Apple iTunes tips and tricks Organising your music using iTunes

Sorting your iTunes library

In the List View, you can sort the music downloads in your library in different ways by clicking the column headings. To list all the songs in your library by composer (useful for classical music), right-click any column heading and select Composer.

A Composer column will appear in the browser, click the word composer to sort the library alphabetically by composer name.

Create an iTunes playlist

To create a playlist (a compilation of your favourite songs), go to File > New Playlist and type in a name. Click on the Music in the Library column on the left and add songs by dragging and dropping tracks onto the name of your playlist on the left.

iTunes enables you to create an automatic playlist based on specific criteria. Go to File > New Smart Playlist. A small dialogue box will open and allow you to automatically add songs that match a set of special ‘rules’. 

Choose a rule by selecting criteria from the drop-down menus. For example, select Genre from the first list, then Contains from the second, then type Classical into the box and click the plus (‘+’) button on the right.

You can add more rules and further refine your playlist by putting a tick next to Limit to and setting the size or duration options. Click OK and type in a name for your playlist.

Using multiple iTunes libraries

iTunes allows you to create separate ‘libraries’ for different users or types of music. Close iTunes if it is already open. Then, holding down the Shift key on your keyboard, open iTunes again (Start > All programs > iTunes).

You should see a Choose iTunes Library dialogue box. Click Create Library > enter a name > Save to set up a new library. Where multiple libraries are set up, iTunes will default to the last library used unless you hold down the Shift button whenever you launch the program and click the Choose Library button.

Solve iTunes sorting problems

Occasionally albums can become split into several albums in the main browser window. For example, if an artist on an album has recorded a duet with someone this may be listed separately. If this happens you may need to overwrite the information taken from the albums manually.

Select all the tracks. Right-click and choose Get Info. Manually type over the Album and Artist information so it all contains exactly the same details.

Share libraries in iTunes

To share the music downloads in your iTunes library, go to Edit > Preferences and, under the Sharing tab, put a tick next to Share my library on my local network. Click the General tab and type in a name under Library Name > OK.

You can play music bought from the iTunes Store on up to five other computers that also have iTunes installed.

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