INTERACT FORUM
More => Old Versions => JRiver Media Center 24 for Windows => Topic started by: JimH on September 18, 2018, 09:48:30 am
-
I just started a thread on how to modify the GUI:
https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,117461.0.html
Please use this thread to suggest changes to MC that might improve it.
The simplest changes are the most likely to be implemented.
-
I have a few;
1) I'm not sure how simple it is, but I'd like to see transparency support with both transparent/semi-transparent PNG images supported and transparency values that can be set to specific sections/parts of a skin in main.xml. Reason being I'd like to attempt a newer Windows 10-esk skin with the "Fluent Design" semi-transparency Windows 10 has in some of its Modern apps (and the start menu, etc.). MC did have Aero Glass support with some skins including Noire Glass, but that'll only work in Windows 7. I could use this by applying semi-transparency to areas like the tree, action center, top area of MC, etc.
2) SVG support. Yeah, using scalable vector graphics may seem cumbersome and complex but it'd allow easier support for smaller or larger skin sizes and resolutions without needing to create 2x, 4x, etc. images and it could scale up or down to any size without any quality loss. The downside? I'd have to learn how to deal with SVG images. :P
3) Auto switching skins depending on use of an OS' dark mode or time of day. An example would be the upcoming macOS Mojave which has a feature that will switch to dark mode when it's night outside. Same thing could be applied to MC - switch skins at a certain time of day. Have a light skin in the day, but once 6PM comes it'll switch to the dark skin and once 6AM comes, it'll switch to a light skin again.
I'll think of more stuff later, this is what immediately came to mind.
-
1) I'm not sure how simple it is, but I'd like to see transparency support with both transparent/semi-transparent PNG images supported and transparency values that can be set to specific sections/parts of a skin in main.xml. Reason being I'd like to attempt a newer Windows 10-esk skin with the "Fluent Design" semi-transparency Windows 10 has in some of its Modern apps (and the start menu, etc.). MC did have Aero Glass support with some skins including Noire Glass, but that'll only work in Windows 7. I could use this by applying semi-transparency to areas like the tree, action center, top area of MC, etc.
How far would it get us if I just enable the glass effect on Windows 10? Because I got that working, needs testing though.
I wonder how many UI elements are otherwise rendered opaque, or maybe would just need a translucent texture.
-
Aero Glass (using OpenGL) or the newer "Fluent Design" type of glass? Either way I guess the only way to really know is to find out. :)
I'll start looking at the Noire Glass theme and see how it works there (probably transparency values in PNG files). But being able to toggle skin transparency on/off in the menus (or the skin effects dialog) would likely be helpful though. I'll also figure out how much transparency Windows 10 uses for the start menu for a comparison.
-
In Theatre View ... local background for video would be nice (atm it only works for audio ... tick slideshow on ... tick all online sources off)
Also ... when picking local background for audio/video ... some strick file naming convention would be nice ... ie only use images with name background* or backdrop* (or something else) ... as sometimes i keep images related to media with that media, but dont want to use it as backdrops
I mainly use Standard View for managing my library (tagging, importing, etc) ... and i find it pretty complete (though others might disagree) ... the level of customization is incredible
I use Theatre View to access media from TVs ... its a good interface ... what would make it great is customization options ... i will ponder on better phrasing my suggestion before rushing in and typing a mess thats hard to understand lol
-
Aero Glass (using OpenGL) or the newer "Fluent Design" type of glass? Either way I guess the only way to really know is to find out. :)
It never used OpenGL, the compositor is D3D. D3D9 on Windows 7, D3D11 these days.
Anyhow, all I can do is tell Windows to render a window translucent and blur whatever is behind the window, just like Glass looked. Right now the Skin entirely controls if this effect is supposed to be enabled.
Lets just test that in the next version. Only one Skin uses it, so if it breaks, its not going to be that bad. ;)
-
Oh! ... and in Theatre View ... when selecting TV Show with only one season ... or Artist with only one album ... Theatre View straight away shows episodes or tracks (skipping season view for TV shows ... or album view for artist)
Sometimes i only have one season of show ... it would be nice to know what season those episodes came from ... (or in case of music ... what album those track came from)
-
TheaterView: Season cover art only appear if pure [Season] field is used. In that case thumbnail text is only number of season which isn't exactly eye candy looking
-
These kinds of threads pop up from time to time and most often lead to no implementations. I also made a few suggestions for the UI but hardly ever anything happened. I understand that JRiver picks the low hanging fruits, so do not expect any "big" UI changes. If JRiver would look for UI related threads/posts in the last year, they would probably have more than enough GUI improvement suggestions.
-
I like the functionality of OSD but graphically it could benefit from facelift. Some kind of graphical overlay info about currently playing file would be nice.
-
I would suggest that actions which cause the GUI to freeze should be cleared up - select 60,000 audio files tell MC to save the embedded cover art into the specified folder - goodbye GUI for some time.
Apart from that :-
I would dearly love to see 3D albums bite the dust.
A select all button for files in the display view window would be useful.
-
TheaterView: Season cover art only appear if pure [Season] field is used. In that case thumbnail text is only number of season which isn't exactly eye candy looking
You can fix that by using Expression categories. As long as you use the exact value in Expression to group by, the artwork should still work (there is two options, either a simple category using the Season field, or an expression category with this value)
This is what I use:
- Expression to group by: TVInfo(SeasonDisplay)
- Expression to display: <font alpha="50">TVInfo(SeriesDisplay)<//font>
TVInfo(SeasonDisplay)
-
Thanks for asking. Here are some, a lot of which are simple:
1. SIMPLE: The ability to hide something in the tree view (even a top level item, like "Services & Plug-ins") that you don't want to see. Already possible with Zones.
