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   {{WebHelpHeader|Adding Existing Files to the Library}}
   {{WebHelpHeader|Adding Existing Files to the Library}}
In order to most effectively manage audio Tracks, they must first be added to the Library. This is done automatically the first time the  
To manage your media files, you'll want to add them to the Library. This is done automatically the first time the application is run. Subsequently, you can initiate this process manually:


application is run. Subsequently, you can initiate this process manually:
*Click '''File''' > '''Add/Rescan Tracks to the Library''' on the main menu, or press '''<Insert>'''.
*Choose which Drive, Folder or Network Location you wish to add.
*If you wish to enter a network path, type the path you wish to scan, enclosed in quotes and press press '''<Add>''' .


*To (re)scan your entire drive, simply click '''File''' > '''Add/Rescan Tracks to the Library''' on the main menu, or press '''<Insert>'''
<br> Additionally you can set other options such as what types of files to scan for. Once you press 'Ok', MediaMonkey will scan the selected locations for the types of files that you chose, and:
*To add or rescan a selected folder, Drive, or Network Location,


select a folder in the '''My Computer''' or '''Location''' nodes, then right-click and select '''Add/Rescan Tracks to the Library''' or press '''&lt;Insert&gt;''' . Alternatively, you can manually enter paths in the 'Selected Folders' box, though each path must be enclosed in quotes.
*Add any newly found media files and associated Album Art (from files or tags) to the Library.  
 
<br> You'll be prompted to choose what types of audio files to scan for, to modify which folders to scan, or set other options. Once you press 'Ok', MediaMonkey will scan the selected locations for the types of files that
 
you chose, and:
 
*Add any newly found music files and associated Album Art (from files or tags) to the Library.  


*Catalog the contents of any CDs that are found to the Library. CDs that have been added to the Library will appear in the '''Locations''' node of the Library. If any CD album is selected, the Tracks on the album will appear greyed out if they're inaccessible, and in black if the CD is inserted.  
*Catalog the contents of any CDs that are found to the Library. CDs that have been added to the Library will appear in the '''Locations''' node of the Library. If any CD album is selected, the Tracks on the album will appear greyed out if they're inaccessible, and in black if the CD is inserted.  
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*Add any .m3u playlists that are found to the Library, along with any of the Tracks contained within the playlists (if they can be found).  
*Add any .m3u playlists that are found to the Library, along with any of the Tracks contained within the playlists (if they can be found).  


*Notify you of any tracks that are missing and give you the option to remove them or find them  
*Notify you of any tracks that are missing from the scanned location and give you the option to remove them or find them  


*Update the properties of any scanned Tracks that have changed (configurable--by default, only Tracks whose filesize or timestamps has changed are updated).  
*Update the properties of any scanned Tracks that have changed (configurable--by default, only Tracks whose filesize or timestamps has changed are updated).  
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'''Change Priority''', and choose a lower priority level.  
'''Change Priority''', and choose a lower priority level.  


== Automatically Updating the Library with the File Monitor ==
== Using Folder Monitoring to Automatically Update the Library ==
 
The above process can be automated using the File Monitor ( '''Tools''' &gt; '''Options''' &gt; '''Library''' &gt; '''File Monitor''' ). If enabled, it monitors specified folders for any changes at startup or while MediaMonkey is running, and automatically updates the library
 
accordingly. It behaves slightly differently than a manual scan as it:


*Automatically removes any Tracks that have been deleted (configurable)
The Add/Rescan dialog also allows you to monitor selected folders for any changes to media files so that the library is automatically updated:
*Automatically changes the location of any Tracks that have been moved (configurable)
*Select '''Scan continuously''' for any Folder to update the Library if changes occur while MediaMonkey is running.
*Select '''Scan at startup''' for any Folder to check for changes and update the Library for changes that occur when MediaMonkey isn't running.


