To start when I first try to scan a new directory favdirsamples.pd becomes visible but shows no file names. this is the initial result.

The second image shows where the names come from and when printed out and fine. But some how when then get to the favsampleitem.pd every few items compile together and I have no clue why. At this point I have restarted the patch and only after I restart the patch buildDirList.pd can I see the file names.

Also the first item ends up being a directory so it returns 0 instead of a file name. I figured using route should filter them out in DIRLGetFileName.pd but one still gets through. If any other screen shots are needs I can post em.

The third image shows how the patch works in more detail along with favsampleitem.pd and DIRLGetFileName.pd patches.

I later plan to use goppy to scroll favdirsamples.pd in its own "container" or whatever patch it is implemented into.

anyone see where I'm going wrong?

PS. Your problem could be getting the path names back from [textfile] where you might well need to pass them through a [symbol] before they will work...... but I cannot see what you have done there...

PS.PS. Looking at it again I see you have already seen my patch.....!
Strange that I didn't spot that while studying it.

Anyway..... [textfile] looks to be the likely culprit....... as it is the difference between our patches.
You might also need to get carriage returns into it as you fill it with data..... so maybe hold the data in a message box and bang an [addsemi( message into it before passing it into [textfile]
Open up [textfile] to see whether it has written in the correct format. That could be the source of the "2 at a time" lines.
Upload your patch if you don't succeed.