Music Collector Manual

for Windows edition

Getting Started

Welcome to Music Collector Download and Install Navigating the Main Screen Cataloging CDs Cataloging Music Files How to search your Collection

Adding

Adding Albums Automatically Adding Albums Manually Barcode Scanning Adding Multi-Disc Albums Adding Tracks Adding a Box Set Adding Music Files Import from iTunes Importing from text Adding Backdrops Managing your Wish List Search Settings Field Defaults

Editing

Editing Albums Editing Multiple Albums List Items and more Changing the layout Adding Lyrics Files Find Cover Image Editing List Icons Update File Links

Customizing

Sorting your Collection Custom Field Names Custom Views Edit, Merge List Items Customizing Music Collector

Enjoying & Sharing

Activating Connect Sync & Share Synchronize with Connect Linking your albums for Connect CLZ Music for iPhone/iPod CLZ Music for Android CLZ Music HD for iPad Exporting your collection Managing Loans Printing a Simple List Using Folders Using the Filter screen

Reference

Updating Music Collector The Options Screen Data Submission Guidelines Field Reference Transfer your collection Validating Music Collector Creating a Backup Keyboard Shortcuts Collection Statistics Print Screen Linking Albums

Transfer your collection

In this day and age, it's only likely you will get a new computer every few years or so. New features and possibilities, faster, bigger, better, etc. ... But what'll happen to your Albums? Will they be lost? Will I have to start all over?

Rest assured. The answer is: no. It's really not that difficult to move your collection from one PC to another. Even migrating from Windows to Mac is possible.

Installing Music Collector on your new computer

You will need the original installer (and your license information) to install the software on your new computer. If you don't have the installer and/or your license information anymore, you can request them again from this page. Fill out your email address and we will immediately send you your license information and download links. You don't need to wait or send a confirmation.

Just make sure you use the same email address you supplied when ordering. If you're not sure, please contact our friendly neighborhood customer service people. They will answer your mail within 24 hours.
After downloading, double click the installer and follow the installation instructions.

Transferring your collection

Close Music Collector on your 'old' computer.
Your database file is located in the following folder (default):
- My Documents - Music Collector (for Vista the folder is located under: Documents)
- on the Mac the folder is ~/Library/Application Support/Music Collector.
Its default name is mycollection.muc, but you have probably renamed your collection. That's a good thing. Just copy this .mucfile to your new computer and place it in the same folder, so for example: My Documents - Music Collector.
Next you will have to move the cover image files. The default folder for cover image files is in the same location as your collection (see example above). Copy the contents of this folder to the new computer too, preferably in the same location.
If you are using Windows, you can also transfer the user (setting) files. You will find them (default) in the same folder as the database. There are 10 XML files and 2 TXT files you can copy.
If you have made or customized templates in the subfolder called templates, copy this folder as well.
Now start the program on the new computer and click: File > Open database to open your database file, that is, the database file that you just copied. After that, you should see your own data again :-) .
If the location of the cover images on the new computer is different than the one on your 'old' computer, you may have to use: Tools > Maintenance > Update Image Links to let Music Collector update the cover image links automatically.
On the Tools | Options screen, check the tabs to make sure the paths are correct.
Note 1:
The instruction above are meant for Windows to Windows, or Mac to Mac transfer. For Windows to Mac transfer see this FAQ.
Note 2:
If your new computer will be running Windows Vista or Windows 7, please also see this FAQ. Please make sure to close the program before starting to copy database and image files from the initial computer.
Note 3:
You can run into this message: "Your license key is already in use". This is because you're using your license on 2 PCs at the same time. It is very easy to solve, just visit this support page for assistance.