Automatically adds the previous and next track from the same directory to the VLC playlist as soon as a file starts playing. Supports wrap‑around (with ≥3 files, cycling at the beginning/end).

• Automatically adds neighbors of the currently playing file
• Wrap‑around when there are at least 3 files
• Cross‑platform (Windows, Linux, macOS)
• No GUI interaction required (loads as an interface at VLC startup)

• VLC 3.0.x (tested with 3.0.21)

1. Copy auto_dir_enqueue.lua to your user interface folder (create the folder if needed):

   • Windows: %APPDATA%\vlc\lua\intf\
   • Linux: ~/.local/share/vlc/lua/intf/ (alternatively ~/.config/vlc/lua/intf/)
   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/org.videolan.vlc/lua/intf/

2. Enable the interface (choose one):

   • Option A: persistently via VLC config vlcrc (user file)
     • Windows: %APPDATA%\vlc\vlcrc
     • Linux: ~/.config/vlc/vlcrc
     • macOS: ~/Library/Preferences/org.videolan.vlc/vlcrc
     • Set/add the following lines:

       extraintf=luaintf
       lua-intf=auto_dir_enqueue
       

   • Option B: for testing via command line/shortcut
     • Start parameters: --intf luaintf --lua-intf auto_dir_enqueue

• Simply open a media file (e.g., double‑click). The interface automatically adds:
  • Previous track: alphanumerically previous file (at index 1 and ≥3 files: last file)
  • Next track: alphanumerically next file (at last index and ≥3 files: first file)
  • With exactly 2 files, only the other file is added

• Enable in vlcrc (adjust paths):

  file-logging=1
  log-verbose=2
  logfile=<path to log file>
  

• After startup you will find diagnostic lines prefixed with auto_dir_enqueue:

• Interface does not auto‑load:
  • Ensure extraintf=luaintf and lua-intf=auto_dir_enqueue are set in vlcrc
  • Try starting VLC with --no-one-instance --intf luaintf --lua-intf auto_dir_enqueue
• Playlist remains at 1 item:
  • Ensure there are other media files with supported extensions in the same folder
  • Check the log (lines with auto_dir_enqueue:), especially path/URI conversion and directory listing
• Wrap‑around does not apply:
  • Wrap‑around is only enabled with at least 3 files

• Remove or comment out extraintf/lua-intf in vlcrc
• Delete auto_dir_enqueue.lua from the interface folder

• Idea for robust file selection/playlist manipulation inspired by a VLC Lua extension (neighbor logic, move trick for “previous track”) https://github.com/djomlastic/vlc-prev-next