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budarc Author

Level 1

3 points

How can I view iTunes export playlist xml file in a readable format?

Please read this carefully before telling me what I already know (that it's a iTunes-only readable format, not meant to be viewed by me, etc.).

I exported several playlists to xml a short while ago. Since then, I have deleted the music off iTunes and my computer in order to make space (which is why I made the backup xml file in the first place, I thought I could extract all the information from that later). If I try to import the xml file through iTunes, it just tells me that there's music missing. NOT WHAT I NEED. I'm trying to find the exact playlist as it was at the time that I saved the file, in exact order, etc. Is there ANY kind of xml viewer that will allow me to see this in any user-friendly way without having to sort through layers and layers of nonsensical code?

And why doesn't iTunes make it easy for me to save a playlist in text format? Wouldn't that be be the most logical use of exporting playlists? I'm freaking out right now, knowing there's no conceivable way I will be able to recreate my playlists without the use of this file.

Thanks for anyone who can help.

iPhone 6, iOS 9.1, Windows 7, latest version of iTunes

Posted on Nov 24, 2015 8:10 PM

Top-ranking reply

turingtest2

Level 10

274,113 points

Posted on Nov 25, 2015 6:06 PM

When iTunes imports a playlist file it checks for the presence of each file listed. If it cannot find the media file at the specified path that entry from the playlist is ignored. Even if iTunes were able to import those entries from the list it would then show them in the library with exclamation marks and the tracks could not be played, because they don't exist. If you have the files, but have moved them to a different location, then it may be possible to edit the XML to take this into account. iTunes can export in .m3u and .m3u8 formats which have a simpler structure, generally a comment line followed by a path. The XML includes more information about each track, including a track ID and a path. Later in the XML one or more playlists can be defined as a list of track IDs. It would be possible to thin out the XML so that all you see is the track IDs and their paths, or potentially a script could take the XML and spit out one or more M3U files that represent the playlists.

Do these playlists still exist on your iPhone? If so I have a script that can extract and recreate them in iTunes, even if the media paths have been changed, however you do need all of the media files stored somewhere? They can be extracted from your device if necessary. Do you have a backup of the ITL file that the XML file was exported from? iTunes sometimes makes backups in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder during iTunes updates. I have techniques for fixing problems with missing media in the ITL if you do.

tt2

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19 replies

budarc Author

Level 1

3 points

Nov 27, 2015 8:11 PM in response to turingtest2

turingtest2 wrote:

Let's see how you get on with a single file. If it is too big then once I know how many track records are exported I can think of the best way to break up the output. The script is called TransformXML.vbs. Right-click on the link and use Download or Save As, save it in the same place as the XML file, then drag & drop the XML onto it. I've swapped the order of artist and album around in the output, and suppressed the listing of the whole library and the default music playlist.

tt2

THAT DID IT, MATE! 😀 Perfect! Exactly what I intended when I initially saved as "xml". HOLY CRAP, you're a genius! I can't thank you enough. 🙂 The single file output worked exactly as I needed and now I have all the information I need to recreate all my old music lists. I can also easily save the spreadsheet format to text format if I need to, too. So glad I ran into you, man. THANKS AGAIN! 😎

turingtest2 wrote:

External hard drives really aren't that expensive. You should have two, each large enough for your entire library with room for growth. See Make a split library portable and Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy.

tt2

Hehe, I have about 12 externals! The problem is that I'm much more organized now than I was when I initially started adding music to iTunes years and years ago. Ideally, I would start a brand new library and add all my external music to iTunes from scratch and create all new playlists (especially now that I have a great way to backup all my old playlists, thanks to you!!!!!!)