Migrating Your Library: Exporting and Backing Up OrangeCD Record Catalog

Migrating Your Library: Exporting and Backing Up OrangeCD Record Catalog

Why export and back up your OrangeCD library

Backing up and exporting your OrangeCD Record Catalog protects decades of metadata — track lists, album art, ratings, and personal notes — and makes moving to another computer or cataloging app safe and straightforward.

Before you start — quick checklist

• Current OrangeCD version: assume latest stable release.
• Available storage: USB drive or cloud space with at least the size of your catalog export file.
• Destination details: target computer OS, and whether you’ll import into OrangeCD or a different app.

Step 1 — Locate your OrangeCD catalog files

OrangeCD stores a catalog file (commonly a .ocd or database file) and a folder with album art. On Windows these are usually in your Documents or in the program’s data folder; on macOS check the user Library/Application Support or Documents. If you can’t find them, use OrangeCD’s Preferences > Catalog Location or the app’s Help menu to reveal the file path.

Step 2 — Export the catalog from OrangeCD

1. Open OrangeCD and go to File > Export (or Catalog > Export).
2. Choose an export format:
   • Native catalog file (best for full restore into OrangeCD).
   • CSV or XML (best for migrating to other cataloging apps or spreadsheets).
3. Select export options: include album art, user ratings, playcounts, and notes.
4. Pick an export destination (local drive or external drive) and run the export. Wait until the export completes and confirm the exported file size looks reasonable.

Step 3 — Copy associated media and artwork

1. Locate the folder where OrangeCD stores album art and any cover images.
2. Copy the entire folder to your export destination. If you use CSV/XML, ensure image filenames remain linked to records.
3. If you keep audio files referenced by the catalog, either copy them to the new machine or ensure the new paths will match or be relinked during import.

Step 4 — Create a secure backup

1. Make two backups: one local (external hard drive/USB) and one offsite/cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, or other).
2. Use meaningful filenames and folder structure, e.g., OrangeCD_Backup_YYYYMMDD.
3. Verify backup integrity by opening the exported file from the backup location (if native) or loading the CSV/XML into a spreadsheet to confirm contents.

Step 5 — Importing into OrangeCD on the new machine

1. Install OrangeCD on the target machine.
2. Copy the native catalog file and artwork folder into the desired catalog location.
3. Open OrangeCD and use File > Import or File > Open Catalog to load the native file. Confirm that tracks, art, and metadata are present.
4. If using CSV/XML, use File > Import > From CSV/XML, map fields if prompted (title, artist, album, year, rating), and ensure artwork links are correct.

Step 6 — Troubleshooting common issues

• Missing album art: ensure artwork folder path is correct or relink images from OrangeCD’s preferences.
• Broken file paths for audio: use OrangeCD’s relink or batch edit tools to update file paths, or move audio files to the expected folder.
• Import errors with CSV/XML: open the file in a spreadsheet, verify delimiter and header names, and re-export if needed.

Best practices going forward

• Schedule regular exports (monthly or after major edits).
• Keep at least one offsite backup.
• Maintain consistent folder structures for media and artworks to simplify future migrations.
• Document the export/import steps you used and store them with the backup.

Following these steps will keep your OrangeCD Record Catalog safe and make moving it between machines or apps reliable and repeatable.