iTunes 12.3.3. "Playlist Folder" Problem

Question

Level 1

9 points

iTunes 12.3.3. "Playlist Folder" Problem

Since the latest update of iTunes I have the problem that items in a playlist folder are neither displayed anymore nor can be used to generate smart playlists. This is how to reproduce the problem:

- create a playlist

- put something into that playlist

- create a playlist folder

- move playlist into playlist folder

When you then click on the Playlist you will see all the content properly, but when clicking on the Playlist Folder there is nothing to see!? I attach two pictures of the situation:

Additionally, if I create a new smart playlist with the rule to pick songs from that "Playlist Folder", it will not contain any items.

Any comments (especially solutions) are more than welcome.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Apr 7, 2016 5:14 AM

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Answer 1

Rysz

Level 8

44,449 points

Apr 7, 2016 11:24 AM in response to aknebe

That is not the behavior that I see. When selecting the parent folder all songs within playlists are displayed without issues.

Try the usual steps of relaunching iTunes, restarting computer and, if necessary, rebuilding the iTunes database.

Report your issue to Apple here: Apple Feedback

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Answer 2

aknebe Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 8, 2016 2:45 AM in response to Rysz

Thanks a lot for the reply!

Rebuilding the iTunes database helped, but only for songs existing in the database before the re-built.

When adding new songs to iTunes after the re-built the problem is there again, but only for the new songs. Meaning: any of the songs added to iTunes after the re-built and then placed into 'Playlist' will not show up when clicking 'Playlist Folder'.

Any idea?

P.S. The problem has been reported to Apple in hope they will a) understand this subtlety and b) fix it in the next update...

P.P.S. After the re-built I am now facing an additional problem: I cannot select a 'Playlist Folder' anymore as the source for a 'Smart Playlist', i.e. the rule "Playlist is Playlist Folder" gives an error message 'This smart playlist depends on other smart playlists that cannot be updated.' even though there are no smart playlists inside that Playlist Folder...

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Answer 3

aknebe Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 8, 2016 3:02 AM in response to aknebe

I need to add a clarification to my "P.P.S." remark from above:

This applies only to those Playlist folders that existed before the re-built. If I create a new Playlist Folder it perfectly serves as source for a Smart Playlist; but none of my previously existing ones.

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Answer 4

jimziii

Level 1

4 points

Apr 23, 2016 5:28 AM in response to aknebe

did you find a solution for this..>? i'm suffering too... its seems that the folders only update the following day if iTunes is left on over night...

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Answer 5

aknebe Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 25, 2016 12:35 AM in response to jimziii

Unfortunately no one was able to help me so far. The problem persist and everyone else just told me "Yes, we have the same problem, but we need to wait for Apple to release a bug-fix to it..." Very annoying...

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Answer 6

Apr 25, 2016 4:52 AM in response to aknebe

I have this problem also. None of the playlists in a given folder show up in the top level folder. In addition when adding a folder inside an existing folder it used to sort itself at the top level and all play lists were then listed below,

The folders on top were in alphabetical order then the play lists also in Alphabetical order. Now new folders are added at the bottom after then playlists and nothing gets sorted into alphabetical order. I can't move the items around to accomplish this

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Answer 7

aknebe Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 25, 2016 5:11 AM in response to DanMccarter

The problem you mention with (alphabetically) sorting playlists/folders inside a playlist folder is solved by quitting and re-starting iTunes: not the way it should be, but it works (at least for me).

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Answer 8

Apr 25, 2016 9:29 AM in response to aknebe

Argh! Same problem. At least now I know it's not just me.

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Answer 9

Apr 25, 2016 12:33 PM in response to aknebe

Shutting Down iTunes doesn't fix anything and neither does shutting down the computer. And it appears that rebuilding then data base does't work anymore. But even if it did I have folders within folders, going down 3 or 4 levels which I have been working on for years and I do't want to loose them .

http://www.macworld.com/article/2998245/streaming-media/ask-the-itunes-guy-rebui lding-an-itunes-library-dealing-with-dup…

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Answer 10

aknebe Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 26, 2016 12:31 AM in response to DanMccarter

Looks like there is a lot of erratic behaviour in iTunes as at least the sorting works for me when quitting/re-starting. But as far as I can see there is little to do but complain to Apple about this bug (the more complaints the better) and wait for an update. Note, I also talked to this 'iTunes Guy' (Kirk McElhearn) and he just told me the same: people reported this playlist folder problem to him, but he has no clue how to fix it.

Hope this all gets sorted out sooner than later as I also have 4-5 level hierarchy of folders-within-folders for sorting my playlists.

P.S. are there any reasonable alternatives for iTunes out there? I tried Swinsian but was not 100% convinced...

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