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[JimH]

In about a month, we should be able to do the top 20 or 30.  Many are bigger projects.  Some are feature requests.

We'll see if it improves the "intuitivity" rating.

[fitbrit]

The ability to run 'auto-import again' on files that are already in our library. Usage: For files that were added to our libraries before Carnac and metadata scraping was available. There are thousands of files that Carnac could help to name, and then the season and episode numbers could be filled, with meta-data scraping as the icing on the cake.

Consider how this can be easier.

[dean70]

Taskbar System Notification UI mode with a simple right click volume, play, stop, etc which would be esp useful if running for the WDM driver.

[BartMan01]

The ability to run 'auto-import again' on files that are already in our library. Usage: For files that were added to our libraries before Carnac and metadata scraping was available. There are thousands of files that Carnac could help to name, and then the season and episode numbers could be filled, with meta-data scraping as the icing on the cake.

Would that be any different than the current 'get properties from filename' using the 'automatic' setting?  Pretty sure that will 'Carnac' existing files.

[Vincent Kars]

I like the window

This is hard to read
ListItem(ListItem([Artist],0),0,/,)If(ListItem(ListItem([Artist],1),0,/,),//ListItem(ListItem([Artist],1),0,/,),)If(ListItem(ListItem([Artist],2),0,/,),//ListItem(ListItem([Artist],2),0,/,),)

This is so much better
ListItem(ListItem([Artist],0),0,/,)
If(ListItem(ListItem([Artist],1),0,/,),//ListItem(ListItem([Artist],1),0,/,),)
If(ListItem(ListItem([Artist],2),0,/,),//ListItem(ListItem([Artist],2),0,/,),)

Unfortunately the single line differs from the multiline in formatting

Argerich/Kremer/Maisky (Single line)
Argerich /Kremer /Maisky (Multipline)

It look like the CR is included in the output in case of multi line expressions
Please remove this from the output

Consider

[fitbrit]

Would that be any different than the current 'get properties from filename' using the 'automatic' setting?  Pretty sure that will 'Carnac' existing files.

It is a little different, because all the other auto-tag on import rules are not applied. e.g. I have rules for filling in the "album" name for TV Shows. Some shows were imported long before tag on auto-import was a feature, and it would take hours/days to fill all this info. I know, because I used to do to manually.

[astromo]

For TV Recording the user is limited to the following default tags via the Add button (refer pic):

• Media Sub Type: Movie
• Media Sub Type: TV Show
• Media Sub Type: Music Video
• Custom...

It's great that the option is available to save default settings but it would be even better to be able to customise the entries associated with the Add button to suit personal preference.

Doable in an hour?

[JimH]

For TV Recording the user is limited to the following default tags via the Add button (refer pic):

• Media Sub Type: Movie
• Media Sub Type: TV Show
• Media Sub Type: Music Video
• Custom...

Those have special meaning internally, so they can't be customized.

[Gatherum]

I have no idea whether or not this can be accomplished in an hour, but add the ability to create particles based not only on a window of time, but also on the chapters within a given video file. This would greatly help when dealing with concert footage as well as ripped DVD's and BD's of TV series that have been authored to include all of their episodes in one long, chapter-separated title.

Also, the ability to duplicate existing particles to implement minor changes from the originals would be nice.

As sort of a caveat to this, but not so much intrinsically connected, what about the ability to select a given video or particle of a video (or a group thereof, preferably) and then indicate what audio and subtitle languages to select when playback starts, without actually having to begin playback? I know that there is already a global setting in options that allows you to select your default language for both, but I'm talking about a per-file basis. Is that doable (in an hour), or is it just not technically possible in the first place?

Good idea, more than an hour.

[gweefry]

Connected Media: Currently the "Keep using this answer" box lasts only for the current session, requiring the same procedure with every use.  Suggest making the selection permanent until needing to be altered.

Do this or similar

[adlelare]

set up a completely automated audio process that eliminates the "playback failed", redirecting you back to audio options to change some parameter.  

