re: Can't find music from imported playlists

Hi,
In the past I used winamp to create smart playlists which I then exported as .m3u files. I used to be able to import these into zune no problem. But I have just gotten a new computer and gone from XP to Vista. Now, when I import a playlist, none of the files can be found. It has the little yellow exclamation point next to every track. The files themselves have not been moved since creating the playlist, and they all play fine when selected individually in the "collection" window or played from another program. Any suggestions as to how to fix this?

I've come across the same issue too with playlists made by winamp. I made a similar playlist in the Zune software and went on my way. If it turns out to be a problem with the Zune software I definitely think it should be fixed.

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Zune MVP
Contributor, http://www.insidethecircle.net

None of my imported playlist have worked with the Zune.  I have had to recreate them all.

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VenzAndSons | ButtNecked

It may be a bug (I haven't heard about it though...) or an issue in winamps m3u file format, or how you are importing the playlists...
Zune documentation (http://www.zune.net/en-us/support/usersguide/zunesoftware/manageplaylists.htm)
says:

Zune will work with playlists in two formats: ZPL (.zpl) and M3U (.m3U). ZPL is the Zune playlist format. 

M3U is the playlist format used by many media programs. If a playlist is in this format, simply drag it into your Zune collection.

Zune will play all playlists from Windows Media Player.

Are you 'dragging' the m3u file into your collection?

And, thanks for raising the issue-  I was disappointed that I couldn't take advantage of my WMP11 smart playlists on the Zune.  But, after searching for this link, apparently I actually can!

Update:  OK- it's not as easy as it should be.  "Dragging" does nothing.  I found these two supposed fixes which I will try next:

 Harry Karr wrote:

I happened upon a reasonable solution.  When you save a playlist in Windows Media Player you can change the file type to m3u.  THe process is:

1. Add music to the playlist pane in media player.
2. Click on the down arrow where it says untitled playlist and select Save Playlist As.
3. Change the file type to m3u.
4. When you open the Zune software it will automatically sync the new playlist.

I would expect that in a future update Microsoft will add the ability to work with Windows playlists into the Zune software.

and...

 rochs77 wrote:

Ok, I read the post that I can make a playlist in Windows Media Player 11, then go into Windows Explorer and change the .wpl extension to the .zpl extension, then drag the playlist into the Zune software.  It works, but this seems a little ridiculous especially considering this from the Zune Support website (Support>Zune Software>Playlists>About 1/2 way down the page):

Adding playlists from other media players 
Zune will work with playlists in two formats: ZPL (.zpl) and M3U (.m3U). ZPL is the Zune playlist format.

M3U is the playlist format used by many media programs. If a playlist is in this format, simply drag it into your Zune collection.

Zune will play all playlists from Windows Media Player.

If in fact "Zune will play all playlists from Windows Media Player," then why do I have to take 3 steps to get WMP playlists into the Zune software?  I know that the software when first installed will import my WMP playlists, but shouldn't there be a function to do this post-installation?  Am I missing something here (which is a good possibility :) )?  I like the organization and playlist functions better in WMP, which is why I use that as opposed to the Zune software.  I'm sure others feel the same way, and it is silly that two Microsoft media players that are relatively similar don't play well with one another.

Any help/thoughts would be appreciated.

Rich

Update 2:  I tried a hybrid of approach 2 above, and it works perfectly.  I dragged and dropped a copy of a WMP playlist (a wpl file) from the folder it lives in for WMP, to the folder Zune Software stores zpl (zune playlist files) in, and changed the file extension to zpl.  I then opened ZUne Software, and the playlist is there, plays fine, and syncs and plays on the Zune.  It's silly that we have to do that, but it's simple, bullet proof and works.  I have no reason to believe the first solution wouldn't also work, but won't even bother trying it.

NSILMike, great post! I'll add this to the Sync Issues thread for those with m3u syncing problems.

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Zune MVP
Contributor, http://www.insidethecircle.net

Well, thanks! 

NSIL Mike,

Thanks for the info, but this won't work for me. I use winamp to creat smart playlists based on .mp3 tags that are not used by windows media player. I have a massive library that i have set up just how I like it in winamp so recreating the playlists in media player is not a viable option. Winamp exports playlists as .m3u, so in theroy there should not be a problem importing them into zune...and this has not been a problem for me in the past...until I got vista. Is there some issue with Vista that is making this a problem? when I importan a .m3u, the song titles all show up in zune just fine, but not the music won't play as there is a little yellow exclamation point next to every song ( I assume this means it can't find the track). Any suggestions as to how to get around this? Is there a way to point zune to the file location like how you can do with Itunes?

Edit: I should add that I did try what you suggested. I dropped the .m3u playlist into the zune playlist folder and it was converted to .zpl. However, this still gives the same problem.

 Three Hills wrote:

NSIL Mike,
....
 Is there some issue with Vista that is making this a problem? when I importan a .m3u, the song titles all show up in zune just fine, but not the music won't play as there is a little yellow exclamation point next to every song ( I assume this means it can't find the track). Any suggestions as to how to get around this? Is there a way to point zune to the file location like how you can do with Itunes?

Edit: I should add that I did try what you suggested. I dropped the .m3u playlist into the zune playlist folder and it was converted to .zpl. However, this still gives the same problem.

I don't use Vista, so cannot claim any expertise there at all. 
But, maybe the Harry Karr solution with a twist might solve your problem.  Let's see if passing your winamp playlists thru WMP can 'clean up' whatever is fooling the Zune Software.
Here's a repeat of that process...

1. Add music to the playlist pane in media player.
2. Click on the down arrow where it says untitled playlist and select Save Playlist As.
3. Change the file type to m3u.
4. When you open the Zune software it will automatically sync the new playlist.

Can you see and edit the winamp playlists in WMP?  Try making a minor edit and 'saving the playlist as' m3u from WMP, and see if Zune software can correctly see it then...  Good luck-  (and this is just a sheer wild-assed guess/experiment!)

Thanks! What finally ended up working, was creating the .m3u in winamp, opening it in wmp, saving it as a new .m3u and then importing this newly saved .m3u into zune.

 Three Hills wrote:

Thanks! What finally ended up working, was creating the .m3u in winamp, opening it in wmp, saving it as a new .m3u and then importing this newly saved .m3u into zune.

Cool.  Being an engineer (and total gadget geek) does pay off once in a while...!