Database size limit ????

Mthrsuperior · Post by **Mthrsuperior** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:25 pm

I'm in the process of moving all my files from 4 smaller drives onto a single 500G drive.

I'm using auto-organize files to standardize the filenames while I'm at it.
The format is <artist><album><track#><title> (see below)

I"m moving the tracks to one of 4 folders on the hard drive based loosely on genre.
At some point I start getting the error that the file could not be moved and from this point on no other files will move to that folder.
If I use MM to move some tracks from the folder I'm moving into to another folder, I can then move about the same number of tracks into the folder that was giving the error but eventually the error starts again and no more files will move.

The same problem happens if I use the Move or Copy buttons in MM

In other words the folder appears to be "full" despite there being over 200G of free space on the drive.

If I drag files manually into the "full" folder there is no problem.

I'm wondering if this might have something to do with the relatively long file names I'm now creating (which btw aren't really necessary, I just figured I might as well standardize while I'm at it.)

Is it possible MM's database can only handle so much data per folder?
Could it have something to do with Windows or the file table of the hard drive?

I'd appreciate any help or work arounds thanks.

Windows XP SP2
500G FAT32 drive (I have a Mac too

)
about 30,000 files (yeah I know it's an addiction!)

Teknojnky · Post by **Teknojnky** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:03 pm

I would guess its a file system problem, my understanding of MM database is that every track as tracked individually so it does not matter what the path or folder is (as long as its under the 256 length limit).

Post by **Lowlander** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:36 pm

Maybe an issue with foreign characters or maybe corrupt files? Just guessing here. Maybe you can create a debug log as described in this forum.

Mthrsuperior · Post by **Mthrsuperior** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:28 pm

Thanks for the feedback.

It seems to be somehow related to a physical space limit as if I try and move say, 10 tracks, I will get the error message.
But If I delete other tracks from the folder I'm trying to move into and then try and move those same tracks again they will move.
It's behaving as if the disc is full but it's not.
And again, if I transfer those same files manually without MM they go fine.

I suppose I could move everything manually and then scan the folder with MM to bring the tracks back to my library but then I lose my playcount info and such which I'd rather not lose.

Any other suggestions or ideas are much appreciated.

Teknojnky · Post by **Teknojnky** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:33 pm

You might want to run scandisk or chkdsk on your drives, perhaps the drives have some corrupted directory entries which makes windows and/or MM think that the drive is full or whatever.

Mthrsuperior · Post by **Mthrsuperior** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:34 pm

What I need to do is move about 1000 or so tracks from folder A to folder B

When I use MM auto-organise or move, or copy features I get an error saying the file cam't be moved.

I can move the files manually by dragging and dropping with no problem.
How can I move these files without losing the database info?
I know there is a locate missing files feature but don't I have to manually locate each track??

Thanks again

PS I'll scan the disc overnight and report back

Teknojnky · Post by **Teknojnky** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 8:23 pm

Mthrsuperior wrote:I'm wondering if this might have something to do with the relatively long file names I'm now creating (which btw aren't really necessary, I just figured I might as well standardize while I'm at it.)

Fat32/NTFS have like a 256 char filename length limit, tracks that have a path longer than that will probly cause errors.

Post by **Lowlander** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 10:21 pm

You can use Cut & Paste inside MediaMonkey to move files.

Mthrsuperior · Post by **Mthrsuperior** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 11:14 pm

Lowlander wrote:You can use Cut & Paste inside MediaMonkey to move files.

Cut and paste gives the same errors within media monkey

Cutting and pasting the same files from and to the same folders in Windows works as normal

sunspot · Post by **sunspot** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:49 am

This sounds like a FAT32 problem. I don't know if it's a filename or path problem though - I thought FAT32 supported unlimited path lengths, and filenames just as long as those in NTFS. It could be some interaction between MediaMonkey and FAT32.

How did you get a 500GB drive formatted with FAT32, anyhow? I didn't think it could handle drives that large, being limited to 32GB with the utilities shipped with Win 2000 & XP. Did you format the drive with some other utility?

Post by **Peke** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:05 am

Generally Fat32 supports Path+Filename = x+64 = 256 mathematically said and up to 8 levels of folders.

Mthrsuperior · Post by **Mthrsuperior** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:23 pm

I'm nowhere near those file/folder limits.
Once I start getting the error message I can't even move a file with a 5 character name.

The drive came preformatted in FAT32.
It's a USB drive and I use it with a Mac as well.
As far as I know that's the only file format that works on both systems.

The odd thing to me is that I can move the same files, with the same filenames, into the same folders, manually.
It's only when I try to move with MM that I get errors.
This is a MM error not a windows error BTW.

If anyone knows a way to retain the MM database info after moving the files manually, or any other workaround, I'd be grateful.
Having my music in multiple folders is really no big deal. But having bought the drive to standardize/organize my collection it sure would be nice if I could have all my music in one folder.

Mthrsuperior · Post by **Mthrsuperior** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:19 pm

update: I scanned the disc. It's fine.

Mthrsuperior · Post by **Mthrsuperior** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 1:08 am

More updates:

It looks like this is a Windows and/or FAT32 issue.
I'm starting to have trouble moving files manually as well.
Although no individual file has a filename which exceeds the standards posted above, it does appear there is a limit on the total number of filename characters that can be in a given folder.

When I try and move files manually I now get a windows error saying the file or directory can't be created.

This is definitely not a MM bug.
Can this thread be moved to "off topic" as I'm curious to learn more about why this happens if anyone knows.

Thanks.

Edit: I just now realized Auto-organize files can be used to create a directory format, not just a filename

Much hilarity and noggin bonking has ensued

Post by **Lowlander** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:42 pm

You might want to make a backup of your data on the drive just in case a hardware failure is causing this.

Database size limit ????

Database size limit ????

Re: Database size limit ????

FAT32