Comprehensive iTunes behavior / how to segregate library into local+remote

[scootermaster]

The what:

Does anyone know where I can find -- if it exists -- a comprehensive list of iTunes behaviors involving permutations of [smart] playlists, shuffling, genius, check marks, "don't play when shuffling" checks, and exclamation marks (i.e. when files can't be found, denoted below as "!")?


1). Will ! files be added to smart playlists?
2). Will ! files be selected for genius playlists?
3). Will ! files be selected in shuffle (YES)
4). Will unchecked files be selected in shuffle (optional)
5). Will unchecked files be selected in smart playlists (optional)
6). Can you make a smart playlist of ! files (or not ! files)?
7). Will unchecked files be selected in genius?
8). Will "don't shuffle" files be selected in genius?
9). Can you make a playlist of unchecked files? (No, I think)
etc etc

I could test each of these -- and I will, if needed -- but I thought if someone either knew this stuff, or knew of some support page, it'd save me the trouble. I can be somewhat time consuming to check these things (figuring out what songs a genius selection is likely to pick, unchecking things, updating genius, etc etc).

The why:

I'm trying to figure out how to as seamlessly as possible, have an iTunes library in two different places, a "local" SSD, and an off-board NAS. Doing this itself is trivial. Not completely breaking every useful part of iTunes when you're not connected to the NAS is a little more difficult. Part of this is that -- and this is especially true in iTunes 11; I think iTunes 10 was better -- iTunes really tries to keep you in the "main" music library (i.e. when you do something in a playlist, it often pops you back out to Music). There are a number of functionalities that don't seem to want to work "only" on a playlist (search can, I think, Genius won't).

My goal is to be able to use genius and [a subset of] smart playlists, regardless of whether I'm connected to the NAS or not.

So I'm wondering if there's some combination of check marks, "don't shuffle" tags and playlists (perhaps tags in the comment field, with smart playlists to segregate) that will allow me to do this.

For example: Unchecking all "remote" files will solve the shuffle issue. I could then shuffle the main library if I was "remote", and that would be fine (it wouldn't play any files that weren't there). But would I be able to use genius on the main library? Would smart playlists recognize that the files weren't checked? Would I be able to use smart playlists and genius, etc, when I WAS connected?

You get the issue?

So, I know iTunes Match will "sorta" do this, but it segregates between local and the cloud, as far as I know. That's obviously not the same thing.

Phew. Exhale.

Anyway, anyone have any ideas, or know how all these behaviors work, or where I should go look?

[scootermaster]

I think I may have figured this out, and it might be a relatively simple, although not entirely seamless, fix.

[TheStu]

Originally Posted by scootermaster

I think I may have figured this out, and it might be a relatively simple, although not entirely seamless, fix.

Once you have it, remember to post back and not strand some poor soul 4 years from now without an answer!

I'm looking out for you, future internet searcher. You're welcome.

[slashbinslashbash]

Yes, I would be interested in hearing your solution as well.

[midwestfisherman]

iTunes match?

[scootermaster]

Originally Posted by midwestfisherman

iTunes match?

Do I write too verbosely? Do I write about topics no one cares about? Is the AT readership, in general, just not particularly knowledgable?

I mean, I'm not complaining; this is, y'know, free. So you get what you pay for. But often times I'll post threads asking for advice, or clarification, or suggestions, and regardless of whether people actually know the answer -- I mean, I can't blame anyone for not knowing the answer to some specific question of mine -- it is clear that people don't even read what I write.

Just wondering whether it's me, this particular site, or just the internet in general?

Anyway, no, not iTunes Match, but thanks for playing.

***

To the rest of the replies, yeah, when I get time to test a lot of this stuff, I'll come report back. There doesn't appear to be a perfect solution (big surprise there!) but I'll see what I'm thinking is acceptable at all.

Anyone with any other ideas?