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[gazjam]

Hi from Scotland in the UK.

JRiver setup on server playing trough Dac/hifi displaying on big plasma on the wall.
95% of the time use Theater View, which is great for this setup, cant fault it.

One thing I miss though is the branching functionality you get in standard view?
Right click, locate, artist/album/genre etc.
Listening to music I tend to hear a track and say "I remember that album it was great, lets listen to some more of that".

So I switch back into standard view, goto Now Playing, right click on track, locate...etc.
Would be great if this was possible in Theater View in future builds?
I know you can Search, but not quite the same.
Track Info in Theater View gives you basic metadata, but can the branching functionality be built into this somehow?

Just thinking out loud what I think would be a killer feature (for me!)

[gappie]

One thing I miss though is the branching functionality you get in standard view?
Right click, locate, artist/album/genre etc.
Listening to music I tend to hear a track and say "I remember that album it was great, lets listen to some more of that".

I made a button on my remote to just do that.
but you can add it to Theater View several ways. the idea is to make a smartlist which gives you the whole album of the song that is playing now.

Code: [Select]

[Media Type]=[Audio] [=isplaying()]=1 ~aclick on the import/export button of the new smartlist and paste that code.
now you can find it in Theater View in the playlists.

I took the playlists away from Theater View, but you can make a new view there and just show that smartlist there, or you don't make a smartlist, but just make a view in Theater View using that code which does the same, or you can link it as a command.. lots of options.  

 
gab

[apostos]

How about the ability to select the Album (cover artwork) in 'Playing Now', clicking 'Enter' and being taken to the 'Track List View' for that selection. Both views already exist. All you need is the link.

[glynor]

I've asked before for something similar.  I'd love to see this implemented:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=84964.msg586630#msg586630

[gazjam]

Great info guys, thanks.

this ...
[Media Type]=[Audio] [=isplaying()]=1 ~a

Is there a statement that can call up all albums by that artist?

ta!

[MrC]

There is only ~a, which expands a single track to the list of tracks on an Album.

The concept of an Album is a bit special in MC, since all entries in MC are file-based (so there is magic to make an Album act and feel like a collection).

[gazjam]

Ah well, still good though I can call up tracks on an album, so thanks guys for the info

[AndrewFG]

One thing I miss though is the branching functionality you get in standard view?
Right click, locate, artist/album/genre etc.
Listening to music I tend to hear a track and say "I remember that album it was great, lets listen to some more of that".

+1

This is something that I would also love to see. I miss it particularly because it is something that was available on the old Squeezebox platform (RIP). In that application you could see the Artist, Album, Genre, Year, Composer etc. of the Now Playing track, and by right clicking you could drill down to a list of all other albums by the same artist, all other tracks on that album, all other albums in the same genre, all other albums from the same year, etc. etc. - It is (was / would be) a really nice feature.

[connersw]

Is there a statement that can call up all albums by that artist?

Below is what I use.  You may not need to sort by description or filter out multi-channel tracks based on your Library/Views.  Just Import/Export into a new Smartlist, then edit as needed.

Code: [Select]

([IsPlayingNow]=[1] or [Media Type]=[Audio]) [Channels]=2 ~sort=[IsPlayingNow]-d ~limit=1,-1,[Artist] ~sort=[Date (year)]-d,[Description],[Disc #],[Track #]
Note: IsPlayingNow is custom Library Field that I created (Library & Folders -> Manage Library Fields... -> Add New Field) that uses the Expression IsPlaying().  You will need to create the Library Field first for the Smartlist to work.

Good info here:  http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=58137.msg393905#msg393905


+1 (again) for dynamic navigation within Theater View and Gizmo.  Not holding my breath for much improvement within MC any longer though.

[glynor]

+1 (again) for dynamic navigation within Theater View and Gizmo.  Not holding my breath for much improvement within MC any longer though.

What's with the negativity?

Come on people now, smile on your brothers, and all that.  They've been doing some amazing work even though they've been somewhat crippled without Matt of late.

