I cannot edit info in iTunes

Posted by: Jono 13 on 23 September 2012

I have just invested in a new iMac, and a fine thing it is too, but I cannot change the info settings in iTunes. I need to tag some albums as compilations but when I change the setting via info nothing happens.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks,

 

Jono

Posted on: 23 September 2012 by Jon Myles

Hi Jono

 

So: You're highlighting the tracks, clicking Command and i?

Then you get the Sorting/Options etc.

In Options (if multiple tracks are selected) there's a box saying: Part Of A Compilation which you tick and then click OK at the bottom.

That labels all tracks as part of a compilation.

Are you saying you are doing that and nothing is happening?

 

Jon

Posted on: 23 September 2012 by Jono 13

Jon,

 

Exactly.

 

The library is on an external drive that was built from a Windows instance of iTunes. Would that affect things?

 

Jono

Posted on: 23 September 2012 by Jon Myles

Jono

 

I'm afraid I have limited experience of Windows. I'm all Mac.

But, logically there really shouldn't be any difference and where it's stored should not matter.

Can you add to the iTunes library on the external disk?

 

Jon

Posted on: 23 September 2012 by winkyincanada

I don't use "Part of a Compilation" function (I seem to recall it didn't work very well), but I change the "album artist" field so they're all the same for any particular album. Select all the tracks you want to group, then go to "info".

Posted on: 23 September 2012 by spartacus

I've just checked my iTunes library and looked at some compilation albums. The "album artist" is listed as "Various artists" and the "Part of a compilation" field is set to "Yes". I have never set these fields myself, they were set by iTunes as I ripped the CD's in a Mac environment.

 

I suggest that you try ripping one of your compilation CD's on your iMac again. It should say that one or more of the tracks already exist and give you the option to replace them. Then check the info  for the album.

Posted on: 23 September 2012 by Eloise
You say the external drive was originally used on Windows: is it formatted as NTFS? Mac OS X can read this but won't write to it. You may need to copy to another disc that has been formatted for Mac OS X. Eloise.
Posted on: 23 September 2012 by Eloise
PS: the compilation tag is for multi-artist discs rather than single artist compilations.
Posted on: 23 September 2012 by Jono 13
Originally Posted by Eloise:
You say the external drive was originally used on Windows: is it formatted as NTFS? Mac OS X can read this but won't write to it. You may need to copy to another disc that has been formatted for Mac OS X. Eloise.

That sounds about right, thanks.

 

I will copy the library to the iMac and re-point to it.

 

I am then planning to recycle the drive as a Time Machine, should that work?

 

Sorry to ask idiot questions but the last Mac used was an original Bondi Blue iMac.

 

Jono

Posted on: 23 September 2012 by Jono 13

Eloise,

 

10 house points and tick VG you clever person.

 

Problem solved.

 

Thanks,

 

Jono