Author Topic: Add 'Make Playlist(s)' to folder contect menu  (Read 8361 times)

greenday1987

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  • Long live OiNK!
This is taken from another forum but it's handy if you download or rip music and for whatever reason it doesn't have an M3U playlist file and you like to have one. The playlist this script will create will be named 'Folder Name.M3U' for the files contained within the folder.

1. Copy this preformatted text exactly:

@echo off
chcp 1252
cd %1
echo %~f1
dir /on/b *.mp3 *.flac *.m4a > "%~nx1.m3u"




and paste it into a new text document. Rename it makeplaylist.bat and put it in C:\

2. Next copy this preformatted text exactly:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Folder\shell\play]
@="Make playlist(s)"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Folder\shell\play\command]
@="cmd /C C:\\makeplaylist.bat \"%L\""




and paste it into a new text document. Rename it to makeplaylist.reg and double-click it. You must be logged on as administrator.

That's it! Now you can right-click any folder or up to 15 folders and make playlists appear inside all of them; they will be named the-folder-name.m3u. If the option doesn't appear immediately, restart your PC.

If you don't want to make your own files, I (read: the original writer of this tutorial) have uploaded the two files in a zip here: http://www.mediafire.com/?806e7bhbmb2427b

Note for dummies: you don't right-click inside the folder you want to make a playlist for, you have to go up a level to the parent folder, then right-click it.

Notes for everyone else: you can add whatever file types you want, add *.ogg , *.ape , anything.
The default number of folders this will work on is 15, but you can increase this by following these instructions: http://www.ghacks.net/2011/03/05/fix-context-menu-items-missing-in-windows-explorer/ However: 16 doesn't = infinity, despite what it says. Create a MultipleInvokePromptMinimum key and set it to 50 (decimal) and you can make Playlists for 50 folders.
The folder name character limit in Windows 7 Ultimate is 120; other versions may have different limits. Don't use folder names this long anyway!
chcp 1252 ensures characters with accents (like éçèßý) are correctly written in the playlist.
You can move the makeplaylist.bat file to anywhere you like, but make sure the correct path is in the registry key.
It overwrites m3us (with the exact same name) without prompting.
To remove this feature: just delete it with Regedit.
I've tested this in Windows XP 32 Bit and 7 Ultimate 64 bit.
RIP OiNK


I've recently joined last.fm - http://www.last.fm/user/drjswho
Feel free to add me if you wish :)

EAC V1.0 beta 3 can be downloaded here
And a full guide on setting it up and ripping a CD can be here

stevepaul

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This is a great little addition for making a quick simple playlist...

However what would be really good would be to have the Album Artist included at the front, especially it you've got a lot of Greatest Hits albums...


Steven

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just to add to this with some info from Anti - if you want to play more than 16 files from windows explorer:
XP gave you a warning about running out of memory if you were about to process too many files.
This hard limit was introduced in Vista/Win7, and effects everything (Eg printing, opening, etc).
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2022295/

The following registry value may be modified to choose the number of files that may be selected
while maintaining the context menu options.

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Name : MultipleInvokePromptMinimum
Type : DWORD
Range: 1 - 16 (decimal)
Default : 15 (decimal)

A value of 16 is interpreted as "unlimited".