2. SIMPLE: Use an icon other then the international standard "Play" image for linkable columns. Currently confusing.
3. SIMPLE: Add a real play button (perhaps in a column) to items in the top area, when that is shown as details list style. Currently double-clicking a details list item in the top doesn't play, it opens the file view below; you either have to right-click to play, or in thumbnail view you get a Play hover.
4. In the tree view, allow "manual" sorting, where we can just drag and drop something to a particular position and it stays there.
5. SIMPLE: Option to NOT auto-expand Playing Now in the tree. (Not really a change to the GUI, but it affects the look)
6. Add the ability to put command shortcuts on the toolbar. (Things like appear on the right-click recent command option, like On Disk-External).
7. Make Playing Now a separate pane in the tree (sort of like the action window) so that you can switch zones with one click without moving away from your current tree view. To switch to viewing the play doctor or current playing now, you could always double-click. Yes you can switch zones via menu, but it requires many clicks and mouse movements to navigate.
8. SIMPLE: The option to drill down all the way to files in the top pane, instead of opening the lower files pane on the last double-click. Essentially, the ability to use the right-hand side of standard view as a single unified pane.
9. In theater view, the ability to add playlist groups as a library item while still respecting playlist sequence order. (Matt fixed this years ago, and it's re-broken.) This is to enable Playlists to be inside a Music view, instead of as a top-level roller.
10. SIMPLE: In theater view, the subtitle selection OSD should be labeled the obvious "Forced Only" and "Off", instead of the current question inducing "Off" (when it's not off) and "Null".
There would need to be a whole thread on improvements to the visual look/operation of Theater View and its OSD. :)
(edited to add #10)
-
Hi
I am using two set ups one for speakers one for Headphones.
The only way I have found to do this is using DPS studio and then ticking or un/ticking Headphone and Equaliser.
May be it would be possible to place a toggle switch in the main player bar to switch set ups to make this operation simple rather than a drag.
-
Hi
I am using two set ups one for speakers one for Headphones.
The only way I have found to do this is using DPS studio and then ticking or un/ticking Headphone and Equaliser.
May be it would be possible to place a toggle switch in the main player bar to switch set ups to make this operation simple rather than a drag.
You can do this with zones, then toggle between them with Ctrl-T. The wiki has a topic.
-
Add small icons next to labels for root tree view items (Playing Now, Audio, Images, etc.).
-
I like the functionality of OSD but graphically it could benefit from facelift. Some kind of graphical overlay info about currently playing file would be nice.
I like the idea of updating the video playback OSD - its not a new one, either. Get some additional info on the main OSD page, remove some of the "informational" pages in the process (since its on the main page then), and keep the settings pages.
It would increase the usability as well, since some of those rarely used pages with the description etc are being consolidated, and only the actually useful pages remain.
Unfortunately I'm a bit challenged in the graphical creativity department :D
-
You can fix that by using Expression categories. As long as you use the exact value in Expression to group by, the artwork should still work (there is two options, either a simple category using the Season field, or an expression category with this value)
This is what I use:
- Expression to group by: TVInfo(SeasonDisplay)
- Expression to display: <font alpha="50">TVInfo(SeriesDisplay)<//font>
TVInfo(SeasonDisplay)
Thanks Hendrik!
-
I like this as well. I always wanted more interesting ways to display the metadata. Like actors or band members and and an image of them. Maybe a link to there imdb.
https://goo.gl/images/BGJrvA
-
I like the functionality of OSD but graphically it could benefit from facelift. Some kind of graphical overlay info about currently playing file would be nice.
I would like this as well. I have often wanted to check the description, resolution, year, and other attributes of a movie after I have started playback, and didn't want to stop playback to drop back to the menu, which is currently the most efficient way.
Unfortunately I'm a bit challenged in the graphical creativity department :D
Aren't we all?! But the example provided is a very good start. I particularly like the inclusion in the bottom left of attributes of the movie in graphical form. Much easier than reading details.
(https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=117462.0;attach=28940;image)
-
In a view of thumbnails with alphabet displayed, when I select the letter "C" for example, display ONLY items beginning with the letter C - nothing before or after. My music library is huge, and this would help find items more quickly with less clutter.
-
In a view of thumbnails with alphabet displayed, when I select the letter "C" for example, display ONLY items beginning with the letter C - nothing before or after. My music library is huge, and this would help find items more quickly with less clutter.
Good idea, but make it an option. Sometimes it's easier to find Buena Vista Social Club by selecting C.
-
This would be such a huge quality of life improvement for me and I would think it would be pretty easy to implement.
I want to be able to change the sorting in Theater View. As an example, lets say I am in the mood to watch a Comedy. I navigate to my view which shows all my genres, I then choose Comedy. All my Comedy movies are displayed in their default sorting, which is alphabetical. Now lets say I want to watch something that's recent, or something that I know that imported into my library recently, or by length, or whatever criteria. I'd like there to be a "Sort" option in the top roller and then customizable sorting options below that. I have done a mock up in Photoshop to show how what I envision.
(http://www.moesrealm.com/img/MC/sort.jpg)
If you can make this happen you will have my undying love and devotion.
-
This one: https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,116237.msg803413.html#msg803413
Doesn't seem hard implementing it.
-
- Tree: Full sorting options/drag and drop.
