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[billinrio]

The following persists on appearing and reappearing in my album list:
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ff309/billinrio1/the_file_'_does_not_exist.jpg
Deleting it provides only a temporary solution.  The next time I boot up MC28, there it is again.
Since the program doesn't see a file path, I can't find and eliminate it.
I suspect that it's part of a .cue file, since they frequently mistakenly list a composer as the "Artist".

Supposedly, it doesn't exist, but there it remains.  I'm running Windows 10.
I would greatly appreciate any suggested solutions.

[Matt]

What is in the filename field for the file in question?

[billinrio]

What is in the filename field for the file in question?

As you can (hopefully) see in the screenshot link that I included in my message, there's nothing in the filename field. 

[Matt]

It looks to me like Filename (path) is showing but not filename.

What's in the full filename?

Is it just a certain CUE file that does it?

If so, you could mail a copy to matt at jriver dot com.

Thanks.

[billinrio]

It looks to me like Filename (path) is showing but not filename.

What's in the full filename?
Is it just a certain CUE file that does it?
If so, you could mail a copy to matt at jriver dot com.

Thanks.

Thanks for your attention to this issue.  Here's a screenshot with "filename" activated:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ff309/billinrio1/file_missing_JRiver28.JPG?width=450&height=278&crop=fill

I don't know if this is from a .cue file - I suspect so, because it has a formatting error common to .cue files.   A search carried out by Windows 10 finds it neither on my laptop nor on any associated drives. Therefore, I can't "mail a copy" to anyone.
Of course I've attempted to permanently trash this entry.  But when I do, it reappears in "Recent Albums" when I reboot MC28.

It isn't correct for the program to advise that "The file ' ' does not exist"; after all,  if doesn't "exist", why does MC insist on displaying it?  Perhaps it would be better to say that it "Can't be found".

[Matt]

And what happens if you pick the files and do Shift + Delete and remove from everywhere?

Another solution would be making a clean library and importing fresh.

[Matt]

I just deleted the empty files in my library and they're gone now.

If you do that and they come back, it must be auto-import.  We should try to figure out the cause in that case.

[billinrio]

And what happens if you pick the files and do Shift + Delete and remove from everywhere?

Another solution would be making a clean library and importing fresh.

I did try picking the files and doing Shift + Delete, but that doesn't I'solve the problem.
I'm not sure how to make a clean library and import fresh.

I just deleted the empty files in my library and they're gone now.

If you do that and they come back, it must be auto-import.  We should try to figure out the cause in that case.

I just deleted the empty files in my library and they're gone now.

If you do that and they come back, it must be auto-import.  We should try to figure out the cause in that case.

Is there a command for deleting the empty files in one's library?

[Matt]

Do the files go away when you delete?  If not mail a library backup to matt at jriver.  Thanks!

[billinrio]

Do the files go away when you delete?  If not mail a library backup to matt at jriver.  Thanks!

I will be pleased to do so.  How do I obtain a library backup?

I think I located it at MC Library Backup (Main Library - October).  It's a 58.8 MB zipped file.
How do I send such a large file to you?

[Matt]

I will be pleased to do so.  How do I obtain a library backup?

I think I located it at MC Library Backup (Main Library - October).  It's a 58.8 MB zipped file.
How do I send such a large file to you?

You could try Google Drive or Dropbox if it's too big to email directly.

File > Library > Back Up Library is where it's at.

Thanks.

[billinrio]

You could try Google Drive or Dropbox if it's too big to email directly.

File > Library > Back Up Library is where it's at.

Thanks.

Here's the link from my Google Drive:  snip
Kindly let me know if you received and were able to open it.

[Matt]

I got your library.  Thanks.

I made this smartlist:
[Filename]=[] ~d=a

Then I erased the empty files (and again since they go to removed) and now they're gone.

There are no signs of them coming back.

If they come back on you, it must be auto import so we would need to dig there a little.

Let me know.

Thanks.

[billinrio]

I got your library.  Thanks.

I made this smartlist:
[Filename]=[] ~d=a

Then I erased the empty files (and again since they go to removed) and now they're gone.

There are no signs of them coming back.

If they come back on you, it must be auto import so we would need to dig there a little.

Let me know.

Thanks.

Thank you very much.  So, as I understand it, the file that I placed in my Google Drive and on which you worked is now in my Google Drive and repaired and I should place it back in the File > Library > Back Up Library from which it came.  Correct?

[Matt]

There's no way for me to upload back to your Google drive.

But just make the same smartlist and erase the files a couple times.

They should stay gone.

If they don't, come back and we'll talk.

[billinrio]

There's no way for me to upload back to your Google drive.

But just make the same smartlist and erase the files a couple times.

They should stay gone.

If they don't, come back and we'll talk.

Sorry, but you've gone beyond my very limited computer knowledge. 

You say, "I made this smartlist:
[Filename]=[] ~d=a
Then I erased the empty files (and again since they go to removed) and now they're gone."

What is [Filename]=[] ~d=a  ?  I don't know what a "smartlist" is, and I don't understand those symbols.
From where did you erase the empty files?

[Matt]

Click on "Playlists" in the tree.  Then click the "Add Smartlist" button on the right.

Click "Import / Export" on the dialog that pops up.

Paste what I posted.

Click OK twice.

Then look at the results and erase them.  Refresh and erase again.

Refresh and it should be empty.

Then run import and see if it fills again?

