NAME

ipod_db v0.2.13

SYNOPSIS

ipod_db (sync|ls|rm) [options]+

DESCRIPTION

A couple of tools for working with iPod Shuffle (2nd gen) database from
command line. Each subcommand understands -h/--help flag.

PARAMETERS

--books=books, -b (0 ~> books=books) 
    subdirectory of ipod with bookmarkable media 
--songs=songs, -s (0 ~> songs=songs) 
    subdirectory of ipod with non-bookmarkable media 
--version, -v 
    show package version and exit 
--help, -h 

AUTHOR

artm <femistofel@gmail.com>

SUBCOMMAND: sync

SYNOPSIS

ipod_db sync [options]+

DESCRIPTION

Update the iPod database. Given directories of bookmarkable and non-bookmarkable
media 'ipod' will find all supported tracks add them to the iPod database so
the device is aware of their existance.

The tracks under 'books' folder will get "riffled" - tracks from the same folder
are spread out in the list so they don't follow each other if possible. IN THE
FUTURE it is planned to allow configuring of track groups which are treated like
single folders - e.g. to spread out all SciAm's "60 second somthing" podcasts along
the playlist.

It is perfectly possible to have other directories full of tracks in device's
subconscious - e.g. when time-sharing the device among members of a poor
family. Just make sure you update the database using your directories when
receiving it from a relation.

iPod remembers playback position on bookmarkable media and the 'ipod' goes
out of its way to preserve the bookmarks. It also removes bookmarkable files
from shuffle list.

I configure gpodder to place podcast files inside IPOD/books directory and delete
them after syncing. Having copied podcasts I run 'ipod sync' to update the
database on the device and it's ready for consumption.

PARAMETERS

--books=books, -b (0 ~> books=books) 
    subdirectory of ipod with bookmarkable media 
--songs=songs, -s (0 ~> songs=songs) 
    subdirectory of ipod with non-bookmarkable media 
--version, -v 
    show package version and exit 
--help, -h 

SUBCOMMAND: ls

SYNOPSIS

ipod_db ls [options]+

DESCRIPTION

produce a colorful listing of the tracks in the ipod database

PARAMETERS

--books=books, -b (0 ~> books=books) 
    subdirectory of ipod with bookmarkable media 
--songs=songs, -s (0 ~> songs=songs) 
    subdirectory of ipod with non-bookmarkable media 
--version, -v 
    show package version and exit 
--help, -h 

SUBCOMMAND: rm

SYNOPSIS

ipod_db rm track track* [options]+

DESCRIPTION

Remove tracks from the device by their numbers (that's why ls
displays numbers: so it's easier to select them for rm).

PARAMETERS

track (-2 -> track) 
     track numbers to delete from device (ranges like 2-5 are accepted 
    too). As a special case, the word 'done' means all finished tracks, 
    i.e. with play count above zero or progress above 97% 
--books=books, -b (0 ~> books=books) 
    subdirectory of ipod with bookmarkable media 
--songs=songs, -s (0 ~> songs=songs) 
    subdirectory of ipod with non-bookmarkable media 
--version, -v 
    show package version and exit 
--pretend, -n 
    don't delete, just list what would be deleted 
--help, -h 

HISTORY

I used to do the same sort of thing and more with a bunch of python scripts.
My cheapo mass-storage mp3 player has died recently and my son has donated
(voluntarily) his Shuffle to me, but python scripts were all bit-rot and
refused to work and I haven't touched python for several years already, so
I rewrote the main script in ruby. The reading part of python version still
worked so I made it dump what it read in ruby-esque format for testing
(that's test_data.rb). The test_data isn't very exciting though (all
tracks are in default state without bookmarks).