Is there a way to export ratings?

[WhiteKnightWolf]

I really, seriously want to know. I've spend a LOT of time rating all my stuff and recently I got a new computer. Well, had to download winamp again of course and now I have none of my precious ratings. Can anyone help me?

[WhiteKnightWolf]

I really hate to double post but I REALLY need to know. Does ANYONE know the file path?!?

[J_Darnley]

If you had looked for the hundreds of other library export threads you would have seen that the library data is stored in Winamp\Plugins\ml (or %appdata%\Winamp\Plugins\ml) with the Local Media database being main.dat. You can just copy this straight over if your files are in the same place.

If they aren't, the only way that usually works when this topic is discussed is the ml_impex plugin. This plugin allows you to export an iTunes format xml file which you can then edit the paths of. Another idea someone used was to set the comment field to the rating so they could then rate their songs again en masse.

[WhiteKnightWolf]

I did look for other threads on this subject, and I have looked in both those places. I looked but I still cannot find a folder named ML or a file named main.dat.

However I will look up this XML file plugin atleast.

[nhustak]

Well I second the question - and while there may be 'hundreds of threads', searching the forum for 'export ratings' returns ONLY this thread.

Searching for 'export' does indeed return a boggling number of threads - in fact, so many that are about exporting play lists, that it's useless.

The real issue here is that it's way too difficult to export ratings.

I've tried copying my main.dat over to a fresh winamp install and all it accomplishes is locking up winamp when it starts. I've looked into the various plugins, and none of them seem to like Vista. I even download the VB source for one of them, however once again vista doesn't like ActiveWinamp (if it would install, I'd write my own import/export).

I can see that ml_impex.dll is indeed installed in my winamp, but I can't for the life of me figure out where this actually appears in the system. I've highlighted and right-clicked everywhere in a vain attempt to get an 'export' option to appear.

Bottom line - My winamp is stuttering and I need to try a fresh install. I've been fighting trying to preserve my ratings for a week now and have yet to come up with a solution that actually works either from a plugin or manually.

I did find a thread or two about saving the ratings in the MP3 and in fact I am hopeful that DrO is going to create a plugin - which I would gladly BUY.

All that said - can soemeone please help me save my ratings? It baffles the mind - Winamp is by FAR the best player out there and there is STILL no easy way to maintain ratings between fresh installs. This really needs to be addressed.

Regards,
Nick H

[nhustak]

Well for what it's worth, I finally figured out my stutter was due to a pidgin plugin showing what winamp was playing for my status.

However, none of this changes I'd really like to know how to export my ratings. While I do backup my main.dat everynight, I have zero confidence in the 'copy it to a new install' method.

Regards,
Nick

[beatsandmelody]

I'm resurrecting and bumping this thread. I also have no clue if this is possible. Using 5.572, I did export the database and choose to back up ALL files (not just iTunes compliant ones like FLAC because I will never use iTunes).

But I don't even know if this is backing up the ratings.

The help section is large and jumbled, all option explanations and help information needs to be broken down to "Basic" and "Advanced" sections.

I don't want to download this or that or hunt for files. Maybe it's my smartphone, as well as my various desktop OS', but I expect to be able to do this in program.

And asking answers here seems to piss off the more knowledgeable people. Which sucks, I know answering lots of questions over years gets annoying, but I would actually stick around to help if I knew the stuff. Also, the majority of any search results that come up when searching can be 5 years old or worse. How can I know that information is relevant!?

[beatsandmelody]

It would be especially helpful because I've discovered a wonderful bug that is much like the bi-partisan american political system.

I have an iPod and use ml_ipod with Winamp. I want to scrobble plays to last fm from the iPod when syncing. If I use the ml_ipod scrobbler (ml_audioscrobbler.dll), it suddenly (as of this typing) isn't working properly with Winamp. Won't submit iPod played tracks.

So I find another plugin, gen_audioscrobbler.dll. This fixes the submission but now breaks ratings, i.e. change tag info, rating changed (including replay gain changes).