- Tree: Ability to create custom categories, either top categories, or to put within existing ones like 'Audio', 'Images', 'Video' etc
- When Tree is closed: Switching Library view can be done by hovering mouse over the current tab and choosing 'Library Views' in the drop down menu. But - you can only select from same category as is currently shown. Add another step - Library Views/audio-video-images etc (Basically a list of Tree categories)/List of views
- Slider: A way to quickly jump directly to bottom or top of view by clicking arrows
- 'Rename, Move, & Copy Files...': Show the name of current preset in use, on top of window
-
Add a cover art slide show via the right click context menu when right clicking over the standard view cover art, this one from the rotated/reflection effect and also from the flat cover art. Based from the currently playing tracks album folder, or sub image folder. And changes when the next track is from another albums folder/sub image folder and so on. Surely its time for this GUI feature to enhance the standard view cover art display. Flat, or rotated/reflection effect. With quality/speed settings, speed of transition and GPU quality of transition etc whilst using the rotated reflection effect so its smooth as butter :)
-
-
-
please add option to use progress bar.
https://img.utdstc.com/screen/13/netflix-001.png:l:webp
-
Here's a few more that came to mind, which I suspect lots of users might appreciate. These were inspired by this topic (https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,117503.0.html) which would help with those issues that seems to creep up from time-to-time.
1) Add a 0-100 percentage download progress bar and display the amount/size of data downloaded along with the total download amount/size to the Adding Required Components dialog for LAV, madVR and Chromium.
2) Add a timeout to the Adding Required Components which after X amount of seconds with no response, MC will timeout and inform the users that the download failed and inform the user to check their antivirus/firewall settings because it can't reach the server. Right now the dialog just gets stuck with no end, as far as I know.
These two would be the most important, and would help greatly, especially when troubleshooting issues with downloading the components. This next one might be considered a bit iffy and out there, but it'd help too if you want to pre-download and install the components if you're intending to use MC in an 'offline' environment.
3) An option in MC's options to force start MC to downloading and adding the required components, even if a feature requiring additional components hasn't been used or enabled yet. This way users can invoke the download and have it installed before using the features. A example use case for this would be users that are flying and wanting to watch videos in-flight, however they can't download the additional components during the flight. Using an option to invoke the downloading of the additional features before using MC 'offline' would likely help a good amount of users.
-
I take this opportunity to re-propose an old question.
As skin in theater view use Glass and when I click on the various menus, the font color changes from white to blue to make it easier to read. With metadata, unfortunately, this does not happen and the color remains white: is there a particular setting that I have to do?
-
Change the PEQ block in DSP Studio to accept text input rather than making the user enter each filter one by one via lots of mouse clicks
for example, a text window into which I can paste
LS 50 0.7 6
LS 40 0.7 3
PEQ 20 4 -3
results in 3 filters (low shelf 50Hz Q=0.7 +6dB; low shelf 40Hz Q=0.7 +3dB; peq 20Hz Q=4 -3dB)
this would save an awful lot of time when entering filters
(and ideally expose the same via mcws)
-
Make grid view sorting easier/more intuitive
1) select in search order rather than in reverse
i.e. atm if you want to search by artist > album > track then you'd have to click track then album then artist
make it possible to click artist then album then track instead
2) add a quick "clear sort" button
3) add a quick "remove this column from the sort" button (e.g. double click on the header)
-
When using a view as Panes, panes can be selected as "dropdowns" which give access to a very convenient quick search on the columns (Artist, albums, genre, etc). However, I do not find the use as dropdowns very practical in itself. I would love to have this quick search integrated to the more standard "panes" views such as "Top panes".
I have this use case quite often with composers or conductors, when you remember the name, but are not sure about the firstname to look for in alphabetical sorting.
I am not sure how this could be implemented, maybe simply when clicking on the name of the pane column ?
ZenOli
-
Make grid view sorting easier/more intuitive
1) select in search order rather than in reverse
i.e. atm if you want to search by artist > album > track then you'd have to click track then album then artist
make it possible to click artist then album then track instead
2) add a quick "clear sort" button
3) add a quick "remove this column from the sort" button (e.g. double click on the header)
Yeah, it takes some getting used to how it works now. I'd like to add that drop down menu for sort order would make it even easier.
-
I also like these.
Make grid view sorting easier/more intuitive
1) select in search order rather than in reverse
i.e. atm if you want to search by artist > album > track then you'd have to click track then album then artist
make it possible to click artist then album then track instead
Maybe a Shift+Click to sort in the natural sequence like this, so that compatibility with existing functionality remains.
2) add a quick "clear sort" button
Okay, not so sure about this one, because some sort still need to be used, and the Sort drop-down menu provides quick access to setting the sort to Default. But a "Default Sort" button on the divider between panes would be easier to use.
3) add a quick "remove this column from the sort" button (e.g. double click on the header)
Maybe a Ctrl+Click, for consistencey with the solution for 1. above, and again so that compatibility with existing functionality remains.
-
The option for a much more visible warning when clipping protection engages, visible in theater view.
Augment the audio analysis window to report the timecode when the maximum true peak occurs.
Currently finding peaks and adjusting to prevent clipping in videos is a huge pain.
-
I wish there was a way to completely disable all pop-up transparency in standard view. I do have the Popup transparency mode disabled in the advanced options, BTW. My goal is simple: I just want to be able to read the popup text clearly without the distraction of the faint background glow behind the text.
-
Okay, not so sure about this one, because some sort still need to be used, and the Sort drop-down menu provides quick access to setting the sort to Default. But a "Default Sort" button on the divider between panes would be easier to use.
that makes more sense, a quick way to restore the default sort.
admittedly that particular option is not very far away (tab header > sort by) but IME people miss this, it's not v obvious/intuitive that one should look therefor further options. Another change therefore would be something to make that more accessible, e.g. a thin toolbar/toolbox running vertically down the side?
