ml_plfix (a plugin to let you move files, yet preserve playlists).

[eqreed]

I want to organize the files in my disk; however, I’ve been hesitant to do so because that would break my playlists. So I wrote this tool.

This plugin will “fix” your playlists after you move files or rename files. It will also find (and optionally delete) identical files.

It works by making 64-bit “signatures” of the files in your playlist and media library. When you run the plugin, it will recheck your playlist to see if any files are missing, and replace it with a file in the media library with the same signature. Just make sure to add all the new files in the media library, and that you run this plugin before you start moving the files around (so it can generate signatures of the files in your playlists).

Usage:

Put it in the plugins directory, run WinAmp, bring up the media library, and click on the “gen_plfix (playlist fixer)” (in the left pane with the playlists.)

Click on the Hand Fix, and let it run. This will generate signatures for ALL the files in your media directory and playlists. It’ll take a while the first time, but it saves the results to make subsequent scans much faster. You normally will want to do this just before you start moving files around.

Now that it’s set up, move or rename your files. Then get those moved/renamed files into the media library. (I use options->Preferences, and select the Media Library, Watch Folders tab, and rescan my music directories.)

Then I run a “Hand Fix” as it will not change your playlists, which will generate a “report” of missing files, and their candidate replacement(s) files. Right click on the items to fix them in the playlist.

“Auto Fix” is the same as “Hand Fix”, except it will automatically fix missing files with one and only one candidate. (If multiple candidates are found, you still have to pick it by hand.)

“Find Duplicates” will scan your media library for duplicate files, and allow you to delete them if you wish (right click on the files)

Limitations:

The playlists are found by reading the m3u files in the plugins/ml directory, NOT by reading the playlists from within Winamp.

I have not figured out how to convert the m3u file name to the playlist name (if anyone knows, please let me know)

There is a small chance two different files will have the same sig (although it’s small)

This is Alpha code
Although I don’t know of any bugs, I would be careful and try it out first on a small scale before doing any major changes to your library.

I have a list of features to add, and I’ll post them in a while. But I always appreciate feedback from others.

You can download it here (right click “Save Target As...”)

- Reed


[Edit --> DJ Egg]
Fixed url

[billyvnilly]

Originally posted by eqreed
Limitations:

The playlists are found by reading the m3u files in the plugins/ml directory, NOT by reading the playlists from within Winamp.

so will you not be including winamp\winamp.m3u ? or even scan drives for .m3u files.


what do these signatures include? im only asking because of the possible duplicates. certainly there is some way to distinguish 2 files.

[eqreed]

Originally posted by billyvnilly
so will you not be including winamp\winamp.m3u ? or even scan drives for .m3u files.

Ideally, it'd be nice to be able to specify the m3u files/directores to read, (or possibly even support other kinds of playlists). I chose the plugins/ml because that's where the "normal" winamp media library playlists are stored. (This program is still in it's infancy)

what do these signatures include? im only asking because of the possible duplicates. certainly there is some way to distinguish 2 files.

The signature is a 64 bit hash (I use a Fowler/Noll/Vo hash - it's like a CRC or checksum). If you have multiple candidates (whether it's a false match, or just two copies of the same file), you'll have to pick one. Yes, you can have a false match, but it's unlikely. If you are worried about false positives, just do a "Hand Fix" and it won't change anything without you selecting it.

- Reed

[electricmime]

will this preserve media library settings(ratings/playcount)

or will it not update ml at all?

[dlinkwit27]

Isn't there already a "delete duplicate entries" option? But good work on the fixing part (maybe). I havn't tired it yet, but I will soon and will leave some feedback.

[DJ Egg]

"delete duplicate entries" is only available via:
playlist window > rem button > remove
and is actually a feature added by Jump to File Extra plugin.


"Put it in the plugins directory, run WinAmp, bring up the media library, and click on the “gen_plfix (playlist fixer)” (in the left pane with the playlists.)"

Hmm. Do we need any special files for this plugin?
(eg. some new version of msvcp7x/msvcr7x.dll or Net Framework)
I can't even get it to appear under Prefs > Plugins > General Purpose, let alone find/use any "playlist fixer" menu in ml.

