Importing a playlist

[1goalkeeper]

I'm a new iTunes user. I just got an iPod Mini for X-mas. I'm trying to understand playlists. Here's my dilemma:
Let's say a friend creates a cool playlist, with a creative mix and order of songs. I happen to own all of these songs, but I don't have them saved in a playlist in the same mix and order that my friend created.
Can I import my friend's playlist so I can use his mix and order of songs?
I don't understand how iMixes on the internet work in this respect. I like some of the mixes people post. However, there are several mixes where I already own the songs. I only want to download the song order!
It seems to me we should be able to import someone's playlist without having to buy new songs (if we already own them!).

Can anyone help with this?

[dcmacnut]

What OS are you using? If it's a Mac, check out Doug Adams Applescript site (www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/). There are playlist management scripts that might do this. There are some that will copy playlists from an iPod to iTunes as long as you already own the songs. I don't know what sort of scripting options exist on the PC.

As far as copying an iMix to iTunes, I don't know an automatic method. However, you are able to add Music Store previews to your iTunes library. Just select the songs in an iMix you like and drag them to a new playlist in iTunes. If you already have any of those songs in your library, the full song, and not the preview, will be added to the playlist. This only works for songs that you have purchased through the iTunes Music Store, and not files ripped from a CD or other source.

Unless anyone else has any idea, you other option is to do it manually.