ipod transfers between libraries

several macs, several itunes libraries, some ipods. once in a while, it is simpler to copy a tune off of my ipod than to rsync from my main music repository. here is what i do.

• get at the ipod filesystem one way or another. eg:

  $ df
  ...
  /dev/disk1s1               2028600  2021400     7200   100%    /Volumes/MAXI
  

• copy content to someplace else:

  $ cp -rp /Volumes/MAXI/iPod_Control/Music ~/ipod
  

• fix content cleverly marked with the "invisible" attribute

  $ cd ~/ipod
  $ ls
  F00     F01     F02
  $ /Developer/Tools/GetFileInfo -a F00
  aVbstclinmedz
  # V for invisible on
  $ /Developer/Tools/SetFile
  Usage: SetFile [option...] file...
  -a attributes     # attributes (lowercase = 0, uppercase = 1)*
  -c creator        # file creator
  -d date           # creation date (mm/dd/[yy]yy [hh:mm[:ss] [AM | PM]])*
  -m date           # modification date (mm/dd/[yy]yy [hh:mm[:ss] [AM | PM]])*
  -P                # perform action on symlink instead of following it
  -t type           # file type
  
  Note: The following attributes may be used with the -a option:
       A   Alias file
       B   Bundle
       C   Custom icon*
       D   Desktop*
       E   Hidden extension*
       I   Inited*
       M   Shared (can run multiple times)
       N   No INIT resources
       L   Locked
       S   System (name locked)
       T   Stationery
       V   Invisible*
       Z   Busy*
       ...
  
  $ /Developer/Tools/SetFile -a v F00
  $ /Developer/Tools/GetFileInfo -a F00
  avbstclinmedz
  $ cd F00
  $ /Developer/Tools/SetFile -a v *
  ...
  

• incorporate now visible music into laptop itunes library.

[it may be simpler use a bit of python to read the mp3 tags, construct the artist/album/track.mp3 hierarchy and copy..]