Operation > Generating a playlist > Command Line Interface

Playlist Generator Pro command line parameters

You can use the command line interface to automatically generate playlists and save them to a specified location. When multiple playlists are generated in one run, they share the same no-repeat buffer, which means it's possible to create several playlists for extended periods of time with no repeated tracks.

Usage: PlaylistGeneratorPro.exe -preset=PRESET -out=PLAYLIST [-n=N]

Options:

-preset= specifies the preset name (multiple presets can be specified separated by "|").

-out= specifies the file name for saving the generated playlist (use a full path with the extension .m3u8). Multiple file names, matching the preset number, can be specified separated by "|".

-n= how many playlists to generate (default = 1). If used, the -out option need to contain one of the modifiers: %n, %nn or %nnn (see below for more information). If a single number is specified, it will create this number of playlists for each preset specified in the -preset parameter. You can set a specific number of playlists to create using the "|" separator, e.g. -n=2|6|3 - this will create 2 playlists using the first preset, 6 playlists using the second preset, and 3 playlists using the third preset.

-s= when using "-n", the -s option sets the starting number for playlist naming. Example: -s=5

Example: generate a playlist using the MyPreset preset and save it to C:\playlist.m3u8

PlaylistGeneratorPro.exe -preset=MyPreset -out=C:\playlist.m3u8

If the name of a present contains a space, parameters must be encased in quote marks:

PlaylistGeneratorPro.exe "-preset=My Preset" "-out=C:\Folder name\playlist.m3u8"

You can use the run command in the scheduler together with the command line interface to generate playlists and save them to a specific folder (for example, on a production machine). Unlike automatic playlist generation, doing that will only save a playlist but will not play it.

Example of such a scheduler event (note: there's no need to specify a full path to PlaylistGeneratorPro.exe program):

run PlaylistGeneratorPro.exe -preset=MyPreset -out=C:\playlist.m3u8

Generating multiple playlists in one run

File name modifiers when multiple playlists using the same preset are created:

%n - a number with no leading zeros (1, 2, ... 10, ... 100).

%nn - a number padded with one leading zero (01, 02, ..., 10, 100).

%nnn - a number padded with two leading zeroes (001, 002, ..., 010, 100)

Example:

PlaylistGeneratorPro.exe -preset=MyPreset -out=C:\playlist_%nn.m3u8 -n=11

Warning: If a command is executed in a .bat file, the percent sign must be written twice:

PlaylistGeneratorPro.exe -preset=MyPreset -out=C:\playlist_%%nn.m3u8 -n=11

This command will generate 11 playlists and save them under the names:

C:\playlist_00.m3u8

C:\playlist_01.m3u8

C:\playlist_02.m3u8

...

C:\playlist_10.m3u8

Example: create a different number of playlists using different presets

PlaylistGeneratorPro.exe "-preset=Weekday|Weekend" -n=5|2 "-out=D:\Playlists\Weekday%n.m3u8|Weekend%n.m3u8"

This command creates 5 playlists using the Weekday preset, and 2 playlists using the Weekend preset.

Generating multiple playlists using multiple presets in one run

The following example creates 3 playlists using the Morning, Day and Evening presets and saving them to D:\Playlists\Morning.m3u8, D:\Playlists\Day.m3u8, and D:\Playlists\Evening.m3u8 respectively. This allows to prepare playlists in advance and then start them when needed.

Note: when playlists are generated in batch, they share the same no-repeat buffer, which means it's possible to create several playlists for extended periods of time with no repeated tracks.

Example:

PlaylistGeneratorPro.exe "-preset=Morning|Day|Evening" "-out=D:\Playlists\Morning.m3u8|Day.m3u8|Evening.m3u8"

You can specify the full path for the first playlist only; in this case, all playlists will be saved to the same folder. You can specify the full path for all playlists.