How do I import multiple playlists into iTunes?

Jon Chicago wrote:

Unfortunately, no one ever answered the question!

Except that it was answered.

Jon Chicago wrote:

Unfortunately, no one ever answered the question!

Indeed your question was not answered, though answers have been given to the original post.

Your problem is amenable to a scripting approach. As long as you don't let iTunes rename the files that you add to it then it would be possible to constuct a script that reads through a selection of iTunes objects, looks up the filepath in the Excel spreadsheet, then copies in whatever data you choose. You'd need to experiment with how much data can be retained in different fields. The lyrics tab is a good place to put anything over 255 characters but there may be problems with that relating to video format.

I haven't so far written anything that connects iTunes to Excel, but feel free to take a look at my collection of vbScripts at http://samsoft.org.uk/iTunes/scripts.asp for inspiration. It might be easier to build the script inside Excel using VBA.

tt2

bynah wrote:

i am having the same problem you had. I created playlists for an mp3 player with songs from my mac. Over time i have refined the player using my computer. But the songs and playlists all lack the up to date refining I have done. So I wish to copy the playlists from my mp3 player into itunes, without duplicating the music, since it is already there, and be able to copy these playlists for other friends of mine. I want the playlist that I import to read the music already on my computer. how can I do this?

A playlist is an ordered list of pointers to media files, together with (optionally) a description for each entry. You may already have the media files in your library, but likely these won't be at the same or equivalent paths as the files on the mp3 player. You can copy the playlist file to your computer, edit the text to point to your files, then import the playlist. How easy or difficult this is depends on how closely the layout of the files on the mp3 player matches that used by iTunes. It could be as simple as one search and replace operation or you might have to individually edit every line...

tt2

Thank you for these suggestions. The project does seem somewhat daunting to an individual without experience in writing new scripts on-the-fly as they may become needed in the course of the work! From what you write, I increasingly do sense that this should be a solvable problem--but one for which I'll likely need help from resources cleverer than myself (any suggestions as to who might be interested in helping me with this for pay?). It's somewhat complex as a problem, involving not only iTunes but also reasonably good control of video playbacks. QuickTime Pro works reasonably well for me, letting me do essentially frame by frame movements, or all the way down to half-time playback with audio speech still remaining generally comprehensible. It seems more cumbersome to try to achieve this level of control strictly within iTunes, thus necessitating constantly opening each file with QuickTime Pro. I bring this up because I think one shouldn't begin a series of script builds unless the ultimate outcome is sufficiently promising to justify the work. I'm having difficulty determining whether or not that is truly the case in this instance. Put in other terrms, are the strengths of iTunes truly great enough to warrant abandoning the old Windows XP program (that isn't getting any continuing support from its original creator) I'm still stuck using...

Thank you so much for that reply. That is the closest thing to something i can understand yet. Though it still eludes my grasp a bit. I am not that savvy. Is there anyway you could make it a little simpler for me? I am not terribly acquainted with excel and the use of spreadsheets. Just a litle bit.

"A playlist is an ordered list of pointers to media files, together with (optionally) a description for each entry. You may already have the media files in your library, but likely these won't be at the same or equivalent paths as the files on the mp3 player."... This much I understand clearly.

"You can copy the playlist file to your computer," ... How would I do that much?

"edit the text to point to your files," ... Text?

"then import the playlist." ... I think I know how to do that, maybe.

"How easy or difficult this is depends on how closely the layout of the files on the mp3 player matches that used by iTunes. It could be as simple as one search and replace operation or you might have to individually edit every line..."

Thank you so much for your time!!

Bynah

The Excel comments were directed at Jon Chicago.

Assuming your mp3 player makes use of m3u playlists then these should be plain text files that you can copy from it. The question may be better asked in the forums for users of that brand of device rather than here.

Here is a sample m3u file:

#EXTM3U

#EXTINF:274,Hellraiser - Motörhead

Various Artists\Rock Solid\01 Hellraiser - Motörhead.mp3

#EXTINF:210,Come Back Brighter - Reef

Various Artists\Rock Solid\02 Come Back Brighter - Reef.mp3

#EXTINF:292,Bat Out Of **** - Meat Loaf

Various Artists\Rock Solid\03 Bat Out Of **** - Meat Loaf.mp3

This example uses relative references from the folder holding the file, but the file paths could be absolute, or relative to the root of the drive. If iTunes had renamed the same files they would no longer include the " - <Artist>" section in their file names so some editing might be needed to match the paths the files have in iTunes with the paths they were at on my fictional mp3 player.

