question: how-to make relative m3u playlist default foobar setting

2010-01-09 00:08:24

my foobar version: v0.9.6.4 (will upgrade to latest foobar rev if NECESSARY to get this functionality)

I would like to make relative m3u references in foobar, as the DEFAULT setting.  My reason for wanting relative (as opposed to absolute) references in my m3u playlist, is that I experimented & found that when using a relative m3u playlist, I could copy the playlist to my usb stick, & play the playlist on a 2nd computer without needing to modify the playlist.

To be clear, this is what I mean by relative vs specific reference via example:

RELATIVE
..\D\Dilated Peoples 2000 The Platform\03 No Retreat.mp3

SPECIFIC
C:\Documents and Settings\PC\My Documents\My Music\Archive\D\Dilated Peoples 2000 The Platform\03 No Retreat.mp3

As of now, I can change a playlist to relative by editing the m3u file in a text file with "find/replace".  HOWEVER, if I ever change this m3u file in foobar, by say adding 1 track, & saving the m3u file, it will go back to specific references.

I apologize if I missed something obvious, I'm a n00b here on this forum.  Big thx in advance.

question: how-to make relative m3u playlist default foobar setting

Reply #1 – 2010-01-09 00:16:18

use Text Tools component, or XSPF output from foo_softplaylist

question: how-to make relative m3u playlist default foobar setting

Reply #2 – 2010-01-09 00:38:03

Saving an M3U playlist in an upper directory above its tracks will use relative paths.
For example, a playlist of "C:\Music\Artist - Album\*.mp3" saved to "C:\Music\Artist - Album\playlist.m3u" will contain just "Track 1.mp3", "Track 2.mp3", etc. When saved to "C:\Music\playlist.m3u", it will have paths like "Artist - Album\Track 1.mp3" and so on.
If there would need to be some upper directory "..\" parts or if the files are on a different drive, absolute paths are used.

question: how-to make relative m3u playlist default foobar setting

Reply #3 – 2010-01-09 02:17:18

THX YIRKHA!

I tested ur suggestion.  My playlists involve tracks from multiple folders, for example "Best of Artist" type playlist, 20 tracks chosen from 6 albums.  I moved the m3u playlist into my "Archive" directory, which is "top level directory" for purposes of where I keep all my music mp3 files.  When resaving the m3u, it uses the relative paths AUTOMATICALLY, eg

D\Dilated Peoples 2000 The Platform\03 No Retreat.mp3

Thx again, this really helps me out, brotha (or sista)!

Moderation:Removed unnecessary full quote of the preceding post.