Last nite played a youtube video (maria carey concert) for my granddaughter, downloaded it so she could play it later.  perfect sound from Youtube.. but this morning JRiver wouldn't play due to the supposed audio issue.. but it plays on a tablet via Gizmo, plays via VLC, plays via XBMC, plays via Archos Video (tablet), etc...  (after 10 minutes, I gave up and played it for her via XBMC).. BTW i also get this problem when playing audio only

[arrowc]

In DSP studio under Analyzer
 
For me it would be cool to have the words  RMS, left, right, etc. match the color of the colored lines in the analyzer?  

Consider

[Al ex]

A "Set Computer to sleep" button in Gizmo.

Do this or similar

[thm655321]

Option to selectively apply DSP.  For instance, convert 48K and below to DSD and leave everything else the same.  Right now the only option to convert to DSD is to apply it to everything.

Thanks.

[glynor]

I just thought of a simple one.

It would be nice to have a Logging item under Services & Plugins in the Tree that could be used to:

* View the current log "live"
* Reset the log
* Generate the log zip file.

I recommend that you also leave the simpler dialog under Help > Logging.  But the live-view would come in handy sometimes, and this might be a good place to stick it.

Do this or similar

[JimH]

I'm going to lock this now.  I may start a new one at another time.

Thanks for all the good ideas.

I've added comments in red.  

Do this or similar [meaning we will try to do it]

Consider [meaning it requires thought and may be less likely to be done]

If you have comments, please use this thread.

[Matt]

(Re)Add "Clear Playing Now" back to the right click menu when clicking in the playing now section.  Why this was removed in the first place has always left me confused.  

Do this or similar

When you right-click Playing Now in the tree, the option "Clear Playing Now" is in the menu.

We'll add the Clear Playing Now choice to the right-click menu of the list as well.

[Matt]

Option to adjust the Internal Volume sensitivity (number of steps).

Do this or similar

The step is 1%.  Are you looking for sub-percents?  That would be tough.

[Matt]

Keyboard hotkeys for Rename, Move & Copy Files and Fill Properties from filename. And maybe for some other Library Tools (Sub)menu functions. It takes too long to reach them. I ended up autohotkey-ing them.

Do this or similar

Next build:
NEW: Added a couple keyboard shortcuts: F6: Rename, Move, & Copy Files; F12: Fill Properties From Filename.

[Matt]

I like the window

This is hard to read
ListItem(ListItem([Artist],0),0,/,)If(ListItem(ListItem([Artist],1),0,/,),//ListItem(ListItem([Artist],1),0,/,),)If(ListItem(ListItem([Artist],2),0,/,),//ListItem(ListItem([Artist],2),0,/,),)

This is so much better
ListItem(ListItem([Artist],0),0,/,)
If(ListItem(ListItem([Artist],1),0,/,),//ListItem(ListItem([Artist],1),0,/,),)
If(ListItem(ListItem([Artist],2),0,/,),//ListItem(ListItem([Artist],2),0,/,),)

Unfortunately the single line differs from the multiline in formatting

Argerich/Kremer/Maisky (Single line)
Argerich /Kremer /Maisky (Multipline)

It look like the CR is included in the output in case of multi line expressions
Please remove this from the output

Consider

If we ignored the CR, there wouldn't be any way to output a CR.  That seems bad.

[Matt]

For years, we've needed a toolbar button to toggle tooltips on and off.

Next build:
NEW: A toolbar button 'Toggle Tooltips' can be added to the toolbar.

[Matt]

In DSP studio under Analyzer
 
For me it would be cool to have the words  RMS, left, right, etc. match the color of the colored lines in the analyzer?  

Consider

Next build:
Changed: Analyzer DSP uses the color of each line for the text of the volume level.

[Matt]

I just thought of a simple one.

It would be nice to have a Logging item under Services & Plugins in the Tree that could be used to:

* View the current log "live"

Next build:
Changed: The logging dialog has a button to view the current log.

[Matt]

And a dröp down list of recent searches (just like we all are used to in Windows file explorer search box) These two together makes a huge plus in ease of use. IMHO.

Next build:
NEW: The search box keeps a list of recent searches and shows them when the menu is shown.

[Matt]

I have one:

Add a "File->Library->Connect to remote Library". Also add to right click in Tree. I know this is part of Library Manager, but it isn't intuitive currently. Combining local and remote libraries may trip some users up.

Do this or similar

Next build:
NEW: Added Connect to Remote Library to the library menu.  It shows the add library dialog to add the library and load it.

