Some Googling suggests that the answer is "no", but I might as well ask... Apparently the field is read-only to AppleScript, and if you hack the XML file directly, every "Date Added" will be set to the date at which the XML was re-parsed. (This means: "don't tell me what your guess is unless you've tried it and it works", ok?)
iTunes "date added"
Dear Lazyweb, is there any way to edit the "Date Added" field of tracks in iTunes?
Tags: computers, firstperson, lazyweb, mac
Current Music: Massive Attack -- Inertia Creeps ♬
11 Responses:
- remove the track.
- change the date on your system clock to the desired date.
- add the track.
HEH!
I suppose that passes the "tried it and it works" test.
Somehow I still don't think he'll be amused.
Hm. do shell script "date " & posixdatestring might work in applescript, so why not. I've always kind of wondered if the internal OS logic depends on a coherent clock. What could go wrong? (Seriously, something could probably go wrong... what might?)
For a while I've been setting my clock back so my 15 day parallels trial doesn't run out. I haven't seen any problems except sent mail having weird dates.
The only thing I've found is to delete the track from your library and re-add it. This only sets the date added to the current date, but it's a start.
No, there isn't.
You can put dates into the "comments" field and search on that, which is the closest you'll get.
Editing the XML file won't get you anywhere - iTunes never reads from it. It's solely for the benefit of programs that don't want to read the iTunes database directly.
Neither does exporting the library and reimporting it.
It in fact ignores it and changes it to the current date.
I'm curious, since I don't think I've ever used the Date Added field in a search or a smart playlist - what are you going to use it for?
"What albums did I buy in 2005". Since I first started using iTunes in mid-2005, I can only answer half of that question with a smart playlist.
it gets even worse... for example:
Add an album, like an mp3 web download. It gets the date that you imported it.
now, at some future date, buy the CD, then import it again; itunes will ask if you want to replace the old files. you click yes, and you get newly imported files.... with the OLD import date.
fun. :(