-
When using a view as Panes, panes can be selected as "dropdowns" which give access to a very convenient quick search on the columns (Artist, albums, genre, etc). However, I do not find the use as dropdowns very practical in itself. I would love to have this quick search integrated to the more standard "panes" views such as "Top panes".
gmusicbrowser (my preferred light-weight music player within Linux -- great alternative to foobar2000) has this feature. Pitty JRiver cant do the same thing.
-
If possible, I'd very much like to see the "Thumbnail Resizer Slider" moved to the upper toolbar and positioned underneath the Search function.
Reason: I sometimes find this slider to be unavailable because my tabs overlaps it when using split views (which I always do). Also, it would look great there.
-
Thanks
-
If anyone wants skins that fit the Fluent Design Acrylic look found in Windows 10, I posted some new skins here (https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,106397.msg813670.html#msg813670).
You'll need to be using MC 24.0.54 and above for it to work. :)
-
Thanks, A.D.
-
No offense, but most of the requests here seem either just to be cosmetics, or they are for very specific weird little things that people want from the interface. If that's the intention of this thread, to tweak the existing interface a tiny little bit and add more features, then I guess it's exactly on track.
Now everyone knows that I like MC. I'm mostly very very ok with the GUI interface.
But some people say from time to time, "Hey the GUI on this looks old and it's really confusing and it really needs an overhaul" aren't seasoned MC users like me. They see something that's foreign that they think would be better if it rewritten from scratch (the GUI part).
This thread was started because of one of those people. If it's not going to address that, then perhaps Jim can make one of his statements to that effect: "Sorry you don't like the current GUI interface, it's not likely to change. Try it a little longer and you might come to appreciate the engineering and user interface decisions we made."
I'm just saying that the intention of the people complaining about the MC interface, and the intention of this thread seem to be completely different from one another.
Thanks for listening.
Brian.
-
Rewritting the entire UI from scratch in a complex application like Media Center is something that just cannot be done, not in a team our size or with our development model. We would have to stop releasing updates for probably half a year (probably longer) in which time we entirely break MC and rebuild it from scratch, and after that you would still have lost half of its flexible functionality. There is only so much easy/simple/intuitive UI you can build while still incorporating all the same features.
So yeah, Jim's statements on that are pretty accurate. Its not that we are stubbornly in love with our current interface, its just entirely infeasiable to revamp it from scratch. Not to mention that we would have to first figure out how that should look, because if the same people build it again without graphical guidance, it might come out quite similar. ;)
Incrementally improving some of the "annoyances", some of the parts that look really old, some of the overly complex things that make it seem so unfriendly to new users - those incremental changes is what we can and want to do. It won't make for an entirely fresh MC experience, but maybe it doesn't have to.
Another thing we can do is offer additional simpler interfaces, like Panel. Of course its still far away from offering any sort of comprehensive control over Media Center, but maybe it can grow towards that. At least it might offer an interface for secondary MC users (Kids, spouses, ..) to easily navigate and use media.
-
I can agree with pretty much everything you said Hendrik. I'm also pretty darned happy with the MC GUI as is.
Brian.
-
Everyone has an opinion about look and feel, and it is impossible to satisfy all.
Hendrik's comments are spot on.
-
MC is at least much better -- not necessarily prettier/more seamless -- than iTunes, Spotify, etc in terms of customization. But it also makes it almost too complex for a lot of folks -- including myself sometimes. At least it can be tweaked. In Spotify, for instance, you'd just have to resign yourself to the fact that it is what it is, and you most likely would never be able to get what you want, EVER. Just go look at their pages and pages and pages of ignored requests they have for simple things like basic visualization effects etc. or better flexibility with media organization. Hehe. Support staff there just say just keep on requesting said feature and maybe they'll consider it. But after 50+ to 80 pages of the same request, eh, you still don't get anything done for some of the most most BASIC requested things. The pace of innovation in terms of interface improvements there moves sooo slow, often they even take away features. Probably for the sake of stability and simplicity? It does cater for the masses...
..
This is probably one of those little things... some people just love transparency effects -- just can't get enough of it. To me at least, I absolutely hate it in the standard view of JRiver. I don't like it in Windows, I don't like it in Linux. I disable it whenever I can. But that's just me.
-
Personally I like the GUI as it is and I'm impressed by the multitude of ways it can be modified to achieve a particular outcome. However a lot of people do seem to find the complexity daunting when there isn't a really easy to use 'how to do it guide' (Yes I know about the wiki). Perhaps someone will write a Dummy's Guide to JRiver - who knows and I would be the first to buy it. Look at Frans post and see where ticking a box to move all files in a folder doesn't do it if the other files are already in the library - confusion like that can cause so much frustration to users.
https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,117443.msg813406.html#msg813406
-
Whilst a visual overhaul/rebranding would be great, I totally understand JRiver’s position. There is a certain charm to the interface anyway and I would rather see incremental improvements that don’t lead to things looking disjointed.
Since I mostly use JRiver in the living room, Theatre View is of most interest to me. Little things do make a big difference here (just removing the dodgy grey cover backdrops in OpenGL was enough to push me into upgrading to MC24!)