Can't wait to try it out though. Sounds pretty good to me

[eqreed]

Drat - uploaded the wrong file... it should have been ml_plfix; not gen_plfix. The updated link is here:

http://members.cox.net/eqreed/ml_plfix.zip

(and the old gen_plfix will be no longer available). Let me know what you think, as I'm likely to direct my efforts towards what people want. The first thing on my list is to get some naming consistancy

- Reed

[eqreed]

Originally posted by electricmime
will this preserve media library settings(ratings/playcount)

or will it not update ml at all?

It does not update the ml at all - just reads it to get a file list.

[DJ Egg]

Ah, ml_plfix, not gen_plfix . . . I should've worked that one out myself.

Cheers. Got it working now.
(I now see "gen_plfix playlist fixer" at the bottom of the ml left pane)
Maybe it should say "ml_plfix (playlist fixer)"?
Or just "Playlist Fixer" maybe?

Testing it at the moment (scanning playlist 1/15)
Playlist 1 has 12000 entries, so this might take some time.
be back soon...


btw, I've fixed the download url in the 1st post.


[edit]
Ok, the first scan took ages, but as you said, subsequent scans are very quick.
On initial tests, this plugin seems to be working...

[brotherS]

Great idea! I'll sure test it when it's a beta!

A maybe slightly off-topic question: What is the best program for finding dupes on my HD, even when one is 128k and 5:42 and the dupe is 192k and 5:41? I now use Mp3Find but the handling is not the best

[jojo 544]

Originally posted by DJ Egg
Ah, ml_plfix, not gen_plfix . . . I should've worked that one out myself.

I did (proud)
i din't have time to fully test it, but i like someone's working on the fix playlist thing
When it only works for ML playlists it will be of no use for me tho.

[eqreed]

Originally posted by jojo 544 When it only works for ML playlists it will be of no use for me tho.

What do you use for playlists? I want to see if I can accomodate other kinds of playlists, but I need to know what they are.

I am currently adding the ability let you specify a list of (m3u) playlists, or directories containing playlists.

- Reed

[jojo 544]

Originally posted by eqreed
I am currently adding the ability let you specify a list of (m3u) playlists, or directories containing playlists.

That would do just it

[dlinkwit27]

it didn't work....I had the Killers albums on my desktop. I added the files to my playlist, saved it as "recent" then renamed the 11 songs (added some track numbers). Added the re-named files to the ML, ran the handfix, and it found that the old files were missing, but couldn't find the new files to replace them.

[eqreed]

Originally posted by dlinkwit27
it didn't work....I had the Killers albums on my desktop. I added the files to my playlist, saved it as "recent" then renamed the 11 songs (added some track numbers). Added the re-named files to the ML, ran the handfix, and it found that the old files were missing, but couldn't find the new files to replace them.

Did you run "handfix" first (after you added the files to your playlist and/or media library, but before you moved them?)

The only downside of this application is it needs to generate the signatures of this file first.

Also, I don't quite understand what you mean by "saved it as 'recent'" You mean you made a playlist with a name of "recent" or something else?

Thanks for letting me know about this. I'd like to figure out what happened.

[dlinkwit27]

I ran "handfix" before and after I added the files. And the playlist was called "recent"

[jojo 544]

Originally posted by eqreed
I am currently adding the ability let you specify a list of (m3u) playlists, or directories containing playlists.

Any progress on this project?

[Pyrallax]

Any news on this project? This would be a great help to many people! I like to reorganize my music folders a lot, and have a great many playlists, and thousdands of songs. I normally keep my playlist .m3u files in my documents folder, but will place them in my plugins/ml directory if that's what it takes. And I don't care if the file hashing takes a whole week--that would still be faster than trying to update all broken playlists manually.

I'm surprised there isn't a tool on the net already to fix broken .m3u playlists. Is it really that hard? I think a lot of people would find such a tool to be critical to their music management.

[Sebast1an__]

I think I posted a request/question for something like that ages ago. Finally there's a solution.

[TCPost]

Originally posted by Pyrallax
Any news on this project? This would be a great help to many people! I like to reorganize my music folders a lot, and have a great many playlists, and thousdands of songs. I normally keep my playlist .m3u files in my documents folder, but will place them in my plugins/ml directory if that's what it takes. And I don't care if the file hashing takes a whole week--that would still be faster than trying to update all broken playlists manually.

