Export Artwork » extract artwork - fetch album covers - embed artwork

Application related :

• I have a registered version and no Artwork at all, so what's the best way to use the application?
  • Consult the 'Quick Start Guide' topic in the Export Artwork 'Help' files.
• When trying to start Export Artwork from the iTunes Export Artwork launch script, a window always appears asking to locate the application. What's the problem?
  • This issue is due to a "feature" (or more likely a bug!) introduced with one of Apple's Security Update, where the system's LaunchServices db has not recorded the existence of the Export Artwork application framework. There's not much I can do about this, and this problem doesn't seem to occur on all systems. To get around this issue, launch Export Artwork directly by double-clicking its icon. Quit Export Artwork and the launch script from within iTunes should now work fine.
• The 'Start' button is disabled. Why can't I click it?
  • Export Artwork needs some basic information before it can allow you to start. Make sure you have selected the tracks you wish to process and clicked the "Refresh' button. If you select the option to save in 'Default folder', make sure you have 'Set' the folder. If you're using a 'Default name' as the naming format, make sure it does not start with a space or contain special characters.
• How do I get Export Artwork to process and publish the tracks alphabetically by Artist name?
  • In order for Export Artwork to process tracks alphabetically by Artist name, a playlist should be selected, instead of a group of tracks, and sorted by Artists in the iTunes window. As of version 3.8.1, Export Artwork processes tracks in the same sorting order as they appear in iTunes. You can also "force-sort" the selection alphabetically by Artist, by holding down the [option/alt] key while clicking the 'Refresh' button.
• How does Export Artwork treat compilation albums? How should those album tracks be tagged?
  • When creating '1 cover per album', while processing tracks, EA will compare the Artist and Album names of the current track to those of the previous track, and if they match no new album cover is fetched, if they don't EA will make a query to the website.
    If several tracks are part of a compilation album, in iTunes you should mark those tracks as being 'Part of a compilation' in the id3 tag info window.
    When EA gets the list of tracks to process, it automatically groups all tracks marked as compilation together, ordering them by album name. It will also query Amazon with the artist being 'Various Artists' for those albums (instead of querying for separate track and artist). This will avoid fetching and/or creating a cover for each track of the compilation album.
    Take note that a 'Greatest Hits' album from ONE artist, should NOT be marked as compilation. In EA's view, a compilation album is one that features several different artists, as in a movie soundtrack or a 'Best of the 70's' album.
• How does Export Artwork treat multiple discs albums? How should those album tracks be tagged?
  • When creating '1 cover per album', while processing tracks, EA will compare the Artist and Album names of the current track to those of the previous track, and if they match no new album cover is fetched, if they don't EA will make a query to the website.
    In the id3 tag info window, those albums should be marked as 'Disc x of x' in the appropriate boxes. Ideally, to get EA working at its best, you should NOT add 'Disc x' in the album name field.
• It can't find the right album cover, but I can see it on Amazon's web site. Is this a bug?
  • Not really. The automated search function built into Export Artwork relies solely on the database provided by Amazon Web Services. It does its best to match keywords (from the ID3 tags of the tracks) with entries in that database, but it's not perfect!
    Make sure your tracks are tagged properly (Artist and Album names) and that you don't unnecessarily mark tracks as 'Part of a compilation' if they are not.
• The application just scans through all my mp3's and never fetches any image from Amazon. What's wrong?
  • Following changes to the Amazon Web Services structure, an update to the XML and SOAP calls has been made to the application code starting at version 3.7.6. Make sure to update to the latest version of Export Artwork in order to continue fetching album covers from Amazon after April 16th 2004.
• My system uses a Network PROXY server and Export Artwork can never connect to the Amazon sites. What can I do?
  • Version 4.1.0 now has a proxy server configuration, accessible through the Export Artwork menu bar.
• Why doesn't Export Artwork automatically query other web sites?
  • Through Amazon Web Services (AWS), Export Artwork can query and search the online database via XML or SOAP. Other sites do not offer these services. In 'Manual mode', the search is performed by sending keywords via your web browser to the selected site, to narrow down the search results. Select the 'Enable search and drop images' in 'Manual mode' to query those sites.
