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[dvnog]

In Artists view, I want to sort 'Artists > Albums' by date but 'Artists > (Multiple Artists)' by name.

I've read dozens of posts, but failed to work it out. Suggestions please?

[vagskal]

A good idea!

Make a custom expression field with this expression and have the second level categories sort by that field.

Code: [Select]

If(isEqual([Album Artist (auto)],/(Multiple Artists/)),[Album],[Date])
You can save it as a preset.

EDIT: Just post again if you need help applying the advice. A very good idea indeed for a first post.

[dvnog]

Perfect! And I'm pleased it wasn't too easy! I've actually been using MC for years and this has always bugged me.

I'm trying to think why anyone would want default behaviour to be anything other than this. Do you think this might be a candidate for a feature request to change the default?

Thanks very much for your help.

[vagskal]

Do you think this might be a candidate for a feature request to change the default?

Sure you can always ask! I do think that JRiver will try to keep the default dead simple. But perhaps they will at least consider making "Date (Oldest first) & (Multiple Artists) by album name" a stock sorting preset.

[dvnog]

Hi. I'm back. Sorry for not replying sooner - I didn't receive a notification of your last reply.

I have two problems which I've failed to solve on my own despite reading http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Database_Expressions several times :

1. artists > albums are labelled with 'Date' and not 'Album' as I would want

2. if there is more than one album per year I cannot then list those albums separately. I would like to see:

artists > albums (sorted by 'Date' and then by 'Album' - but all album thumbnails displayed at this level as per current default)
artists > (multiple artists) (sorted by 'Album')

Help?!

[vagskal]

Try this.

1. When you see the albums in the view, click on the little arrow on the tab beside the View name and select Thumbnails => Thumbnail text... There you will probably see [Name]. Write [Album] there instead.

2. In the same arrow down menu select Sort By => Custom. In the box you will see the name of the custom field made earlier. Click Add and select A-Z => [Album]. Make sure that your custom field is on top of the list in the box with [Album] below. You can save this as a preset.

In the date field you can add the full date, not just the year. An alternative would be to do that for the cases where an artist released several albums in one year. You will then see the albums in chronological order, not chronological between years but alphabetically within one year as I think you are aiming at.

[dvnog]

1. perfect

2. I'm now seeing [Varies] when there is more than one album per [Date] - see http://i.imgur.com/V8crU.png - instead of all albums displayed alphabetically within that [Date]

...alphabetically within one year as I think you are aiming at.

That's exactly what I would like. Thanks for my holding my hand with this.

[vagskal]

OK. Try this instead then.

Make the Sort By menu look as it did before you just altered it. In the custom expression field you made enter this expression instead:

Code: [Select]

If(isEqual([Album Artist (auto)],/(Multiple Artists/)),[Album],[Date] - [Album])

[dvnog]

vagskal, you are a rock star! 

Thank you very much for your help.

P.S. I'll post a suggestion in the beta thread for this being default display.

[vagskal]

You are welcome.

PS. Try to put this in the Thumbnail Text box:

Code: [Select]

<b>[Album]</b> ([Year])
You might like it.

[dvnog]

The cherry on the cake!

Thanks again.

[vagskal]

I think I forgot a slash in the Thumbnail Text:

Code: [Select]

<b>[Album]<//b> ([Year])
The album name is supposed to appear in bold. Sorry.

[dvnog]

I did wonder why it was all bold - didn't realise you needed to escape the '/'. I've gone for non-bold anyway.

It's all perfect now.