Workaround for Zen MX Playlist Sync Issues

[chrisjj]

Playlists, however, need to conform to the 8.3 filename limitation of the DOS stone age. ...
Playlists for the Zen MX must use these short names, otherwise the Zen MX will not find the tracks referenced in the playlist.

Are you sure? Or it it sufficient to e.g. just avoid spaces?

[moatmai]

Playlists, however, need to conform to the 8.3 filename limitation of the DOS stone age. ...
Playlists for the Zen MX must use these short names, otherwise the Zen MX will not find the tracks referenced in the playlist.

Are you sure? Or it it sufficient to e.g. just avoid spaces?

I am sure. For two days, I tried out all possible variations; I even contacted Creative Technology support. Their response was "just use Centrale instead," which is their media management software — and guess what Centrale does: it uses 8.3 file names.

When it comes to playlist management, the Zen MX is a real lemon. So the only solution — aside from using the MM script — is either not to use playlists or to create the playlists on the device and then edit their names from the computer.

(Open a playlist created by the Zen MX or Centrale in notepad and you will find that it uses 8.3 filenames. With "~1.mp3" and everything... It's a real shame.)

[nohitter151]

Playlists, however, need to conform to the 8.3 filename limitation of the DOS stone age. ...
Playlists for the Zen MX must use these short names, otherwise the Zen MX will not find the tracks referenced in the playlist.

Are you sure? Or it it sufficient to e.g. just avoid spaces?

I am sure. For two days, I tried out all possible variations; I even contacted Creative Technology support. Their response was "just use Centrale instead," which is their media management software — and guess what Centrale does: it uses 8.3 file names.

When it comes to playlist management, the Zen MX is a real lemon. So the only solution — aside from using the MM script — is either not to use playlists or to create the playlists on the device and then edit their names from the computer.

(Open a playlist created by the Zen MX or Centrale in notepad and you will find that it uses 8.3 filenames. With "~1.mp3" and everything... It's a real shame.)

You might want to try the MM4 beta. I believe in the sync options for playlists you can set to use old style 8.3 filenames.

[Lowlander]

Yes there is an option for 8.3 DOS-style filenames in MM4.

[moatmai]

That is good news indeed.

Hopefully the Zen sync issues reported in another thread are fixed as well. I'm currently waiting until the beta builds are no longer marked as "for developers" before jumping in.

As or the 8.3 issue - I got rid of my Zen MX and I am using an older Zen (the MTP one, with 32 GByte).

[chrisjj]

I am sure.

OK, thanks.

[chrisjj]

moatmai, Here's an idea that might overcome the collision issue your current Monster Mask workaround. Use <Autonumber> - it is offered by the dialog box, but I don't know that it works.

[PawWriter]

Yes there is an option for 8.3 DOS-style filenames in MM4.

Hi there,

Could you direct me to where the option is? I'm using the current (1399) beta of MM4 and I'm stumped as to where it is.

Thanks!

[hgrail]

I haven't been able to find it either in the latest version. Any help is appreciated!

[MMuser2011]

Yes there is an option for 8.3 DOS-style filenames in MM4.

Is this 8.3 DOS-Style option only available for Zen-Devices? Can I 'activate' it for other devices too?
(I can't find it for the default devices in my MM4-Version 4.0.6.1501 at all...)

[Peke]

http://www.mediamonkey.com/wiki/index.p ... tShortPath

[nohitter151]

Yes there is an option for 8.3 DOS-style filenames in MM4.

Is this 8.3 DOS-Style option only available for Zen-Devices? Can I 'activate' it for other devices too?
(I can't find it for the default devices in my MM4-Version 4.0.6.1501 at all...)

The feature was later removed, because it didn't work right.

It has still never been implemented.