Sharing playlists between computers

[Spindoctor]

I hope this isn't a silly question.

I've installed MIXXX on my desktop at home. Impressed to the point of using it and recommending it to a friend, I've installed MIXXX on my laptop as well. My friend installed MIXXX on HIS desktop, and will be installing it on his laptop. There is another laptop, dedicated to a mobile DJ trailer, that also has downloaded MIXXX. That's FIVE computers so far. My friend and I both use the same music library.

So the simple question, where exactly are the playlists and crates stored, and can they be shared between all these computers? I would like to setup/edit them on my desktop, then upload them to the other computers. Is this possible? If not, can it be made possible in a future version?

I've got around 4,000 songs in the (main) library, about a third of which is in a playlist, and selections from these will go into a handful of crates. This is a lot of time and effort if I have to repeat this on every computer.

[Pegasus]

There's no automatic way unless you stored the library on a network drive that all computers could access (but not at the same time.) Doesn't sound like this is possible for you anyway since the computers are in separate locations.

You can export and import playlists easily enough by right-clicking them and choosing the appropriate option.

As for the main library, the best we can offer at this point is to do all the preparation on one computer, then copy the database file (mixxxdb.sqlite) to the others. (Playlists are also stored in the database.) Just know that any changes made on the other computers will be overwritten the next time you copy the file to them again. (So it's possible to say make changes while gigging, then copy that file back to the other computers, as long as nothing changed on the others that you don't want to lose in the meantime.)

[Spindoctor]

That sounds great except for one thing -- where do I find mixxxdb.sqlite? I can't find it in the MIXXX folder or subfolders, it's not in the folder where the music library is located, and a Windows search comes up empty.

Yes, if I can copy a file such as this it would be the answer. Basically here's my plan: my music library contains EVERYTHING, including songs I would never want to play at most events. For car shows, I'll make a playlist of every song I intend to play at car shows. Then, I'll make crates for shows in different locales, as some have younger people who want 70's-80's while others have older folks who want doo-wops. The crates will obviously change with each gig, but I'm making so many changes/additions to the library that I've needed to "start over" a number of times -- hence the need to share with the other computers.

In fact, one feature I like is the drag-and-drop. As I find new music I want to start playing, I'll put it into a "New music" folder and just drag-and-drop into the queue. Later when the songs are normalized and properly meta-tagged, they'll go into the library.

[Pegasus]

The database file is in the same place as the mixxx.cfg and mixxx.log files, namely under the Mixxx folder in %LOCALAPPDATA%, which is a hidden folder so Windows Search doesn't look there by default. (I hate Windows Search.) See http://mixxx.org/wiki/doku.php/troubles ... xxlog_file

[Spindoctor]

Thanks for your quick response!

Already I'm liking MIXXX, if nothing else for the tech support and answering my questions! My other "paid" DJ software I've been using for two months, and am still waiting for answers to simple questions. Needless to say that one's being phased out.

I've got three of these computers in my shop right now; I'll poke around and try to find these files. I'll let you know how it works out.

MIXXX will make its "bigtime" debut on Friday night. Hopefully by next weekend the other software will be phased out entirely, and MIXXX will be the star of all the shows!

[Pegasus]

MIXXX will make its "bigtime" debut on Friday night. Hopefully by next weekend the other software will be phased out entirely, and MIXXX will be the star of all the shows!

Sounds good! Let us know how it goes and take some pictures! We could use more crowd shots.

[Spindoctor]

Okay, I hope this doesn't sound stupid, but I can't seem to get any of these hidden files and folders to show. "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" is already selected, and I've even asked to view system files, but nothing else shows. I know they're there because the folder properties sez there are 65 folders, and I see only 7. Windows 7 -- do you have a magic trick to access these files/folders?

[Spindoctor]

Okay, I figured it out. Sorry I'm a little slow; I'm not the kind who tinkers with hidden files every day.

I copied the file from my laptop to my desktop. Opened MIXXX on the desktop, the music library and playlist is there but nothing will play because it can't find the music.

So this is the next hurdle. On both computers, the music library is under MUSIC>MUSIC>MUSIC LIBRARY 2-2-12. The full path of users/somethinorother must be different in some way. Would this work if I put the library on both computers in the MIXXX folder with the software itself? Or will it require all folders going all the way back to the username to be exactly the same?

Both of these computers use Windows 7, and use the 64 bit version of MIXXX. At least two others will use Windows XP and are 32 bit. I've noticed the 64 bit goes into Program Files, while the 32 bit is installed in Program Files (x86). Will any of this cause a problem if the music library is installed in the MIXXX folder, and I share the data file? Open to suggestions, and I would love to see some form of playlist sharing in a future version of MIXXX.

[Pegasus]

For your purposes, I would put the music in a directory off of the root (e.g. c:\Music) that way it can be the same on all computers and you avoid issues with different user names or program files directories.

[Spindoctor]

Thanks again! That is the same conclusion I came to in the middle of the night, thinking about it. How hard is that?

Anyway, I've got five computers right here -- 2 Windows 7, 1 Vista, and 2 XP, and I'm going to try it as soon as I get time. If so, we're there!