[MPlayer-users] playlist file syntax

[Carl Karsten]

Jessica Johnson wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> The docs say that the playlist format is one file per line. So it 
> doesn't seem to be possible to make a playlist file that includes a 
> playtree.  (Correct me if I'm wrong here.)  It would be useful to be 
> able to specify, say
> 
> { "song1.mp3" "song2.mp3" }
> { "song3.mp3" }

So does that represent 2 files, or what?

> 
> in a playlist file.
> 
> I've been thinking of modifying the source to expand the accepted syntax 
> of a playlist file.  Is this something other people would be interested 
> in?  Any core developers want to comment on the likelihood of this patch 
> being accepted?
> 

I have been interested in this subject too.  Here are some of my thoughts:

1. Don't invent a new format if something already exists.

Here is a list of playlist formats that is about 1 year old, but a good 
starting point: http://gonze.com/playlists/playlist-format-survey.html

Here is one that seemed way overkill: 
http://www.softarch.com/us/press/ostampv.htm which links to this: 
http://www.osta.org/specs/pdf/MultiAudio110.pdf

2. mplayer options in the playlist.  Or more in line with #1, generic 
options for the player program.  so where mPlayer uses -fs, I would like 
to see "fullscreen" or something.

3. A way to reference DVD's.  right now dvd://1 works, but it relies on 
the disk being in what mplayer sees as -dvd-device.  If I ever get that 
10 terabyte HD and copy all my DVD's into subdirs, I am not sure there 
is a good way to reference foo/video_ts in a playlist.

Carl K