Things I would like to see for Theatre View as optional:
- Option to disable the ‘elastic’ effect in applicable (3d) views
- Option to scale up the cover art size (reducing the gap between covers) in the (3d) cover wall view
- Option to change cover art rotation angle (including no rotation) in applicable (i.e the file info?) views
- As tij already posted, provide specific local backdrop support via naming convention (for both music and video). Also make music album backdrops change moving album to album rather than artist too artist
- Additional background option - guassian blur of cover art (a la plex, spotify etc.)
- Anti-aliasing applied to all text
-
I dunno if you also meant GUI changes to panel but my 2 cents here attached as an image..
currently panel is very sparse and there is alot of wasted space under the album cover.
i suggest moving the image to the track and/or expand the image/lyric box to cover the entire height of the left side
best
Z
-
3) add a quick "remove this column from the sort" button (e.g. double click on the header)
Good idea.
Coming next build:
NEW: You can right-click a column and pick "Remove Column From Sorting" to keep the rest of the sort order but remove that single column.
-
The ability to freeze columns (https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,116546.msg805552.html)
-
2) add a quick "clear sort" button
Coming next build:
NEW: Added a "Remove All" button to the sort configuration window (in the menu).
-
One area i've noticed i wish was better. Lack of Control over thumbnail size in other view
Standard view
- Details (too small)
- Tiles (Too Large)
Theater View
- List style (Too Small)
- List style (larger but on the right?)
Is there a name of these list. Theater view does not say what view you're in. I can't find a list of them in the wiki.
Panel
- list view (no thumbnail!!!)
Can't switch view style. The only way is to add a something to the category
Being able to control the thumbnail size would make them look a lot better.
-
I wish there was a way to completely disable all pop-up transparency in standard view. I do have the Popup transparency mode disabled in the advanced options, BTW. My goal is simple: I just want to be able to read the popup text clearly without the distraction of the faint background glow behind the text.
I needed to PM carlismysecondname to get to the bottom of this, but in the next build the truncation tooltips will honor the transparency settings just like the big tooltips.
Thanks for the help!
-
Any chance to get a keyboard shortcut for Library Backup? Or perhaps consider making the command a little more "safe" on the File->Library menu.
The other day I went to do a quick backup and my mouse landed on Clear library by mistake. Luckily I was paying attention...
Would be nice to see some separators or some way to move dangerous commands like Clear Library (and maybe even Restore library) to a spot away from Backup Library.
If one is not really paying attention - this one could hurt. A keyboard shortcut would be excellent - or the ability to add a toolbar button?
VP
-
The other day I went to do a quick backup and my mouse landed on Clear library by mistake. Luckily I was paying attention...
Clear Library throws a dialog before cleaning anything, so I wouldn't really think you could make a mistake.
-
Clear Library throws a dialog before cleaning anything, so I wouldn't really think you could make a mistake.
I realize that - and on a test library - I did make a mistake.
If altering the menu items is not an option - any thoughts on a shortcut (key combo) to run Library backup?
Then i would not need to go into the menus at all.
VP
-
A way to customize the width of the individual panes would be useful
-
If altering the menu items is not an option - any thoughts on a shortcut (key combo) to run Library backup?
That I can do!
Next build:
NEW: Added the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+B to backup the current library.
-
That I can do!
Next build:
NEW: Added the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+B to backup the current library.
Sweet!
Thanks.
VP
-
Any thoughts on the thumbnail sizes? Or bookmark progress bars?
-
Being able to control the thumbnail size would make them look a lot better.
+1 for theatre view. thumbnails are a bit small in certain cover flow views
-
Here is a (probably) simple one:
Windows Explorer Context Menu Icon:
In Windows Explorer, on the right click context menu, when I right click on a media file, one of the choices is "Media Center". This is where you can send stuff to JRiver to play or import. I wish there was a JRiver icon to the left of the "Media Center" entry there so that my eye could find it faster. At least on my computer some other programs have icons, but not JRiver. I could probably create a work around, but it should be automatic (or at least an option).
Also, less important to me, I would like the context menu entry to be called "JRiver Media Center", rather than just "Media Center". But the icon would be good enough.
And thanks for these kinds of threads. You guys don't implement everything, but you have done several, and that is what sets you apart.
BC
-
Add a Custom Context Menu Command section:
When I right click on a media file in JRiver, I want a section of the context menu that I can customize.
I know I can go to Options/Tree & View/Advanced/Right Click Recent Command Count: and set it for up to 8 commands (I wish it was more). Please make the right click context menu customizeable. I use it constantly. I want to have more than 8 commands, I want to choose them, and I want them to stay in one place.
I still want the "Recent Commands", as well. Maybe even as a "Recent Commands not already placed in the Customized section" (though this last is less important).
Anyway, just add a new "customized" section to the context menu.
Thanks again!
-
Panes View Can Display File Count Per Individual Item:
When viewing "Audio" in the tree, I have it set to show custom panes at the top (Your customizable panes may be the best feature of JRiver!): Mixes, Genres, Artists and Albums. At the top of each pane it tells you how many are in each category. For example "All Genres (176)". This is cool. What I want though is to add is an OPTION to display the number of files to the right of each individual mix, genre, artist album.
Here's how it is now:
ALL GENRES (176)
Alternative
Ambient
Bluegrass
etc
Here is what I want:
ALL GENRES (176)
Alternative (1752 files)
Ambient (836 Files)
Bluegrass (168 Files)
etc
I know it tells you at the bottom of the screen the number of files ONCE YOU CLICK on a genre, artist, etc. However; I want to see at a glance how big each category is together while viewing the pane interface.
Thanks for considering!
-
Add a Custom Context Menu Command section:
When I right click on a media file in JRiver, I want a section of the context menu that I can customize.
