Actually, no. That is precisely its most useful value.
I realized upon reflection that the above statement doesn't make very much sense without further explanation. It is precisely its most useful value because it helps to prevent the very situation you described. It can help stop you from having to tag things one at a time, all mixed together (or keeps it to an absolute minimum). Having to tag things by hand one at a time with no grouping or context for the "import" is the "nightmare scenario". I strive to never let myself be in that situation.
When I'm tagging, I tend to "bubble sort" the list. I select and subselect in the file list (usually via searches and Control-A, not the mouse, but occasionally I do it manually if it is faster), batch editing in every conceivable way possible. I try to tag as much as is humanly possible in batches before ever entering anything manually. Often, I batch edit the data via the Tag AW (which is why it mattered to me in this thread, obviously), but not always. Usually, you can avoid the one-at-a-time tabbing through the files except for one or two fields ([Name] and [Description] fields end up biting me the most). But even then using the in-place editing in the Details Columns is sometimes quicker (if you have to manually set a bunch of [Name] fields, that usually works well).
Of course, I strive to extract as much metadata out of the existing filename structure as is possible. That covers many things, but if you have a bunch of non-homogeneous filenames, you can't always get it from the filenames (though Find and Replace Expressions are powerful). In these cases, you can use drag drop to simultaneously tag: [Artist], [Album], [Genre], [Subgenre], [Media Sub Type], and [Keywords] all at once literally with one "drop". Need a few more keywords added? Just take the files you already have selected, and the portion of the tree you already have open, and drop them in 4 or 5 or 6 more places (actually, I almost always have a keywords pane available, so I usually just do it there).
That is certainly not the best method for all situations, but it sure can be for a lot of them that I encounter every day.
But, of course, I also try very hard not to have a situation with a bunch of non-homogeneous files to tag, because that slows me down and makes me data enter it manually, like filling out a spreadsheet.
But again, none of that is to say that being able to, when it is needed, tab through the Tag AW isn't necessary! Absolutely not. And, my way may very well
not be the best way for you, and the way you organize your data, and your file set or workflow (sounds likely). Heck, if you happen to be working on laptop, then drag-dropping and point accurate mousing is NEVER going to be the most efficient way. I change my behavior dramatically when I'm on a machine with limited (or alternative) input options. Crafting my technique to the tool available. Similarly, if you happen to just not be very good with a mouse, then maybe mouse-based methods would never work well for you. Personally, I'm EXTREMELY fast, accurate, and precise with the mouse (a skill I honed over many years spent hunting headshots with a sniper rifle in the latest FPS game du jour). I can swing my 5000dpi mouse across the pad and cross all three 1080p monitors in the blink of an eye and stop on a dime. I often have my mouse pointer positioned and waiting for a button or checkbox or radio button to appear while waiting for the UI to bring up a dialog box. But I also know someone at work who is a very talented designer, but he is comparatively bad with the mouse, but can type and mash the keyboard to switch all around the OSX UI like it's nobody's business. My boss almost never touches a mouse, and does almost everything with her Wacom pen, and one hand on the keyboard.
But knowing the alternatives sure
might be useful for a lot of people who don't know that there are other options.
So anyway... MusicHawk and rick.ca: We almost entirely agree on everything. Maybe not the exact details, but pretty much we agree.
So, the frustrated users might boil down to those of us managing large/growing heterogeneous music libraries, who are regularly working with individual records, AND who are fluent on the keyboard, probably touch typists. For us, MC's recent change is like having a car swap the function of gas and brake pedals depending on whether we're on a "Street" vs. "Avenue", compounded by the engine dying in every parking lot. (Sorry, I like analogies...)
You'll probably like the next build that comes out on the public board. Look for it. The system in the build from last Friday is not untouched by any means. Those J River guys get a bunch of stuff done in a couple of days.
Poll
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Topic: Poll: Action window editing behaviour (Read 11975 times)