[carlo]

Hello,

I wanted to experiment with MSP’s multiple library feature. I created (on Windows 11) a new library and chose to store its scores inside a subdirectory of the Default library (which — by my own choice — is not located in AppData...LocalState). So far, everything worked as expected.

However, when I tried to sync this new library to my iPad, I assumed that MSP would create a separate library on the iPad and copy the files into an isolated directory. Instead, it seemed like the sync process was merging the new library into the iPad’s current library, so I stopped the sync to avoid mixing the two.

Ideally, I would expect MSP to detect when the libraries on two devices are different and ask whether to create a new one or merge them, instead of assuming a merge.

Is this merging behavior intentional (by design), or did I miss a setting or step?

Thanks in advance for any clarification or correction.

[Zubersoft]

That's intentional - restoring a backup or synchronizing will use whatever library is active (that is why there is now an indicator on the sync screen and backup restore that shows which library is active). Users aren't required to have the same libraries set up on their device when synchronizing, as there may be situations where users have named their libraries differently but the content is the same (or they only want a subset of the library and are synchronizing with "Prompt user for decision").

Mike

[carlo]

That's intentional - restoring a backup or synchronizing will use whatever library is active (that is why there is now an indicator on the sync screen and backup restore that shows which library is active). Users aren't required to have the same libraries set up on their device when synchronizing, as there may be situations where users have named their libraries differently but the content is the same (or they only want a subset of the library and are synchronizing with "Prompt user for decision").

Mike

Fine.

Nevertheless, let me point out that users who want to keep the same library structure when synchronizing have to be very careful to create or set up the corresponding library in advance. 

If I may, I’d like to add to the wishlist the option that, when a library mismatch is detected, the user is prompted with a choice such as: “Create/Open xxx” and “Merge xxx with yyy”, and then decide whether to mix the files or keep them in separate folders (as is already possible now).

Thanks, Mike, for your clarification and consideration.

[slushpump@gmail.com]

I've done some searches in the manuals and in the forums, but I'm not confident I understand and might bust things. 

Since I'm recommending MSP to others, I want to ensure I'm heading the the right direction, as I'll likely end up being the local help desk for their implementations as well as my own.  
  

• I use MSP in different groups/bands. Each has their own charts, keys, notes, etc., and titles may overlap between groups.
  
• So I set up a separate library for each group, and that seems to be working ok so far.
  
• When I sit in with a different group, they usually send out a zip file with "their" .pdf charts, so I import them into a new library. 
  
• I sync all my libraries between my 3 copies of MSP, on Android, IOS, and Windows. (using only direct connect, not dropbox, etc.)
  

Questions:

1. when I do a "Sync" between devices or a "Backup" on a device:  Is the scope of this action simply to the current *ACTIVE* library, or to *ALL* libraries (on the source machine)?   I suspect I've been doing this wrong.
   
2. In this forum post, I see I need to manually create each new library on each of my copies of MSP.    I *have* been doing this wrong, I guess.  
   
3. I see lots of information in the manual and forums about the need to have unique song "titles" to avoid duplicates.   So when I get a new batch of .pdf files to import, do I manually need to go through and rename these new songs each time?  (ick).  Note that some groups might use identical .pdf files, but may each have different notes about intro/solos/endings, and I need all of these to be localized to the the library used for each band.
    
   

Thanks for the guidance....  I love the product and want to see more of my bandmates dive in.

[Zubersoft]

1) It's just the active library. I do want to support backing up multiple libraries into one file at some point, but it will require some changes to the file format and the backup and restore code.

2) Yes, you do need to set up the libraries on each device beforehand. It's designed this way as the library configuration is separate from the rest of the configuration and is not included in backups. It's handled this way to prevent major issues that could occur if you restored a backup and wiped out the list of libraries you set up. It also ensures you can restore any backup into any library, as there are some situations where this may be desired for some users.

3) Within one library, yes, you really should have unique song titles and files. Between libraries, that isn't required if you enable the option to isolate storage for each library. If you get a new batch of PDF files, you should be replacing the existing files used by the songs already in the library. If you use Import->Batch Import, for example, you can choose to update all existing songs when a match is found for any imported file. Similarly, if you just Import->Local File and select a new version of a file, for example, you can just select the option to update the existing song if a song is found that uses a file with the same name.

Mike