Subtle Differences
~or~
Subtle, differences
Option-click on an application in OS X can yield some neat results. In iPhoto and iTunes, for example, the application launches in a mode that lets you select a new library. It’s really helpful when restoring from a backup, or if you have multiple libraries (more on that later, if you like).
Today I discovered, thanks to my ability to multitask, that it’s not option-click that’s really doing it.
I plugged in my iPad, then I went to look at some details of my WiFi connection using the option key to browse my WiFi icon. While doing that, I received a popup:
Choose iTunes LIbrary
iTunes needs a library to continue. You may choose an existing iTunes library or create a new one.
To quote Trevor Slattery, “Well, I panicked, then I handled it.” I momentarily wondered why my library was gone, but then just quit and restarted iTunes. Because I was holding the option key down (to browse some advanced WiFi information) when iTunes launched in the background of what I was doing (because I’d plugged in my iPad) it did so in the library selection mode. Just restarting iTunes brought everything back up fine.
To what I mentioned earlier: Why multiple libraries? I know a couple DJs who actually use iTunes for a few things, and they seemed to have loved this feature. Here’s why…
This let them have party-appropriate music in iTunes without touching their original library; play count, playlists, etc. would all go untouched. Sadly, iTunes DJ has been removed from iTunes 11, so they really don’t bother doing this anymore.
Subtle, differences
Option-click on an application in OS X can yield some neat results. In iPhoto and iTunes, for example, the application launches in a mode that lets you select a new library. It’s really helpful when restoring from a backup, or if you have multiple libraries (more on that later, if you like).
Today I discovered, thanks to my ability to multitask, that it’s not option-click that’s really doing it.
I plugged in my iPad, then I went to look at some details of my WiFi connection using the option key to browse my WiFi icon. While doing that, I received a popup:
Choose iTunes LIbrary
iTunes needs a library to continue. You may choose an existing iTunes library or create a new one.
To quote Trevor Slattery, “Well, I panicked, then I handled it.” I momentarily wondered why my library was gone, but then just quit and restarted iTunes. Because I was holding the option key down (to browse some advanced WiFi information) when iTunes launched in the background of what I was doing (because I’d plugged in my iPad) it did so in the library selection mode. Just restarting iTunes brought everything back up fine.
To what I mentioned earlier: Why multiple libraries? I know a couple DJs who actually use iTunes for a few things, and they seemed to have loved this feature. Here’s why…
- Option-click iTunes
- Create a new library
- drag-and-drop music from your original iTunes library into iTunes
This let them have party-appropriate music in iTunes without touching their original library; play count, playlists, etc. would all go untouched. Sadly, iTunes DJ has been removed from iTunes 11, so they really don’t bother doing this anymore.