[fitbrit]

What's with the negativity?

Come on people now, smile on your brothers, and all that.  They've been doing some amazing work even though they've been somewhat crippled without Matt of late.

Agreed. While updates aren't as frequent since Matt's absence, the ones we do get are full of fixes and long-requested changes. MC is a better product, more polished product for it.

[AndrewFG]

^

I think part of the negativity is due to people who say that because TheaterView screens are customisable it would be "too difficult" to do a context based drill down...

[Starchild1]

Greetings all,

I have a similar question.  This may be more due to operator error but using the genre selection in theater view doesn't give me the categories I get in standard view.  Standard view groups my albums by whatever genre I selected in the metadata (I tend to customize the metadata to group my albums  in a manner that's more meaningful to me.).  However, when I'm in theater view, the selection of genre lists the albums by artist name rather than by genre.  I don't see how to customize the view.  I'd appreciate any information on how to change this.

Thanks,
Mike

[glynor]

The Media Views in Theater View are separate from those shown in the Tree in Standard View.

You can customize Theater View via Tools > Options > Theater View.  When you click the Add button to add a new view, you can import them from Standard View, though, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get what you want.

One recommendation: Don't just blindly import things from Standard View without modification.  I find it is often more convenient to have 4-6 Categories (shown as panes) in Standard View, but that deep of a "drill down" view in Theater View isn't as workable.  Instead, make more Views in Theater View that are specialized for particular types of media, and limit what they show via the Files to Show search.

I still haven't updated it or re-recorded the sound, but I made this:
https://vimeo.com/80925331

[glynor]

^

I think part of the negativity is due to people who say that because TheaterView screens are customisable it would be "too difficult" to do a context based drill down...

In the thread I linked above, I mentioned that (Actually, I didn't say that, but I am pretty sure that...) I'd asked for this kind of thing a few times, and I remember that Matt generally expressed support.  I haven't bothered to look for the threads, but I remember that pretty clearly.  I think you could easily work around the issues by just taking you to a flat-listing of files "within the view" you're currently using.  Essentially, it would be like it:

1. Searches "over top of" the searches used in the current view.  Essentially, temporarily adds the search to the Set Rules for File Display of the current view.
2. Automatically drills down through the View's Categories (if any) to get to the File Level listing.  This would be the same as choosing All > All > All through each category.

That way, you could navigate "backwards" through the Categories if you want to further sub-filter the results, much like you can do in Standard View.  This is basically just how the feature works in Standard View, except that the panes always are set to "All" by default.  Even if the view in question doesn't actually have the Show All option enabled, MC could do it anyway when used in this mode.

The most difficult UI part would be: how do you clear this search?  I'd say that switching out of the particular View and into any other would clear it.

[Starchild1]

Thanks for the information.  That was just what I needed.  I look forward to seeing your finished video.

Happy Listening!, 

Mike

[gazjam]

Below is what I use.  You may not need to sort by description or filter out multi-channel tracks based on your Library/Views.  Just Import/Export into a new Smartlist, then edit as needed.

Code: [Select]

([IsPlayingNow]=[1] or [Media Type]=[Audio]) [Channels]=2 ~sort=[IsPlayingNow]-d ~limit=1,-1,[Artist] ~sort=[Date (year)]-d,[Description],[Disc #],[Track #][/color]

Note: IsPlayingNow is custom Library Field that I created (Library & Folders -> Manage Library Fields... -> Add New Field) that uses the Expression IsPlaying().  You will need to create the Library Field first for the Smartlist to work.

Good info here:  http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=58137.msg393905#msg393905[/i][/i][/color]


A little update...
Got the "tracks in currently playing album" sorted as an option in Theater View - fantastic.

The above though, did exactly that but it still doesn't work.
It does let you view all albums by artist, but it makes no connection to whats currently playing and gives all albums by RANDOM artist!

