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[[File:Tree-Playlists.png|thumb|right|320px|Showing the Playlists item in the tree.]]
Playlists are ordered lists, and are used when you want to preserve the order of tracks. For example, you may create a playlist for "Top 40 1971" that preserves the order of the tracks. You may also want to create a compilation playlist of your favorite tracks, in order of preference. You can also create a playlist with your favorite Radio Stations, so that they are easily accessible at all times.


Playlists are ordered lists of media files. For example:
The point of creating Playlists is to group your collection in groups that you identify, and which are then very easy to access.
* You may create a playlist for "Top 40 1971" that preserves the order of the tracks.
* You may want to create a playlist in a specific order to be used at a special occasion or event.
* You may also want to create a compilation playlist of your favorite tracks, in order of preference.


The point of creating Playlists is to preserve the ''order'' of tracks, or to collect specific tracks by hand for a particular purpose. If you want to group and filter your tracks, you will typically be better served by making a custom [[Media View]], or a [[Smartlist]], and basing your groupings on the [[metadata properties]] of the files.
Playlists are accessible in the organization tree.


Playlists are accessible in their own item in the top-level of the [[Tree]], from within [[Theater View]], and by applications and devices connected to Media Center's [[Media Network]] servers. Playlists can be organized into [[Playlist Groups]], which work like folders to store and organize Playlists and [[Smartlists]]. Playlists can contain any of the [[Media Types]] that Media Center is able to [[import]], and can contain mixed sets of files.
Playlist Groups


== Creating a Playlist ==
If you like to create Playlists, you might end up with a very long list of them. You can put more order in that list by creating a Playlist Group. A Playlist Group is like a folder for your Playlists. So, for example, you might want to have a Playlist Group called "Charts" under which you can place your Playlists called "Top 40 of 1983" and other similar Playlists. You might have another Playlist Group called "Mixes" for all those compilation Playlists you have like "Workout", "Variety Tape #1" and "Jimmy's Tape".


You can create a new Playlist by any of the following methods:
"Recent Playing Now's" - Automatically Generated Playlist
* Right-click on Playlists, or any [[Playlist Group]], in the tree and choose ''Add Playlist''.
* '''F8''' on your keyboard.
* Choose the '''Build Playlist''' item in the [[Action Window]]


== Managing Playlists ==
Whenever you add files to [[Playing Now]], your Playing Now playlist is saved until you exit Media Center. To access the lists, go to "Recent Playing Now's" under Playlists in the tree. You may have to refresh the view: collapse Recent Playing Now's, then expand. Note: Recent Playing Now's are only generated after your first Playing Now list has been modified.. Each Playing Now list will be saved until you exit the program.


You can perform a variety of management tasks on Playlists and [[Smartlists]] under the top-level Playlists item in the Tree. You can move Playlists and [[Smartlists]] around and nest them into [[Playlist Groups]] by dragging and dropping them in the [[Tree]]. When you let go, a pop-up menu will appear that lets you choose to ''Move'' or ''Copy'' the list. Choosing ''Copy'' creates an independent duplicate of the list in that location.
[[Create a Playlist]]


When you click on a Playlist item in the Tree, it opens and displays in the [[Content Panel]]. The header of the Content Panel provides additional options:
[[Rename a Playlist]]


[[File:StandardView-Playlist Header.png|frame|none|A Playlist header]]
[[Delete a Playlist]]


* '''Play''': Play the tracks in the list.
[[Play a Playlist]]
* '''Shuffle''': Reshuffle the list randomly.
* '''Update Order''': Apply the currently displayed sort order permanently.
* '''Remove Duplicates''': Remove any exact matches in the list (this won't find similar items, only multiple copies of the same exact file).
* '''Lock''': Protect a Playlist from changes.
* '''Notes''': You can also [[Add Notes to a Playlist]] in the View Header, to remind you of their function.