Note: Although the File Monitor does monitor for moved files, it only searches the specified directories for the moved file, and consequently will not detect the location of the moved file if it has been moved to an unmonitored directory. For these situations, you can Retrieve Moved/Missing Tracks as
In addition to updating the library for added/changed media files, this will:
*Automatically remove any Tracks that have been deleted (configurable)
*Automatically change the location of any Tracks that have been moved (configurable)


described below.  
Note: Although the File Monitor does monitor for moved files, it only searches the specified directories for the moved file, and consequently will not detect the location of the moved file if it has been moved to an unmonitored directory. For these situations, you can Retrieve Moved/Missing Tracks as described below.  


== Manually Retrieve Moved/Missing Tracks ==
== Manually Retrieve Moved/Missing Tracks ==

Revision as of 18:54, 11 August 2011

To manage your media files, you'll want to add them to the Library. This is done automatically the first time the application is run. Subsequently, you can initiate this process manually:

  • Click File > Add/Rescan Tracks to the Library on the main menu, or press <Insert>.
  • Choose which Drive, Folder or Network Location you wish to add.
  • If you wish to enter a network path, type the path you wish to scan, enclosed in quotes and press press <Add> .


Additionally you can set other options such as what types of files to scan for. Once you press 'Ok', MediaMonkey will scan the selected locations for the types of files that you chose, and:

  • Add any newly found media files and associated Album Art (from files or tags) to the Library.
  • Catalog the contents of any CDs that are found to the Library. CDs that have been added to the Library will appear in the Locations node of the Library. If any CD album is selected, the Tracks on the album will appear greyed out if they're inaccessible, and in black if the CD is inserted.
  • Add any .m3u playlists that are found to the Library, along with any of the Tracks contained within the playlists (if they can be found).
  • Notify you of any tracks that are missing from the scanned location and give you the option to remove them or find them
  • Update the properties of any scanned Tracks that have changed (configurable--by default, only Tracks whose filesize or timestamps has changed are updated).
  • Give you the option of importing missing ratings, play count, and last played data associated with the tracks from a Windows Media Player, iTunes or Winamp database, if one resides on your computer.

Note: If you wish to interrupt this process at any time, simply right-click on the status bar near the bottom of the screen, and click Terminate. If you wish to reduce the amount of CPU cycles used during the process, you may similarly right-click on the status bar, select

Change Priority, and choose a lower priority level.

Using Folder Monitoring to Automatically Update the Library

The Add/Rescan dialog also allows you to monitor selected folders for any changes to media files so that the library is automatically updated:

  • Select Scan continuously for any Folder to update the Library if changes occur while MediaMonkey is running.
  • Select Scan at startup for any Folder to check for changes and update the Library for changes that occur when MediaMonkey isn't running.

In addition to updating the library for added/changed media files, this will:

  • Automatically remove any Tracks that have been deleted (configurable)
  • Automatically change the location of any Tracks that have been moved (configurable)

Note: Although the File Monitor does monitor for moved files, it only searches the specified directories for the moved file, and consequently will not detect the location of the moved file if it has been moved to an unmonitored directory. For these situations, you can Retrieve Moved/Missing Tracks as described below.

Manually Retrieve Moved/Missing Tracks

If Tracks have been moved by another application to a new location, MediaMonkey will automatically find the Track if the File Monitor is configured to monitor the directory to which the Track has been moved. For other cases:

  1. Go to /Library/Files to Edit/Dead Links in the left hand pane of the MediaMonkey Explorer. You will see a list of Tracks that are inaccessible because they have either been moved or deleted.
  2. Select the Track(s) you want to find, and click File > Locate Moved/Missing Tracks .
  3. Choose which drives you would like to scan for the Track.
  4. A dialog will appear showing moved files that have been found, files that haven't been moved, and files that couldn't be found. Of those that have been found, select the check box next to them to confirm that you want to update the library with the location indicated.

Note: Tracks are found based on filesize and timestamps or track metadata (length, Artist, Album and Title).


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