Import PlayLIST, not songs

Hello,
I am wondering how I can use a playlist, either from the music store or from a buddy, to create my own playlist without having to purchase the songs. If I see a playlist that has 10 songs that are already in my iTunes Music library, how can I import just the LIST? Is this a third-party software type request, or can iTunes currently do this?
Thanks,
~Ryan

This is covered in the iTunes Help file:
To archive a single playlist or use it in iTunes on another computer, select the playlist in the Source list, then choose File > Export Song List. Choose XML from the Format pop-up menu.
To save a copy of all your playlists, choose File > Export Library. (The exported information is saved in XML format.)
To import an iTunes playlist, choose File > Import. The imported playlist will show only songs located on the computer's hard disk or external media.

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Importing playlist without the songs

A friend of mine has a great playlist of songs. Rather than having her type them up, I thought there was a way to import the list as an xml file and then my iTunes will show me which ones I don't have and then I can purchase the ones I don't have. I read it somewhere but can't seem to get it to work.
Anyone have any ideas?
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It seems to be working now, I don't know why it did not before.

Somehow, my iTunes music disappeared. I restored it with Time Machine and have all of my music. However, my playlists and song ratings did not restore. Does anyone know if there is anything I can do to restore my playlists and ratings? Thanks.

Somehow, my iTunes music vanished from iTunes. I was able to restore my music from Time Machine, but I lost my playlists and song ratings. Does anyone know how I can restore the playlists and ratings? Thanks in advance for any help.

iTunes as you see it is more than just a file or two. It is all the contents of the iTunes folder including the critical library.itl file. That holds pretty much all the information about what you see when you start iTunes. You need to restore the whole iTunes folder, not just media files.

HT1660 My itunes library has automatically started to list my songs alphabetically. I do not want this. How do I change it so that when albums come up, the songs are listed in the order of the imported album, NOT alphabetically.

My itunes library has automatically started to list my songs alphabetically. I do not want this. How do I change it so that when albums come up, the songs are listed in the order of the imported album, NOT alphabetically.

For the missing Artists on your iPod, make sure their tracks in iTunes are not marked as "Part of a compilation" in iTunes. You can do this by highlighting the track, right->clicking on them and choosing "Get Info" from the shortcut menu. When the window pops up, head over to the Info tab and make sure there is NO tick mark next to this option in the lower right hand corner. Lastly, sync the updated changes to your iPod.
B-rock

Playlists not deleting songs on the iphone

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You could use 0 instead of 5--I also think this type of workaround is your only option.
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http://apple.com/feedback

I purchased a new computer and want to import music from other computers and sources to my hard drive, how do I import the actual songs and not the links?

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Under Edit > Preferences > Advanced make sure the Copy... option is ticked. This will ensure any files you drag to the library get copied into your library's media folder.
If the same content appears at more than one location, or you add it more than once, then iTunes will create dupes. There isn't really any way to avoid that, but I've written a script called DeDuper which can help remove them. See this thread for background.
tt2

TS4062 Not all of my playlists and songs sync from my Mac to my iphone, any ideas?

Not all of my playlists and songs sync from my Mac to my iphone, any ideas?

Just got through flailing with the same problem within the hour. It turned out I had music purchased with an earlier Apple ID in iTunes. My solution was to authorize the computer in iTunes with the previous ID and then all music would sync. Might try that.

ITunes not syncing selected playlists, choosing songs from all playlists

I have some smaller iPods that I use on random occasions. When I sync them, I choose the following options:
Sync Music:
Selected Playlists, artists, genres
Music Videos - Not Checked
Automatically fill free space with songs - Checked
I have two playlists from which I wish a selection to be made, which exceeds the size of the iPod (they were designed for larger devices synced with this machine). When I attempt to Sync, I get a message saying that the iPod is too small, and would I like iTunes to automatically choose songs to sync. If I click no, the sync is canceled. If I click yes to have a subset of my two playlists automatically choosen, the ipod will sync, but then iTunes clears all of my selected playlists and starts syncing songs from all playlists.
This seems like a bug in iTunes to me, as it is not performing the requested options. Has anyone else experienced this, or know how to get it fixed? Or to get a bug report sent in to Apple? I have been going all over the place on their support page, and since this isn't an issue with the iPod, but with iTunes, I haven't been able to find a support avenue.