Assuming you can extract a working playlist you should be able to compare it with a test playlist that you export from iTunes and work out what you need to do.

tt2

Hi!

In response to the earlier "File > Library > Import playlist."

For this option, are there any posibilities to

File > Library > Import playlistSSSS?

As in, more than one?

I currently have more than 100 playlists in my playlist folder (.txt files). No problem importing them to Itunes (most are made with Itunes, or from I-pod then copied to Itunes), I just find it frustrating having to import them one at a time...

If we're talking Windows I can write a script to do this, but last time I offered nobody followed up so I let it slide. Do the .txt files conform to the m3u layout shown above or something else?

Come to think of it, much the annoyance of others, a while ago iTunes started importing all .m3u files when using File > Add Folder to Library. Blanket conversion of .txt files to .m3u would be another problem, but for those who already have the playlists in .mu3 format all they need do is add the folder. (Assuming the behaviour hasn't changed again!)

tt2

Message was edited by: turingtest2

Hi, Steve MacGuire aka turingtest2: I would be interested in communicating with you privately concerning the project I posted about previously. Would it be possible for me to give you a phone call to explore possibilities? Please advise. Many thanks, Jon

Do you mean this one? I'll take a look... You can send me an email at the address on my scripts pages, though I get a fair amount of spam and occasionally things slip by me. You can always get my attention by snagging a thread I've posted in. 😉

tt2

Thanks for your reply turingtest!

If we're talking Windows I can write a script to do this, but last time I offered nobody followed up so I let it slide. Do the .txt files conform to the m3u layout shown above or something else?

MM: I'm sorry, not sure I understand? 😟

Come to think of it, much the annoyance of others, a while ago iTunes started importing all .m3u files when using File > Add Folder to Library. Blanket conversion of .txt files to .m3u would be another problem, but for those who already have the playlists in .mu3 format all they need do is add the folder. (Assuming the behaviour hasn't changed again!)

MM: I had that problem, so what I did was I deleted all my .m3u files. I have 4549 folders + sub folders with music, so I just did a search for them and deleted them. When I added my library to Itunes, on top of MY playlists, hundres of useless (to me) playlists would just clog up.

So basically all my playlists are in .txt. Usually made by I-pod's "add to on the go", then renamed in Itunes, then "export playlist" from I-pod to computer, then File > Library > Import playlist to put it back in Itunes.

Some tips, sorry if they are redundant - Here's how I batch imported my playlists to a new computer

After you have copied your music to the new location and the playlists are in the same folders as the music:

You can search for all m3u playlists by entering m3u as a search term in the folder containing your music

Then select all m3u files that appear and drag them into the left coloumn browser of itunes and your playlists will be imported

I think it depends on how your m3u files were created.

I use a simple script copied into notepad and saved as a .bat file, drop it into the folder containing my playlist and click. It creates a playlist m3u file that can be imported into itunes.

Question - I found this script online and have no idea how it works, just that it does:

@echo off

dir /o:n /b *.mp3 > Playlist.m3u

Works beautifully but as you can see, it only works for mp3 files - anyone know how to add file extensions to this script?

Also programs like Advanced Renamer, TagScanner, music Zen, and iTunes export have been invaluable.

But the best itunes tools are those created by tt2! He's the man!

Hi everybody!

That's the way I found to add all my playlist and songs to iTunes:

1. open iTunes and choose "music" and then "playlists"
2. resize iTunes, so you can place finder or explorer next to it
3. open the directory which contains the root of that you want to add
4. drag the directory and drop it to iTunes, when "forbidden"-sign disapears

kind regards

So:

1) No you can't import more than 1 playlist at a time.

2) This shouldn't be a problem... unless that is what you want to do.

3) This is a problem when you have no other choice... like when you buy a vocab program that has pre-set smart playlists to organize vocab in and there are like 50 of these playlists.

4) It seems like a pretty simple option for apple to add to the next update which would improve customization and accessibility.

You can do everything you want VERY EASILY.

OLD COMPUTER:
Step 1. Consolidate and have iTunes organize your music library.

Step 2. Copy the iTunes Media Folder full of your newly organized music to a safe place. (external HD)
Step 3. Export Libary

Step 4. Export Playlists

NEW COMPUTER:

Step 1. Import that iTunes Media Folder full of the organized music from your external (or where ever you saved it).

Step 2. Library > Import Playlist

Step 3. After the dialog box pops up navigate to the iTunesLibary.xml file that you exported in step 3 on the old computerlaahh

Whaa freaking laahhh.

Exact library and playlists.