Save and Restore Archives

Access: Menu > iTunes > Save or Restore iTunes archive, <Shift+F8>

Use the Save and Restore tool to create an archived copy of an existing iTunes library, or to restore one already created, to have iTunes reload it the next time it runs. This feature is primarily intended to be used with library sets (a set being comprised of both an iTunes XML file and an ITL file), but it will also archive or restore individual files. Note that library "archives" are library copies that you make yourself, as opposed to library "backups," which are made automatically by the program when it replaces iTunes library files with edited versions.

Create archive from iTunes library:

Saves the current iTunes XML library file ("iTunes Music Library.xml") in the current folder and with the name specified in the Library Name box.

Saves the current iTunes ITL library file ("iTunes Library.itl") in the current folder with the name specified in the Library Name box.

Saves both iTunes library files ("iTunes Music Library.xml" and "iTunes Library.itl") in the current folder with the name specified in the Library Name box.

Buttons in this section are enabled in accordance with whether the iTunes XML file, the ITL file, or both files are present in the iTunes folder. For example, if an ITL file is present but there is no corresponding XML file, then only the ITL button is enabled. If both are found, then all buttons are enabled.

Install as iTunes library:

Copies an archived XML library file from the current folder into the iTunes library folder with file name "iTunes Music Library.xml." If there is a corresponding ITL file ("iTunes Library.itl") already in place in the iTunes folder, it will be overwritten with a zero-length version (with an opportunity given to back it up first). This will coerce iTunes to load from the new XML file the next time it runs (otherwise, iTunes would load from the existing ITL file and overwrite the new XML file in the process). By program default, if a pre-existing XML file is present in the iTunes library before the copy, it is automatically backed up. To get a quick overview of the contents of any listed XML archive, select a file with the mouse, right-click it, and choose "Peak" from the context menu.

Copies an archived ITL library file from the current folder into the iTunes library folder with the name "iTunes Library.itl." By program default, if a pre-existing ITL file is present in the iTunes library folder, it will be automatically backed up. If an existing XML file is present in the iTunes library before the copy, the user is offered the option to back it up.

Copies both XML and ITL library files archived from the current folder into the iTunes library folder, with files being given corresponding names "iTunes Music Library.xml" and "iTunes Library.itl," respectively. By default, pre-existing copies of these files in the iTunes folder are automatically backed up before replacement.

Buttons are enabled in accordance with whether identically-named XML and ITL files are present in the Archives Folder. For example, if an XML file is selected and there is no identically-named ITL file, then only the XML button is enabled. If there is a like-named ITL, then all buttons are enabled.

To suppress the creation of backups when executing one of the above processes, hold the Control Key depressed while executing. You can disable backup creation entirely for these processes on the Install Options menu (below), if desired.

Several Install Options are available via the form's Main Menu, applicable when installing archived files into the iTunes library folder:

Confirm file replacements: Get confirmation before iTunes files are replaced during an archive install.

Backup replaced iTunes files: Create backups of iTunes files that are replaced when an archived file or file set is installed. By default, backups are saved in folder "Backups" in the program's install folder, but can be set to a different folder in Preferences. When enabled, this setting can be overridden to have the backup creation steps skipped, by holding the Control Key depressed while initiating an archive install.

Confirm backup creations: Get confirmation before creating backups of replaced iTunes files.

Issue backup affirmations: Affirm to the user that backups of replaced iTunes files have been made.

Other controls:

• Reload the current folder view
• Create a new subfolder beneath the current folder (also available via popup menu in the folder window)
• Go to Archives folder
• Go to the Backups folder
• Go to the iTunes folder
• Go to the previous folder loaded