[billinrio]

Click on "Playlists" in the tree.  Then click the "Add Smartlist" button on the right.

Click "Import / Export" on the dialog that pops up.

Paste what I posted.

Click OK twice.

Then look at the results and erase them.  Refresh and erase again.

Refresh and it should be empty.

Then run import and see if it fills again?

Where is the "tree" in which I can find "Playlists"?  It isn't in "Tree & View".  I tried Edit > Search for Playlists  and got a revolving colored ball that wouldn't go away and that obliged me to force quit the program.

[Matt]

In the program, there's a tree on the left that starts with Playing Now.  Look for Playlists below that.

[billinrio]

In the program, there's a tree on the left that starts with Playing Now.  Look for Playlists below that.

There's nothing called "Playlists" below "Playing Now".
Below "Playing Now" I see "Player" and "Playing from Main Library"
Under "Playing from Main Library" there's "Main Library" and "Add Library ..."  Neither of these show Playlists or Playlist options.

[JimH]

You've opened Playing Now.  Close it and look below in the tree.

[billinrio]

You've opened Playing Now.  Close it and look below in the tree.

Finally got this right.  Sure enough, those pesky files appeared. I deleted them.  Gone. Then, when I refreshed the screen they appeared again and now they don't disappear when I select them and click "delete".  So, I rebooted MC and there they were again.  I deleted them again, and they now don't reappear when I refresh.  Hope they're gone forever!

......  but no ...... rebooted MC, and there it is again in Recent Albums.

[Matt]

Well that's progress.  So turn off auto-import and restart MC.  Then delete them again.

They shouldn't come back any longer.

Then we'll just need to figure out why auto-import is doing that.  But let's get there first.

[billinrio]

Well that's progress.  So turn off auto-import and restart MC.  Then delete them again.

They shouldn't come back any longer.

Then we'll just need to figure out why auto-import is doing that.  But let's get there first.

They do come back after going through this routine.  For years I've had a MC Master License which allows me to run the program on my Mac (OS 10.11.6) and on my Windows 10 machine.  I also have two external drives that contain most of my music files.  I'm able to run them both on my Mac by using the NTFS for Mac software.  Since the problem of these pesky files appears using both the Mac and Windows computer, I concluded that they are present on one or on both of the external hard drives.  By running MC28 on each of the machines with one of the hard drives connected and then with the other hard drive connected I was able to determine that the recurring files exist on one specific hard drive - a Seagate 2Tb. I ran a search on it and found a few files that might have been the ones, and deleted them.  I rebooted MC, and after a few minutes, like an unwanted guest, the files appeared again in "Recent Albums".

[Scobie]

Make sure the files are fully deleted and MC is not picking them up from the Trash or Recycle Bin.

[billinrio]

Make sure the files are fully deleted and MC is not picking them up from the Trash or Recycle Bin.

Thanks.  I've just done that, although I've never told MC to look for files in the trash bin.

[billinrio]

Well that's progress.  So turn off auto-import and restart MC.  Then delete them again.

They shouldn't come back any longer.

Then we'll just need to figure out why auto-import is doing that.  But let's get there first.

I've tried something that may have solved the problem:  Auto-import > configure auto-import > TASKS  >  check the "Update for external changes" box (it was unchecked). 

MC has been running for an hour now with both of the external drives connected and with Auto-import on. 
The problem files have not reappeared in "Recent Albums".  Keeping my fingers crossed.

[billinrio]

Our old friend is back again.  I think we need to, as you say, dig a bit into auto-import.  Please tell me how to proceed.

[Matt]

Remove the file then remove all the directories on import.  It shouldn't come back.  Then add one at a time to find it.

[billinrio]

Remove the file then remove all the directories on import.  It shouldn't come back.  Then add one at a time to find it.

I assume that by "remove the file" you mean remove it from MC, since I can't locate it on any of my drives. In MC it shows up in the Recent Albums pane as "Symphonies No. 1 & 2". When I right-click on it (Delete) I see > "Remove from Media Library" OR "Remove from Media Library and send to the Recycle Bin" OR "Remove from Media Library and permanently delete from disk". Which option should I use?  I've been using the last one.  That always temporarily removes it until MC imports it again.

What do you mean by "remove all the directories on import"?  How do I do that and where are they?

[EnglishTiger]

"Remove from Media Library and permanently delete from disk"

What do you mean by "remove all the directories on import"?  How do I do that and where are they?

Remove all the directories listed under auto-import, after saving a copy of their names and then add them back in 1 by 1 until you spot the ghost files being imported
Remove that one form the list of directories auto-import is monotoring and then add in any remaining directories from your original list

[fitbrit]

Matt, if you have the library file, may I suggest you delete the link from the post it was pasted to - just to maintain privacy for OP who should have emailed the link to you?

[billinrio]

I've used MediaCenter for years and I've never used, nor do I intend to use the "Playlist/Smartlist" function
because it makes no sense whatsoever for classical music.
I would like to eliminate it because it's causing problems with a recurring, mysterious file that insists on importing itself over and
over again.  The advice I received had to do with playing with the "playlist" function.
That didn't work, but perhaps trashing the playlist function entirely would do the job.

[JimH]

I don't think MC or the playlist feature is causing the problem.  Did you try Englishtiger's suggestion?

When you see the file, check its location in the tag window.  Or hover your mouse over it and read the location in the tooltip.  Then go find it in Explorer. 

If you have trouble with that, paste the exact location here.