Editing Tags for Multiple Files

[KyleHxAgain]

When editing tags for multiple files, the fields that are identical across those files are populated with that common value.
And the fields that are different or are empty are not populated in the dialog box.
The problem is that there's no apparent difference between the empty/different entries in the latter case.
What happens is that I sometimes overwrite existing entries, thinking they're blank.
So what I'm asking for is some indicator showing the difference between fields that are empty in all cases,
and those that have differing entries.

[Peke]

Aded as http://www.ventismedia.com/mantis/view.php?id=12704

Let us know if we covered all aspects.

[MMFrLife]

I personally don't have a problem with this, but solutions 2 or 3 sound best to me (with number 3 as a check box in options menu).

[rivorson]

Yes, a combination of solutions 2 and 3 would be ideal as long as the warning is discrete and doesn't interrupt the editing flow. Maybe highlight the field in orange and pop up a tooltip explaining that existing values will be overwritten.

I do like the idea of a greyed checkbox to only write over blank tags, but I think that would confuse many users.

[KyleHxAgain]

Sounds like a persistent issue.
I think one important missing option would be presenting the possiblity of appending what you add in the edit dialog to whatever might already be in that field. You wouldn't want a mass-concatenation (ie, all edited entries would NOT end up with all possible values entered), but just have the option of appending to any files that already have stuff there.

[MMFrLife]

presenting the possiblity of appending what you add in the edit dialog to whatever might already be in that
field......but just have the option of appending to any files that already have stuff there.

That would be awesome to have natively, but since RegExp Find & Replace already does this,
don't hold your breath waiting for it . It's an amazing script. I use it all the time, but it's a bit of a learning curve.
http://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewto ... egexp+find

[dtsig]

Aded as http://www.ventismedia.com/mantis/view.php?id=12704
Let us know if we covered all aspects.

It looks like you are just talking about fields with multiple values. This should be available for all fields .. right?

[KyleHxAgain]

Right!!
As far as I've seen, MM does a full scan of all fields when do a multiple-file edit, and presents any and all commonalities as "fixed" and everything else as blank.
I haven't seen any reason to believe that there's a difference betwen the "traditional" multi-value fields (like artist & genre) and any other fields .. if all the file match in any field, then the master dialog box shows that match .. else it shows nothing.
I do use RegExp.. and have been through possibilities many times, and still have to puzzle out the possibilities it offers. It is awesome, but desperately needs some kind of front-end.

[rivorson]

RegExp does have a front end which can be shown by clicking Edit --> RegExp Find and Replace, or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+F.

While we're waiting for the improvements that have been suggested, you could use RegExp to edit only blank fields by having it search for ^$ and putting your desired text in the Replace With box. Alternatively use ^\s*$ if you also want to overwrite tags that have spaces but are otherwise blank. This would, of course, be limited to a single field at a time so it would be cumbersome if you're doing a lot of edits.

[Peke]

It looks like you are just talking about fields with multiple values. This should be available for all fields .. right?

Yes, in multi edits where there is multiple different values like T1 Album "Best Of", T2 Album "Newest", ... This do not trigger grayed chekbox if T1-7 Artist "Queen; Mercury"

[Jim Kelly]

I have lost existing data in this way too. Losing data is not good in any database so it really needs to be addressed no matter how hard it is to do.
What would be good is to have a drop down that offers all the existing entries as choices! One of them is usually appropriate for all.

Whilst tidying up this area of code, could the drop downs (in general) be made to grow bigger so that all entries are displayed at once please. It is really annoying when you have a big display and a tiny window that causes us to always scroll before making a selection.

Whilst thinking of obvious enhancements, how about making the five Custom fields work like the others? Auto populating with existing choices, etc. I use all of the Custom fields and this would be much appreciated.

Thanks,