. Those aren't very often used settings and clearly have not been tested!

I'll add it to my list for the next release.

[SftP]

Does this script get rid of those terrible !!! in iTunes?

[reggie_mal]

I've the plugin working against MM4.0.0.1442, iTunes 10.5.0.142, win7 64bit.

One question, why does it need to 'convert' each and every file and put it in a MM___ folder ? Can't you just link to the original files ?
I know for FLAC, none-MP3 etc that conversion would be needed, but it seems a waste of time and disk space. I'm guessing theres a reason for it though..

Yes this has been asked many times. You can simply use the original files by setting the cache folder name to nothing (see the hover text when you position the mouse over it).

BUT be aware that in this mode MM and iTunes might both try to update the files. Each of the applications maintains a database of the track attributes but when (say) a title is changed the application's database is updated and the underlying file is updated. Clearly when 2 application have the same underlying files there can be some unexpected behaviour (and the timestamp on the files changing more than it needs to). Generally this behaviour is fairly mild and quite acceptable but for proper isolation the best way is to duplicate the files.

Having said all of that there are reasons that MM might duplicate the files. For example
* Conversion (as you mentioned)
* Volume levelling
* Remove images if > 300k
* Usage of "Use only first genre" or "use only first artist"

So if you use any of these the (affected) files will be duplicated. MM will put these duplications into the TEMP folder is a very uncontrolled manner.

Mark

if I make the cache path blank, does the sync still copy the files and then remove it afterwards?

If yes, then is there a way to not copy the music at all and just link to the original files?

[aprzybylo]

I'm using last version of plug in and MM4 released. I sync MM with iTunes and then iTunes with iPhone. When I play song on iPhone I sync with iTunes play count is updated. However when I sync itunes with MM again play counts are not updated in MM

[markstuartwalker]

Having said all of that there are reasons that MM might duplicate the files. For example
* Conversion (as you mentioned)
* Volume levelling
* Remove images if > 300k
* Usage of "Use only first genre" or "use only first artist"

So if you use any of these the (affected) files will be duplicated. MM will put these duplications into the TEMP folder is a very uncontrolled manner.

if I make the cache path blank, does the sync still copy the files and then remove it afterwards?

If yes, then is there a way to not copy the music at all and just link to the original files?

Make the path blank. Don't convert any files or have volume levelng or remove images. The files will not be dupliccated

[markstuartwalker]

I'm using last version of plug in and MM4 released. I sync MM with iTunes and then iTunes with iPhone. When I play song on iPhone I sync with iTunes play count is updated. However when I sync itunes with MM again play counts are not updated in MM

This works in my test system ok. Please collect some debug and post.

[markstuartwalker]

Does this script get rid of those terrible !!! in iTunes?

I have no idea what you are speaking of.

[SftP]

Does this script get rid of those terrible !!! in iTunes?

I have no idea what you are speaking of.

If you maintain your collection from different sources and you delete a file directly from windows, in iTunes the entry still exists... but is marked with an !
You must delete it manually from iTunes.

I'm wonderering if MM is your mainsource and you synch with iTunes, how deleted files from MM will be handled in iTunes

[markstuartwalker]

Does this script get rid of those terrible !!! in iTunes?

I have no idea what you are speaking of.

If you maintain your collection from different sources and you delete a file directly from windows, in iTunes the entry still exists... but is marked with an !
You must delete it manually from iTunes.

I'm wonderering if MM is your mainsource and you synch with iTunes, how deleted files from MM will be handled in iTunes

I believe those are orphaned entries that iTunes has where the original track cannot be found. There are various scripts that can remove these. See http://dougscripts.com/itunes/

No orphaned iTunes entries are created through the usage of this plugin.

[markstuartwalker]

MM4 was formally released today (4.0.0.1459). Accordingly I'm launching the version 4 of this plugin too (4.0.3.2048)

The notes at the start of this thread have been updated.

For those of you who wish to upgrade from MM3 to MM4 please note the following

* You must install the d_itunes4 plugin for use with MM4. Despite the similar name it is considered a totally different plugin and there is no natural upgrade migration
* The device plugin configuration settings from MM3 to MM4 are not migrated. Please note your settings before upgrading (particularly the Cache Path location).
* The MM4 of the plugin version has additional features over the MM3 version
* MM4 installation will upgrade your MM3 database but it will NOT migrate your Auto-sync list entries, nor your Auto conversion rules
* It will be necessary to do a resync of any tracks that have been auto-converted into iTunes.
* It is recommended to do a final sync into MM3 before installing to catch those file playcount updates.
* The "iTunes runs under" option for Mac OS X is still beta and should not be used.