Q: How do I copy all the files on a Windows Media Player playlist to another location?

A: Windows Media Player uses an XML format to store the playlists and includes all the files and locations of the music files. I created a small Windows PowerShell script that parses the playlist file, finds the files, and copies them to the passed location. The script is shown below:

# copyWPL.ps1write-host "Searching file "$args[0]" for media files and sending to "$args[1]"`n"[System.Xml.XmlDocument] $xd = new-object System.Xml.XmlDocument$file = resolve-path($args[0])$xd.load($file)$dest = $args[1]if (!$dest.EndsWith("")) #if no ending slash we need to add it{ $dest = $dest + ""}$nodelist = $xd.selectnodes("/smil/body/seq/media") # XPath is case sensitiveforeach ($mediaNode in $nodelist) {    $src = $mediaNode.getAttribute("src")    write-host "Copying file $src"    Copy-Item $src $dest}write-host "`nCompeted Copy`n"

To use it, I pass the playlist file and the location to copy the extracted music files to. An example is shown below (and no comments on my music choices).

 PS D:temp> .parseWPL.ps1 Boxing.wpl d:tempmp3
Searching file Boxing.wpl for media files and sending to d:tempmp3

Copying file D:MultimediaMusicThe Ultimate Remix .mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicOriginal SoundtrackRoad Trip5 - Anything, Anything (I'll Give You).mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicCrazy TownButterfly2 - Butterfly (Epic Remix).mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicStone SourCome What(ever) May9 - Socio.mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicFall Out Boy - I Dont Care [Single Version].mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicLady GaGaThe Fame3 - Paparazzi.mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusic50 CentIn da Club1 - In da Club.mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicSnapThe Madman's Return9 - Rhythm Is A Dancer.mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicVarious ArtistsNow, Vol. 223 - Ridin'.mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicEmfVarious18 - Emf - 6 - Unbelieveable.mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusic5_-_Remember_The_Name_(Album_Version)_[Explicit].mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicSnap!World Power1 - The Power.mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicVarious ArtistsSmallville, Vol. 1 - The Talon Mix1 - Save Me.mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicLady GaGaThe Fame Monster (Deluxe)12 - Poker Face.mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicMuseThe Resistance1 - Uprising.mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicVarious ArtistsThe Rocky Story2 - Burning Heart.mp3
Copying file D:MultimediaMusicEminemRecovery [Explicit]15 - Love The Way You Lie [Explicit].mp3

Completed Copy

 The script also works with Zune playlists that are XML based.

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