No one else will say it, so I'll have to. It looks like a nod to those rabid anti-doc-ites.
I suppose there may be other issues with a display panel and a UI sharing the same space. But it does beg the question—why add functionality that will make it useful to just about everyone, but not provide a UI that would make it largely self-explanatory and much easier to use? Some didn't like seeing Play Doctor because they had no use for the feature. It's now impossible to argue it has no purpose. Besides, it's a special view for creating and managing Playing Now playlists—why shouldn't it have a UI suitable to that purpose?
The mysterious 'Type to Play' leaves me in the dark until I've done so and the options dialog pops up (and after I'm done, I can't get it back). That's annoying, because those options—particularly the
Rules for files to be included—may have a direct bearing on the
Search I specify. Looking at
Playlists > Play Doctor, however, it's perfectly clear how the list is specified. Even some of the annoying mystery of the old PD is removed by showing (when applicable) '[Field]=search term'. We shouldn't have to switch to Playlists to see this information. Even if one adapts to how this works, it should be possible to recall any search, modify it, and save it to the same or another button.
This is my suggestion:
- Show only buttons. On click-and-hold, open a complete playlist window that includes all settings, options, and necessary controls.
- This window would include...
- Button name (of selected button) - editable, or select different button from drop-down;
- Search - with drop-down (exactly as it is now), but the result displayed as in the Playlist editor;
- Variety - a 'none...lots' slider with tooltip to describe discrete setting chosen;
- Rules for files to include - standard dialog with field, operator, value drop-downs (with a control to add another);
- Include tracks from LastFM;
- Controls - including Save, Play, Close (only Close closes window, so it can remain open for modification after list is generated).
- There is a standard/separate dialog for Rules for files to include, but I'd much rather it be embedded in the window—so the rules remain visible along with the Search and other settings.
- Controls would include Save as default—a buttonless 00. Default playlist—used as the starting point for any new button. I suppose it could be included in the Button name drop-down. That would make a lot more sense than the last-used Rules for files to be included being applied to every new configuration.
- [After thought #1] The settings should include an automatic Remove duplicates option. If I understand correctly, that can only be done after the list is created—and that's one reason why there's a manual PN command for that. But it would be nice if that could be done automatically after the list is created, and after more tracks are added by PD.
- [After thought #2] The button of the currently playing list should be highlighted. If necessary for those who think this thing is a 50-year-old car radio, a pushed-in button look would be fine with me. That would go nice with the rear view mirror visualization framed by giant tail fins.
The buttons would be the only visible part of the interface (tooltip: Play. Hold down for configuration window.) The
Play Doctor Configuration could be called for any button without affecting the PN list. It would show at a glance exactly how the search is specified. Then any desired action can be taken and the window closed.
This would be much more accessible and self-explanatory for new users. As it is, every new user is going to ask how it works, what can they do with it, etc., etc. At the same time, it will be much more convenient and flexible for more advanced users.
And Nick could handle it in his sleep.