Suggestions here -> iTunes application feedback
iTunes not syncing selected playlists, choosing songs from all playlists
You have it selected to *sync selected playlists* and those playlists are not syncing to the iPod?
however this seems to be very counter-intuitive behavior for iTunes
It can be kind of confusing.
I suggest it's not a bug in that it is acting as it's supposed to.
The option (Fill free space) could be made clearer. Perhaps if they added "with songs at random from the entire library" or somehow added an option to select what the free space will be filled with.)
1) The fact that iTunes it is not obeying the selected options on the screen
Not supposed to do that.
If the playlists all fit and there is free space, what would iTunes use to fill the free space if it only used selected items?
2) iTunes is allowing users construct an unhonorable set of choices out of four options. If "Selected playlists, artists and genres" is not compatible with "Automatically fill free space," then that option should be grayed out.
It is compatible.
If there is free space after your selections are added, what should iTunes use to fill the free space? It shouldn't fill the free space with stuff already on the iPod.

Importing playlists & determining which songs it can't find

I use a Mac at work and at home.
I create smart playlist using my song ratings and export them. I then import those playlist on the other computer so I can easily rate songs with the same rating. When importing a playlist, it tells me that it can't find a song. (most likely because I've downloaded a song on one computer, rated it, and failed to download/transfer that song to the other computer)
Is there an easy way to tell which songs it can't find when importing playlist?
thanks!

You can open the playlists in a text editor. Depending on the format Notepad will do, or you might find Notepad++ makes them easier to decipher.
tt2

Problems importing playlists

I am trying to share my itunes library across multiple user accounts on a Windows7 64bit machine using iTunes 10. My goal is for my kids to be able to sync their ipods through their user account. I have
I have managed to share the library so that everything shows up in iTunes in the individual user account. However, I am having trouble getting the playlists to import correctly. I tried recreating the .xml file by quitting iTunes, moving the .xml file to the desktop, restarting iTunes, quitting iTunes, pointing the other user account to the new .xml file.
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If you still have the computer with your original library these are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer, without needing to export and import playlists.
Method 1
Backup the library with this User Tip.
Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
Method 2
Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entire iTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.
Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.
I'd recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library.
Note if you have failed to move contacts and calendar items across you should create one dummy entry of each in your new profile and iTunes should merge the existing data from the device.
If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See make a split library portable.
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library or a backup then then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data.
tt2

HT4527 Problems importing playlists into ITunes on a new computer

I followed directions from "HT4527: iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer" by using home sharing. The songs transferred without problem. I am having problems moving the playlists (over 100 playlists). I exported the library file with the playlists and saved it to the new computer in the same subdirectory with ITunes. I have typed out the library file to verify the playlists exist, but when I try to import playlists, the lists that appear on the target computer are either empty or duplicates of the playlists that existed on the target computer. I am using the latest version of ITunes. The transferring computer is a Toshiba laptop running Windows 7. The target computer is an HP Pavilion computer running Windows XP. Thanks for any help you can give. I have spent many hours trying to transfer the songs and playlists.

If you still have the computer with your original library these are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer, without needing to export and import playlists.
Method 1
Backup the library with this User Tip.
Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
Method 2
Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entire iTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.
Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.
I'd recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library.
Note if you have failed to move contacts and calendar items across you should create one dummy entry of each in your new profile and iTunes should merge the existing data from the device.
If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See make a split library portable.
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library or a backup then then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data.
tt2

After upgrading iTunes software, I cannot import playlists

After upgrading iTunes software, I cannot import playlists. Help!

To be more clear:
1. My music and my playlists are on an external drive. My playlists are saved as .m3u files.
2. Everything was working perfectly before the iTunes upgrade yesterday. But now when I use the iTunes "File/Library/Import Playlist" feature, the playlist that is imported is EMPTY.
3. I can open the .m3u file and see that it contains the songs with their full path. So the .m3u file contains the correct information, it is just not importing into iTunes like it used to.
4. Apparenty when iTunes upgraded, it changed some setting and now everything is out of sync.
I am so stumped.

