# Playlist Files
Playlist files are used to create and maintain playlists on the Plex Server.
If utilized to their fullest, these files can be used to maintain the entire server's collections and playlists, and can be used as a backup for these in the event of a restore requirement.
???+ tip
Playlists are defined in one or more Playlist files that are mapped in the [Playlist Files Attribute](../playlists.md) within the Configuration File.
You can use the [`playlist_report` setting](../settings.md#playlist-report) to get a list of your playlists printed out in your log.
## Example
This example is a Playlist file with a basic overlay which is saved in a file called `MyPlaylists.yml` within the location mapped as `config` in my setup.
???+ example "Example "MyPlaylists.yml""
Click the :fontawesome-solid-circle-plus: icon to learn more
```yaml
collections: #(1)!
Top 50 Grossing Films of All Time (Worldwide):
tmdb_list: 10 #(2)!
collection_order: custom #(3)!
sync_mode: sync #(4)!
```
1. This must appear once and **only once** in any Metadata file
2. This creates a collection based on tmdb list ID 10, https://www.themoviedb.org/list/10 would also be accepted
3. This will sort the items in the Plex collection to be the same as the order in the list
4. Syncs the collection to the list, so that if an item is added/removed from the list, the same is done to the collection. Set this to `append` if you only want it to add things and not remove them.
???+ example "config.yml Example Collection File Addition"
Click the :fontawesome-solid-circle-plus: icon to learn more
```yaml
playlists: #(1)!
Marvel Cinematic Universe Chronological Order:
sync_mode: sync
libraries: Movies, TV Shows #(2)!
sync_to_users: User1, someone@somewhere.com, User3 #(3)!
trakt_list: https://trakt.tv/users/donxy/lists/marvel-cinematic-universe
summary: Marvel Cinematic Universe In Chronological Order
```
1. This must appear once and **only once** in any Playlist file
2. These libraries must exist in your Plex library
3. Leave this blank if you only only want the Playlist to sync to the server owner's account
This file would then be defined in my `config.yml` file as a `playlist_files` item:
???+ warning "Important Note"
Playlist files are not called within the `libraries` section, they are defined at the root identation as you can see in the below example.
???+ example "config.yml Example Playlists Addition"
Click the :fontawesome-solid-circle-plus: icon to learn more
```yaml
libraries:
Movies:
# Metadata and Overlay files here
TV Shows:
# Metadata and Overlay files here
playlist_files: #(1)!
- file: config/MyPlaylists.yml #(2)!
```
1. Note that Playlist files are not called within the `libraries` section, they are defined at the root identation as you can see here
2. `config` refers to the location that you mapped to `config` when following the PMM Installation Guides.
## Playlist Attributes
Plex Meta Manager can automatically build and update playlists defined within the `playlists` attribute.
These are the attributes which can be utilized within the Playlist File:
| Attribute | Description |
|:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| [`templates`](../../builders/templates.md) | contains definitions of templates that can be leveraged by multiple playlists |
| [`external_templates`](../../builders/templates.md#external-templates) | contains [path types](../../builders/files.md#paths) that point to external templates that can be leveraged by multiple playlists |
| [`playlists`](#playlist-attributes) | contains definitions of playlists you wish to add to the server |
* `playlists` is required in order to run the Playlist File.
* You can find example Playlist Files in the [Plex Meta Manager Configs Repository](https://github.com/meisnate12/Plex-Meta-Manager-Configs/tree/master/PMM)
* Plex does not support the "Continue Watching" feature for playlists, you can [vote for the feature here](https://forums.plex.tv/t/playlists-remember-position-for-subsequent-resume/84866/39)
Each playlist requires its own section within the `playlists` attribute and unlike collections, playlists can only be built using one Builder as their ordering is inherited from the builder; it is not possible to combine builders.
```yaml
playlists:
Marvel Cinematic Universe Chronological Order:
# ... builder, details, and filters for this playlist
Star Wars Clone Wars Chronological Order:
# ... builder, details, and filters for this playlist
etc:
# ... builder, details, and filters for this playlist
```
There are multiple types of attributes that can be utilized within a playlist:
* [Builders](../../builders/overview.md)
* [Settings/Updates](../../metadata/update.md)[update.md]
* [Filters](../../builders/filters.md)
### Special Playlist Attributes
| Attribute | Description | Required |
|:------------------|:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|:------------------------------------------:|
| `libraries` | Determine which libraries the playlist will be built from.
**Options:** Comma-separated string or list of library mapping names defined in the `libraries` attribute in the base of your [Configuration File](../configuration.md. | :fontawesome-solid-circle-check:{ .green } |
| `sync_to_users` | Determine which Users have the playlist synced.
This will override the global [`playlist_sync_to_users` Setting](../settings.md#playlist-sync-to-users).
**Options:** Comma-separated string or list of users, `all` for every user who has server access, or leave blank for just the server owner. | :fontawesome-solid-circle-xmark:{ .red } |
| `exclude_users` | Determine which Users will be excluded from having the playlist synced.
This will override the global [`playlist_excude_users` Setting](../settings.md#playlist-exclude-users).
**Options:** Comma-separated string or list of users, `all` for every user who has server access, or leave blank for just the server owner. | :fontawesome-solid-circle-xmark:{ .red } |
| `delete_playlist` | Will delete this playlist for the users defined by sync_to_users.
**Options:** `true` or `false` | :fontawesome-solid-circle-xmark:{ .red } |
* Any defined playlist will be always be visible by The Plex Media Server owner, so it doesn't need to be defined within `sync_to_users`.
## Example Playlists
In the following example, media is pulled from the `Movies` and `TV Shows` libraries into the one Playlist, and the playlist is shared with a specific set of users:
```yaml
playlists:
Marvel Cinematic Universe Chronological Order:
sync_mode: sync
libraries: Movies, TV Shows
sync_to_users: User1, someone@somewhere.com, User3
trakt_list: https://trakt.tv/users/donxy/lists/marvel-cinematic-universe?sort=rank,asc
summary: Marvel Cinematic Universe In Chronological Order
Star Wars Clone Wars Chronological Order:
sync_to_users: all
sync_mode: sync
libraries: Movies, TV Shows
trakt_list: https://trakt.tv/users/tomfin46/lists/star-wars-the-clone-wars-chronological-episode-order
```