My sentiments exactly, but now Joonas has added it to his fantastic 'Dynamic Library' plugin I am able to reorganise my files at will without any fear that it will break my valuable playlist entries.

[sneachta]

This sounds great.Does it still work?

[TazDevil]

name suggestion: Broken Playlist Fixer

sounds good, i'll give it a try when it can handle non-ml playlists

[jojo 544]

i'm afraid this is a dead project
The author didn't post any updates or comments since januari 2005 !

[gflores]

Originally posted by jojo 544
i'm afraid this is a dead project
The author didn't post any updates or comments since januari 2005 !

Noooo. I just found this plugin and I would LOVE this feature. Anyone up to the task? I'll give Dynamic Library a shot, since I heard it has the ability to do that too, but it has a lot of stuff I don't really want... I'm so excited! w00t!

Edit: Wait, is this still working on Winamp 5.23?

[jojo 544]

Originally posted by gflores
Edit: Wait, is this still working on Winamp 5.23? [/B]

I never tried,
In DL some things are broken since 5.2
I'm using WA 5.13 and DL to fix the playlists (and other stuff)
DL can only fix playlist entries of files that were moved, if they are renamed you get the option to find the files back browsing manualy tho.
It's the best i could find for now. If anyone knows of another more advanced playlist fixer i would also love to know about.

edit: i still can't believe no one ever finished a plugin like that, i knew a few projects, but none of them were ever finished, or doing what they should properly.

[sneachta]

If anyone is up to the job please do it!!

[Duck11]

Find and kill dupe files and folders by Dupe Checker PRO

[valius]

You can download it URL submitted by user

?? So where is the actual url?
Its just text and no link.
Or is it just for me?

[DrO]

the link is http://members.cox.net/eqreed/ml_plfix.zip (the user submitted thing is due to the forums recently introduced spam protection - quote the post and you'll see the url as well)

-daz

[gflores]

Thanks, it's working great!

[jojo 544]

Originally posted by gflores
Thanks, it's working great!

Yes but it only finds and kills dupe files ?
I'm still looking for a playlist fixer...

Anyone?

[gflores]

It's fixing the playlists for me. Did you read the instructions?

[jojo 544]

Originally posted by gflores
It's fixing the playlists for me. Did you read the instructions?

Wait a minute.. i think we're not talking about the same thing anymore here. It gets kind of confusing now there are 3 different plugins already mentioned in this topic.

My last post refered to the dupechecker. (1)
Dynamic Library (2) DOES fix playlist for me as well indeed.
An as for the third (3), the plugin this topic is actualy about...
I-m re-testing it right now, but as i can see by the timestamps on this threat, it's no longer developed/suported

EDIT: Finished re-testing.. for me sometimes it works, sometimes not. seems to depend on the new location of the moved / renamed files. So it's buggy at least and only works for ML playlists, so no good to me. I'll stick to DL to do the job

[blackgunnaz]

I can't get the ml_plfix plugin, because the link says url submitted by user. I was wonderin if i could get the link to the plugin

[blackgunnaz]

nvm, i got it. had to quote u to get it

[w3stfa11]

i don't think it works anymore

[firewyre]

I wrote a java app called listFix() that may help some of you out. It fixes broken M3U playlists and does some other cool stuff as well - check it out at http://listfix.sourceforge.net.

[jojo 544]

Well finaly after some years someone comes up with a seems to be usable tool. Huh, worth the wait

I had to shut it down with taskmanager few times at first but now it seems to work. Duno what went wrong, i'll do some serious testing tomorow (it's getting late here). i think it's still in dev. so i'm already looking out for further development. I have some ideas for more advanced features.
This is realy cool stuff !

(still can't believe anyone came up with something like this earlier)

[firewyre]

Funny thing is that I've had a workable version of this app since about 2002, just never managed to post it anywhere until now. I'm glad some people out there haven't switched to that piece of trash known as iTunes and still rock M3Us in

Please post any ideas you have feature-wise on the project's sourceforge forums. You can post bug reports there too. I'm very interested to hear what you find out about having to kill it a few times the first time you ran it, I haven't run into that one yet.

[jojo 544]

'k.

posted all on sourceforge