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Level 1

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How do I import multiple playlists?

Hello all,

Newbie here. I just installed ITunes and can't figure out how to import the 235 playlists I already have other than one by one.

Isn't there a way to select and import them from an entire folder?

Thanks.

Windows XP

Posted on Nov 25, 2006 3:48 AM

22 replies

polydorus

Level 6

11,967 points

Nov 25, 2006 4:06 AM in response to PodBlader

There is Add Folder to Library on the file menu. That will add all the tracks in a folder to the iTunes Library.

It will either copy copies of the tracks into your iTune Music folder, or just store thier locations depending on how you set your preferences.

Edit>Prefences>Advanced has a check box called "Copy file to Itunes music folder when adding to library". If checked a copy of the file will be added to the iTunes Music folder, you can then delete the original if you want to and are satisfied that the copy really happened.

There is also a consolidate function in the Advanced menu (menu bar, not the advanced tab in preferences). This will copy any files in you library stored elsewhere into you iTunes music folder.

iTunes doesn't know about playlists from other music players.

PodBlader Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 25, 2006 4:17 AM in response to polydorus

There is Add Folder to Library on the file menu. That
will add all the tracks in a folder to the iTunes
Library.

It will either copy copies of the tracks into your
iTune Music folder, or just store thier locations
depending on how you set your preferences.

Edit>Prefences>Advanced has a check box called "Copy
file to Itunes music folder when adding to library".
If checked a copy of the file will be added to the
iTunes Music folder, you can then delete the original
if you want to and are satisfied that the copy really
happened.

There is also a consolidate function in the Advanced
menu (menu bar, not the advanced tab in preferences).
This will copy any files in you library stored
elsewhere into you iTunes music folder.

iTunes doesn't know about playlists from other music
players.

Thank you,

I have already imported in the Library all of the tracks referenced in the playlists, using the Add Folder. That's not the problem.

What is missing are the corresponding playlists, unless I add them individually.

I'm quite disappointed that iTunes doesn't provide a way to manage multiple playlists.

Windows XP

Windows XP

polydorus

Level 6

11,967 points

Nov 25, 2006 5:33 AM in response to PodBlader

Yes, I think you will have to create your playlists by hand. I don't use them much myself as I mostly listen to whole albums. If you haven't discovered the browse window yet, you can open it by clicking on the little eye, top right when you are in the library. That lets you select individual artists and albums.

PodBlader Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 26, 2006 3:38 AM in response to PodBlader

After numerous attempts I'm faced with the same problem. All the playlists tracks are there; none of the playlists are, except those I imported individually.

Other users are faced with the same issue, see :

-I recently used a script to batch create m3u playlists for my entire music collection. I was wondering if it is possible to batch import these playlists into itunes instead of doing each one individually. (which would take forever because there are hundreds of playlists)
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?s=ca11c46d1af6adfcb1914cffe032e79c &showtopic=46823

-I just bought an iPod, so I'm totally new to iTunes. Previously I used Windows Media Player, where I have a few hundred playlists that I've created (WMP saves them as .m3u files, which are essentially text files that refer to the individual mp3 files that make up the playlist).

iTunes allows you to import a single playlist at a time, either through the menu or drop-drag, but if I try to drop and drag more than one playlist at a time into iTune, it just copies the songs included in the playlist, and not the playlist itself. This is a BIG problem for me, because I love my playlists.

Does anybody know how to work around this and do a batch import, or know of a plug-in or batch file somebody created to take care of this task? Even a macro?
http://www.iprong.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=59974

What gives? Is Apple trying to hinder transition from other media players? I have created hundreds of playlists with Musicmatch, Winamp and Windows Media Player, all compatible with each other and importable in batch by simply selecting a folder.

The world did not begin -- and does not end -- with Apple. And I thought that Microsoft was arrogant...

Windows XP

polydorus

Level 6

11,967 points

Nov 26, 2006 4:03 AM in response to PodBlader

According to this article iTunes can import MU3 files from WINAMP using File>import, but I guess that's one at a time. I haven't tried it myself.
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;296345280;fp;2;fpid;206

Try googling something like: itunes import playlists winamp

Check this article about exporting and importing iTunes compatible xml files with WINAMP
http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=139248

PodBlader Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 26, 2006 4:11 AM in response to polydorus

According to this article iTunes can import MU3 files
from WINAMP using File>import, but I guess that's one
at a time. I haven't tried it myself.
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;296345280;f
p;2;fpid;206

Try googling something like: itunes import playlists
winamp

Check this article about exporting and importing
iTunes compatible xml files with WINAMP
http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=139248

Thanks, but

1. Only one at a time.
2. Tried it earlier, doesn't work.

This is just a major flaw in iTunes.