I know I can go to Options/Tree & View/Advanced/Right Click Recent Command Count: and set it for up to 8 commands (I wish it was more). Please make the right click context menu customizeable. I use it constantly. I want to have more than 8 commands, I want to choose them, and I want them to stay in one place.
I still want the "Recent Commands", as well. Maybe even as a "Recent Commands not already placed in the Customized section" (though this last is less important).
Anyway, just add a new "customized" section to the context menu.
Thanks again!
Yes! Please! Would be a major improvement. Personally I would prefer to have my own fixed choices of commands listed at top level of the context menu and then "Recent Commands" as a sub menu.
-
I have to agree with improving the explorer context menu. My default for audio is actually foobar2000 simply because I do not want to clear my playing now, or change the current view in JRiver, when double clicking an audio file in explorer. So when I want to deliberately open files in JRiver from explorer I always have to right click to display the context menu. Problem is, it really takes a while for my eyes to eventually find the open with Media Center button as it is not so obvious immediately where it is -- esp. if your context menu fills up entire width of the window. *even adding a simple JRiver icon will do.
---
Okay, I think it's also mainly because my context menu is quite over-crowded already with other menu options that also are lacking in icons causing the confusion. I can imagine if your file manager's context menu weren't as crowded as mine, the presence of an small icon wouldn't really add much.
-
associate the files with MC and then a double click in MC would open them.
-
Well, none of my default file associations point to JRiver by choice. Two or three auudio files types open by default with media player classic and the rest in foobar. For videos it’s a split between vlc and powerdvd. For raw photos my default is irfanview and so on... but you get the point.. so I still have to occasionally use the context menu to open media.
-
I have one more suggestion -- however, this may not be possible due to how zones & split view windows are currently implemented:
It would be nice if the currently playing audio track's cover art could be pinned to display ALWAYS, all the time, on the lower left corner even if there is another "playing now" window/tab that is open -- or even when the tagging pane is fully expanded. I see how this could be troublsome for videos playing on two displays, but for simple cover art photos in audio mode, this should be feasible. That way, one can use the playing now display for just the track info lyrics/notes,etc. or diplaying just plain old visualization effects without the cover art completely disappearing from standard view. It does make sense, right?
-
Here are five suggestions for improvement, some already suggested in other threads.
1. An option to lock the magnification slider in Albums view. Way too easy to hit it by mistake!
2. An option to lock a column (view) in Split View. I have Playing Now in the left-hand column, and I never want that to change.
3. An EASY way to add a Radio Station. See https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,117955.0.html (https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,117955.0.html)
4. Tagging: When you're entering an expression to change a set of tags, say
=replace(replace([name],Major,major),Minor,minor)
and something goes wrong, you can hit Ctrl-Z to restore. Why can't the entered expression be kept on a small stack and brought back for editing? A little thing, but a huge time-saver.
5. Label the Y-axis in DSP Studio > analysis.
6. THE BIG ONE, probably TOO big. A way of controlling MC from a remote tablet that gives very much the SAME GUI as on MC itself.
-
2. An option to lock a column (view) in Split View. I have Playing Now in the left-hand column, and I never want that to change.
This is one I would like as well. I'm using Playing Now on the right in a Split View more and more often, and would like to be able to lock it in place and always on Playing Now. I can already lock it to a Zone, but it occasionally shift to a different View when the tab gets focus and I click on another View in the navigation pane.
6. THE BIG ONE, probably TOO big. A way of controlling MC from a remote tablet that gives very much the SAME GUI as on MC itself.
Well, you can have that now. Just buy a Microsoft Surface and use it as Tremote (https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Tremote).
But I guess you want an Android version of MC or similar?
-
Would love a small "watched" tick or flag that I could apply at the folder level that is auto updated, so when displaying a list of shows in the MC GUI I can tell at a glance where I'm up to.
Looks as though this has been discussed in the forum previously.
-
I have seriously thought of getting a microsoft surface go to get the full GUI even moreso portable and always with me as Mike48 has suggested with a tablet. So that I could at least use sonarworks, redline monitor, and the rest of my other VST plugins on the “Go” ;)
But am partly hesitant as it may be underpowered... and not have enough juice before soon needing a recharge. I also believe you can’t put in a sim card to that surface yet for cellular internet connectivity.
It’s just annoyingly difficult to EQ all of my cans on an iphone even with Audioforge — got too many headphones.
-
Would love a small "watched" tick or flag that I could apply at the folder level that is auto updated
Do you mean at the Season level of a TV Series? MC works at the file level, so it isn't aware of a folder full of files, just files and where they are stored. But it could put a flag on a Season if all Episodes in the Season had a status of watched. That would be nice. It could be done at the Series level as well.
It should also be possible now by adding an "Expression to Display" in the Theatre View view configuration. There was a thread on something similar recently... that I can't find now.
But am partly hesitant as it may be underpowered... and not have enough juice before soon needing a recharge. I also believe you can’t put in a sim card to that surface yet for cellular internet connectivity.
Portable battery packs add life to a power-hungry device.
Surface Pro supports SIM Cards: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/4056486/surface-insert-sim-card-surface
https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-surface-pro-with-lte-advanced-is-built-in-mobile-networking-worth-the-price/
Also, a lower spec Surface could be tethered to a phone, which you are likely always be carrying. Or a mobile broadband device, if you prefer. Or just use your home or public Wi-Fi.
-
Do you mean at the Season level of a TV Series?
Yes something similar to what is outlined here https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=85974.0/ (https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=85974.0/)
This thread was a few years back but I'm not sure if it was ever looked at being implemented as part of MC, or even if this approach still works as the thread mentions some errors being introduced.
