it could be something in your queries causing a crazy character to appear. post your pts file, i'll check it out.
Here is what is in my PTS file:
(FOLDER "Playlist Tree" 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "Playlists" 0 "@playlists" nil "%artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "*Browser*" 0 "@playlist<*Browser*>" nil "%artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Default" 0 "@playlist<Default>" nil "%artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
))
(FOLDER "Music DB Stats" 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "Total Artists: @format<$ifgreater(%_foldercount%,0,%_foldercount%,%_itemcount%)>" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%album artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Total Albums: @format<$ifgreater(%_foldercount%,0,%_foldercount%,%_itemcount%)>" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC AND tracknumber IS 1 OR tracknumber IS 01" "%album artist% - %album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Total Tracks: @format<$ifgreater(%_foldercount%,0,%_foldercount%,%_itemcount%)>" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Total Genres: @format<$ifgreater(%_foldercount%,0,%_foldercount%,%_itemcount%)>" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%genre%|%album artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
)) (FOLDER "Database Views" 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "True Directory View" 0 "@database" nil "$directory(%_path%,3)|$directory(%_path%,2)|$directory(%_path%,1)|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Artist by Alphabet" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "$cut($if($strcmp($left(%album artist%,4),The ),$right(%album artist%,$sub($len(%album artist%),4))', 'The,%album artist%),1)|%artist%|%album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "$cut($if($strcmp($left(%artist%,4),The ),$right(%artist%,$sub($len(%artist%),4))', 'The,%artist%),1)|$if($strcmp($left(%artist%,4),The ),$right(%artist%,$sub($len(%artist%),4))', 'The,%artist%)|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" 0)
(QUERY "Artist by Genre" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%genre%|%album artist%|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "%genre%|$if($strcmp($left(%album artist%,4),The ),$right(%album artist%,$sub($len(%album artist%),4))', 'The,%album artist%)|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" 0)
(QUERY "Artist - Album by Date" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%album artist%|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "$if($strcmp($left(%album artist%,4),The ),$right(%album artist%,$sub($len(%album artist%),4))', 'The,%album artist%)|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" 0)
(QUERY "Album by Title" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "$cut(%album%,1)|%album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Album by Year" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%date%|%album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Individual Tracks by Codec" 0 "@database" nil "$directory(%_path%,3) 'Singles' '(''@format<%_itemcount%>'')'|$cut(%title%,1)|%title%" nil 0)
)) (FOLDER "Dynamic Playlists" 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "Random Album" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%album artist% - %album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" "$rand()" 0 :MAX-FOLDERS 1)
(QUERY "Random Artist" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%album artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" "$rand()" 0 :MAX-FOLDERS 1)
(QUERY "Random Album by Genre" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "@limit<1>%genre%|%album artist% - %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "%genre%|$rand()" 0)
(QUERY "100 Random Singles" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%title%" "$rand()" 0 :MAX-TRACKS 100)
(QUERY "10 Random Singles by Genre" 0 "@database" "%__codec" "%album artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Ska-Punk Singles -- @format<%_size_abb%>" 0 "@database" "genre IS punk rock AND %__codec% IS MP3 OR genre IS ska AND %__codec% IS MP3" "%artist% - %title%" "$rand()" 0 :MAX-SIZE 960)
(QUERY "MOD 588 Failed" 0 "@database" "NOT $mod(%_length_samples%,588) IS 0" "%__codec%|%album artist%|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "$if($strcmp($left($if2(%album artist%,%artist%),4),The ),$right($if2(%album artist%,%artist%),$sub($len($if2(%album artist%,%artist%)),4))', 'The,$if2(%album artist%,%artist%))|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" 0)
(QUERY "MOD 588 Passed" 0 "@database" "$mod(%_length_samples%,588) IS 0" "%__codec%|%album artist%|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "$if($strcmp($left($if2(%album artist%,%artist%),4),The ),$right($if2(%album artist%,%artist%),$sub($len($if2(%album artist%,%artist%)),4))', 'The,$if2(%album artist%,%artist%))|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" 0)
(QUERY "Never Played" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC AND play_counter MISSING" "%artist% - %title%" "%artist%|%title%" 0)
(FOLDER "Top 50" 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "Most Played" 0 "@database" "[%play_counter%]" "'('$num(%play_counter%,3)')' %artist% - %title%" "$num(%play_counter%,3)|%artist%|%title%" 0 :REVERSE t :MAX-TRACKS 50)
(QUERY "Last Played" 0 "@database" "[%last_played%]" "%artist% - %title%" "%last_played%|%artist%|%title%" 0 :REVERSE t :MAX-TRACKS 50)
(QUERY "Least Played" 0 "@database" "[%play_counter%]" "%artist% - %title%" "%play_counter%|%artist%|%title%" 0 :MAX-TRACKS 50)
))))))
