one-click solutioon to play playlist in itunes...

[whyrichard]

hello good people,


i need a one click from the desktop solution to play a specific playlist...

you know, an icon is clicked twice from the desktop, itunes openes and begins playing a specific playlist.... and ideally, then hides....


don't know how to use automater. just tried it and i couldn't figure out how to have it play a certain playlist...


thanks!

r.

 

[skubish]

I don't know about a one click desktop solution but you could use iTunes Doodad found here. It has a drop down menu to choose a playlist.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

It's actually quite easy to do with Automator (see attachment)...

All the Actions are from the iTunes selection:

1) Drag over "Get Specified iTunes items", press the + to choose one or more playlists.

2) Drag over the "Play iTunes Playlist", set shuffle and/or repeat

Save as an Application, if you want it on your Desktop (or maybe as a Plug-in for Finder, and access it from a right/ctrl-click, or even both...?)

 

[neocell]

It's actually quite easy to do with Automator (see attachment)...

All the Actions are from the iTunes selection:

1) Drag over "Get Specified iTunes items", press the + to choose one or more playlists.

2) Drag over the "Play iTunes Playlist", set shuffle and/or repeat

Save as an Application, if you want it on your Desktop (or maybe as a Plug-in for Finder, and access it from a right/ctrl-click, or even both...?)

Hey Mitthrawnuruodo good post, I've always wanted to try Automator and your post gave me a simple start. Thanks. One question though, when I launch the plugin there isn't a pause button on the mini player only a stop button, and if I hit stop it reverts back to my whole library. Anyway to keep the playlist loaded and have a pause button? Thanks

 

[Heb1228]

If you install the freeware app called Butler, you can add a playlist chooser to your menu bar, as well as player controls if you want. Its very customizable. This is how I have mine set up. When you click on the little itunes button, a list of your playlists appears and you can click on one to play it.

 

[Doctor Q]

I wrote an AppleScript to do this too. Here's the source code:

-- Name: PlayPlaylist
-- Author: Doctor Q, MacRumors.com
-- Description: Use "Save as" in Script Editor to save this script as an
-- application, with these options:
--     Run Only, no Startup Screen, not Stay Open
-- Make as many copies of the application file as you like.
-- The first time a copy is run, it prompts you for a playlist in your
-- iTunes library.
-- You should then rename the application to match the playlist name.
-- On subsequent invocations, it starts that playlist playing automatically.
-- To change the playlist after it is set, save another application from
-- this AppleScript source.

property PlayListName : ""
property HasBeenRun : false

tell application "iTunes"
	activate
	set matchingplaylists to (every playlist whose name is PlayListName)
	if not HasBeenRun or (count of matchingplaylists) is not 1 then
		set allplaylists to the name of every playlist
		set msg to "Please select the playlist that this script should play automatically from now on."
		set PlayListName to choose from list allplaylists with prompt msg
		if PlayListName is in allplaylists then
			set msg to "This Applescript is now set for playlist " & PlayListName & "."
			display dialog msg buttons {"OK"}
			set HasBeenRun to true
		end if
	else
		set matchingplaylist to item 1 of (every playlist whose name is PlayListName)
		play track 1 of matchingplaylist
	end if
end tell

Here's how to use it: Open application "Script Editor". Paste in this source code. Save it as a .scpt file if you like. Then follow the directions in the description to use "Save As" and create a run-time application that you can program for any playlist you like the first time you run it.

If you try it, please tell me if it works for you.

 

[Heb1228]

I thought I'd post a few more screen shots of how Butler works, because I really think it would serve you well. Here's what happens when you click on the iTunes icon...

You get a heierachical view of playlists and your whole music library so you can basically play any playlist, any artist, any album, or any song right from the menu without ever opening iTunes.

BTW: 400th post... 100 more til I get an avatar!

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Hey Mitthrawnuruodo good post, I've always wanted to try Automator and your post gave me a simple start. Thanks. One question though, when I launch the plugin there isn't a pause button on the mini player only a stop button, and if I hit stop it reverts back to my whole library. Anyway to keep the playlist loaded and have a pause button? Thanks

Sorry. Cannot find an Automator Action to "Show Current Song" (you may have to write a little Apple script and add that as an action to do this automatically), but you can do it manually by hitting cmd-L: The iTunes window will then maximize and iTunes will go to the playlist and highlight the song that's playing and when you minimize the window it will stay with that playlist and you'll have your pause button...

 

[jdechko]

Heb1228, That looks like a pretty interesting little app, and I'd just like to say that you have a pretty good taste in music, my library and yours have a lot of common bands. (I love Casting Crowns and I can't wait for their new CD to come out. )

 

[neocell]

Sorry. Cannot find an Automator Action to "Show Current Song" (you may have to write a little Apple script and add that as an action to do this automatically), but you can do it manually by hitting cmd-L: The iTunes window will then maximize and iTunes will go to the playlist and highlight the song that's playing and when you minimize the window it will stay with that playlist and you'll have your pause button...

Thanks a lot.

Sorry for the thread distraction