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Device Synchronization

The Device Synchronization tool is used to automatically synchronize a portable device (iPod, MP3 player, portable media device, USB memory stick, external hard drive etc) with folders, Playlists, Smart Playlists and the Active Playlist.

Please note that Helium Music Manager does not yet support iPod/iPhone devices running on iOS4.x.

Using Device Synchronization

Follow these steps to synchronize a iPod Device

Start the Device Synchronization by clicking on the Synchronize Device option from the Tools menu.
Select your iPod device from the Device list control.
Click the Add Playlist, Add Smart Playlist, Add Folder or Add Active Playlist buttons to add a Playlist, Smart Playlist, folder or Active Playlist that you would like to synchronize onto the device. Select a Playlist, Smart Playlist or Folder and click OK to add it to the list of items to be synchronized.
You can synchronize multiple Playlists, Smart Playlists and Folders but the Active Playlist can only occur once.
When you have selected playlists and/or folders to be synchronized you might want to save this template to be used in the future when you want to synchronize this device. Click the Save button, type a description and click the OK button to save this template.
Click the Synchronize button to start synchronizing your iPod device.

You can choose if you would like to synchronize pictures from the Advanced tab.

You can control device specific options by clicking the Options button.

Follow these steps to synchronize a Plays For Sure device:

Make sure that your portable device is connected to your computer and turned on.
Start the Device Synchronization by clicking on the Synchronize Device option from the Tools menu.
Select your device from the Device list control.
Click the Add Playlist, Add Smart Playlist, Add Folder or Add Active Playlist buttons to add a Playlist, Smart Playlist, folder or Active Playlist that you would like to synchronize onto the device. Select a Playlist, Smart Playlist or Folder and click OK to add it to the list of items to be synchronized.
You can synchronize multiple Playlists, Smart Playlists and Folders but the Active Playlist can only occur once.
When you have selected playlists and/or folders to be synchronized you might want to save this template to be used in the future when you want to synchronize this device. Click the Save button, type a description and click the OK button to save this template.
Click the Synchronize button to start synchronizing your portable device.

You can choose if you would like to synchronize pictures from the Advanced tab.

You can control device specific options by clicking the Options button.

Follow these steps to synchronize a drive/specific folder

Start the Device Synchronization by clicking on the Synchronize Device option from the Tools menu.
Select the drive/folder item in the device list and click the Browse button to point out the folder you would like to synchronize to.
Click the Add Playlist, Add Smart Playlist, Add Folder or Add Active Playlist buttons to add a Playlist, Smart Playlist, folder or Active Playlist that you would like to synchronize onto the device. Select a Playlist, Smart Playlist or Folder and click OK to add it to the list of items to be synchronized.
You can synchronize multiple Playlists, Smart Playlists and Folders but the Active Playlist can only occur once.
When you have selected playlists and/or folders to be synchronized you might want to save this template to be used in the future when you want to synchronize this device. Click the Save button, type a description and click the OK button to save this template.
Click the Synchronize button to start the synchronization.

Controlling Destination Folder Structures

To change the resulting folder structure (on the target device/drive/folder), select the Destination Folder Structure tab.

This tab allows you to build folder structures, very similar to the File Rename Wizard.

Follow the steps below add new folders

Click on the Add Folder button to add a new folder to the folder structure.
Click the Add Field button to add a new field.
Select a field from the Field drop down list
Optionally specify a prefix in the Prefix box. A prefix will be added before the field in your filename (see examples below).
Optionally specify a suffix in the Suffix box. A Suffix will be added after the field in your filename (see examples below).
Optionally specify a default text in the Default Text box. The text specified in the Default Text box will replace the field if it's empty (see examples below).
Optionally limit the length of the field from the Limit Length spin edit. Default value is 0 (no limit).
Optionally set a padding length for numeric values using the Pad numbers with spin edit.

By setting a padding you can make numbers (such as Current Track) padded by one or more preceding zeros. A padding of 1 will give:

01
05
09
10
21
31
150
9170

and so on...

A padding of 2 will give:

001
005
009
010
021
031
150
9170

Default value is 0 (no limit).
Click OK to add the field to the list.
Repeat step 1 to 8 for each field that you want to add.
Click OK to apply the changes.

You can create multiple folders to create folder structures that will give you results like:

Artist 1

Album 1

Album 2

Artist 2

Album 1

...

The folder structures that you create will be stored in your device synchronization template.

Controlling Image handling

Select the Advanced tab to control the following options:

Synchronize Pictures will allow you to select if images should be copied to the device.
Album Thumbnails will copy the album thumbnails (as seen in the Album Browser) for each album that is being synchronized to your device
Original Pictures will copy the original album picture for each album that is being synchronized to your device. If the Original picture cannot be found, the Album Thumbnail will be copied instead.

When synchronizing a folder you will be able to change the resulting picture name ( Rename pictures to) and also to convert them to another format ( Convert pictures to).