OtsDJ question

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Genres or Categories? A Genre is added at the time OTS files are created in OTS Studio.

Categories are added in the OTS DJ program and become part of the library index file: OtsAVDJ.oml

To move the index complete with categories to another machine you have copy and paste it. Place it in the default directory path Ots DJ searches when opened. Usually that's:

C:\Ots Labs\Data\OtsAVDJ.oml

If you don't want to overwrite an existing music file than give it a new name different from the default and put it somewhere where you can readily find it again. When you open OtsDJ it will load the default file, so use the menu: File | Media | Open Media File to load your custom or transferred version. When you close and it asks you to save the file - it will save it as the default. To avoid overwrites and save as another name, you have to go through the menu: File | Save As

I use external drives and have multiple versions of the music index corresponding to various fixed drive letter assigns. This allows me to manually load whichever version of the index file corresponds with the drive I'm currently using.
 
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Does it matter if the 2 computers are running different versions of OTS?
It may look different..for example... The 1.85 version shows the categories out front, where the 1.90 version had the categories accessed from a down arrow, I recall someone thinking they weren't there any longer, but they were just in a different place.
 
My assumption is that you have OTS recently installed on another computer? Do you have empty categories on the "new" computer?
I have a second computer where it was just the "shell" with the basic categories (empty). I wanted a mirror image of my primary computer (Win 7); newer computer has Win 8.1.
I would suggest copying the Ots Media Library from the master computer's local drive (C), OtsLabs, Data, OtsAvDJ.oml where the OtsAvDJ.oml is current.
Copy the OtsAvDJ.oml file to a flash drive and copy it to your "new" computer's path ( Local Drive C, OtsLabs, Data, OtsAvDJ.oml). Don't delete the "new" computer's current OtsAvDJ.oml. What you have copied will be what is presently on the Master computer. Create a shortcut of the just copied OML and place it on your desktop screen.
Click on the desktop shortcut you just created. What comes up should be the same as your master computer; however, you should modify this new OML to something like OtsAvDJ.oml - Master (2-16-19) which tells you that this is now a new Master OML.
As you add more and more data to your Primary Laptop (Master) at some point you will want to update your secondary computer's OML again. Each time you plan to update your second computer, be sure to change the existing master be sure to re-name the OML, i.e. OtsAvDJ.oml - Master (2-16-19) to the current date. You will eventually have accumulated several OtsAvDJ.oml masters in both computer Ots Media Libraries. I usually keep several OML (masters) in each computer's OHML file.

For example: File Folder in Computer/local disk C/OtsLabs/Data/ OHML

OtsAVDJ.oml 6-6-17.oml
OtsAVDJ.oml - Redesign 6-26-17 [My computer crashed in June 2017, so I had to re-create contents of all categories]
OtsAVDJ.oml - Redesign (6-26-17) - (Master (11-09-17.oml)
OtsAVDJ.oml - Redesign (6-26-17) - (Master (07-05-18.oml)
...
OtsAVDJ.oml - Redesign (6-26-17) - (Master (12-16-18.oml)
OtsAVDJ.oml - Redesign (6-26-17) - (Master (12-16-18.oml) - Shortcut

I also keep several versions of the most recent OML on the Flash Drive in case something happens to either computer or both.

Need to update again this month the second computer OML this month. By the way, I have two external HD with same data files.

I hope this helps.
 
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So if I understand this, when I copy the path and paste it on the other computer, it will copy all of my categories.
Not the path. The database proformance mentioned
 
I wouldn't bother constantly updating the .oml file. Do it once, and then update the drive with new music as necessary, rescan genres to categories, and resave the .oml when the system is being used.

It doesn't take long for Ots to refresh a music library and you can do it while running the program. I have a independent folder where I manage and build new music files. Then, I use a thumbdirve to move them to any other system, rescan, and save the .oml file associated with that other system or drive. So, my computer stores about half a dozen .oml files making it ready to read whatever system or drive I choose to use.
 
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Does it matter if the 2 computers are running different versions of OTS?
No, not at all. The file contents are consistent with each version that uses the .oml file.

The .oml file is nothing more than an index of your library record and the associated extensions to your .ots container files (For example, "genre" is a feature of the .ots container file (music) while "category" is an associated extension indexed in the .oml file.) If you connect your music drive to a new computer with OtsAV on it - you would have to rescan the library and assign categories by genre because whatever .oml file is on the computer will have been created in reference to the last music collection used with the program.

I get around this by making sure all my backup drives have the same logical folder path, and the only thing that changes is the drive letter. I save various .oml files according to drive letter, and make sure that all of my drives have been assigned a fixed drive letter with respect to all of my computers. After starting OtsAV I go to: File - Open Media Library - and choose the appropriate .oml file for that drive letter.

If I were to borrow your computer for example, the first thing I would do is connect my drive and assign it's correct drive in MS Windows. (Drive Z:/ for example.) Then I open OtsAv and load the .oml file that is stored on that drive. Word of caution: if when I close OtsAV I choose OK to "save media library" my Z:/ drive index is going to overwrite your existing music library index (.oml file) on your local computer. So, I would click "Don't Save" so that Ots will retain whatever library record you were using before I borrowed your computer. If I make changes to my library and want to save it I would want to use the menu system and specify the specific location on my own drive. Quick save always writes to the same default location on the local machine, so you have to be aware of that if you are using multiple external drives with one or more machines.
 
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