Assistance comparing playlists?

[jayladdin]

Hi there,

I'm a newbie to this board (although I have been surfing the site for ages and ages) and I apologize if the question I'm about to ask has been covered before. I'd appreciate any advice or help.

Like many of you, I have an iTunes library that exceeds what I keep on my iPod. So I keep a playlist in iTunes called "iPod tracklisting <today's date>" that I obviously modify whenever I add tracks to the iPod; this way, if I ever need to erase the iPod, I can just automatically restore it with all the tracks from that playlist.

Occasionally, though, I forget to add or delete a track to the correct playlist, and long story short, I wind up with a discrepancy between what's on the iPod and what's in the iTunes playlist previously mentioned. And it's usually just by one or two songs, and it's impossible to scroll through over 3400 songs to find out what the discrepancy is.

My question is: is there a script available that will allow me to compare two playlists and note the discrepancies between the two? This would most likely make it much easier for me to keep track of what's on the iPod and what I have listed in the playlist on iTunes.

Thanks in advance for any help. I check Doug's excellent website often and unfortunately haven't been able to come across what I'm looking for.

Thanks,

Jason

[Doug Adams]

A script of the sort you describe can be written very easily. I'd be happy to give it a go and have something for you within a day or so.

However, mightn't a script that allowed you to simultaneously copy selected tracks to the iPod and your "iPod tracklisting" playlist be a better solution? The date could also be easily added each time you use it.

What do you think?

[jayladdin]

Originally posted by Doug Adams
A script of the sort you describe can be written very easily. I'd be happy to give it a go and have something for you within a day or so.

However, mightn't a script that allowed you to simultaneously copy selected tracks to the iPod and your "iPod tracklisting" playlist be a better solution? The date could also be easily added each time you use it.

What do you think?

Firstly, thank you very much Doug for offering to write the script, I appreciate it and I'm looking forward to giving it a try!

Second off - yes, the second script that you mention would be an excellent solution (once this inital problem is solved) - that eliminates at least two extra steps! I never even thought of that option - guess I need to start thinking outside the box! If you are willing to give that one a try also that would be fantastic. Thank you again!

Jason

[Doug Adams]

Always happy to assist!

I'm working on the second one right now. I can have both within a day or so, and I will post to this thread when they are ready.

Oh, by the way: how do you currently compare the two playlists? Do you open each in its own browser window (double-click on it in the Source pane) and sort by Song Name or Date Added, by any chance?

[Doug Adams]

Also be sure and look at Mirror iPod Playlists (http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/scripts/scripts08.shtml#mirroripodplaylists), by John Paul Davis. It mirrors playlists on an iPod in iTunes (provided that the same tracks are on the iPod as in iTunes).

[jayladdin]

Originally posted by Doug Adams
Also be sure and look at Mirror iPod Playlists (http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/scripts/scripts08.shtml#mirroripodplaylists), by John Paul Davis. It mirrors playlists on an iPod in iTunes (provided that the same tracks are on the iPod as in iTunes).

Thanks Doug, I checked that one out (and it's still running after about 25 minutes!). That should give me a playlist that matches my iPod...

Jason

[jayladdin]

I've noticed a new odd problem in relation to this previous one. I posted it here (http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4159) so as not to post in the incorrect forum, but if anybody has any ideas, please enlighten me. :)

Thanks!
Jason

[Doug Adams]

Add Selected Tracks to iPod and Backup (http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/scripts/scripts08.shtml#selectedtoipodbackup) is posted.
Copy the selected iTunes library tracks to iPod and then copy them to a designated backup playlist, to which the current date and time is appended. Then, if you ever need to erase the iPod (or otherwise lose iPod tracks), you can easily restore it with the tracks from the backup playlist.

[eustacescrubb]

Wow. Nice!

[jayladdin]

Originally posted by eustacescrubb
Wow. Nice!

I second that! Thanks, Doug. I will have to wait until I get home to play with it but I'm looking forward to it. Thanks again!

Jason