"JefCo-MediaMonkey Offline FreeDB Setup For Idiots"

(Named and recommended by Tom McCoy)

How to set up a local FreeDB for use if you don't have a permanent internet connection on the same computer as your MediaMonkey.

These instructions are based on my experience, using my setup. Please be careful to check for most recent versions, and versions suitable for your own setup. I warn you now that most people will find this patronising!

[OS: WinXP Home. You'll need 2Gb harddisk space free for full library]

Step 1: JRE - Java Runtime Environment

[I used 1.4.2.10]

Download from here. Select "Download J2SE JRE", "Windows Offline Installation, Multi-language j2re-1_4_2_10-windows-i586-p.exe".

Install: Double click on EXE and follow screen instructions:

a) Accept user agreement and click "Next"


b) Default setup is good, just click "Next"


c) Select your browser (I just checked both) and click "Install"


d) Watch the bars and finally click "Finish"

Step 2: FreeDB - local database

[I used 04/11/2005]

Download from here (e.g. "http://ftp.freedb.org/pub/freedb/freedb-complete-20081201.tar.bz2").
Extract file to local directory (e.g. "c:\freedb-complete-20081201\")

Step 3: JeFCo - The Jesterware freedb Collector

[I used 0.6.040606]

Download from here. Save JAR where ever you like (e.g. "c:\freedb-complete-20081201\JeFCo.jar")

Configure: Double click on JAR to open.

a) Click "Configuration, Preferences"


b) Go to "Database server" tab and click "Add Server"


c) Check "Permanent available", select "Type = Windows directory" and browse for your local directory (e.g. "c:\freedb-complete-20081201\")


d) Click "OK"

(For advanced configuration help, look here but what I have given you is sufficient)

Step 4: MediaMonkey - The only music manager

[I used 3.1.0.1202 Gold]

Download from here.

Install: Double click on EXE and follow screen instructions.

Configure: Start MediaMonkey

a) Click "Tools, Options, General, Network (Proxy & Freedb)"


b) Select "Protocol = HTTP", "Server = localhost", "Port = 8080" and click "OK"

Success!

Put your CD in your drive and watch MediaMonkey fill in the details using your new local database!

N.B. For this to work you must have JeFCo running in the background to process the requests.

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