Perform additional management tasks by right-clicking on the Playlist in the tree and selecting the following options from the context menu:
[[Add Notes to a Playlist]]


[[Add a Media File to a Playlist]]
* '''Rename''': choose a new name for the Playlist.
* '''Delete''': delete the list (this does not delete the files within the list, only the list itself).
* '''Play''': play the list from the beginning.
* '''Export''': [[Export the Playlist]] to an one of a variety of common playlist formats and save it to disk.
* '''Edit Playlist in Action Window''': Opens the Playlist up in the [[Action Window]], which makes it easy to add content to it as you browse other areas of your [[Library]].


[[Remove a Media File from a Playlist]]
== Managing Files Within a Playlist ==


=== Add Files ===
[[Save Playlist Order]]


Once you've created a Playlist, you need to add some files to it. You can add new files to a Playlist in a variety of ways. Find and select the file (or files) in your Library and:
[[Export Playlists]]
* Drag & Drop them onto the Playlist item in the [[Tree]].
* Right-click on the files and choose <span style="color:#8B4513">Send To > Playlist</span> and then choose the playlist you want from the menu.
* Drop them into a Playlist you've opened in the [[Action Window]] (via the ''Edit Playlist in Action Window'' menu item referenced above).
* Drop the files into the ''Build Playlist'' [[Action Window]].


=== Remove Files ===
[[Create a Playlist Group]]


[[Move a Playlist into a Playlist Group]]
To remove files from a Playlist, simply select them and:
* Hit the delete key.
* Right-click on the file or files and choose ''Remove from List''.
* Choose <span style="color:#8B4513">Edit > Remove from List</span>


When you delete files from a Playlist, it ''does not'' remove the files from your Library, and it does not delete the files from disk. This simply removes the file from that particular Playlist.
[[Rename a Playlist Group]]


=== Ordering Files ===
[[Delete a Playlist Group]]


Playlist order is preserved using the special '''Sequence Column''' (abbreviated Seq). The tracks in a Playlist are always displayed, and played, in ascending sequential order based on the numbering in this column.
[[Play a Playlist Group]]

You can re-order files in the Playlist by opening it and simply dragging the tracks up and down in the list. This automatically sets the Sequence Order to match, and the same thing works when you open a Playlist in the Action Window.

You can ''also'' sort the Playlist on-the-fly by clicking on the Column Headers in the [[Content Panel]]. However, sorting a playlist this way does not alter the Sequence Order, so it is only temporary until you refresh the list or close it. To save the currently displayed sequence order at any time, click the '''Update Order''' button in the Playlist Header.

== Recent Playing Nows ==

Whenever you add files to [[Playing Now]], your Playing Now playlist is saved until you exit Media Center. To access the lists, go to the special ''Recent Playing Now's'' Playlist Group under Playlists in the tree.

Each time the Playing Now list is modified, a new Playlist will be created under this special Playlist Group preserving the order. If you want to save this list permanently, you can drag them out of this Playlist Group and save it elsewhere. Otherwise, these are cleared when you close and re-open Media Center.

== Mixed Playlists ==

Normally files in a Playlist are played in sequential order from beginning to end, one after the other. However, Media Center has special handling for mixed lists of Audio and Image files, which allows you to create a photo slideshow with music. Simply add the photos and music you'd like to play together to a Playlist, and when you play it, Media Center will play the photos at the same time as the music.

== More ==

* [[Smartlists]]
* [[Playlist Media Views]]

[[Category:Playlists]]
[[Category: Linked From MC]]

Latest revision as of 08:18, 27 February 2018

Showing the Playlists item in the tree.

Playlists are ordered lists of media files. For example:

  • You may create a playlist for "Top 40 1971" that preserves the order of the tracks.
  • You may want to create a playlist in a specific order to be used at a special occasion or event.
  • You may also want to create a compilation playlist of your favorite tracks, in order of preference.

The point of creating Playlists is to preserve the order of tracks, or to collect specific tracks by hand for a particular purpose. If you want to group and filter your tracks, you will typically be better served by making a custom Media View, or a Smartlist, and basing your groupings on the metadata properties of the files.