-
Well, you can have that now. Just buy a Microsoft Surface and use it as Tremote (https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Tremote).
But I guess you want an Android version of MC or similar?
Something that won't require me to buy an expensive new tablet. Maybe it's not practical.
-
The surface pro models are rather expensive, that’s why I was thinking of the Go myself. But still, without the keyboard and possible CPU bottleneck it might not be good value as of yet.
-
1. An option to lock the magnification slider in Albums view. Way too easy to hit it by mistake
There is a way of doing this right now (although not with JRiver’s default albums view) by simply filling up that row thus hiding the slider.
See the attached image on an earlier post I made above.
*adding the option of hiding the slider for all views should be easier to implement. Even better would be to add a custom toolbar button to instantly hide or show the thumbnail slider... should easily get rid of that thumbnail resizing problem.
-
This thread was a few years back but I'm not sure if it was ever looked at being implemented as part of MC, or even if this approach still works as the thread mentions some errors being introduced.
The Watch() function seems to have been around for ages:
https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Formatting_Functions#Watched
But it has been tweaked over time
https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=77602
What was implemented isn't as precise as Glynor's solution, I believe, but it gives you the basics and some flexibility. I think Glynor's solution came out of the discussion above, as an improvement he wanted. I also think there have been some other improvements since that time.
https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,115863.msg800702.html#msg800702
-
I think Glynor's solution came out of the discussion above, as an improvement he wanted. I also think there have been some other improvements since that time
Thanks Roderick, I missed that update to the Watched thread, certainly looks as though it should be a workable solution.
The code snippets are specific to Theatre View, I'm assuming they can be edited to work with Standard View?
-
I know I can go to Options/Tree & View/Advanced/Right Click Recent Command Count: and set it for up to 8 commands (I wish it was more).
I asked for this years ago, and Matt (I think) very kindly posted details on how to edit the registry and set this to however many you want. For a while I had 20 recent commands. Then I upgraded to the next MC and forgot to do the registry hack. Now I wish I knew it again. I may go looking for that post from back then, unless Matt reads this and is prepared to share again.
-
The code snippets are specific to Theatre View, I'm assuming they can be edited to work with Standard View?
Without looking at each of them, generally code that works in Theatre View works in Standard View, if it is used in the same context. i.e. A search expression from TV works as a search expression in SV. Same for a display expression.
Try stuff out. Just backup your library first.
I asked for this years ago, and Matt (I think) very kindly posted details on how to edit the registry and set this to however many you want.
"Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\JRiver\Media Center 24\Properties" and
It is also in at least one other place, under "Computer\HKEY_USERS\". I'm not sure which one actually matters. The one above I think.
> "View - Right Click MRU Count" DWord. Set it to 20.
-
6. THE BIG ONE, probably TOO big. A way of controlling MC from a remote tablet that gives very much the SAME GUI as on MC itself.
You could use Splashtop (https://www.splashtop.com/) on your tablet then you can not only control MC from your tablet, but you could also control your entire PC from your tablet.
-
Without looking at each of them, generally code that works in Theatre View works in Standard View, if it is used in the same context. i.e. A search expression from TV works as a search expression in SV. Same for a display expression.
Try stuff out. Just backup your library first.
"Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\JRiver\Media Center 24\Properties" and
It is also in at least one other place, under "Computer\HKEY_USERS\". I'm not sure which one actually matters. The one above I think.
> "View - Right Click MRU Count" DWord. Set it to 20.
Thanks very much, RGI!
-
Top thing I want is to be able to hightlight a name in the "Artist" column and have a selection for "Ignore" which will bring up a field to type in what you want to Ignore.
So if it says Jon Bon Jovi - I can Ignore Jon and next time I sort by name it will only search for Bon Jovi.
Second thing would be to have two Hot-keys - one to pull text from row above you and another from the row below you
Third another Hot-key would be, when you hightlight a row to be able to show Cover Art like you do when you hover over the row with your mouse.
-
Top thing I want is to be able to hightlight a name in the "Artist" column and have a selection for "Ignore" which will bring up a field to type in what you want to Ignore.
MC's search facility already contains this functionality. It's almost as easy as the pop up you describe. For your "Bon Jovi" example, where you want to ignore "Jon", you just do this:
Go to the search box and type: Bon Jovi -Jon
The "-" tells MC to ignore (or remove from the search results) that word. You can do multiple words with multiple "-" clauses. Or if you want to ignore a specific phrase you can put that in quotes like:
Pink Floyd -"these days"
That would remove any song or album containing the words "these days" in sequence, but show you every other pink floyd song and album in your view.
Brian.
-
MC's search facility already contains this functionality. It's almost as easy as the pop up you describe. For your "Bon Jovi" example, where you want to ignore "Jon", you just do this:
Go to the search box and type: Bon Jovi -Jon
The "-" tells MC to ignore (or remove from the search results) that word. You can do multiple words with multiple "-" clauses. Or if you want to ignore a specific phrase you can put that in quotes like:
Pink Floyd -"these days"
That would remove any song or album containing the words "these days" in sequence, but show you every other pink floyd song and album in your view.
Brian.
What I want this for would be to click on the column Artist and have it sort right (how I want it to sort).
So in this case if I scrolled down to the B's you would find Jon Bon Jovi there instead of scrolling down to the J's.
Yes I have figured out how to do this by using my own field (one besides Artist) but since I sort most everything by Artist, I'd rather be able to manipulate that.
