Way to REVEAL existing playlist in Library Sidebar FOLDERs hierarchy??

I have lot for playlists in folders < folders < folders. In iTunes there was a way to reveal the playlist in the sidebar, with all relevant nested folder shown, and playlist highlighted. (You can then access all the folders involved like doing twirl dial in Finder.) The point of folders is organizing for access, but it seems they want you to browse through dozens of folders if needed. (Seems like the kind of thing Doug's Apple scripts would correct, but I can't find it for AM if there is one.)


I believe this occurred in iTunes by selecting a song and clicking "Show in Playlist." AM has the same command, but nothing changes on the sidebar, not even say a highlight of the top folder. Also no help is searching for a playlist by name at the top; it shows the playlist at top, but nothing as far as location.


(I describe a very clunky workaround below but if anyone has convenient way, would love that.)


There's a workaround but it's mighty clumbsy. Alt clicking a library song shows playlist with nesting folders laid out, but then may have some real scrolling to do, besides a memory test for the folder + song names, some of which may be similarly named. Was it this numeric date or that one? Dance songs 1.2 or 1.3h? There's a better way dudes. You used to do it. Take a tip from Safari bookmarks Search, click url to "Show in Folder" you see it all. Otherwise bookmark re-sorting would be a living ****.

Mac mini (M1, 2020)

Posted on Jul 22, 2023 7:23 AM

Reply

Similar questions

3 replies

Jul 22, 2023 7:57 AM in response to Hepcat B

Not sure if it ever worked that way, but Music (and iTunes) are not file managers and never have been.

Almost all macOS media apps are content managers, not file managers.

In the Songs list, you can "Show in Finder" from the contextual menu if the file is stored locally. Anything in the cloud will not have the menu item.

If you want to manage the files, you should use something that is designed around the file wrapper and not the media inside the wrapper.

Jul 22, 2023 10:16 AM in response to Barney-15E





Thanks but we're talking about 2 different things.  The "Library Sidebar Folders hierarchy," in my Subject line is simply Left Side of the Main Music Window interface, where all the library & Apple Music Search things are offered.


So I'm just talking about easy finding your User Created Playlists so that it shows that playlist in your personal Library sidebar, and by necessity, expands any folder path you've put that playlist in.  Simply a matter of accessing your user created organization, where you put the stuff. (And the ability to see related playlists.)  


iTunes definitely, easily laid out the Playlist Folders, to show you the exact playlist location, by expanding the Main Folder and all subfolders leading the desired playlist.  Music by contrast doesn't affect anything in the sidebar library, where they could at very least, upon starting a playlist found in the main search feature at the top, could at least highlight the Main Folder it's within, and each successive subfolder as you click through.  But even that seemed deemed too darn helpful.  Easy access, that's all I want. 


Sorry for long message.  Any help? 

Jul 22, 2023 10:24 AM in response to Hepcat B

Thanks but we're talking about 2 different things.  The "Library Sidebar Folders hierarchy," in my Subject line is simply Left Side of the Main Music Window interface, where all the library & Apple Music Search things are offered.

Yeah, I don't understand. My playlists show up in the sidebar. There are no folders and never have been. So, I tried to answer best I could figure out what you were looking to do.

So I'm just talking about easy finding your User Created Playlists so that it shows that playlist in your personal Library sidebar, and by necessity, expands any folder path you've put that playlist in.  

Playlists are not folders and don't exist as a file system object. They don't contain anything. Music files are linked to the Playlist in the internal database.


Simply a matter of accessing your user created organization, where you put the stuff. (And the ability to see related playlists.)  

If I ctrl-click on a song or use the ellipsis menu, I can see which playlists are associated with the song and show the song in that playlist.

iTunes definitely, easily laid out the Playlist Folders, to show you the exact playlist location, by expanding the Main Folder and all subfolders leading the desired playlist.  Music by contrast doesn't affect anything in the sidebar library, where they could at very least, upon starting a playlist found in the main search feature at the top, could at least highlight the Main Folder it's within, and each successive nester as you go.  But even that seemed deemed too darn helpful.  Easy access, that's all I want. 

I can't remember iTunes, but can't see it working any different. The whole organization was done via database index. The actual files are organized inside folders in the Media library based on Album Name (usually). If you have "keep organized" set for the Library, when you change the tags in Get Info, it will move the physical file to the now Album folder, but those folders do not show in Music.


Do you have a heading titled, "Playlists" in the Sidebar? If so, hover the cursor to the right side of it and click the disclosure triangle that appears.

Way to REVEAL existing playlist in Library Sidebar FOLDERs hierarchy??

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.