# How to list all items (or all albums) in db?

**URL:** <https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-list-all-items-or-all-albums-in-db/285>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [January 30, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-list-all-items-or-all-albums-in-db/285 "2018-01-30T00:10:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stefano](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.beets.io/stefano/32/114_2.png) [@stefano](https://discourse.beets.io/u/stefano)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-list-all-items-or-all-albums-in-db/285/1 "2018-01-30T00:10:38Z")

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New to beets and just trying to get the hang of the system.

I have imported three albums, apparently successfully (judging from the log), one at a time. I would now like to check the whole content of beet’s database to see the results.  
How can I do that?

I thought a simple list with an empty regex would do it:

`beet ls -a ":"`

However, I only see one album listed, the first one I imported. Is there something I am missing?

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**Author:** ![stefano](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/discourse.beets.io/stefano/32/114_2.png) [@stefano](https://discourse.beets.io/u/stefano)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 12:18am UTC](https://discourse.beets.io/t/how-to-list-all-items-or-all-albums-in-db/285/2 "2018-01-30T00:18:36Z")

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Right, so a simple

beet ls

is actually supposed to provide a complete list, shell-like, as demonstrated by another album import.  
I am now even more puzzled by the supposedly successful imports that do not show up in the listing.  
Sorry for the noise