[Matt]

An option to move all files in a folder with rename,move,copy

Do this or similar

Next build:
NEW: Added the option 'Move not imported files' to the Rename, Move, & Copy Files dialog.  This moves sidecars, folder.jpg, etc.

[Matt]

Under Help or even better in the first level of the menu add a menu button "new/improved in this version" with a link on how to use the respective feature and below list all the past changes.

Next build:
Changed: Added a 'New / Improved This Version' link to the help menu.

[Matt]

All seen movies (number of plays > 0) shown with grey background.

Do this or similar

NEW: 'Watched Videos' is a default smartlist.

[Matt]

option to remove duplicates in playlists by title/name of song. It would filter by file type i.e. flac, wma, mp3 etc.

More than an hour.

Playlists already have a 'Remove Duplicates' action.  It's a button at the top of the playlist.  This should do what you want.  Start a thread if you want something more.

[Matt]

Automatically take a library backup every x days to a user specified directory

If it makes it fit within an hour then let x = 30 and the user specified directory = some obvious default so that some other job can run to sync that to some network location

i.e. just make it completely automatic with no user configurable options if that makes it fit in 1hr

Consider

Library backups are already made automatically.  They're in the path Options > File Location > Library backups

[JimH]

I've unlocked this topic and we're open to suggestions again.  Please read the requirements in the first post.

We think we've done all of the proposed changes that fit those requirements.  If yours was missed, please say so.

[Awesome Donkey]

Alright, here's one from me;

Additional ignore articles options to apply to specific configurable fields, e.g. artist, album artist, etc. The reason being is I'd like to ignore articles for artist/album artist names, and not albums. Currently it's an all or nothing approach.

[Al ex]

A "Set Computer to sleep" button in Gizmo.

Do this or similar

Still hoping

EDIT: I think an option under "COMMANDS / SET TO SLEEP" would make sense...

[ssands]

Alright, here's one from me;

Additional ignore articles options to apply to specific configurable fields, e.g. artist, album artist, etc. The reason being is I'd like to ignore articles for artist/album artist names, and not albums. Currently it's an all or nothing approach.

This would be useful to me! (Although, I was able to deal with by using non-breaking whitespace in the album name). It worked pretty well, but we never got that put in the wiki. If you can't find it by searching let me know and I'll point you to it.

[MusicHawk]

It seems that some settings/customizations are library-specific, stored in the library (therefore in a backup/restore), while other settings are global, applying to all libraries in that instance of MC. But it's not obvious which is which except trail-and-error. And sometimes, it doesn't seem to be sensible, which makes MC's behavior difficult to control and predict.

For instance, the path to cover art is global, yet given how cover art is named, it seems unlikely that same exact .jpg name will be a match for multiple libraries. And, the cover art clean-up tool combines per-library and global actions, but if there's more than one library it can't be used, per the on-screen warning. Rather than provide then cripple a helpful tool, wouldn't it be much simpler, logical and safe if the cover art path was library-specific? The user can always specify the same path for multiple libraries if that's the desired situation. I'd use library-specific cover art locations!

The bigger suggestion is, make it very very clear which config settings are library-specific and which are MC global. Then, make it straightforward to locate and copy/reuse config settings.

This was brought up in an earlier post.... With multiple libraries it would be a big help to have the ability to apply a library design to a different library. For instance, I have thousands of Holiday Season songs that are used for three weeks every year, why bloat the main library with them? But the main library has many, many tweaks to make it perfect for my music management, and it's a massive pain to apply all of that again to the second library. (The first challenge is to figure out all the changes that are hidden here and there, from custom fields to Rename expressions to altered views to file paths to settings all over the place to...you get the idea; there's no place in MC that identifies all the customizations.

(Recalling my Lotus Notes appdev days, it was a huge help that IBM realized the mess of stashing config info here and there, made sense at the time but became a wormy mess eventually. Ray Ozzie's team solved this by using a text .ini file with XML-type values that literally controlled everything. The solution of using a notes.ini file made it simple to revise via UI or text editor, simple to move to another PC, rearrange data storage, change user/library, etc, etc. I mention Lotus Notes because it was remarkably similar to MC in many ways, incredibly capable database complex data access and management, customizable in many ways, versatile. One of the demo apps was a music library/jukebox system, not as polished as MC but did almost all the same stuff! Another app managed photos. I built an app to manage content, process and production of two-dozen print magazines, and eventually, to then directly publish the magazines on the web and via email. Maybe that's why I love JRiver MC...similar power!)

