So when you make up a play list , one would want a mixture of folders using a particular artist several times in a play list .

REM this file moves each file in a one-level deep directory structure into a separate directory named {originalName<count>}.
@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
for /D %%d in (*) do (
    set count=0
    for %%f in ("%%d\*") do (
        set /a count=count+1
        mkdir "%%d!count!"
        move %%f "%%d!count!\"
    )
    rmdir %%d
)

As for folder contents, I would have 3 to five songs of the artist. So in a playlist the artist would come up as the folder number would indicate. Like  maybe folder 1, 10 , 17, 20, etc. Other artists would be in between those numbers. One can have up to 299 folders with as many artists & files as what a CD would handle, depending on the bitrate and staying within the 700mb. cap.

My guess is that you're trying to randomize your playlist. What I think you want to achieve is to have top-level folders start with numbers so that your car CD player will play these in the direction the numbering goes.

$num(%list_index%,3)- %artist%\%title%

foobar would not have a code for  mixing the same artist non sequentially ?

Once again I thank you Kanak. The randomize was not 100% but a whole lot better than without it. Some folders still wanted to double up, but one could jockey those around manually if need be.

I notice that one would have to add the total amount of folders at once. I tried adding more to the play-list on a second go-a-round & I wound up with duplicated folder numbers. Was I correct when I stated in an earlier post, that I would have to add any additional songs to a folder manually, while using the code you had prescribed??

I find this foobar program fascinating, even tho, I don't understand it all. As the ole saying goes: "ya can't teach an old dog new tricks" Thanks again for your time. It is greatly appreciated...