Playlists are accessible in their own item in the top-level of the Tree, from within Theater View, and by applications and devices connected to Media Center's Media Network servers. Playlists can be organized into Playlist Groups, which work like folders to store and organize Playlists and Smartlists. Playlists can contain any of the Media Types that Media Center is able to import, and can contain mixed sets of files.

Creating a Playlist

You can create a new Playlist by any of the following methods:

  • Right-click on Playlists, or any Playlist Group, in the tree and choose Add Playlist.
  • F8 on your keyboard.
  • Choose the Build Playlist item in the Action Window

Managing Playlists

You can perform a variety of management tasks on Playlists and Smartlists under the top-level Playlists item in the Tree. You can move Playlists and Smartlists around and nest them into Playlist Groups by dragging and dropping them in the Tree. When you let go, a pop-up menu will appear that lets you choose to Move or Copy the list. Choosing Copy creates an independent duplicate of the list in that location.

When you click on a Playlist item in the Tree, it opens and displays in the Content Panel. The header of the Content Panel provides additional options:

A Playlist header
  • Play: Play the tracks in the list.
  • Shuffle: Reshuffle the list randomly.
  • Update Order: Apply the currently displayed sort order permanently.
  • Remove Duplicates: Remove any exact matches in the list (this won't find similar items, only multiple copies of the same exact file).
  • Lock: Protect a Playlist from changes.
  • Notes: You can also Add Notes to a Playlist in the View Header, to remind you of their function.

Perform additional management tasks by right-clicking on the Playlist in the tree and selecting the following options from the context menu:

  • Rename: choose a new name for the Playlist.
  • Delete: delete the list (this does not delete the files within the list, only the list itself).
  • Play: play the list from the beginning.
  • Export: Export the Playlist to an one of a variety of common playlist formats and save it to disk.
  • Edit Playlist in Action Window: Opens the Playlist up in the Action Window, which makes it easy to add content to it as you browse other areas of your Library.

Managing Files Within a Playlist

Add Files

Once you've created a Playlist, you need to add some files to it. You can add new files to a Playlist in a variety of ways. Find and select the file (or files) in your Library and:

  • Drag & Drop them onto the Playlist item in the Tree.
  • Right-click on the files and choose Send To > Playlist and then choose the playlist you want from the menu.
  • Drop them into a Playlist you've opened in the Action Window (via the Edit Playlist in Action Window menu item referenced above).
  • Drop the files into the Build Playlist Action Window.

Remove Files

To remove files from a Playlist, simply select them and:

  • Hit the delete key.
  • Right-click on the file or files and choose Remove from List.
  • Choose Edit > Remove from List

When you delete files from a Playlist, it does not remove the files from your Library, and it does not delete the files from disk. This simply removes the file from that particular Playlist.

Ordering Files

Playlist order is preserved using the special Sequence Column (abbreviated Seq). The tracks in a Playlist are always displayed, and played, in ascending sequential order based on the numbering in this column.

You can re-order files in the Playlist by opening it and simply dragging the tracks up and down in the list. This automatically sets the Sequence Order to match, and the same thing works when you open a Playlist in the Action Window.

You can also sort the Playlist on-the-fly by clicking on the Column Headers in the Content Panel. However, sorting a playlist this way does not alter the Sequence Order, so it is only temporary until you refresh the list or close it. To save the currently displayed sequence order at any time, click the Update Order button in the Playlist Header.

Recent Playing Nows

Whenever you add files to Playing Now, your Playing Now playlist is saved until you exit Media Center. To access the lists, go to the special Recent Playing Now's Playlist Group under Playlists in the tree.

Each time the Playing Now list is modified, a new Playlist will be created under this special Playlist Group preserving the order. If you want to save this list permanently, you can drag them out of this Playlist Group and save it elsewhere. Otherwise, these are cleared when you close and re-open Media Center.

Mixed Playlists

Normally files in a Playlist are played in sequential order from beginning to end, one after the other. However, Media Center has special handling for mixed lists of Audio and Image files, which allows you to create a photo slideshow with music. Simply add the photos and music you'd like to play together to a Playlist, and when you play it, Media Center will play the photos at the same time as the music.

More