Manage Checked iTems in iTunes
Thursday, June 7th, 2007 at 11:51 am
I’ve got an iPod that can’t store all my music, but I still automatically update checked items in my iTunes library (it’s a syncing option). I’ve found a workaround for one of my wishes that Apple probably won’t be adding any time soon. My desire is to sort tracks by check mark box (whether selected or unselected). There is no way to do this natively, but we can configure a smart playlist.
Make a smart playlist by holding SHIFT, and clicking on the button on the bottom left. It looks like a gear or cog when SHIFT is held down, and it’s a plus sign (+) otherwise. You should see a popup to set rules and options for the play list.
Edit the settings to match the picture shown. Uncheck “Match following rule.” Check the following three check-boxes, and edit the second check box so your entire library is considered. There are several ways to catch all of your items, but this works if your library is less than 900GB.
Now you’ve got a playlist of all of your checked items only (I called it “Checked on iPod”). Anytime you uncheck an item, it will instantly leave that playlist; and anytime you check an unchecked item, it’ll hop into this playlist.
You can have a playlist of all unchecked items by making another smart playlist. This time all we is do match the following criteria (leave this option ticked), don’t limit items, don’t match checked items, but do live update. Make one rule that the… Playlist / is not / playlist of checked items (name of the playlist we just made).
The end is result is two playlists that show what is and isn’t on an iPod if the settings sync only checked items to your iPod.
Filed under
Advice, Freeware, Music |
Tags: Advice, Freeware, ipod, itunes, Music, playlist, smart, workaround
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July 14th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I have been trying to figure out how to do this forever.
You, sir, are my hero.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:36 pm
this has been bugging me for ages… you’re a champion. it’s gonna make itunes so much easier for me now.
May 24th, 2008 at 5:43 am
YOU　ROCK!!!!!!
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:06 am
Thanks for the tip. It really comes in handy. I was just trying to figure this out. Saved me a bunch of time.
June 21st, 2008 at 3:52 am
Thanks a tonne
July 8th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Thanks a ton for posting this. I wouldn’t have thought of anything like a double negative playlist. If you’re like me and uncheck songs you want to delete, you can change the artist in the unchecked playlist to ‘aaa’ and then find them in your library.
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Thanks for this nice hint. I modified your hint by requiring that only podcasts be included in the smart playlist. I did this by checking the box “Match the following rule” and setting up the rule “podcast is true”. Now music is not included, only podcasts. It makes it easy for me to compare my podcasts in my library with the podcasts on my ipod.
October 30th, 2008 at 4:08 am
A generous helping of props to you, squire.
Many thanks.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:03 am
YOUR BRILLIANT!!!!!
February 9th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I’ve been trying to figure this out forever!! Your post finally showed up in one of my frustration-fueled searches….thank you!! I’d given up the “sync checked items only” option and started to manage my music manually–which just made it more of a mess, since I don’t have time to craft genre/mood based playlists
March 8th, 2009 at 7:39 am
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
April 9th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
You sir, are a legend. Thank you so god damned much.
June 29th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Brilliant work thanks. And I got there in one hit with a google search for iTunes view checked items. The Internet is wonderful when it does just what you want!!!!!
September 21st, 2009 at 5:53 pm
It is like a giant weight has been lifted. What a relief. THANK YOU!!!
December 8th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I can’t believe this was posted 2 years ago and Apple still hasn’t added a feature like that to iTunes…
Great idea,
Thanks!