Resetting Song ID

[Paul]

Hi Dave,

I have just bought a new external HD (which is brilliant) and I have renamed my old kjams library file (so I have a backup to roll back to), I have copied all my songs onto the new HD and then added them into kjams, I notice that the song IDs have started at around the 6,000 mark and continue well into 120,000. I do have a lot of songs (im an old hand at this) but I was wondering if there was a way to reset the song ID so when I add to library they start from 1 once again.

I know this doesn't affect the function of kjams, it's more for my own sanity.

Many thanks,
Paul

[Paul]

Can I add a side note to this, I notice when once I remove the 'kjams library' and then 'add to library' and point to my copied karaoke folder on my new external drive I see in the activity window that it is unzipping and pulling the data from my files, but the song list is showing all the data in the song name column. I thought the meta data meant you didn't have to go through and rename everything again.

Have I done something wrong?

Thanks
Paul

[dave]

pulling meta data means read it, pushing means write it.
kJams automatically pulls meta data when you add to library (unless you've set the pref to use "file names")

-dave

[Paul]

Thanks for getting back to me Dave, if I could draw on your knowledge again please.

When I add my songs to library, the task windows first process clearly says 'pull meta data nnn / nnn'

In my prefs I have scan meta data set to 'use meta tags' but still all data (disk, track, artist, song) is being imported entirely into to the song name field.

And if possible I would still like to know how to reset the Song ID back to 1, as my numbers are going up silly fashion as I try to trouble shoot this problem.

Sorry Dave, I know this is inconvenient for you
Paul

[dave]

when you "use meta tags", that *causes* the "pull meta data" task. pulling meta is what causes all your data to be correctly imported.

however, exactly nothing will happen if your songs DON'T HAVE ANY META DATA. I suspect your MP3 files do NOT have ID3 tags in them. in that case you can cancel the pull task (hit the stop sign), then do "reinterpret names" on your songs, AND WAIT FOR THE PUSH TASK that ensue.

you can not change the song ID. there is no reason to.

[Paul]

Hi Dave,
I'd like to visit this again, now I have gone away and thought about what I am doing, I think my problem in understanding maybe around the push meta data task.
I have imported many zipped mp3+g songs from my old PC setup, for each of them I reinterpreted the song data (name/artist/etc) keeping the files stored on an external drive.

On copying that drive to a new larger one (with a different volume name) keeping the same file structure I renamed my '../music/kjam/kjams library' so I could then go through the 'add to library' process again using the new drive.
This in essence worked, but the song names need reinterpreting again. I thought that I wound have only have needed to do this the one time (on the original drive).

*Should* I have selected all my songs from the original drive/library, right clicked and selected 'push meta data' before I did the drive swap to retain all the pain staking reinterpret work I did previously?
Or have I misunderstood this process completely and I need to do the manual reinterpret names one more time. (in which case would a symbolic link be an option).

Sorry to drag this point out, I am thinking more clearly now
Paul

[dave]

*Should* I have ... selected 'push meta data'

no, you should never have to do this, except in rare circumstances.

interpreting meta will do this for you, it will push your meta into the ID3 tags of the songs.

then, when you rebuild your library, you should let it pull meta for you. it should do this automatically. if not, then you've futzed with your prefs.
you should in that case select your songs and go "pull meta" on them.

[Paul]

I am still having the same problem, I reduced my file base to one disc.
When I add to library, the songs unzip import, and as you say it automatically 'pulls' meta data.

However result is the same, all the info in the song name column

Is there anything else I can check? I have a show Friday so am keen to try anything (although I do have the old disk as my backup still)

[dave]

On your ORIGINAL drive, the one you started with, if that drive was NTFS or was otherwise LOCKED, then all that interpreting was for naught, your files did NOT get updated with tags.

in that case, i recommend ensuring the volume is not locked, and that it is on a mac volume (formatted "HFS+ Journaled"), and then do the reinterpret names again. Then the pushing that ensues will actually *work*.

-dave

[Paul]

Oh Crap! It most certainly is NTFS, the new disc is Mac journaled - I'm glad you worked out the problem.

Is there anything cheeky that could be done with a symbolic link or alias perhaps? It took me weeks and weeks to sort out that data.

[dave]

no, the work you did on the NTFS drive is lost, unless you still have the kJams and database that still points to it, with the correct meta data. i was under the impression you had lost that, and were relying on the meta data having been pushed onto the NTFS drive.

if you DO still have the kJams database for that drive, then you can just reformat it as HFS+J, then push the meta data again. (obviously when i say reformat i mean, copy all data off, format, then copy all data back, so the drive is IDENTICAL except for format.

-dave

[Paul]

thanks Dave

There is the glimmer of hope I was looking for
I do have the original library folder, so I'll do as you say and report back.

Might be useful for another user one day!

[dave]

i'm not talking about the folder, i'm talking about the database, the "ktd" file

[Paul]

I have that file too, I keep superduper and time machine backups.

Giving it a try, it's going to take a while to move all that data back and forth but will be worth it if it works. more later...

[dave]

please let me know