Press [UTILITY]
Touch "Contents" > "Library Import"
You will be shown several Folders; each represents a currently installed Library
Touch the Folder that contains the Performances you want to Import to User.
You will now see 12 boxes per Page, and several Pages of individual Performances that are in this installed Library. In the upper right it will keep count of how many you have selected. The maximum is 640.

You can simply touch "Select All" if that is what you want, or you can individually mark the ones you wish to IMPORT. A blue checkmark appears next to ones you select. Once you start to select individual Performances, you will see options to start over ("Unselect All") and the box that will actually "Import to User Bank"

Brilliant! Thank you, BM. I think I've solved my 'lots of small libraries' problem within Montage's terms of reference - assign each Library sound to a Category, then use the Categories themselves as 'sub-Libraries' within the Libraries - that way, it doesn't matter what order they're all in, but it is still required to add new Pfs, which I think is only possible by converting all the files in a Library to User, then include the new ones into a new Library and delete the old one. Please tell me if I'm wrong or there's a better way, Thank you again ...

I don't think you have it yet. Categories work to define the type of instrument. The MAIN Category defines the instrument group, the SUB Category further defines it...

You should learn to use the Category Search... you can search just within a specific BANK, or even just within a specific LIBRARY. you can even search within a specific Bank, for a specific type of Performance by its technology, by whether it's Multi Part or Single Part, and so on. Your question shows you are over-thinking something that does not necessarily need to be overthought. I think there's a better way to go about it. And it involves using the BANK, ATTRIBUTE, and other tools within the Search engine.

See the MASTERING MONTAGE: Using Montage Category Search article.

Although there's lots of options for organizing your data. Just like folks with a messy desk have some system of spacial organization that makes sense to them - and absolutely no sense to another individual who can only have organization with a tidy desk and framework for organization (file cabinets, drawers, etc). Montage gives you options as well.

When you press [CATEGORY SEARCH] - pressing it multiple times will narrow the field between All, Preset, User, ... and I don't have libraries - but probably Library as well. So you can narrow down the field at least to your "user" data if that's what you're after.

Then after that (I mean, if you want to organize this way - there are other ways - and it's not may personal way either) ... after narrowing down to "User" (for example) - you can use the touchscreen "magnifying glass" area and touch-screen type in a letter. This will narrow down the field to performances with that letter. One letter is not quite enough to narrow down the field - but you can perhaps get down to three letters and have a fairly short list assuming the 3 letter combination isn't "pia" or "gui" or .. you get the idea.

So in this scheme, you can organize your data in unique 3-letter prefixes that mean something to you. Maybe your initials (first and last name) then a number? or another letter?

Jackie Gleason - should he have lived long enough to own a Montage - might use

JGV:EP 200
JGM:EP 201

Where JG are just initials and the "V" means, to him, vintage -- and maybe that means something obvious to him. And "M" for modern - which means something to him. It gives 36 different categories after the "JG" (his initials) for A-Z and 0-9. Maybe throw in some punctuation to give another 4 or so - so 40 different "categories" using this scheme.

I feel the wind of a ruler against my arm. Sorry for "overthinking" this - if elaborating on different features of Category search (usage models) is doing so. I'm not going to tell you how you're supposed to organize your performances and there's plenty of ways to skin this cat.

For me - I've always programmed my own sounds - so I never accumulated hundreds of anything. I find the time spent searching for a sound is time I'm not getting the sound to fit my needs. Then if I do find something close, I'm going to want to tweak it (or need to tweak it) and I end up wondering why I didn't just start from the ground-up from the beginning. That's my preference, however, and doesn't critique any other equally valid method.

A combination of using the "All" vs "preset" vs "user" vs ... is enough to get rid of presets and then assigning categories - customized to your preferences - is good enough. But there are more options out there. I don't think your system of using Library slots as a horrible way to organize data either. Use the features. Assemble your data in a way that makes sense to you. Make sure you haven't glossed over some features and at least understand how the more "standard" workflows are designed to work then deviate if they don't serve you and something else works better.

Hello BM - I do appreciate the usefulness of 'Category Search', 'Sub' and 'Attribute', but they don't go far enough in that I want to get it down to things like timbre, tone, effect type, ambience and so on. Some categories don't get it down to an instrument, so I'd have to include that, all of which I will endeavour to do within a 'type code' when I re-name after tweaking. It's just the way I like to work, rather than any fault with the Montage (for which I have a great, and growing, respect).

Hello Jason! Again I think you have a mind that works similarly to mine! I am still finalising the things that need to be specified in the 'type code' but 3 letters would be nice, that will vary according to category of course, but no repeats! A letter means one particular thing across the board. Not as simple as it sounds, given the fabulous palette that Montage provides!

If you want to really get into categorizing your Montage data, you will want to invest the time to use the Cubase MEDIA BAY > Sound Browser. Your gateway to this most useful tool is the Montage Connect (now at version 1.02). This allows you access to all of your data via a click of the mouse... you design the Folders and the Attributes. It really is the ultimate in organizing your data.

For example, you can set the category, choose from all kinds of "character" settings, the deeper you want to go, the Media Bay will go with you. Below I created a listing for a Synth Lead called "Shocking Overdrive" - I can select from a listing of characteristics, I can rank it, I can create Folders, etc., etc. I don't know your exact use for your Categorization - but this is what we recommend for Recording Studios who have a variety of clients coming through who may want to find a particular type of sound. It is an investment in time to analyze and rate/rank all your Performance - because as you input new data, you are creating a pathway to find it by the attributes you assign. (This comes under the category of: Let the computer do what it does best - organize things!!)

In the screenshot below I've simply selected Category = Synth Lead, and "Mono" and "Bright" as Character attributes but you can see you can go further...
You can define the list of items you wish including Family, Ranking, Sub Category, etc., etc. Check it out - if you are spending the time you might as well use the best tool for the job!

Hello BM - that's a good suggestion. Your reasoning is flawless, too. Apart from not wanting to get mixed up with DAWs, I can't pinpoint my reluctance to use it. I'll not reject it at this stage, but see how I get on with my 'type code' plan. Things progress slowly as other things keep getting in the way, but all the EPs are now categorised and the original Library deleted. You wondered what use I will make of the sounds, and I suppose very little - it's a collection, like stamps or coins - they're just there and give me pleasure just to have them. I will often attempt to emulate a professional performance of a song, sound-wise, and can spend hours fiddling with just one (eg: the EP/bell like sound for 'Crockett's Theme'). It's a personal thing with absolutely no commercial connotations whatsoever. I value this site so highly because it's full of people who actually know what they're doing, and are willing to help total amateurs like me find their way about.

You can use the Media Bay > Sound Browser whether or not you use the Cubase DAW to record data. It simply is the 'best tool' for organizing your collections.