Importing playlists to a ipod classic using itunes 12

created a playlist but cannot import to my ipod classic. Any ideas?
Thanks

If you set up automatic syncing, you can select that playlist as one of the items being synced. Select iPod in iTunes 12 (click device button), so that you see the iPod's "management" screen. In the iPod's sidebar, under Settings, click Music. To the right, check the box for Sync Music, near the top. NOTE: If that box was not already checked, you have been using the Manually manage music [and videos] setting. Checking that box enables automatic syncing instead. The iPod's current content will be replaced by the content you select on the iPod's Music settings screen. Any songs on the iPod that are not in your computer's iTunes library will be lost. If this is a problem, don't do it this way; see below for the manual method.
Below the Sync Music setting, select the option to sync Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres. Below that, under Playlists, find and select (checkmark) that playlist you created for the iPod. You can also select other items on those lists. When you click Apply, the songs in your selection syncs to the iPod (replacing its current content). Going forward, to update that playlist on the iPod, just update that playlist in your iTunes library (add/remove songs). The iPod does not need to be connected. The next time it is connected (or you click Sync if already connected), iTunes updates the iPod with the same changes.
If you don't want set up automatic syncing, this is how to add a playlist to the iPod using the manual method (the iPod is set to Manually manage music [and videos]). You don't actually add an existing playlist to the iPod. You create the playlist on the iPod manually, and add songs to it manually. In iTunes 12, click the Music button on the horizontal bar (near left side). Near middle of that bar, click Playlists. The sidebar appears along left side of window, showing your music library, devices, and playlists. If your iPod is connected, it appears under Devices. Click the small triangle to left of iPod's name, to drop down its content list (indented below iPod). Click Music on content list. At bottom of sidebar, click the plus sign, and select New Playlist. A new playlist appears on the iPod (on the content list), which you can name.
If you already have a playlist with songs you want on the iPod in your iTunes library, select it in the sidebar under Playlists. Select any song on the list, and do a Select All (from the Edit menu or Cmd-A on keyboard). Drag selection to iPod in sidebar to the playlist, and drop it there. Change the order of songs, as desired. The songs will be on the iPod "generally," but you can also play them using the playlist. Going forward, manually update that playlist on the iPod, as desired.

How Do I Import Playlists From Tiger To Leopard?

OK, I give up. The following falls under the category “It Doesn’t Have To Be This Hard.”
I purchased a new iMac and went with the 24 inch Intel 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo, 10.5.5. Sweet.
With my previous iMac (G5 Rev A., 10.3.9), I had Tiger 10.4.11 installed on an external HD and used it for my iTunes collection. All was well.
Now, with Leopard on the new iMac, I’m stumped as to how I can import the playlists from Tiger’s iTunes. I’ve imported the music and podcasts, etc. from Tiger but the playlists are empty. I have them listed but all except one have no music in them.
So, my questions (after performing a thorough review of the forums and entering every search term I could think of related to this issue) are these:
1. How do I import playlists from Tiger to Leopard so that I get music and playlists?
2. Where are the playlists stored? I cannot find them using a Spotlight search ( using Leopard), nor are they listed in the iTunes music files. So, where does Tiger and/or Leopard keep them?
3. At least one playlist made it from Tiger to Leopard. Why did the other playlists arrive but w/o music in them?
4. Is the problem I have described a common one? If so, why is there no easy fix for it. Or perhaps there is an easy fix but I’m too blind to see it.
Anyone with answers is encouraged to reply. I’ll sign off as “flyboy01” but in reality I’m “Stumped!”
Thanks in advance,
flyboy01