One solution would be to copy from the current library any custom fields, views, smartlists, settings, memorized rename and other expressions, etc, etc to a target library. That wouldn't be a one-click solution but it would put the user way ahead. Another way is to store the library (database) structure separate from the data (more than just view designs) so it can be applied to other sets of data. (Lotus Notes could do both of these.)

Also consider that automatically using the Windows "...user..." path to store things causes complexities. Instead, I always force MC (to the extent possible) to put all its data, designs, etc in a custom location (typically on a second drive) so I can easily and reliably copy most of MC to a backup and second computer without having to dig around for the various pieces. Also helpful, avoid Windows Registry unless it's purely for Windows integration, use .ini files or similar that are stored in an obvious location.

[gvanbrunt]

I found a usability issue:

If you use the get cover art from last.fm function on a large number if files, a dialog will pop up and show you which one it is working on. This is good except that after 5 it disappears and you get what appears to be a hung UI. It does continue to work, but it doesn't show that. I think I have seen this behavior elsewhere when updating lots of files, but I can't remember where else. I mention that just in case there is common code for those type of dialogs...

[HTPC4ME]

once playlist/smartlist is deleted send commands to all clients that the smartlist/playlist has been deleted, and update clients accordingly. (instead of, having to close all clients throughout the house/business to get the change to stick.)
thank you.

[dtc]

I continue to suggest that the timing for backups be configurable by the user. Currently the backup schedule seems to be hit and miss. The backup option is great, but it would be much better to have the timing user settable. Some people would run it daily, some weekly, some monthly, depending on their needs.

[gvanbrunt]

One more easy one:

Party Mode. Change to Read Only Mode. I've seen it asked dozens of times how do I stop people from accidentally overwriting etc. Party mode sounds better, but isn't intuitive. Took me a while to find the first time I used it.

[dtc]

In category views, the file detail window has an option to Autosize All Columns in the the display. However, this seems to be a manual operation that the user has to do each time the window changes. It would be nice to have an option to have the columns autosize  automatically, whenever the display is changed. I believe this also applies to Playing Now and playlists.

[StFeder]

I'm on the phone right now so I cannot count, but aren't half of the "do this or similar" cases still unclosed?!

So I'll repeat mine

Add an option to limit all searches entered in the search field to one specified view.

Discussion for this (started by debacle) can be found over here.

Do this or similar

[flac.rules]

Again, I don't know if this takes less than an hour, but I suggest making a different windows icon for pictures, video and music handled by MC, now everything has the same icon, and it is "confusing".

[MusicBringer]

I continue to suggest that the timing for backups be configurable by the user. Currently the backup schedule seems to be hit and miss. The backup option is great, but it would be much better to have the timing user settable.

It saddens me that we still haven't got this basic functionality.

[MusicHawk]

This might be a one-hour job, rewording menus to overcome terminology inconsistencies that unnecessarily make MC confusing and intimidating.

For instance, Library Tools options include:
- Update tags (from library)
- Update library (from tags)

But a user might reasonably wonder...
What's a tag? Is it the same as a field? There's an Action Window to Tags, are they somehow separate from library so there can be two-way updating? What are those things in a view/list? And what is the library, all the music files, or the list on the screen (database) that lists them, or what?

Consider the mind-boggling when the user contemplate the above plus these additional options in the very same Library Tools menu:
- Fill Properties from Filename
- Clean File Properties
- Remove Tags
- Move / Copy Fields

Eh, what are Properties? Fields? Tags? Something else? Hmmm, Remove Tags removes them from where? Move / Copy Fields does what to what? And what the heck does Clean File Properties do...remove profanity?

Another example: If the above Library Tools option "Update tags (from library)" means tags that are in files, compare that meaning to this:
Options > Importing & Tagging > Update tags when file info changes.
Does this option mean that tags are data values in the library/database -- because files are "obviously" always physical files external to the library? Or the other way around, because files can contain what is sometimes called tags. Understanding this option depends on the meaning of "file info", which seems to be even less precise.