-
Repeating some UX suggestions as a vote for them, plus additional:
+ Left column tree, ability to hide/show most or all of the items, at their top level and/or sublevels. It is cluttered with things I don't use, but others would desire a different mix; let us customize. But with this change, provide a straightforward way to show the entire tree, then revert to the prior hide/show mode.
+ Customizable right-click would be wonderful, and/or expand the number of Recent items. (It would be interesting to know what everyone's Recent items are, in case there's a pattern that could help MC better organize the fixed right-click options.)
+ Do not auto-expand Playing Now, I've never found the things it exposes to be useful at that time, it just clutters the left column.
+ Allow more customization of menus and toolbar and the like, to further improve user efficiency. For instance, the Action Window has a bunch of actions I never ever use (used to, but not anymore), yet my brain must scan the long-ish list to select the one item I want. Let the user choose what actions are in the Action Window, presuming everything else continues to be in the menus. Which raises the point, why does the top menu not have an Actions item that contains the same things as the Action Window menu?
+ How about more consistent organizing and labeling of menu options? At least a few things are not where expected, either given different names, or suboptions of other things that require experience to discover and remember. For instance, Player > Display Options offers a bit of control over how Cover Art images appear, but that's all. YET, there's a lot more display to control while playing a track.. but how? The same Player menu also has Playing Now and Playback Options, which seem useful but do NOT provide control over what is on-screen while playing (huh?). It likely takes several clicks to determine what is controlled in these three sections of the Player menu. But gets worse, because several major Playing Now / Display settings are usually hidden, with no clue they exist, unless Display Options is improved.
+ With Display Options as an example, improve placement of action/menu items that (oddly) only appear within other things, otherwise being not useable or even findable. EXAMPLE: How to control what is shown during playing now, while a track is playing? Very obscure to control. Seems like Player menu item Display Options might do it, but it just provides diddling with Cover Art image. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE: Play a track and essential display options appear -- but only while a track is playing. Stop the track and they disappear again. It takes luck to click Display Options while actually playing and discover the wonders it usually hides.
+ Add UI options for Images Only and Video Only to the current Audio Only mode. Not having this makes MC much more confusing to learn and use, because inappropriate things are not obviously inappropriate, and sometimes lead to unwanted outcomes. And, since MC already provides Triple Value (there's a marketing bullet point) by handling the three main media types, why not make it simpler to cleanly use them?
+ Support PDF as a fourth media type. Having straightforward support of PDF organizing, viewing and tagging could be a big big attraction in business contexts.
+ Allow Tag window to be floated -- and/or provide a separate floating, resizable tag window that can be opened and kept open as the user desires. This has been requested forever, so likely it is not easy, but perhaps there's a compromise? Expanding the fixed tag box is not ideal, because it requires extra clicking to open/close, and because sometimes the need is to see wider fields as well as more fields.
+ Allow font control in views, at the row and/or column level. Not all columns/fields are of equal importance to the user, it would be nice to do things like show song names larger, artist names in bold, certain fields in monospaced font -- whatever the user wants.
+ Allow customized view layouts to be interchangeable among ALL view-type screens, to save and re-use in any type of view, whether user-created or built-in or generated by MC or whatever. It is crazy to get a view all tweaked up then have to do it again and again, with built-in views at some point discarding the user changes.
I don't know what is "simple" for JR to implement, but helping current and new users seems desirable. I'm watching the current rebirth of WinAmp, which claims to have the largest world-wide user base, and promises all kinds of UI and features improvements. It might be a new ballgame...
-
+ Support PDF as a fourth media type. Having straightforward support of PDF organizing, viewing and tagging could be a big big attraction in business contexts.
I have a PDF added to my Library.
I know when you set it up for like Audio, Video, Image, Data - that you have to have Data selected.
Maybe that is new, I don't know.
-
I go with BigEntry
The GUI has to be complex to do the things it does.
Personally I spend little time in the main app, I maintain my library there then it’s JRemote on either iPad or Android phone in my listening chair.
As a tool it doesn’t have to look sexy but it does have to have the functionality
I have used Mc for 7 years with no major complaints
Don’t try to turn it into something it isn’t
Mike
-
In theatre view, horizontal navigated views, make page up advance one whole page to the right and page down go back one whole page to the left (like wmc).
-
There is a way of doing this right now (although not with JRiver’s default albums view) by simply filling up that row thus hiding the slider.
Thanks for that! I've added another tab just to hide that slider.
-
Similar to some above - I would like to be able to choose the size and location of music artwork in the theater view Playing Now screen. If I have a cool slide show going behind the art I would like to make it medium or small size and put it in a corner so it is still there but I can see more of the slideshow behind it.
Thanks for considering!
-
There is the possibility in JRiver, to view the library of movies with the frequency logo Hz (frame rate) like this ?
(https://www.son-video.com/images/dynamic/DAC_et_lecteurs_reseau/articles/Zappiti/ZAPPLAY/Zappiti-Player_Vd1_600.jpg)
Or is it possible to use an external skin that allows it?
Thanks
-
A small but v useful (timesaving) one for the DSP studio window
Add a copy button so you can copy the highlighted row
-
I like the idea of updating the video playback OSD - its not a new one, either. Get some additional info on the main OSD page, remove some of the "informational" pages in the process (since its on the main page then), and keep the settings pages.
It would increase the usability as well, since some of those rarely used pages with the description etc are being consolidated, and only the actually useful pages remain.
Unfortunately I'm a bit challenged in the graphical creativity department :D
How about utilizing tool tip engine's codebase here? That way it would be also user configurable. Of course aspect ratio of the rectangle would be different from attached image