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[CadErik]

I found many discussions about unlocking this field... Any progress?

Erik

[MrHaugen]

Not that I've heard, or found out from the later builds. You'll have to make a new one. It depends what you really need the sub types for, but I've found the most use of this for videos. I use "Video Type" custom field with preset values like Series, Music Videos, Movies etc.

The standard field SHOULD be more comprehensive though. I don't mind it being locked, for the purpose of making good default view schemes as one example, but it should contain a lot more values.

[666JackTheKnife666]

yes I don't mind it being locked either. but it should have more values.
like 
Music

for just one example.

[darichman]

I love this program, but this field really is really quite useless when it comes down to it! As others have mentioned, your best option is to just create a custom field and be done with Media Sub Type. MC doesn't really make use of the Media Sub Type field anywhere in the program anyway.

There was a pretty lengthy discussion about this here.

It's our job to make the broad distinctions, yours to carve them up any way you wish.

[rjm]

MC doesn't really make use of the Media Sub Type field anywhere in the program anyway.

Actually it is used by MC for it's bookmark logic, and for loading stuff onto an iPod in the correct location.

[darichman]

Sorry, I stand corrected Still though, it could be used a lot more usefully in views/filters etc!

[MrHaugen]

It could, and it should imo. This way the standard view schemes in both Theater View and Standard view could be very much improved at default. It would be easier for MC to auto-magically filled out tags during import, even though most of the file types are hard to separate into one or a few Sub types (autotagger would help doing this more automatic I presume). It would at least give the users a good default view setup, and would only require the users to set the desired Sub Type. The newbie threshold would be moved a step in the right direction anyhow.

A simple example of a standard Theater View scheme that might work for many: Views for Normal Music, Classical, Podcasts etc under Audio. Views for Movies, Home movies, Series/TV Shows, Music Videos etc under Video.

What's needed is a comprehensive list of what tags that we really need.

[CadErik]

Sorry, I stand corrected Still though, it could be used a lot more usefully in views/filters etc!

This field is the primary category for video navigation in theater view!!

Erik.

[Lasse_Lus]

This field is the primary category for video navigation in theater view!!

Erik.

Erik, can't you just add your own custom field with your own types and replace "media sub type" with your own in theatrer view ?

[CadErik]

Erik, can't you just add your own custom field with your own types and replace "media sub type" with your own in theatrer view ?

Yes, probably but I started using "Media Sub Type" and I was wondering if it will be unlocked or if I should start using my own field.

[glynor]

Erik, can't you just add your own custom field with your own types and replace "media sub type" with your own in theatrer view ?

The other problem with doing this is that you give up data portability (such as when moving files to an iPod), and the special bookmarking features in MC.  If you want to preserve both of these things, and still have flexibility, then you need to duplicate the tag into your own field and remember to manually manage BOTH fields.  That's no good.

I really don't feel like it has ever been adequately explained why this field can't be "manually unlocked".  I can understand why you don't want novice users mucking about with it, but why can't we have a "I know what I'm doing, so unlock this thing" button, which gives a pop-up with proper "this is unsupported and might kill your pet parrot" warning dialog?  That, or set it so it can be "additive-only"... Meaning: You can add (and then later delete) your own "Media Sub Types" but not delete or alter any of the stock ones.

All of the explanations for why this isn't possible have always amounted to "trust us, we have a reason, and we know what we're doing".  Well, I'm sorry, JRiver folks... I do generally trust you, and you do generally know what you're doing, but there have been people consistently asking for this for years and years.  And that means that something is wrong in the basic assumptions that led to the design decision.

[glynor]

It could, and it should imo. This way the standard view schemes in both Theater View and Standard view could be very much improved at default. It would be easier for MC to auto-magically filled out tags during import, even though most of the file types are hard to separate into one or a few Sub types (autotagger would help doing this more automatic I presume). It would at least give the users a good default view setup, and would only require the users to set the desired Sub Type. The newbie threshold would be moved a step in the right direction anyhow.

A simple example of a standard Theater View scheme that might work for many: Views for Normal Music, Classical, Podcasts etc under Audio. Views for Movies, Home movies, Series/TV Shows, Music Videos etc under Video.

What's needed is a comprehensive list of what tags that we really need.

I just wanted to say... I agree 100% with basically all of this.

[Lasse_Lus]

totally agree glynor, i would really like to be able to lock up all the fields that are greyed...media type for example 

so it was only a suggestion based on that maybe erik did not know that he could "manipulate" the theatre view

regarding "remember to manually manage BOTH fields.  That's no good."..maybe confishys' autotagger can help you a bit on the way

[bunglemebaby]

The other problem with doing this is that you give up data portability (such as when moving files to an iPod), and the special bookmarking features in MC.  If you want to preserve both of these things, and still have flexibility, then you need to duplicate the tag into your own field and remember to manually manage BOTH fields.

Maybe I'm missing something as far as what you mean about data portability (just a meager Sansa for me), but I've got two custom "subtype" tags, one filled with my own custom tags and one that automagically combines "Media Sub Type" and my custom "Sub Type" fields using the listcombine() function. It works well in that any automatically filled "Media Sub Type" tags are preserved and usable in my combined field, but I still have flexibility. It's a work around for sure, but it works (for me at least).

-JB

[666JackTheKnife666]

ok, here we go. user = your currently loged in user.

c:\"user"\AppData\Roaming\J River\Media Center 14\Library
this folder has most of MC's field files one of these files is the "field (media sub type).jmd"

so far my attempts to open and edit this file have been fruitless.
My attempts at using notepad++ with every plug in and language option just show gibberish.

If anyone has better luck on how to edit the "field (media sub type).jmd"
I would appreciate the info

[666JackTheKnife666]

but why can't we have a "I know what I'm doing, so unlock this thing" button, which gives a pop-up with proper "this is unsupported and might kill your pet parrot" warning dialog?  That, or set it so it can be "additive-only"... Meaning: You can add (and then later delete) your own "Media Sub Types" but not delete or alter any of the stock ones.

All of the explanations for why this isn't possible have always amounted to "trust us, we have a reason, and we know what we're doing".  Well, I'm sorry, JRiver folks... I do generally trust you, and you do generally know what you're doing, but there have been people consistently asking for this for years and years.  And that means that something is wrong in the basic assumptions that led to the design decision.

Right there with you!!  {+100 Karma points} esp the additive idea.
for my self I just want one extra sub type, "Music"