[Gummi Bear]

I have lots of music in my iTunes library. The questions is: how do i share an iTunes library with another user on my comptuter.

when she logs in with her name and password, she doesn't have any access to my music.

Can this be done?

[mdc]

take a look at www.macosxhints.com i have seen some hints on there about sharing an itunes library

[spiky_dog]

put it in a folder that's not within your user folder. simple as that. (in even simpler terms: make a directory at the top level of your hard drive, say. let's call it "Music". set its permissions to be readable [and writeable if that's your thing] by all. set iTunes to use that folder for its music library. voila.)

[mishap]

I use an external hard drive for my Library and from my experience i learned that i need to keep the iTunes Music Library data file in my home directory (~/Music/iTunes). The itunes music library (with the thousands of mp3s) are actually located on my LaCie 160 by firewire to my iBook.

So from my experience, you'll need to keep your library data file in your home directory and put the music anywhere you want via Preferences/Avanced/iTunes Music Folder Location.

Hope this helps.

[hardcat1970]

If you are starting from the scratch, remove "itunes" folder inside every local user's music folder.

create a new "itunes" folder from anywhere that everyone has a permission to access, either external hard drive or shared folder is fine with this.

create a symbolic link from this folder (sort of like an alias) using this freeware utility (SymbolicLinker) http://seiryu.home.comcast.net/, and place this symbolic alias back to users/music/ and you are all set.

make sure you set the itunes preferences default music folder location to another location.

[barbarian]

Option 1a: Put the library on an external hd or a separate partition. If you want the users to have the same playlists make an alias to library and put a copy in each user's music folder.

Option 1b: Put the library on an external hd or a separate partition. If you want both users to have their own playlists start up itunes on each machine and drag the mp3 library from the external to the main itunes window to index everything.

Option 2a: Put the library in Users/Shared. If you want the users to have the same playlists make an alias to library and put a copy in each user's music folder.

Option 2b: Put the library in Users/Shared. If you want both users to have their own playlists start up itunes on each machine and drag the mp3 library from the external to the main itunes window to index everything.


I've never had any problems with itunes re permissions. If you are using iphoto the permissions problems get trickier.

[Appleman]

This should be in the Software Forum.

[stevesnj]

Originally posted by Gummi Bear:
I have lots of music in my iTunes library. The questions is: how do i share an iTunes library with another user on my comptuter.

when she logs in with her name and password, she doesn't have any access to my music.

Can this be done?

I sent this procedure to someone on another forum. Should work fine, you can also do this with iPhoto also;

I currently share my iPhoto and iTunes music library with my other users with no problems...all I did was highlight my 'Pictures folder' in MY home and set permissons for group and others to read and write. As for iTunes set read and write for the 'Music' folder also...Then for iPhoto make an alias of the main iPhoto Library folder (the library to be shared)... now take that 'alias' folder and navigate to any other users iPhoto Library with the alias you just made and drop it in there. You may get a warning that you cant do that or that you will have to 'authenticte' to move that folder...just authenticate and put the folder in that users 'Pictures' folder. Do the same for iTunes using the 'Music' folder.....YOU MUST log in to other users log in and trash the original ' iPhoto Libray' and 'iTunes Library' folder (save any photos or music) and then remove the word 'alias from the folder you moved. You should have an arrow next on the folder. You now have shared , duplicate, iPhoto and iTunes library's...BUT BEWARE you can erase other users music and photos and vice vers so be sure you ask the other person before you delete...let me know how it went.

Thats it, hope it works


Steve

[iPond317]

Originally posted by Appleman:
This should be in the Software Forum.

Look out! The forum Nazis are here! RUN!

I'm just messin'...