The above display fine, but if I remove a panel, then put it back, the PTS file is changed to something like this:
(FOLDER "Playlist Tree" 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "Playlists" 0 "@playlists" nil "%artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "*Browser*" 0 "@playlist<*Browser*>" nil "%artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Default" 0 "@playlist<Default>" nil "%artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
))
(FOLDER "Music DB Stats" 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "Total Artists: @format<$ifgreater(%_foldercount%,0,%_foldercount%,%_itemcount%)>" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%album artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Total Albums: @format<$ifgreater(%_foldercount%,0,%_foldercount%,%_itemcount%)>" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC AND tracknumber IS 1 OR tracknumber IS 01" "%album artist% - %album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Total Tracks: @format<$ifgreater(%_foldercount%,0,%_foldercount%,%_itemcount%)>" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Total Genres: @format<$ifgreater(%_foldercount%,0,%_foldercount%,%_itemcount%)>" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%genre%|%album artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
)) (FOLDER "Database Views" 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "True Directory View" 0 "@database" nil "$directory(%_path%,3)|$directory(%_path%,2)|$directory(%_path%,1)|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Artist by Alphabet" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "$cut($if($strcmp($left(%album artist%,4),The ),$right(%album artist%,$sub($len(%album artist%),4))', 'The,%album artist%),1)|%artist%|%album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "$cut($if($strcmp($left(%artist%,4),The ),$right(%artist%,$sub($len(%artist%),4))', 'The,%artist%),1)|$if($strcmp($left(%artist%,4),The ),$right(%artist%,$sub($len(%artist%),4))', 'The,%artist%)|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" 0)
(QUERY "Artist by Genre" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%genre%|%album artist%|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "%genre%|$if($strcmp($left(%album artist%,4),The ),$right(%album artist%,$sub($len(%album artist%),4))', 'The,%album artist%)|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" 0)
(QUERY "Artist - Album by Date" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%album artist%|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "$if($strcmp($left(%album artist%,4),The ),$right(%album artist%,$sub($len(%album artist%),4))', 'The,%album artist%)|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" 0)
(QUERY "Album by Title" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "$cut(%album%,1)|%album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Album by Year" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%date%|%album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Individual Tracks by Codec" 0 "@database" nil "$directory(%_path%,3) 'Singles' '(''@format<%_itemcount%>'')'|$cut(%title%,1)|%title%" nil 0)
)) (FOLDER "Dynamic Playlists" 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "Random Album" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%album artist% - %album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" "$rand()" 0 :MAX-FOLDERS 1)
(QUERY "Random Artist" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%album artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" "$rand()" 0 :MAX-FOLDERS 1)
(QUERY "Random Album by Genre" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "@limit<1>%genre%|%album artist% - %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "%genre%|$rand()" 0)
(QUERY "100 Random Singles" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC" "%title%" "$rand()" 0 :MAX-TRACKS 100)
(QUERY "10 Random Singles by Genre" 0 "@database" "%__codec" "%album artist%|%album%|[$num(%tracknumber%,2) - ]%title%" nil 0)
(QUERY "Ska-Punk Singles -- @format<%_size_abb%>" 0 "@database" "genre IS punk rock AND %__codec% IS MP3 OR genre IS ska AND %__codec% IS MP3" "%artist% - %title%" "$rand()" 0 :MAX-SIZE 960)
(QUERY "MOD 588 Failed" 0 "@database" "NOT $mod(%_length_samples%,588) IS 0" "%__codec%|%album artist%|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "$if($strcmp($left($if2(%album artist%,%artist%),4),The ),$right($if2(%album artist%,%" 0)
))))sub($len($if2(%album artist%,%artist%)),4))', 'The,$if2(%album artist%,%artist%))|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" 0)
(QUERY "MOD 588 Passed" 0 "@database" "$mod(%_length_samples%,588) IS 0" "%__codec%|%album artist%|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" "$if($strcmp($left($if2(%album artist%,%artist%),4),The ),$right($if2(%album artist%,%artist%),$sub($len($if2(%album artist%,%artist%)),4))', 'The,$if2(%album artist%,%artist%))|'('%date%')' %album%|$num(%tracknumber%,2). %title%" 0)
(QUERY "Never Played" 0 "@database" "%__codec% IS FLAC AND play_counter MISSING" "%artist% - %title%" "%artist%|%title%" 0)
(FOLDER "Top 50" 1 :CONTENTS (
(QUERY "Most Played" 0 "@database" "[%play_counter%]" "'('$num(%play_counter%,3)')' %artist% - %title%" "$num(%play_counter%,3)|%artist%|%title%" 0 :REVERSE t :MAX-TRACKS 50)
(QUERY "Last Played" 0 "@database" "[%last_played%]" "%artist% - %title%" "%last_played%|%artist%|%title%" 0 :REVERSE t :MAX-TRACKS 50)
(QUERY "Least Played" 0 "@database" "[%play_counter%]" "%artist% - %title%" "%play_counter%|%artist%|%title%" 0 :MAX-TRACKS 50)
))))))
I thought that perhaps it might be due to a folder within a folder. Even if I bring that last folder ("Top 50") into the main "Dynamic Playlist" folder, it still happens.