So instead of clicking on option to find all albums by currently playing artist...its gives all albums by a RANDOM artist.
As though the expression is not tied in to the newly created "IsPlayingNow" field?
I've double checked for syntax etc, all seems ok.
That field, do any of the parameters need to be changed from the default? (String, deliminated list etc etc)

Any help appreciated thanks.
Will make Theater view even better for me if i can get this to work.
+1 (again) for dynamic navigation within Theater View and Gizmo.  Not holding my breath for much improvement within MC any longer though.
[/quote]

[MrC]

You don't need the IsPlayingNow library field you created.  You can replace the:

   [IsPlayingNow]=[1]

in the smartlist with:

   [=IsPlaying()]=1

[theoctavist]

hi gaz! tr

thanks for the thread, was just about to ask the same

[gazjam]

You don't need the IsPlayingNow library field you created.  You can replace the:

   [IsPlayingNow]=[1]

in the smartlist with:

   [=IsPlaying()]=1

Thanks for that, didn't QUITE work though sorry!
Wonder if there's something not quite right in the Smartlist expression?
This is a cut'n'paste of the exact expression...

[=IsPlaying()]=1 [Media Type]=[Audio] [Channels]=2 ~sort=[IsPlayingNow]-d ~limit=1,-1,[Artist] ~sort=[Date (year)]-d,[Description],[Disc #],[Track #]

Still learning about expression in MC, but wonder if there should be a reference to "album" in there?

Thanks for any help, almost there!

[gazjam]

hi gaz! tr

thanks for the thread, was just about to ask the same

ello...

Yeah, getting this branching functionality (or close to it) in Theatre View would be the cherry on top for me.
JRiver is the most important piece of software on my music server and Theater View works best for me as I sit 10 feet away from the plasma in the listening room.
Middle age approaches and its getting harder to read the text in Standard View!

(...don't want to increase font size, looks clunky )

[gazjam]

Ah...spotted I had a second "IsPlayingNow" in my expression which I didn't replace.
Will try that.


*Edit*
Made the change, all I'm getting is the current track that's playing?
Any ideas guys?
Exact expression here:

[=IsPlaying()]=1 or [Media Type]=[Audio]) [Channels]=2 ~sort=[=IsPlaying()]-d ~limit=1,-1,[Artist] ~sort=[Date (year)]-d,[Description],[Disc #],[Track #]

*reading up more on expression language, pretty powerful stuff in JRiver.

[MrC]

There's a basic problem with that smartlist:

   ([IsPlayingNow]=[1] or [Media Type]=[Audio]) ...

The OR operator in search is not short-circuiting.  It means:

    Expands the results returned by accepting matches of either (or both) of the search terms s1 or s2.

This means you're getting back then entire audio library, always.

I can't think of a way using the Search langauge to do the short circuiting you want (if X is true, give me THESE rules, otherwise give me THOSE results)

More on Search:

   http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Smartlist_and_Search_-_Rules_and_Modifiers

[connersw]

I find it easier to create the Library Field (since I use it in several Smartlists) rather than use an Expression within an Expression.  It is a Calculated field; the Data section is irrelevant.  See screen shot shots below. 

[gazjam]

connersw,
thanks so much for the screenshots, made it clearer...problem solved.
 
My previous expression wasn't working because I had left out the expression in the "Calculated Data" box.
Working as expected now, great.

I've set up a new Library field called "now playing" for Theater View, containing the two new smartlists "Album tracks" and "Other albums".
The "other albums" button works as expected now I've put the Calculated data=IsPlaying(), great, but one thing would improve it, sorry for another question!

The other albums smartlist is being brought up as a list of all tracks by that artist ordered by each album.
For artists with lots of albums that's bringing up a list of hundreds of tracks to plough through!

Is it possible to have the smartlist "other albums" group by album with thumbnail for each, then album tracks listed when you click on that?

