1.1.8 (and 1.1.5) media library keeps forgetting entries

[gedscho]

I don't know whether it's really windows specific or not, I dont have any other OSes around to test, but since I'm using Windows XP, I thought I post here.

Whenever I close (no matter how actually) and restart VLC later, there are certain entries missing in the media library. I guess it's easy to miss, especially when you got a lot of files in there, so maybe I can call myself "lucky", that a few of my favourite tunes are those that keep getting lost.

Sure, adding my music folder again fixes the problem, but I'd appreciate if I wouldnt have to do that after everytime I fire up VLC

Searching the net and the forums only pointed me to a much earlier version havin this problem, but for me, it's still there for the last two releases. Any pointers what I can do?

[gedscho]

I hope nobody minds a quick bump. I'm sorta desperate here.

Halp.

[VLC_help]

How many entries you have in Media Library? And is there some kind of pattern for those missing files?

[gedscho]

Only eighthundredsomething. If there's a pattern, I didnt spot it yet.

[VLC_help]

Could you open %appdata%\vlc\ml.xspf with notepad and check that the entries are really missing from there? (this way you can see if it is a media library file bug or something else)

[gedscho]

Seems the entries missing in the media library are also missing in ml.xspf

edit: Not sure whether I understand this correctly, but after looking for this I got the impression that the media library and playlists work rather alike. But the media library I add only gets written to ml.xspf once I close VLC? Right?

At any rate. I created a playlist, saved it, checked the entries. The usual (dissappearing) suspects were there.

Closed and reopened VLC and they were gone, just like in the media library.

Want me to upload anything anywhere?

[tulius]

I have the same scenario under Win Xp and Win Vista both 32bits.
And also sometimes trying to update my library it happens that VLC crashes and when I try to open the app again, the library is completelly gone....
Hate that. Maybe I'll have to move to another player where library works fine and smoth
I have about 700gb of music in my comp!

[VLC_help]

VLC 1.2.0 should have more robust media library via SQL database.

Want me to upload anything anywhere?

If you have some behavior that can be repeated on every run, then yes. You can use pastebin or similar service for that playlist.

[tulius]

Is there any quick help in order to use that pastebin feature? I want a working library, other than that I'll have to change the player....

[VLC_help]

It won't be quick help. I have to open trac ticket for the issue once I can pinpoint what the issue exactly is. After that someone has to create patch and that has to be merged to codebase and new VLC build has to be made.

[tulius]

Is there anything I can share with you (log, error, ie) to help?

[VLC_help]

If you have errors related to this in your VLC messages, you can share those.

[gedscho]

VLC 1.2.0 should have more robust media library via SQL database.

Want me to upload anything anywhere?

If you have some behavior that can be repeated on every run, then yes. You can use pastebin or similar service for that playlist.

I did this in 1.1.8 through the playlist and not the media library, because at no step I can actually FIND the usually missing tracks in ml.xpsf. will try in the new version, i think were at 1.1.9., tonight.

Here is the playlist that gets created with all the entries, as it seems:
http://pastebin.com/ziqChUki

When I doubleclick that playlist, and it automatically starts VLC, it doesnt include "low.mp3" for instance (sorry for that tune, but ever since tropic thunder its cool ), but the playlistfile itself STILL has that entry. VLC just doesnt read it out of the playlist. I cannot find an error log, at least there are no error messages.

[VLC_help]

Thanks. I can replicate the issue. Ticket opened
http://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/4737

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

The provided playlist file is invalid: It contains ASCII code 1 which the XML library correct rejects.

This was actually a bug in the XSPF playlist export of VLC version 1.1.9 and earlier. It is fixed in later versions. However, the fix is obviously not retroactive. So if you try to open with a fixed VLC version a playlist generated by a buggy VLC version, it won't work. You need to export the playlist from a fixed VLC version.