Bookmarks - XML File Easy Editing

[koitaki]

New-ish to VLC and struggled with the bookmarks.
Couldn't find any forum answers to do what I wanted, so am posting my solution in case others can suggest better ways, or in case it helps anyone with a similar problem, or to remind myself if it cocks up again.
Also, I read somewhere that this issue might be a bug.

I opened a video called cc-bridge.mp4 and started adding custom bookmarks.
After about 7 custom bookmark entries, any new ones I was trying to add were being converted to -negative numbers.
Eg. when I entered 40:13, it was being converted to something like 00:-31:-37.

Apparently to save custom bookmarks, they have to be saved as a playlist.
So I saved the playlist as bridge.xspf, then opened it in a text editor, only to see a dense wall of XML.
Each bookmark entry seemed to be entered multiple times.

So I trimmed all multiple lines of bookmarks down to a single line for the bookmarks, and replaced the negative numbers with the corresponding number of seconds.
Eg. for the bookmark of 40:13, I used 40x60 + 13 = 2413.

I double clicked on the bridge.xspf file to open the video again
(note this is the playlist file, which now contains the bookmarks, not the original video file which has no bookmarks)

However, back in the video in VLC Player, there were no bookmarks at all!
This was because the XML contained two tracks (ie two nodes).
I discovered this when I saw "two" tracks after clicking on the menu View, Playlist (or shortcut Ctl + L)

So back to the XML where I realised that an extra track had been added for whatever reason.
I cut that out, went back to VLC Player, and all worked well.

If this is the correct way to do it, its actually quite simple, and new bookmarks can easily be added in the XML.
Simply add something like the following (where the final number for time is converted to seconds):

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{name=My Bookmark Name With No Quotes,bytes=-1,time=1034}

Here is the final code for bridge.xspf. Below it, I've added the original wall of XML from which I pruned the final code.

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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <playlist xmlns="http://xspf.org/ns/0/" xmlns:vlc="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/ns/0/" version="1"> <title>Playlist</title> <trackList> <track> <location>file:///C:/Users/Owner/Videos/Health%20%26%20Fitness/ConvictConditioning/cc-bridge.mp4</location> <duration>3730796</duration> <extension application="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/0"> <vlc:id>1</vlc:id> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=cc-bridge.mp4 #0,bytes=-1,time=928}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=2100},{name=8 Wall Walking Up,bytes=-1,time=2417},{name=9 Closing Bridges,bytes=-1,time=2615}</vlc:option> </extension> </track> </trackList> <extension application="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/0"> <vlc:item tid="0"/> <vlc:item tid="1"/> </extension> </playlist>

From the above, I'm guessing that this line is responsible for the entry that can be seen under the menu View, Playlist

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<vlc:option>bookmarks={name=cc-bridge.mp4 #0,bytes=-1,time=928}</vlc:option>

And of course, this is the bookmarks line:

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<vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=2100},{name=8 Wall Walking Up,bytes=-1,time=2417},{name=9 Closing Bridges,bytes=-1,time=2615}</vlc:option>

And finally, below is the original dense wall of XML I saw when I first opened bridge.xspf.
At a guess, I'd say it added a new line for bookmarks each time I saved as I was working.

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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <playlist xmlns="http://xspf.org/ns/0/" xmlns:vlc="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/ns/0/" version="1"> <title>Playlist</title> <trackList> <track> <location>file:///C:/Users/Owner/Videos/Health%20%26%20Fitness/ConvictConditioning/cc-bridge.mp4</location> <duration>3730796</duration> <extension application="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/0"> <vlc:id>0</vlc:id> </extension> </track> <track> <location>file:///C:/Users/Owner/Videos/Health%20%26%20Fitness/ConvictConditioning/cc-bridge.mp4</location> <duration>3730796</duration> <extension application="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/0"> <vlc:id>1</vlc:id> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=cc-bridge.mp4 #0,bytes=-1,time=928}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=928}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #1,bytes=-1,time=1042}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1042}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #2,bytes=-1,time=1042}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1042}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #3,bytes=-1,time=1377}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #3,bytes=-1,time=1557}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #3,bytes=-1,time=1557}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #3,bytes=-1,time=1557}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #3,bytes=-1,time=1557}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #4,bytes=-1,time=1557}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #5,bytes=-1,time=1760}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #5,bytes=-1,time=1910}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #6,bytes=-1,time=1760}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=1760}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=2100}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=2100},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #7,bytes=-1,time=2100}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=2100},{name=8 Wall Walking Up,bytes=-1,time=2100}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=2100},{name=8 Wall Walking Up,bytes=-1,time=2417}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=2100},{name=8 Wall Walking Up,bytes=-1,time=2417},{name=cc-bridge.mp4 #8,bytes=-1,time=2100}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=2100},{name=8 Wall Walking Up,bytes=-1,time=2417},{name=9 Closing Bridges,bytes=-1,time=2615}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=2100},{name=8 Wall Walking Up,bytes=-1,time=2417},{name=9 Closing Bridges,bytes=-1,time=2615}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=2100},{name=8 Wall Walking Up,bytes=-1,time=2417},{name=9 Closing Bridges,bytes=-1,time=2615}</vlc:option> <vlc:option>bookmarks={name=1 Short Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1034},{name=2 Straight Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1200},{name=3 Angled Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1377},{name=4 Head Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1557},{name=5 Half Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1737},{name=6 Full Bridges,bytes=-1,time=1910},{name=7 Wall Walking Down,bytes=-1,time=2100},{name=8 Wall Walking Up,bytes=-1,time=2417}</vlc:option> </extension> </track> </trackList> <extension application="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/playlist/0"> <vlc:item tid="0"/> <vlc:item tid="1"/> </extension> </playlist>