• In 'Manual mode', how do I switch from my browser to Export Artwork when drag n' dropping images?
  • Use [ command - tab ] on your keyboard to switch between applications easily.
• Why would I want to save images in my album folders?
  • You may want to use a third party application that acts as a controller for iTunes and displays album covers from images stored in your album folders.OnDeck
• How do I get the album cover artwork to show in iTunes and/or on the iPod when playing a song?
  • On the 'Extra settings' tab, you must select the option to 'Embed new Artwork to ID3 tag of all processed tracks'. EA will then add the album cover artwork to the track file itself.
• When processing tracks from Audio CD, why does it say "Some options are limited"?
  • This is not a registered/unregistered limitation, some options are automatically disabled (grayed out) when you click the 'Refresh' button (to avoid any errors), when processing tracks directly from an Audio CD. The limited options are as follow:
    - You cannot save the images in the respective Album folder (as there isn't any... it's a read-only CD).
    - You must Fetch album covers (as they are not present on the CD, you'll be unable to de-select this option).
    - You cannot Embed the new Artwork (remember... it's a read-only CD!).
    - You cannot Create new playlist (because that would start the import process of the CD tracks to your hard drive).
    If you insist on embedding the album covers as artwork in your tracks, you'll need to import them as mp3/m4a to your hard disk first.
• When processing tracks from an iPod, why does it say "Some options are limited"?
  • This is not a registered/unregistered limitation, some options are automatically disabled (grayed out) when you click the 'Refresh' button (to avoid any errors), when processing tracks directly from a connected iPod. The limited options are as follow:
    - You cannot save the images in the respective Album folder.
    - You cannot Create new playlist (because that would start the import process of the tracks to your hard drive).
• All my tracks already contain large size embedded artwork. I would like to resize the embedded artwork to a smaller size for transferring tracks to my iPod. How can I do this without having to fetch new artwork from Amazon?
  • Follow these steps:
  • - In iTunes, create a playlist of all the tracks you want to process. Sort that playlist by Artists in the iTunes window.
  • *** If you want to backup your album covers at the current sizes, follow the next step but do not resize the images, and save them in a separate 'Default folder'. Then repeat the following step. ***
  • - In EA, select your playlist and click 'Refresh'. Select 'Create 1 cover per album' and set a 'Default folder' for the 'Save in location'. Set 'Image type' to 'jpeg' and select the 'Name in format' of your choice. Select the 'Resize album cover images' option with the parameter of your choice. Leave all other setting un-selected.
  • - Click the 'Start' button.
  • - Once the process is complete and you are happy with the result, run > Tools > Remove artwork and select your playlist.
  • - Now that you want to re-embed the (new size) artwork to the ID3 tags, click 'Refresh' to select your same playlist. Make sure you leave the options 'Create 1 cover per', 'Save in location', 'Image type' and 'Name in format' the same as before.
  • - You now have to select the options 'Fetch album cover images...' and 'for all tracks' and 'Embed new Artwork to ID3 tag...'.
  • - Click the 'Start' button. EA will check in the 'Save in location' (which is the same 'Default folder' you previously set) to see if the .jpg image already exists. If the .jpg does exist (and you haven't selected the option to 'Overwrite existing...'), EA will NOT fetch a new image from Amazon, but will instead show the preview of the existing (previously exported) .jpg image and will then automatically embed the corresponding artwork into the processed tracks.
• After updating/embedding the artwork for the tracks on my iPod, the wrong album cover now appears on the iPod when playing, although the right one shows in iTunes. How can I fix this?
  • iTunes creates an invisible database file (on compatible iPods) to store a copy of the embedded album artwork. It may be "out of synch". Assuming that the artwork embedded into each track is the right one (as displayed in iTunes) you should be able to fix the issue by doing the following:
  • - Plug your iPod into your Mac. iTunes should start up.
  • - Go to the iTunes > Preferences > iPod.
  • - Untick the box that says "Display artwork on the iPod". iTunes will quickly update the iPod and delete the database file.
  • - Now re-tick the box that says "Display artwork on the iPod". iTunes will optimize the artwork for the iPod and recreate the database file.

