Backslash problem in global podcast options BUG #5213

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Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options BUG #5213

by rusty » Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:53 pm

Hi,

We're not going to make any changes to the functionality here for 3.1 (though I think it would be a good idea to clarify the documentation). The take away lesson for me is that any time there's a mask configuration in MM, the Mask configuration wizard should be available.

Re. the bug about unpredictable behavior occuring when the podcast download mask is set to C:/Podcast, I could not replicate any strange behavior when attempting to delete such podcasts. If anyone else can, please share a debug log.

Thanks.

-Rusty

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by chrisjj » Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:03 pm

> I'll create a ticket, in that edit box should allow only folder paths, or provide
> the set destination wizard if it is intended to allow user specified file
> naming masks (like for auto-organize etc).

Intention aside (esp give no docs), the fact that the installation default is [stuff]\My Documents\My Music\Podcasts\<Artist>-<Title> surely means naming mask support should be retained.

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by Teknojnky » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:03 pm

Neil Parks wrote:I believe that this is a design flaw. The program should assume that the content of the field is a directory, and should automatically insert the trailing backslash if the user fails to do so. And of course the program should offer to create the dir if it does not already exist.
If you use the button to open the destination dialog, you will get a properly formatted folder path that includes the trailing backslash.

I'll create a ticket, in that edit box should allow only folder paths, or provide the set destination wizard if it is intended to allow user specified file naming masks (like for auto-organize etc).

I agree with Chris, that it should NOT be assumed that content field is a directory since you can currently use auto-organize masks, and a valid example might be:

C:\Podcasts\<artist>-<title> (podcast)

If the option assumed that was a folder, then you would get separate folders for every podcast, instead of one podcast folder with artist-title files.

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by chrisjj » Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:14 pm

> the nightmare scenario that occurs if (a) these unlikely files are created in the root directory and (b) you try to remove-and-delete one of them?

Out of interest, do you get the errors of b) if you don't do a)?

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by Neil Parks » Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:55 pm

nohitter151 wrote:What then, in the unlikely (but viable) case that someone actually wants their podcasts saved as "Podcast.mp3", "podcast (1).mp3", etc. ?
Perhaps he should be given a sobriety test? :)

Did you get a chance to try to replicate the nightmare scenario that occurs if (a) these unlikely files are created in the root directory and (b) you try to remove-and-delete one of them?
:cry:

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by chrisjj » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:56 pm

nohitter151 wrote:What then, in the unlikely (but viable) case that someone actually wants their podcasts saved as "Podcast.mp3", "podcast (1).mp3", etc. ?
Indeed. I appreciate Neil's POV but from many years of seeing this recur in different situtations I have learnt that that only constant that is completely free to distinguish directory and filename is one that cannot end a filename... and that leaves no better choice than '\' itself.

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by nohitter151 » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:49 pm

Neil Parks wrote:Compromise suggestion: If the entry in DPT ends with a variable, e.g. <Artist>, consider it a file name and don't append a backslash. If it ends with a constant, consider it a directory so that we don't create "podcast[1}.mp3".
What then, in the unlikely (but viable) case that someone actually wants their podcasts saved as "Podcast.mp3", "podcast (1).mp3", etc. ?

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by Neil Parks » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:36 pm

Compromise suggestion: If the entry in DPT ends with a variable, e.g. <Artist>, consider it a file name and don't append a backslash. If it ends with a constant, consider it a directory so that we don't create "podcast[1}.mp3".

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by nohitter151 » Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:47 pm

chrisjj wrote:> But I'm not using the "default filespec". The DPT field contains only "c:\Podcast\".

I guess it was you that removed the <Artist>-<Title> segment. Guessing that MM would fill in what you wanted, and being lucky.

Thing is, "The program should assume that the content of the field is a directory" would mess up those people using this control in the way that is primarily intended e.g. with the default filespec. Only a terminating slash can distinguish between a directory and file.
I agree with chrisjj. This is the standard way that MM handles all files.

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by chrisjj » Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:30 pm

> But I'm not using the "default filespec". The DPT field contains only "c:\Podcast\".

I guess it was you that removed the <Artist>-<Title> segment. Guessing that MM would fill in what you wanted, and being lucky.

Thing is, "The program should assume that the content of the field is a directory" would mess up those people using this control in the way that is primarily intended e.g. with the default filespec. Only a terminating slash can distinguish between a directory and file.

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by Neil Parks » Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:20 pm

chrisjj wrote:"Anyway"?? Are you saying the default filename's inclusion of the title is not due to the default filepath spec's (C:\Documents and Settings\Chris\My Documents\My Music\Podcasts\<Artist>-<Title>) inclusion of the title?
But I'm not using the "default filespec". The DPT field contains only "c:\Podcast\".

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by chrisjj » Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:50 pm

> The default filename (if the file download is handled correctly) includes the title anyway.

"Anyway"?? Are you saying the default filename's inclusion of the title is not due to the default filepath spec's (C:\Documents and Settings\Chris\My Documents\My Music\Podcasts\<Artist>-<Title>) inclusion of the title?

> "Quinn and Rose on 640 WHLO - Quinn & Rose 1-12-09 Hour 1.mp3"

Looks just as one would expect from a filepath spec including Title, to me. Though it has spaces the default does not.

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by chrisjj » Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:43 pm

Ah. Possibly a bug.

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by Neil Parks » Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:37 pm

chrisjj wrote:
Neil Parks wrote:The program should assume that the content of the field is a directory
I disagree. Even though the behaviour of this field is undefined, in practice it accepts a filepath with variables e.g. C:\Documents and Settings\Chris\My Documents\My Music\<Artist>-<Title>, and your suggested change would break that behaviour for existing users.
Podcast files aren't the same as music tracks. The default filename (if the file download is handled correctly) includes the title anyway. E.g.:

Code: Select all

"Townhall.com Weekend Journal on Oneplace.com - Broadcast for Saturday, December 6, 2008.mp3"
"Townhall.com Weekend Journal on Oneplace.com - Broadcast for Saturday, December 13, 2008.mp3"
"Quinn and Rose on 640 WHLO - Quinn & Rose 1-12-09 Hour 1.mp3"
"Quinn and Rose on 640 WHLO - Quinn & Rose 1-12-09 Hour 2.mp3"
"Quinn and Rose on 640 WHLO - Quinn & Rose 1-12-09 Hour 3.mp3"
"Townhall.com Weekend Journal on Oneplace.com - Broadcast for Saturday, November 29, 2008.mp3"

Re: Backslash problem in global podcast options

by Neil Parks » Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:26 pm

It gets worse. I attempted to remove a podcast episode that had been downloaded as "podcast.mp3" in the root directory. I selected the option to both remove the episode and delete the file.

The error messages that popped up are the stuff of nightmares. I had to use the Task Manager to force Media Monkey to close before any real damage occurred.

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