Using iTunes Manually in Windows XP

Question

I am doing things manually. I added a folder to my library (actually, there is no folder - it just creates a list of the songs in the folder from my computer without visibly grouping them the way I want). It lists the songs but they are not grouped to get them separate from other groupings (folders) in my library. I then created a play list and dragged them over. So far so good. Now I want to do this again for a differnt grouping/folder. If I import a new folder, it merges all of the new songs with the previous songs in the libarary - so they are not separated or grouped like they were on my computer. So how am I supoose to create a new play list that keeps the new songs separate from the previous ones since they are now scrambled together in a huge list? I thought maybe I could delete the songs in my library each time I create a play list, but iTunes says I lose the playlist if I delete the songs in the library. I must be doing something wrong or this is a dumb way to organize anything.

Answer 1

There are 2 solutions to your problem:
1. Go to "recently added" play list, it's one of the smart play lists that are default in iTunes. Select the songs you've just added (the most recent ones should be those you want grouped together), and drag them to a new playlist (or click "File->Create a Playlist from selection").
2. Create the new playlist first and then drag-and-drop the files/directories you want from windows explorer directly to the new playlist in iTunes (you will see a rounded highlight surrounding the playlist name).
I was looking through the forums for a solution to another problem and came by your post. Unfortunately what really is difficult to do is add files (to library or to the iPod for instance, as in manual sync) without creating duplicates(!).. I wish there was a way to scan the library/ipod for existing song and then choose to overwrite or skip... if you know of a way please respond soon