My last issue is that in the past when a file was missing, the cover art would have a minus sign (I believe) and I could then simply remove the file from MC. I am often moving and deleting files and I do this outside of MC. Now there is no [edited to correct the meaning] easy way for me to see files that no longer exist and which i want to remove from my MC library. this is quite annoying for me.
Actually that function should still be working, if you have the setting "Options > Tree & View > Advanced > Display missing file image in lists (slow on network drives)" turned on.
But it does appear to be broken. I no longer get the red icon with the white line through it as I did previously, when that setting is on, as shown in the attached image.
There was a change to speed up the process earlier in MC26. Maybe that broke something.
26.0.42 (3/27/2020)
7. Changed: "Tree & View > Advanced > Display missing file image in lists" will now be used in the thread that checks file existence (to avoid shutdown lags, etc.).
Of course, if you have the setting at the bottom of the Auto Import configuration called "Fix broken links" set to "Yes" or "Yes (protect files on missing drives)", then MC will remove any files missing from either just local drives, or all drives, when Auto Import is run.
Plus as EnglishTiger says, there is a standard Smartlist to show missing audio files, and you could create new Views or Smartlists that showed any missing files how you wanted to see them.
Regarding this issue:
Recently, I noticed a change in the TAGS system whereby once you choose a tag, the focus remains on the tag until you push the ESC key to remove the focus.
If I understand you correctly, you have clicked on a tag contents field in the Tag Action Window, and it is opened for editing. Then unless you remember to press escape, it or any tag you move to remains open for editing, so it is easy to accidentally make tag changes.
Well, there was a lot of discussion around how the new tag window should work, some issues, and some fixes to prevent accidental editing. If you search the forum you may find the discussion.
Anyway, there are two things you can do;
1. Click on the
tag name instead of pressing escape to close tag editing. Clicking on the tag name now opens the tag for editing, and closes and saves changes. Much quicker usually, as you have your hand on the mouse and are clicking anyway.
2. If you accidentally edit a tag, Ctrl+Z immediately and the change will be undone. Be careful using Ctrl+Z though, as it undoes the last change, even if that change or the file(s) being changed aren't visible any more.
It is a slightly new paradigm. But not hard to get used to.