I'll see if I can work it out, but in the meantime any help with really appreciated.
*edit* now understand this may be a function of the "toggle list view" preset views...Is there another way to achieve the same thing?
If not, its fine. Just a minor inconvenience point no big.

thanks guys.

[gazjam]

@connersw,

You mentioned sort by album and track and that you have a way to sort by "similar"?
Is this like being able to branch from [IsPlayingNow]=[1] by Genre (or style)?

How does "sort by similar" work in your setup, tried to work it ouot i mine and couldn't get it to work.
sounds a very good thing to have.
If its possible in Theater View to branch from song now playing to songs of similar genre that would be very cool.
I have the Genre tag filled out, but additionally I have a new library field "Styles", a delineated list which allows me to have many styles tagged to one song and not just one Genre.
Very handy,, and if I could branch from now playing to my Styles tag in Theater View would be fantastic.

Just being able to look at track listings and other albums by artist though is great as it is 

Thanks.

[connersw]

Is it possible to have the smartlist "other albums" group by album with thumbnail for each, then album tracks listed when you click on that?

You can create a Library Item with an Album Category using the Smartlist as a Rule. 

For Example, in Tools -> Options -> Theater View
1) Add... -> Library Item
2) Under Details Name it whatever (ie Currently Playing Other Albums)
3) Also under Details -> Add... -> Album
4) Then at the bottom, Set rules for file display... -> Rules -> Playlists, is any, Currently Playing Smartlists\Other Albums (or whatever you named your Smartlist).

Screen shots might be easier to understand, so see below.

That's the gist of it.  Once you get the concept you can group by whatever Category or put them in whatever sort order (Album Name, Year, etc) you want. 

Bonus tip: I create all my Theater Views in Standard View under (Root Category) so that they can then be added to Theater View as Add.. -> Library Item From Standard View.  This way I can also quickly add them to Gizmo and my DLNA servers without having to re-create them from scratch every time.

[connersw]

I don't sort by "similar;" I have a separate Smartlist that pulls similar tracks.  What you define as "similar" is really up to you. 

For me, I added a rule that Rating is greater than or equal to 4 stars.  Then I use Genre and Year as the Limit (advanced) Fields.  You can be as restrictive or as open as you want with it.  For example, add another rule with BPM is in the range X to Y.  Use your Style Field as the Limit (advanced) Field.  Limit number to 20 so it only gives you 20-tracks at a time.  The options are pretty much endless.

Below is what I use for my Genre Smartlist:

Code: [Select]

([IsPlayingNow]=[1] or [Media Type]=[Audio]) [Channels]=2 ~sort=[IsPlayingNow]-d ~limit=1,-1,[Genre] ~sort=[Date (year)]-d,[Album],[Description],[Disc #],[Track #]
If you wanted to use this for your Style Field instead, just change the Limited (advanced) from 1,-1,[Genre] to 1,-1,[Style].

One thing of note:  My Genre Smartlist does not work "perfectly" for me (and maybe MrC could help with this).  Genre is a List Data Type (ie you can add multiple Genres separated by semicolons), and it sounds like your Style Field is the same.  The way my Expression currently works, it only brings up tracks that match the Genre exactly.  So if the Genre is just "Rock," then I get plenty of results.   However, if I have the Genre as "Rock; Indie," it only brings up Tracks with Genre "Rock; Indie."  Tracks with just "Rock," just "Indie," or alternatively "Indie; Rock" are omitted.  Ideally, I wish it would bring up any of the possible Genres (not sure if that is possible).  Or possibly, if it only used the first listed Genre since that is always the predominate one. 

[MrC]

I don't think there's a way to get the right-hand side of modifiers to use individual list type items:

   ~limit=1,-1,[Genre]

will look at [Genre] as a string value, not as separate list components.  I doubt this was addressed when Genre (and other fields) became list types.  What you're asking for is something like:

   ~limit=1,-1,+[Genre]

where the [Genre] field would be split by semicolons, and those values used as the categories.

[gazjam]

awesome guys, thanks. 
Will give that a try tomorrow.