**UPDATED -- VERSION 1.2**

Attached to this post is an application to create ASX video playlists within MCE.  The application provides the following functionality within MCE:

• Input a title for the playlist (you can reuse and overwrite playlist filenames if you want)
• Select videos listed in the RecordedTV and MyVideos section of MCE to include in a playlist
• Rearrange the order of the playlist, if needed, after selecting the video files
• Automatically create an ASX file with the title of the playlist you entered
• Play the playlist by selecting the ASX file in the MyVideos section of MCE

INSTALLATION INFORMATION

(It is really simple and intuitive, but below is a detailed step by step)

• First -- make sure you have the following directory on your c: drive -- c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos and add this directory as a watched folder in the  MyVideos section of MCE if it is not already there (THE PROGRAM WILL NOT WORK CORRECTLY IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS)
• Download and extract the zip file (VideoPlaylistCreator.zip) to a directory.  Get the file from this link http://mjwii.com/prog/VideoPlaylistCreator.zip (thanks scuffs for hosting the file!).  Navigate to the directory where you extracted the installer and run the installer file (VideoPlaylistCreator.msi).
• Run MCE -- the program will be listed in More Programs
• Select VideoPlaylistCreator in More Programs
• Input a playlist title and begin to select video files
• After selecting video files, click "View List"
• Rearrange the list if you want
• Click Create Playlist (Click done after the dialog opens indicating the list was processed correctly)
• An ASX file with the playlist title you entered will be created in the directory you created in the first step above.
• Go to MyVideos and select the ASX file.

Easy as pie.

To uninstall -- go to Add/Remove Programs and uninstall the entry "InstallListMakerAddInSample".

DISCLAIMER

I am not a programmer, but merely a user that learned just enough about C# to create this program. Use at your own risk.  It works flawlessly on my computer.

Have fun -- I hope it works for you.

*VERSION 1.2*

• New Installer -- makes installation a breeze
• No new features added to this version

*VERSION 1.1 -- NEW UPDATES*

• Include both RecordedTV files and files from MyVideos in playlist (use the Add More button to switch between adding RecordedTV files and MyVideos files)
• Fixed problem with the Add More button when viewing the playlist
• Other nonsubstantive tweaks not worth mentioning

 

Download link:

http://mjwii.com/prog/VideoPlaylistCreator.zip  (thanks scuffs for hosting the file!)

Just read this... so haven't had the chance to install and playaround with it.

Firstly - well done... We needed this!

But wanted to ask - where does the Playlist get stored ? My Videos or Shared Videos ? Can it be specified ???

 

Thanks

The playlist gets stored in the directory you created on install (c:\VideoPlaylistCreator), which is why everyone needs to add this directory to MyVideos to access the playlists you create through the app.

You can change the directory to which the playlists are stored -- if you are willing to do a little minor programming.  In the zipped file is a file called "MediaEncoderListMaker.cs"  Open this file in notepad and search for the following text:  "FileStream("c:\\VideoPlaylistCreator\\_" + _lml.ListTitle + ".asx", FileMode.Create)".  To change the location of the saved directory, replace the text "c:\\VideoPlaylistCreator\\" with the location of the directory where you want to store the playlists.  Leave everything else in the quoted line above the same!  And note that it is necessary to use a double slash "\\" between folders.  So if you normally type a location as:

c:\My Documents\My Videos\Playlists\

Your edited MediaEncoderListMaker.cs file should look like:

FileStream("c:\\My Documents\\My Videos\\Playlists\\_" + _lml.ListTitle + ".asx", FileMode.Create)

 

Easy edit, but most should play it safe and follow the installation instructions.

Updated to version 1.1.  See initial post in this thread for details.

Screenshots added.

hey flexx, i get the program in my More Programs, but nothing happens when i click it. ideas?

and i tried both my main MCE & my 2nd, program wouldn't run on either. steps followed exactly

---

Mike Garcen
TGB Moderator | MissingRemote Editor/Reviewer| Microsoft MVP - Media Center
My MCE Setup

" hey flexx, i get the program in my More Programs, but nothing happens when i click it. ideas?

and i tried both my main MCE & my 2nd, program wouldn't run on either. steps followed exactly"

Same here! I do have a/the Dutch version, but also tried it on a English version, with the same result, nothing

Flexxx,

in your deploy.bat, you have:

%windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\gacutil.exe -i .\Interop.WMEncoderLib.dll

 

I have NET v1.1.4322 installed but does not have gacutil.exe file in it. I am assuming why these people are not able to click this icon when nothing happens. Where can we get this missing file at?

haven't looked at the code yet, but i'm assuming this uses a ListMaker AddIn to generate a .asx file playlist?

WMEncoderLib.dll is from the Windows Media Encoder SDK. it was used for the /mceDivX360 solution, but probably isn't needed here. actually, there is probably alot of stuff that can be cut out of the source code download.

 

Flexx,

Awesome APP, works well - gave it a fair test out with music clips (.avi), doesn't like "select all" being used on sub folders.

If you looking at future updates is it possible to add selection of whole directories of files or all sub diectories + a randomizer button at the view list page.

Later,

Nudge

Flexx,

Couple of extra things I found:

- I have tried to install the APP on my2nd rig, when I press the create playlist button I get the create cd / dvd progress popup screen (very strange), I found I would get this on my rig which has VPC working when I would select a folder instead of a file.

- Also I have noticed that the file you suggested we edit if we want a different output directory for the asx files, has a directory nothing like what your install guide suggests - this may cause issue for othr who don't change??

Later,

Nudge

Hi Flexx

Same here as some others, click icon and nothing happens.

What are we missing?

Trev

A few things.  First -- I finished the program and it continues to work perfectly on my MCE machine.  I have not looked at the source code since my last posting.  Second -- because of the interest in the program and because many of you are having difficulty, I will take a fresh look at the program and report back.  I think I know what the problem is.  Third -- once you get it going, it is pretty cool!

Flexxx

I have the same problem as the others, but then I DID run the install-file, instead of the deploy file, not being used to have to read a manual to install a program. Is the anyway to roll that back now ?

Flex,

On responsse number 3) if it wasn't such  a wanted product I would have just let it go by the wayside. It seems to me a much missed out oppotunity.

I want Channel Trev 24/7, I don't want keep selecting what I want to watch next. Takes the fun out of having your own tv channel, having ask yourself what do you want to watch next

Trev