When I am browsing through the music menu and navigate to a particular podcast I subscribe to an episode appears that doesn't actually exist on my computer. Nothing happens if I click on it or try to play it by streaming to the iPhone (I get the cannot play symbol). I've searched EVERYWHERE on my computer using spotlight to try and find the phantom podcast but to no avail.

Is there some sort of list in a text file containing the episode that Remote Buddy reads that should have been cleared and for whatever reason wasn't?

HELP!! It's quite annoying. My other podcasts display correctly.

Josh 

Remote Buddy depends on the iTunes Library XML file (*) that iTunes 
regularly generates based on its proprietary library file. Since the 
XML file is nothing but a copy of the library iTunes uses, that 
episode must also be in your iTunes library.

What you describe could f.ex. happen when you manually removed the 
episode's file from your harddrive, but didn't remove its 
corresponding entry from iTunes.

Best regards, 
Felix Schwarz

(*) That XML file is strictly read-only. Changes you make to it will 
be ignored and overwritten by iTunes. 

Here is the entry:

Josh/Music/iTunes/iTunes%20Music/Podcasts/ESPN_%20PTI/Pardon%20the%20Interruption_%2011_26.mp3</string>

When I go to Josh/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/Podcasts/ there is no folder in there for PTI. Unless it's somehow hidden, I don't know.

Also, I believe this was the one podcast I downloaded straight from my iPhone with that new feature with iPhone 2.2 that allows you to access the podcast store anywhere from your iPhone. Could that have something to do with it?

Thanks! 
Josh

P.S. Is this iFelix on Apple Discussions? Or is the "Felix" mere coincidence? If so, how funny. You answer my questions all the time on there. I'm a big fan of your how-to's on your webpage. I found your remote buddy program randomly and love it. Keep up the great work! 

<key>Track ID</key><integer>7419</integer> 
<key>Name</key><string>Pardon the Interruption: 11/26</string> 
<key>Artist</key><string>ESPN</string> 
<key>Album</key><string>ESPN: PTI</string> 
<key>Genre</key><string>Podcast</string> 
<key>Kind</key><string>MPEG audio file</string> 
<key>Size</key><integer>5769020</integer> 
<key>Total Time</key><integer>1436682</integer> 
<key>Year</key><integer>2008</integer> 
<key>Date Modified</key><date>2008-11-27T00:48:29Z</date> 
<key>Date Added</key><date>2008-11-27T00:48:29Z</date> 
<key>Bit Rate</key><integer>32</integer> 
<key>Sample Rate</key><integer>22050</integer> 
<key>Play Count</key><integer>2</integer> 
<key>Play Date</key><integer>3310973056</integer> 
<key>Play Date UTC</key><date>2008-12-01T15:44:16Z</date> 
<key>Release Date</key><date>2008-11-27T00:07:43Z</date> 
<key>Artwork Count</key><integer>1</integer> 
<key>Persistent ID</key><string>241AE6DCFB0984AC</string> 
<key>Track Type</key><string>File</string> 
<key>Podcast</key><true/> 
<key>File Type</key><integer>1297106739</integer> 
<key>File Creator</key><integer>1752133483</integer> 
<key>Location</key><string>file://localhost/Users/Josh/Music/iTunes/iTunes%20Music/Podcasts/ESPN_%20PTI/Pardon%20the%20Interruption_%2011_26.mp3</string> 
<key>File Folder Count</key><integer>4</integer> 
<key>Library Folder Count</key><integer>1</integer>

I'm not writing on Apple Discussions and not the same person as the 
one writing there as iFelix.

As I wrote previously, it's likely that you removed that file without 
also removing its entry in iTunes (or, if you downloaded it with your 
iPhone 2.2, it was added to your library, but wasn't copied from your 
iPod to your Mac). In either case, removing the entry from your 
iTunes' Podcast area will also remove it from the iTunes XML file and 
consequently Remote Buddy's menu.

Best regards, 
Felix Schwarz 

Anyway, I see what you're saying and it makes perfect sense, if the title actually existed in iTunes. The podcast has completely disappeared from my computer except for the .xml entry. It really makes no sense. The actual file isn't in the specified location nor is there an entry in iTunes itself under Podcasts.

My Apple TV was reporting the same erroneous entry for that podcast (obviously because it uses the same .xml file).

I did, however, fix the problem and felt it was important to post my solution here. Warning though, it was a royal pain. I moved the following three files out of my iTunes folder (save them as a backup incase you change your mind):

1. iTunes Library (where I believe the problem resided) 
2. iTunes Library Extras 
3. iTunes Library Genius

Then, once I reopened iTunes, it was like starting from scratch. It recreated all three files. All my music and playlists were gone. I painstakingly added all my music, movies, podcasts, playlists, Apple TV, and iPhone back into this "New" iTunes library. And viola, no bad entry in the .xml file.

Thanks, 
Josh 

Remote Buddy only reads the info from the XML file that's 
automatically generated by iTunes. The Apple TV does not use the XML 
file, but instead streams content and library metadata from iTunes' 
built-in HTTP server. At the end of the day, what you've seen is a 
problem in iTunes itself, not Remote Buddy (and not caused by Remote 
Buddy, either).

By the way: you can rebuild your Library from the XML-file (or an 
edited version of that XML-file):

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1451

That way, you'll keep your playlists and most metadata intact (except 
IIRC smart playlists).

Best regards, 
Felix Schwarz