Just so you know, the difference in the version of the operating system has no bearing here as you would have experienced the same issue going from account to account on the same computer because you performed an incomplete iTunes transfer. As you inquired about where playlists are located, I will give you a complete break down of iTunes database structure as well as the proper technique for transferring your library.
_*INSIDE iTUNES*_
*iTunes Components: The Library and the Database Table*
The term library gets thrown around quite a bit when people discuss iTunes, but what you see in iTunes denoted as your libraries (e.g., music, podcasts, TV shows, etc.) is actually just a reference to your actual media library. iTunes is essentially a database package, just like your local public library’s computer-based card catalog system; the difference is that the content is electronic and owned by the user so you can also directly access the content through iTunes instead of having to go and (physically) retrieve it. Your actual library is the collection of media files you have stored on your computer. If you think of it in terms of the real world, your media files are the virtual equivalent of the books, periodicals, microforms, etc., in a real library and the folder or volume in which those media files are contained is the library.
While iTunes will allow you to add media to its library (iTunes library interface) from anywhere on any volume attached to your computer (e.g., branch libraries), iTunes generally expects your library to reside in a single folder (main library). In iTunes that folder is referred to as your iTunes Music folder and by default it is a folder named iTunes Music contained in your iTunes folder (~/Music/iTunes). The music folder can have any name and be located anywhere on any attached volume as long as you inform iTunes of where it is located by changing the iTunes Music folder location in the Advanced tab of iTunes’ preferences.
How you organize music within your music folder is unimportant, but iTunes must know the location of the (root) music folder in order to properly access the media files contained within that directory. The reason for that is because once you have defined a music folder location, or leave the default, that location is where iTunes will automatically place any new content that you add to iTunes’ library. Keeping the location of the music library straight is most important to iTunes users, such as myself, that keep their actual library on a separate volume from the system volume where the iTunes folder is located.
When iTunes uses the term library, it is actually referring to its database table file. Properly designed databases, particularly those that are scalable and that allow records (database entries) to be found or visually organized via multiple keys (metadata), as iTunes does, consist of two basic parts: the database, or source data (records), and the index table(s). In iTunes your media files are the records. Along with the actual media content, those files also contain a number of tags that provide a range of information about that particular media file (e.g., artist, song title, movie title, album, year, etc.).
The database table is the iTunes Library file located in your iTunes folder. That file is actually what iTunes references the vast majority of the time when you are browsing your collection. The table contains metadata about all of the media files in your library and it is that metadata that is displayed in iTunes when you browse your library. When you play content or edit tags, then iTunes directly accesses the files in your library. The table also contains your playlists and playlist folders, so that is the reason that Spotlight would seem to not find them on your computer’s hard drive; Spotlight most likely did list ‘iTunes Music Library.xml’, as that file is an XML version of iTunes database table.
If you copy the iTunes Music Library.xml file to the desktop on your old computer and open it, you will see the basic structure of the table. The first group of entries are the definitions of your media files—the code between the <dict> and </dict> tags—and contain the metadata that is displayed in iTunes and by which you can search and group music in iTunes various views. The definitions also contain metadata defining the location of the media file, if the track is enabled (checked) or disabled (un-checked), the (iTunes) track ID, etc.
If you scroll toward the end of the XML file, you will see the definitions of your playlists and playlist folders as well as some occasional data blocks that look like gibberish. The latter is the text representation of the binary code that defines the criteria for smart playlists. On thing that you will notice about the playlist definitions is that they do not contain detailed track info or metadata for the songs contained within the playlist(s). iTunes is a relational database, so the playlists do not contain any actual data, but instead a list of indices (pointers), the Track IDs, to the definitions for each track you have in your playlists. The definitions listed in the first part of the XML file also contain only a subset of the tracks ID3 tags. The definitions only require metadata for information that is relevant to permitting you to browse and organize your library in iTunes’ interface. In the track definition, the Location metadata is an index and points to the actual media file where the complete set of ID3 tags, as well as the actual media content, reside.
While your media resides in your music folder, the library structure you create in iTunes is actually a simple, albeit long, table stored in a separate file. Another component of iTunes is the artwork database kept in the Album Artwork folder. The Album Artwork folder contains a complex folder tree structure with proprietary .itc files at the leaves. I do not know what the exact structure of the .itc files is, but they play a role in storing image info for the various graphic-based views in iTunes (e.g., CoverFlow). Also, any songs you purchase from the iTunes Store will have the cover art stored in the Album Artwork folder; images that you add manually are stored in the actual media files.
*Transferring Your Library to a New Computer*
Now you see that there is more to iTunes than just your media files. Thus, if you want the playlists that you spent time building to migrate with your music collection simply copying the music folder to the new computer is not going to result in what you want: a complete transfer of the library you dedicated time and energy into organizing. When you transfer music files to a new computer iTunes builds a new library around that content and the only playlists that will be present are the defaults tha come with iTunes; your user-defined playlists will not appear on the new computer if you have not transferred the database table.
In order to successfully transfer iTunes to a new computer you need to move your library and everything that was built around that library. To perform a complete library transfer you need to follow this procedure:
1. *Consolidate your library* If you know for a fact that all of you media files are contained within a single root directory (e.g., iTunes Music), then this step is not necessary. If you do not have the preference to “Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library” enabled, then there is a good chance that you will have orphaned media files and should consolidate your library just in case. To perform library consolidation go to Advanced > Consolidate Library (iTunes 7.x) or File > Library > Consolidate Library (iTunes 8).
2. *Transfer your database* Replace the default iTunes folder on your new Mac with the iTunes folder from your old Mac by transferring the entire folder. When asked if you wish to replace the existing iTunes, do so.
3. *Get the media library* If you keep your music in the default iTunes Music folder contained in the iTunes folder, then you have already performed this step. If not, transfer your music folder from you old Mac to wherever you wish for it to reside on your new Mac.
4. *Set up iTunes* Unless you already started modifying preferences in iTunes on the new Mac, when you launch iTunes you should see your music library just as you did on your old Mac.
a. If your library is in the default location, ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes music folder, iTunes will begin rebuilding your library after it launches. Once that process is completed, you should see your library with playlists and folders intact.
b. If your library is in an alternate location, you will see an empty library, but you should see your playlists and folders, albeit filled with broken links. Go to the Advanced tab in iTunes’ preferences and change the location of the iTunes Music folder to the location of your transferred music library. iTunes will begin rebuilding your library from the alternate folder. Once that process is completed your library should be just as it was on your old Mac.
5. *Keep your library consolidated* To insure that any new media that you add to iTunes stays with your main library when you add content to iTunes make sure the “Copy files” preference is enabled. If the “Copy files” preference is disabled then any content that does not come from the iTunes Store or ripped CDs that you add to your iTunes library will remain in the location where the content was originally placed.
Hopefully this helps you better understand how iTunes works and why simply transferring your media files results in a loss of your library’s structure.

Import PlayLIST, not songs

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