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More => Old Versions => JRiver Media Center 19 for Windows => Topic started by: chrisjj on January 19, 2014, 06:42:22 pm

Title: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: chrisjj on January 19, 2014, 06:42:22 pm
What's a quick way to evaluate an expression for the selected track? I'm developing Calculated Data expressions, and would like a quicker way to test each as I change it, than editing in the Library Options. Thanks.
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: MrC on January 19, 2014, 06:51:45 pm
Use an expression column in a view; either a pane expression or a file list column expression, depending upon your needs.  I workout all my expressions this way, often several columns each with sub-expressions.
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: chrisjj on January 19, 2014, 07:07:32 pm
Thanks. Do you close the editor dialog to see the value, and then reopen each time to make an edit?
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: MrC on January 19, 2014, 07:08:03 pm
Yup, that's a bit of a pain, but that's what you have to do.  Directory Opus has a nice feature where you Alt-click a button or control and the editor opens.  I'd like to see the same thing in MC someday (shortcut for Edit Expression Column).
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: chrisjj on January 19, 2014, 07:11:58 pm
Yup, that's a bit of a pain, but that's what you have to do.

OK, thanks.

Directory Opus has a nice feature where you Alt-click a button or control and the editor opens.  I'd like to see the same thing in MC someday (shortcut for Edit Expression Column).

I'd like to a see a feature such as the Mp3tag editor dialog that shows the live-updated value of the expression being edited - no keypress required.
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: MrC on January 19, 2014, 07:14:56 pm
You and me both.  But this is fairly complicated I suspect...
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: chrisjj on January 19, 2014, 07:33:50 pm
But this is fairly complicated I suspect...

I cannot see how.
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: MrC on January 19, 2014, 07:53:29 pm
You seem to be in argumentative mode.

I'm not sure its important that you "see how" something is complex or not.  Its not even important that I'm right or wrong on this.  All I can do is tell you what I know, or understanding, about how MC works and how I think it has to work (given my own experience and training).

I'm happy to help you where I can.  But let's avoid the back and forth banter that is entirely unproductive.
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: MrC on January 20, 2014, 12:27:54 pm
OK, thanks.

I'd like to a see a feature such as the Mp3tag editor dialog that shows the live-updated value of the expression being edited - no keypress required.

Actually, there is a trick you can use sometimes.   The Rename dialog provides live updates, but has a few limitations and differences, but can still be useful.
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: chrisjj on January 20, 2014, 03:44:03 pm
Actually, there is a trick you can use sometimes.   The Rename dialog provides live updates, but has a few limitations and differences, but can still be useful.

Thanks. Useful indeed. (I found it on the Rename, Move and Copy Files command, rather than Rename.)

The limitations I've found are (unsurprisingly) the replacement of ? : and other path-illegal characters by _ (underscore), and collapse of multiple \ to one.

Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: MrC on January 20, 2014, 03:53:10 pm
Exactly.  And that you're stuck using Filename field as the input.
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: chrisjj on January 20, 2014, 03:58:15 pm
And that you're stuck using Filename field as the input.

You've lost me there, MrC. What input? I find I can use other fields e.g. [Name] .
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: MrC on January 20, 2014, 04:05:51 pm
The Input is Filename, shown under the column Original.  You can only use this as a value for which to apply your expressions in the Directories and Filename rules.
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: chrisjj on January 20, 2014, 05:02:30 pm
The Input is Filename, shown under the column Original.  You can only use this as a value for which to apply your expressions in the Directories and Filename rules.

I can use any field I've tried. E.g. Album:

(http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/9164/b48a.png)
Title: Re: Quick way to evaluate an expression?
Post by: MrC on January 20, 2014, 05:21:30 pm
Yes, of course, so long as you ignore the leading stuff from Filename.

You can even simulate a Before and After by doing something like:

    BEFORE=[Album]  AFTER=left([Album],4)