v 5.64 not playing .m3u files

[rmhhall]

WinAmp has stopped playing .m3u files - they are listed and the highlight runs down to the last track, but nothing further. It's playing individual .mp3 and .flac files fine.

How do I fix this please?

[DrO]

have you moved files recently ? or the playlist itself ? as the playlist is just a list of files and if the files it references move somewhere else, then the playlist will break (that's just how things work with m3u playlists unless you move / update the playlist at the same time).

so if you do ctrl+e on one of the items in the broken playlist, check that the entry shown is correct for where it should be. if it's not then you'll need to update the playlist (or move it and re-load it).

[Batter Pudding]

When I move my music folders around I then load up any playlists I had made into a text editor and use the search and replace to make the same corrections to the paths. If you have never looked inside an *.m3u file you'll find it is surprisingly simple in there. Just load it up in notepad. (If you need assistance, just ask)

[Aminifu]

Yes it is easy to manually fix playlists, especially if the number of path corrections are relatively small. But as DrO pointed out, some playlists do not have path info, only the file names are included. These lists need to be in the same folder with the files named in them.

For the other lists, that included full path info, I use "listFix()" (link below) to fix things when several corrections are needed.

http://listfix.sourceforge.net/

[Batter Pudding]

Yes it is easy to manually fix playlists, especially if the number of path corrections are relatively small. But as DrO pointed out, some playlists do not have path info, only the file names are included. These lists need to be in the same folder with the files named in them.

That is being a little pedantic. I was going to leave the details until the OP got back.

The path in the *.m3u is based on the location of the *.m3u file. So if the track is next to the *.m3u then there can be just a file name. Or if it is in a neighbouring folder, it could be listed as ..\..\pixies\doolittle\debaser.mp3 and so on.

So what I meant by "correcting a path" in my post would also include updating these relative paths as well.

My "search and replace" method can be extremely fast using something like Notepad++ which can apply the same change to dozens of files all in one go.

For the other lists, that included full path info, I use "listFix()" (link below) to fix things when several corrections are needed.

http://listfix.sourceforge.net/

Now that looks like a funky tool. But I think someone needs to give the dev a "heads up" on the changes of the playlist locations in the new Winamp Beta 5.7

Tool looks ideal for people who don't want to mess around with mucky notepad styleeee editing. I just can't get out of old skool habits.

Yeurgh! Java - well that's me out. Can't run it on this PC as banished Java from my PCs after all the security problems with it this year.

So OP now has a couple of answers for updating his playlists.

[Aminifu]

...

My "search and replace" method can be extremely fast using something like Notepad++ which can apply the same change to dozens of files all in one go.

...

Again, I agree for those who type with both hands. Not so fast for those who use the 2 finger 'search and poke' technique.

The current need for the Java JRE could be a problem. If it is only used for this, there is no need for Java or this tool to have access to the internet (updates would need to be looked for and installed manually). I'm hoping the tool's dev is working on an update that does not need the JRE.

[DrO]

or just use relative playlists in the folder with the files

[Aminifu]

or just use relative playlists in the folder with the files

Yeah, but I frequently use playlists listing files from multiple folders.

[DrO]

that's easily sorted, re-build the playlists using the relative playlists. or even better... pick a file structure and stick to it