Thanks for trying to help out, though.

Nov 26, 2006 1:19 PM in response to PodBlader

I've written a script that will find all the m3u playlists in the directory path you give it and import it into iTunes.

Download the script here. You will need to also install perl, from HERE.

PodBlader Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 27, 2006 1:54 AM in response to Robert Jacobson1

I've written a script that will find all the m3u
playlists in the directory path you give it and
import it into iTunes.

Do
wnload the script here. You will need to also
install perl, from HERE.

This sounds great!

However I am not familiar with iTunes Scripts, the COM interface or perl. I would need a step-by-step description of how to implement the solution. For instance, which version of perl should I download? (My OS is Windows XP).

I'd be grateful if you could provide more details.

Windows XP

Nov 27, 2006 4:57 AM in response to PodBlader

I'm assuming you aren't using the 64-bit edition of Windows XP (If you're not sure, then I bet you're not!). Therefore, download this version of perl.

Once you have installed the MSI (just double-click and follow through the prompts), launch iTunes, then double-click on my "itunes add_m3uplaylist.pl" script. It will ask you for the full path to the directory containing the m3u playlist(s) -- e.g. <pre>
C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music
</pre>It will also ask if you want to recurse into subdirectories to find more m3u playlists.

The script will create a new playlist for every m3u file it finds in the given directory (and subdirectories, if you answer "y" to recurse).

PodBlader Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 3, 2006 3:56 PM in response to Robert Jacobson1

I have downloaded ActivePerl 5.8.8 Build 819.

Should I click on 1 OLE-Browser or 2 Perl Package Manager ?

With 1 OLE-Browser I get the following message (in Mozilla Firefox):

Internet Explorer could not load the PerlScript engine. This is most likely due to the value of the "Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe" security setting of the "Local intranet" zone. PerlScript inside IE will only run on Windows XP SP2 and later if this setting is set to Enable. Setting it to Prompt doesn't seem to work.

After setting it to Enable, I still get the same message.

With 2 Perl Package Manager, I don't know what to do.

Windows XP

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Dec 3, 2006 4:54 PM in response to PodBlader

Why so many playlists?
You aren't doing one for each artist & album, are you?

PodBlader Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 3, 2006 7:17 PM in response to PodBlader

I've written a script that will find all the m3u
playlists in the directory path you give it and
import it into iTunes.

<a
</div>
href=" http://teridon.googlepages.com/itunesscripts ">Do

wnload the script here. You will need to also
install perl, from <a
</div>
href=" http://www.activestate.com/Products/Download/Dow

nload.plex?id=ActivePerl">HERE.

This sounds great!

However I am not familiar with iTunes Scripts, the
COM interface or perl. I would need a step-by-step
description of how to implement the solution. For
instance, which version of perl should I download?
(My OS is Windows XP).

I'd be grateful if you could provide more details.

Windows XP

Forget my other message.

Got it.

The script was saved with a .txt extension added to the .pl extension. Once I double-clicked on the .pl file the command prompt screen appeared and I followed the on-screen instructions

For some reason I had to import the playlists in four batches (84, 82, 65, 2 - 2 other were problematic). Is there a limit according to the number of tracks per playlist?

No matter what, you saved me a great deal of time and grief. Apple should pay you!

Many, many thanks.

Windows XP

Dec 4, 2006 5:15 AM in response to PodBlader

I don't know why you had to import in batches (I'm also not sure what you mean by that...). There shouldn't be any limit on the number of tracks per playlist. I'm sorry it didn't work perfectly for you! 😟

I agree that Apple should pay me! If they want to offer me a job I'll certainly consider it :-D

PodBlader Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 4, 2006 5:29 AM in response to Robert Jacobson1

About batches, I meant that after a given number of imports the process would stop with the command prompt screen closing as if there was a limit to the number of tracks processed by iTunes. It doesn't really matter anyway since I now have them all. Thanks again.

Looking forward to your other scripts.

Windows XP

PodBlader Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 6, 2006 6:35 AM in response to Robert Jacobson1

Can your script be used (or adapted) to import multiple playlists into the iPod?

How do I import multiple playlists?