...It's all murky. Choosing the proper actions from just this menu requires that the user have deep insight into "tags" (in the files, in the database, "info", "properties", or what) and "library" (the database or the physical files or both), not to mention grasping how files can contain invisible additional data (fields/tags) and an on-screen list is  not the actual files (as it is in, say, Windows Explorer), but a list of files loaded into a database. And what are Properties?

Of course the users of this forum understand the above options, though I admit that after more than a decade with MC/MJ, if I don't use a menu option regularly, I have to stop and ponder what it means.

As I've looked through MC20 for examples of inconsistencies, often they involve the word "tags", a term that seems to lack a solid meaning. Isn't it really fuzzy slang for, let's see... metadata or properties or keywords or info or categories or fields or file info or you-name-it data. Can the word "tags" ever stand alone? Perhaps it always needs a second word to make clear WHICH tags are meant in a particular context.

I know, not practical to teach Computers 101 to MC users, but consistency and sometimes wordier menus/prompts would be a big help. And/or add little icons to menu options that pop-up explanatory dialogs. And be sure the docs clearly define all the terms used in menus and dialogs.

For instance, the confusing 2 menu options might instead say:
- Update tags in files from library database fields
- Update library database fields from tags in files

Or something along these lines. But whatever terms are used here, use them everywhere to mean the same thing.

[MusicHawk]

Rework left-side tree into at least two sections, such as PLAYLISTS and Backstage. PLAYLISTS should be bigger, bolder, more prominent at the top of the column...just like a printed page uses font size and placement to guide the reader to what is more important.

Because once a library is setup, my experience is that users 99% just want to access Playlists/Smartlists. Entertainment-seeking users don't want to touch (and should stay away from) all the other stuff.

All the Backstage (or Library or Management or whatever label) views and actions should still be easy to access, but a tad less prominent on the screen (the way it is now is fine) and located below the LARGE BOLD PLAYLISTS section that users use.

[fitbrit]

This might be a one-hour job, rewording menus to overcome terminology inconsistencies that unnecessarily make MC confusing and intimidating.

+1
I think this should be easy to do and would yield an increased usability return greater than most more technical changes

[gvanbrunt]

+1
I think this should be easy to do and would yield an increased usability return greater than most more technical changes

I agree, however JRiver is looking for a 1 hour change. For that to happen, the requesters are going to have to propose the wording changes so JRiver can just drop them in. It's the thought about how to word them that takes all the time. And it has to be realistic, while I agree that "Update tags in files from library database fields" is clearer, it's a long line and isn't appropriate for a menu. If every item were that way it would be difficult to find things. In that vein I think:

-Update files (from library)
-Update Library (from files).

Might be more clear to some. To make that even clearer how about moving a most of the items from Library Tools to an "Update Metadata" item. You can then move file Clean File Properties there and rename it to "Clean Library Fields" since that is what it is doing. It doesn't necessarily even work on the files unless you have the options set up that way, so it is more correct as well.

[JimH]

Changing names does a couple of unwanted things as well.

It breaks translations.

It makes old instructions in the wiki or on the forum obsolete.

I don't think it's a good idea to tidy them up unless they are clearly wrong.

[MusicHawk]

How about providing Cover Art > Get From Internet with a Remove and possibly Delete image option? Because when I'm having it do lookups, it often shows me a "Your Library" image as the only choice, and it's at this point that I realize it's a BAD IMAGE I need to delete.

What to do when I spot a bad existing cover image? Currently, MC is no help, so I must write down the song, then later go find it and delete the bad cover art image. Frustrating.

What Get From Internet dialog needs is the addition of one (or two) buttons, to do this: "Remove Existing Image From Track", and possibly "Delete Current Image File" to both remove the link and delete the image file.

PS: When Get Internet finds a wrong cover, usually it's just slightly incorrect, same artist wrong album or vice versa. But sometimes it's horribly incorrect; certain wrong covers show up again and again, such as Martina McBride's face matching all kinds of albums. Get From Internet has a button to "Report Offensive Image", but there's nothing offensive about Martina McBride. It's just that her image shows up as matching hundreds of tracks/albums that have nothing to do with her. A "Report Wrong Image" button would be useful.

[Castius]

Save cover art to file.

When I copy mp4 files to tablet I need the cover art.

Thanks