iTunes Playlist stupid question

[aussietx]

Ok so I used the "Add iTunes Library" option and I do see the iTunes playlists presented as folders on the server.
I read in other posts that the music will not appear in these but in the "All Music Files" folder.
The music was actually on my wife's laptop so I shared the iTunes folder and music files folder so that Mezzmo (installed on WHS 2011) can see them all.

Here is the stupid part of the question.
So how do you actually play the imported iTunes playlists?
I access Mezzmo and see the iTunes playlists on the TV, but just as they show on the server they are empty folders with nothing to select.:confused:

Thx

Pat

[Paul]

Hi Pat,

Are you in Music mode on your TV? For example, if you are in Video mode on your TV, then you will see an empty list if there are no videos in the playlist or folder you are browsing.

If that does not help, then it's best we see a set of logs. Turn on logging (see http://forum.conceiva.com/showthread.php/419-FAQ-How-to-turn-on-diagnostic-logging) and restart your Mezzmo server. Now reproduce the problem on your TV. After reproduced, stop your Mezzmo server and exit Mezzmo app. Zip up all the logs and email them to us at support [at] conceiva [dot] com.

[aussietx]

Thanks Paul. Yes on my Samsung went to Music and playlist folders are showing empty. All other folders (Album Artist, Composer, etc) contain tracks and play fine.
Will get you the logs.

[Paul]

OK - we'll check the logs when we receive them and report back via email.

[aussietx]

One quick question though...
I am wondering if there is a problem with the DB.
I added an additional drive to the server a while ago and moved all the WHS Shared folders over to the new drive.
I used the Tools tab under "Maintain Library" to update Mezzmo of the new locations.
All seemed to go ok.
But now in the library many items/folders are duplicated. Not sure if that happened immediately after the move or not.
E.g I have two Music Folders. Both are identical except for the Folder location. The first one shows it at f:\ServerFolders\Music while the other Music folder (identical contents) shows the folder at F:\ServerFolders\Music.

[Paul]

Hopefully the logs will show any problems regarding possible duplication. Just to be sure, take screenshot(s) of the duplication in Mezzmo app and email them to us so we know what you mean and track it in the logs.

[aussietx]

Hopefully the logs will show any problems regarding possible duplication. Just to be sure, take screenshot(s) of the duplication in Mezzmo app and email them to us so we know what you mean and track it in the logs.

I performed a complete uninstall and re-install and this has taken care of the duplicates I was seeing in the library.
I also added back in the iTunes Library but still see the same issue.
The Playlist from my wife's laptop show but there is nothing to play.
Could it be that the iTunes library .xml file is in her Windows Music folder (default iTunes install location) but the actual music media is located on her D drive?

The imported iTunes Music Library.xml file references the media (Music Folder) to be at file://localhost/D:/Music
Is it possible that Mezzmo cannot find/locate this location over the network as "localhost" would cause it to reference its own D drive? Just a thought.

I will collect a new set of logs of the problem and forward along.
Thx

[Paul]

Thanks for the additional information. That explains why the iTunes playlists are not working. You are importing an iTunes library from another computer and it references files on that computer (e.g. file://localhost/D:/Music) - but Mezzmo cannot access these files as, for example, "D:/Music/Beatles/LetItBe.mp3" since D: drive is a local drive on the other computer.

You should do the following:


Using your wife's laptop, you should share the folder containing the music. To do this, use Windows Explorer and right-click on the folder and share the folder to everyone.
On your computer, in Mezzmo, add this newly shared folder into your Mezzmo library by clicking 'Add To Library' -> 'Add Folder'. This will create a direct representation of the folder on your wife's laptop and will be dynamically updated whenever she adds new music to the folder. All music files will be collected and added into your Mezzmo library. The playlists such as Artist, Album, Genre, etc. will be populated with these files.
If you wish to create your own playlists (for example, similar to your wife's playlists in iTunes), click the 'Create Playlist' toolbar button to create a normal playlist, smart playlist, etc. If you help doing this, just ask.

Let us know how you go.

[aussietx]

Thanks Paul,
I did already have the sharing setup for the drive with the music folder but did not have that folder referenced in the Mezzmo Library.
I have now added it and I can see the wife's music has come across.

But the playlists (also from her PC) that showed up when I originally used the "Add iTunes Library" are still empty.
I tried deleting them all and then again used the "Add iTunes Library" with the idea that now the files are available in the library it may work.
Then did a "Maintain Library" but still nothing.:(

To play an iTunes playlist does iTunes have to be installed on the same PC as Mezzmo?

[Paul]

Hi Pat,

You have added your wife's music files using a shared folder and these have been added into your Mezzmo library with file paths like "\\WifesLaptop\Music\Beatles\LetItBe.mp3". But the paths in the playlists from your wife's iTunes library are like "D:\Music\Beatles\LetItBe.mp3". So the playlists from your wife's iTunes library will not work on your computer since the playlists refer to file paths on her computer (e.g. D:\Music\Beatles\LetItBe.mp3) and not those that you added into your Mezzmo library. Programs (like Mezzmo) on your computer will collect all the file paths from the iTunes playlists and try to access the "D:\Music\Beatles\LetItBe.mp3" file on your computer since it is listed in the playlist - but unless you have a D: drive on your computer with the same folder and files on your computer as your wife's laptop, then programs on your computer will not find these files; hence why your iTunes playlists are empty. So, it's best just to create your own playlists in Mezzmo, which is easy to do. If you need help doing this, us know and we'll help out.

[aussietx]

Ok Thanks Paul I get it now.
Just need to re-create her lists in Mezzmo.
Appreciate all the help.