Tip: Changing between two iLife libraries (iTunes or iPhoto)

[Wednesday, May 28th]

Many users desire multiple libraries for their iTunes and iPhoto applications. While this is possible by creating an entirely new account on the computer, this solution isn't too practical. In the latest versions of iTunes and iPhoto, Apple has built in the ability to change or create new libraries. In iTunes, for example, this is good if you want to keep a library of personal recordings or Garage Band compositions separate from your popular music. Additionally, one can maintain a separate library for either iTunes or iPhoto on an external disk. As one Apple Discussions user, Yong Taek Hwang, writes:

"I have a MacBook and a big external hd. my itunes library is in external hd using 'alias.' so that when it opens it searches for my library in home/music folder and alias to my external hd. But when i am on road, i would like to have a small library on my macbook hd using maybe a different library name and so on."

To manage libraries in these two applications, open them and immediately press and hold the options key. This will bring up a small window with the options to either create or choose a new library. Hopefully Apple will provide a more direct library manager, but for now holding the options key at application startup is the way to manage libraries.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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