And if I use the built winamp ipod plugin... Well, it just doesn't compare and there's no point (like there's no point in voting for a 3rd party in america).

LASTLY, I see that Winamp 5.58 is available (although the CHANGELOG hasn't even reflected that yet) and I could upgrade, but then I have to worry about something entirely different going wrong. And since I can't even be sure my ratings are being saved, there's no guarantee on keeping them when upgrading / restoring from some FUBAR crap.

[nhustak]

There's a hostility towards doing anything to make the rating system easier - I don't know why. They absolutely refuse to store it in the MP3 tag like everyone else does - because there's no standard across files types or for MP3s in general. Whatever. Make an option - people that are puriest can opt to not use it. To simply have NO way to store the rating with the file is silly. It's too easy to lose ratings - and when you are talking about thousands and thousands of files....you get the picture.

So instead we end up with an esoteric file stuck in the winamp directory that will be lost if the path to your songs change (if like a lot of people you have them on a NAS somewhere) or you forget to back it up. It would be a _little_ better if the file was in the document directory, but not much.

About the only thing you can do to preserve them in the MP3 file is to make smart filters for each rating number and then set the comment to '*', '**', etc. You can then use a filter to pull them back in later. Annoying but it works. I wish they would simply provide an option to say 'store rating in the comment'. Is it a perfect solution? Nope. Does it solve the problem for 99% of the people that would like the ratings stored in files? Yep.

[DJ Egg]

@beatsandmelody

Yes, the ML import/Export feature supports ratings
Make sure you're using 5.58 though....


@nhustak

Winamp 5.58 Released

Changelog:

* Improved: [ml_local/in_mp3] Write ratings to POPM frame in id3v2 tags (w.i.p.)

Notes:

-Re: Improved: [ml_local/in_mp3] Write ratings to POPM frame in id3v2 tags:

_ This is still a work-in-progress and support is currently enabled via a hidden .ini option only.
_ With Winamp closed, open %AppData%\Winamp\Plugins\gen_ml.ini in Notepad.
_ Add the following line: writeratings=1
_ Save gen_ml.ini

_ We are now using the standard WMP 0-256 scale for 1-5 ratings (read & write).
_ For mp3, ratings are written to the POPM id3v2 frame.

_ Support for other formats (wma, ogg, flac, mp4) to be implemented later.

[nhustak]

Well whip me with a wet noodle - don't I look like an idiot.

You have just made my day. I will purchase a pro license today.

[nhustak]

Ok so after a bit of testing (with my new pro version 8) ) - Could you confirm - it looks like we need to re-save the ratings to get them to write. And in fact, need to toggle the rating from one to another - pressing the same star count doesn't write it.

Ah ok - here's a good way. I have smart filters 1-5 stars. If I select all in those and set the rating, it re-writes them all.

Fantastic!!!!

[nhustak]

Ok I installed winamp on another machine and added the option to the INI. However, it doesn't appear to be reading the ratings from the file?

[nhustak]

I'm assuming I'm missing a setting somewhere - surely there must be a way to get it to also read the rating, maybe when first building the library?

[Koopa]

The rating saved in the file is part of the ID3Tag for MP3 files. So you should rescan your library under 'Preferences > Media library > Local Media > Watch folders.

Also note, if you use an ATF tag in the playlist editor, that you may must play the files, before the rating will be shown correctly. The behavior of the playlist editor you can change under Preferences > Titles. There are 4 different option, how and how Winamp should read metadata.

[nhustak]

Ah i see - I kept trying to find that setting and somehow manage to blow by that everytime.

Thank you very much.

[Kithor]

The ratings don't write for me if the file has no rating to begin with (or if you set it to "No rating" in Winamp). I have to open the files properties and set the rating to something, then Winamp is able to write to it, just something to remember.

[MrSinatra]

1. you don't need a pro license.
2. you need to edit the winamp gen_ml.ini file to get the ratings to write to the file. (see my sig)
3. you can ALSO use Koopa's excellent backup tool to transfer winamp settings/ratings/etc, which for some reason he didn't mention. (search the forums for it)