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If I download an mp3 from Amazon, for example, it winds up in my downloads folder, and without this feature I would have to make a point of moving it. With this feature, I just double click the file, and iTunes takes care of it.
The preference to ?Keep iTunes Music folder organized? explicitly states in the preference pane:
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?Places files into album and artist folders, and names the files based on the disc number, track number, and the song title.?
The ?organized music folder? preference does not copy or move files into your music folder, but instead determines how music files placed in that folder by iTunes are organized
within that folder. The reason your downloaded music files are placed in your music folder is because:
bq. 1. iTunes is your default music player so when you double click on a compatible music file iTunes commences playback of that file. 2. As iTunes is your default audio player, double-clicking an audio file to play it also adds the song to your iTunes library. 3. I would bet just about anything that you have ?Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library? preference enabled in your iTunes preferences and consequently songs you add to your iTunes library are copied to your music folder automatically.
So again, you have misinterpreted the ?organized music folder? preference?s function and purpose. I have also gone through the trouble of verifying this functionality.
I copied a song that I do not have from a roommate?s CD onto my desktop after disabling the ?copy files? preference. When I double-clicked the file it began playing in iTunes and was added to my iTunes library. The file does not appear in my music folder but is instead being played from the file stored on the desktop. When I go into the Summary tab of the track?s information dialog box its location is shown as the desktop. To insure that this was not specific to uncompressed AIFF files pulled directly from CDs, I converted the file to AAC and performed the same procedure to the same end. iTunes does not add the file to my music folder if the ?copy files? preference is disabled.
The reasons you do not have to go through the trouble of consolidating your library is because you are adding content to your iTunes library and have the preference to have those songs automatically copied to your music folder enabled. You have the functionality of the various preferences confused,
macavenger , but it is understandable as we tend to be familiar with the features that are used regularly more so than those that are set and forget. :)
So for those not in the know this is how the library management preferences/functions operate:
bq.
Keep iTunes Music folder organized As the text under the preference clearly indicates, when enabled this preference organizes the contents of the user?s default or designated iTunes Music folder into album and artist folders, and names the individual song files accordingly. Thus, enabling this feature is the difference between simply placing files in a given file room as they come (preference disabled) and creating a file system under which those files are sorted and stored so that a person can easily retrieve files from that room at a later time (preference enabled). The use of this preference has no impact on any media files outside of the user?s designated iTunes music folder. It does not consolidate the user?s library nor does it move or copy music files from other locations on the user?s hard drive(s).
bq.
Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library When enabled, this preference creates a copy of a media file in the user?s default or designated iTunes music folder when they add the content to the iTunes library. How that content is stored in the iTunes music folder depends on the status of the ?organize music folder? preference, but the two preferences otherwise perform completely different independent functions.
bq.
Adding Files to the iTunes Library Files may be added to the iTunes library by either double-clicking them in the Finder to play them, dragging and dropping them into the iTunes window, or going to File > Add to Library.... The location of the media file to which the iTunes library creates its link depends on the status of the ?copy files? preference. If that preference is disabled, then the iTunes library links to the file in its original location. If the ?copy file? preference is enabled then the file is copied to the user?s default or designated iTunes music folder, then the iTunes library creates a link to that copy.
bq.
Consolidating Libraries The user can consolidate (merge) an existing or recently attached music library to their main iTunes library by going to File > Library > Consolidate Library.... The consolidation feature copies the contents of the external library into the user?s default or designated iTunes music folder. How those files are stored
within that folder is determined by the status of the ?organize music folder? preference. The intent of the consolidation feature is not to add single files to the iTunes library as doing so would be more work than is necessary. If the user acquires files from sources other than ripping CDs and downloading from the iTunes Store, then they should enable the ?copy files? preference and add songs to their iTunes library using on of the methods described above.
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