The easiest way I always got around file sequence problems was to merge the entire book into one file. Problem solved, I use Free MP3 Joiner and tag all my books in properties as “BOOKS”. I Also normall merge 2 books together so when one ends it starts the next without manipulating the player. This is better when on the bike, hiking, etc. In a novel series I’ll merge books 1&2, then 2&3, etc. switching to the next in line when I get a chance at the completion of the other. This single file also make fast forwarding or rewind very easy, no switching between files when it’s all one. When tagging your books in properties, the only tag I leave is the title, album and duration, wipe everything else to make sure there is nothing extraneous to force it into a different folder. I have a lot more advice for these Sansa Players. Sansa, get rid of the Sport and revive the Zip.
I don’t know why user don’t just circumvent the file problem by merging. With all my audio books, I use Freemake to convert the files down to 32kpbs (quality is just fine) to minimize file size for my player, then join/merge the files in the same pass. Now I have one small file for the entire book. This also makes fast forwarding and rewind much easier because it’s all one file, you don’t have to close a file then reopen another. Then by using properties, under the details tab, you can tag it any way you want. What I do on the player is label a folder under audiobooks just “BOOKS” then make sure all of my audiobook files are tagged “BOOKS” in the album slot. I then blank out all the other tags except “title”, and “length”, as you really don’t need any more. Then, all of my single file audiobooks wind up uner “BOOKS” in the Audiobook main folder. This works perfectly on the clip+ and clip zip, and I’m getting ready to buy and experiment with a clip sport to see if I can work around many of the new problems created by Sandisk.
I think I have written your exact response to various forums many times. It seems such a simple solution to me, and obviously to you. Kudos!
One large file does work on the Clip+ and Zip but it’s not so good on the Sport and Jam. It becomes almost impossible to fast forward on these players on large files. I actually do the opposite as if I have an Audio book as one file I use a freeware programme to slit it into parts as I find it easier to navigate etc and these slpit files seem to behave themselves on my Sport as I have no problems with the order getting confused. I never use any tags as they just seem to make things more complicated.
So how does the Clip Sport sort the files, I have a book with 196 mp3’s and nothing I do fixes the ordering problem.
I have tried everything :
-edited the mp3 tags of tracknumber 001-196.
-edited the mp3 tags of title 001-196.
-edited all filenames 001.mp3 to 196.mp3, even that doesn’t work.
-I used software to change the dates ascending
-I copied all files to a new folder (where windows obviously sorts them perfectly) and copied them back.
Surely on of these should have worked, how is this acceptable?
I am left with the conclusion that NO ordering at all is going on.
Is there maybe old firmware that does work?
One large file is not an option for unless it syncs (like m4a in itunes).
This means this product is broken for me and I am about to return it because it CAN’T be used for audiobooks as advertised. Should have bought another ipod shuffle but it doesn’t have an sd slot.
If you have a book with 196 files that you want played in order. Here is one idea.
This idea will work if all 196 files are in one subfolder under Music.
The filenames must start with the 3-digit number (as you described).
Put this this 2-line command into a text file and save as “mybook.bat” (must be a text file, not rtf, not doc).
@echo off
dir /o:n /s /b *.mp3 *.wma *.wav> My196Book.m3u
Save the bat file in the same subfolder as your 196 book files.
Then use Win File Explorer and double click on the file “mybook.bat”. The m3u playlist will be created (very fast).
Use Music mode to play this playlist.
The files should play in your desired order (based on 3-digit prefixes in the filenames).
(Make sure the player Shuffle is Off.)
Did Jolynn get the answer to fix the problem? I’ve been having the same trouble and much of what is discussed is greek to me. I just want the gizmo to work the way it did for the first three years’ of use!
