System Events + Music + Import Playlists

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Level 1

115 points

System Events + Music + Import Playlists

Hello, I'm attempting to import playlists into Music using Applescript System Events. This is as far as I've got:

tell application "System Events"
	tell process "Music"
		set frontmost to true
		click menu item "Import Playlist…" of menu "Library" of menu item "Library" of menu "File" of menu bar item "File" of menu bar 1
	end tell
end tell

This displays the Open dialog but I can't work out how to process each of the playlists that are now displayed. I've downloaded the Accessibility Inspector and I think I might need to work with the AXGroup and Index in some sort of Repeat routine, but I can't put it together. Can I somehow go from Index 0 through to however many playlists I've got in that folder using the AXGroup list?

Thanks.

Posted on Jan 26, 2022 6:46 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

turingtest2

Level 10

274,352 points

Jan 27, 2022 5:04 PM in response to Peter H

I see Doug's Scripts has a method for exporting multiple lists, but no obvious sign of one to import such a collection. It looks like you're trying to leverage the menu commands of the Music app, but it may be tricky to get that to access each file in turn. It may be easier to construct an AppleScript that iterates over the files in a selected folder. For each file, if it is an XML file, create a new playlist with the name of the playlist file, or the name stored within the XML if you can parse that, then iterate through the lines of the XML file adding tracks when you read a line that lists the location property. Loop until end of file, loop until no more files.

tt2

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Answer 2

Peter H Author

Level 1

115 points

Jan 27, 2022 2:28 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks tt2.

Yes I've got a folder full of xml playlists that I want to import. Music only lets me import one at a time so I would like to automate the process somehow.

Regards, Peter

PS I've also got a thread open on OS X Technologies as I didn't mean to post it here.

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

274,352 points

Jan 27, 2022 5:41 PM in response to Peter H

I do most of my iTunes scripting in Windows, but I've dabbled a bit in AppleScript. It should be possible. I've got a script that can import an M3U file and one that parses data out of XML files and the objects and methods used there should be available in Music.

tt2

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Answer 4

Peter H Author

Level 1

115 points

Jan 27, 2022 7:38 PM in response to turingtest2

This works:

set theFolder to (choose folder) as string
set itemList to list folder theFolder without invisibles


repeat with i in itemList
	set theFileString to (theFolder & i) as string
	set theFileAlias to alias theFileString
	tell application "Music"
		add (theFileAlias)
	end tell
end repeat

Thanks tt2 for pointing me in the right direction.

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Answer 5

turingtest2

Level 10

274,352 points

Jan 27, 2022 4:58 AM in response to Peter H

Are you trying to automate the process of importing a number of playlist files from a folder? What format are the playlist files?

tt2

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Answer 6

Peter H Author

Level 1

115 points

Jan 27, 2022 5:21 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks tt2, I'll have a think about what you said because I think that might be a feasible direction to head in (once I get my head around what you've said).

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