Error message/log related :

• When processing my iTunes "Library", I get an "iTunes error: out of memory" message. What can I do about it?
  • Instead of selecting your "Library" to process in EA, in iTunes create a new playlist and add to it all the tracks you want to process. Then select that new playlist (not its individual tracks) and click the 'Refresh' button in EA.
• When processing tracks from an iPod, what does the error "Could not locate file by size. (-1728)" mean?
  • This issue has now been resolved in version 4.1.0
• When drag n' dropping images from a web page into the Preview window, what does the message "dropped data is unknown format!" mean?
  • When you get to the web page showing the results of the search, drag n' dropping any thumbnail pictures showed on that page will give you the message "dropped data is unknown format!" because the URL path to the image cannot be read (it's embedded in javascript and besides... the picture is so small that there's no point!). You need to navigate to the page listing that specific album, and drag n' drop the large image. On Buy.com you need to click "view large image" and, once loaded in your browser, drag n' drop THAT LARGE image. But on Wallmart.com, there is no need to actually click the link to the "larger" image because Export Artwork (clever!!!) will read the path to that large image (the path is part of the javascript link).
• When extracting existing artwork from a track, in the Error Log I get the error "Could not save image. (-43) File [ path to file ] wasn't found.". What's the problem?
  • This issue has been fixed in version 4.1.3.
• I keep getting an error message. I think I found a bug. How do I submit bug reports?
  • First, make sure you are running the latest version of Export Artwork. The best way for me to try and resolve any problem, is by users providing as much detail as possible (what circumstances lead to the error, can the problem be replicated, what kind of tracks were being processed, ... the more info the better!). Also sending snapshots and/or the Error log file generated by the application can be very useful.

Registration related :

• I purchased a registration code but never received it. Did I get ripped off?
  • No you didn't, I'm not a crook! The email containing your registration code is sent to the same email address you use for your PayPal account. Make sure that this email address is valid, not "over-quota" and that the email has not been flagged as junk mail. If after 24 hours from the time of purchase you still haven't received your code, contact me with a valid email address. You'd be amazed how many people use outdated email addresses or how many times the email bounces back to me because their inbox is full, leaving me no way of contacting them.
• I purchased a registration code but it doesn't work. What can I do?
  • Make sure you type in both the email and registration code exactly as was sent to you. If that fails, check it again!
• I purchased a registration code, and the latest update asks me to register. Do I have to buy another code?
  • No. Just re-enter your registration details.
• I purchased a registration code some time ago but have since changed my email address. Can I get an updated registration code that will work with my new email address?
  • Registration codes are generated at purchase time and are only valid when entered in conjunction with the email address used at purchase time. Your original registration details will unlock your current copy of EA and any future updates. Please understand that I cannot issue new codes without another purchase being made.
    If you only wish to have your contact details updated in order to get notifications of new versions to your new email, you can contact me and I will do so.
• I registered and I like your application a lot! Can I send you more money?
  • Hey! Go on, show your support... I won't stop you. I wouldn't mind a MacBook either :)
• What is your refund policy?
  • I'm afraid I do not issue refunds for purchased registration codes. You accept the License Agreement upon installation of the software and you get to try the software free of charge before registering it. If the software is not what you want, or it doesn't work on your computer, simply don't buy it. Please don't buy it and ask for a refund later, because I will have to decline. Thank you for your support.

General :

• I can't find the answer to my question. What now?
  • Please consult the User Guide accessible via the application's 'Help' menu. If you still can't find the answer to your question, you can email me by clicking contact at the top of the page.

Info

Export Artwork requires iTunes version 4 or higher to run.

Read the Read Me file included in the download for known issues and/or limitations.

In order for Export Artwork to function properly, iTunes must be set to Keep iTunes Music folder organized in the Advanced tab of iTunes Preferences.

The Name, Artist and Album fields of the tracks ID3 tag (command-i) must be filled in.

Feedback / Bugs / Requests

You can email me by clicking contact at the top of the page.