PhatMac Help - Preference Dialogue (General Preferences)

The General tab of the Preferences Dialogue is used to configure several miscellaneous options that govern the way in which PhatMac operates.

The first option allows you to specify the special XML file that represents your iTunes music library. This is the file that PhatMac reads to load the iTunes Library. The default location is: "Music/iTunes/iTunes Music Library.xml". Press the Browse button to locate the file if it is not in this default location. An error message will be presented when an attempt is made to load the iTunes library, if this file is corrupt or does not exist.

The Compilations option allows the user to select which auxilary field can be used as the 'Artist' for each track marked as being part of a compilation.

• Use "Artist" Field For Track Artist - Use the 'Artist' field for the track artist (the default behavior).
• Use "Composer" Field For Track Artist - Use the 'Composer' field to form the artist name of this track.
• Use "Grouping" Field For Track Artist - Use the 'Grouping' field to form the artist name of this track.

The On Startup options allow the user to select actions to be performed each time the application is run:

• Check (Online) For Latest Version - Check this option to have PhatMac automatically check for a newer version. More information is available here.
• Load iTunes Library - Check this option to have PhatMac load the iTunes Library when it starts up.
• Load PhatBox Library - Check this option to have PhatMac load the PhatBox library when it starts up. An error will be presented if the DMS Cartridge is not correctly connected to your Mac.

The When Saving options allow the user to select actions to be performed each time the PhatBox library is saved:

• Check All Tracks For Transfer - Check this option to have PhatMac check all tracks to determine whether or not they need to be transferred. The default behavior is to only check new/modified tracks. Checking all tracks can increase the time it takes to save the DMS Library.
• Purge Library - Check this option to have PhatMac purge the PhatBox library before saving. This is useful so that tracks which no longer belong to any playlists can be removed from the library and the DMS (which conserves space).
• Convert Incompatible Files (to MP3) - Check this option to have PhatMac attempt to convert files to MP3 (at the requested bit-rate) as they are being transferred to the DMS Cartridge. More information can be found here.

The On Exit options allow the user to select actions to be performed when the PhatMac application quits:

• Save DMS Library - Select this option to have PhatMac save the DMS Library when the user quits. The library will only be saved if changes have been made.
• Eject DMS Cartridge - Select this option to have PhatMac attempt to eject the DMS Cartridge from your Mac when the application quits. It is extremely important to eject the cartridge before unplugging it from your Mac, otherwise you will lose data or the cartridge will become corrupt. Never remove the DMS Cartridge without Ejecting it first! More information can be found here.

Click Cancel to close the Preferences window without saving the settings, or Accept to close the window and save all settings.