My Computer node: Optional display mode

[roylayer]

The My Computer node was very confusing to me when I was evaluating MM. I was expecting it to display the MP3 ID3 information, but it was showing me things that I could not see in other ID3 editors. Also, I couldn't figure out which fields to change because I didn't know what was there to begin with! I spent hours trying to figure out what it was doing.

I finally figured out the MM parses information from the path and filename and shows what WOULD get added to the library when the file is added to the library (assuming that the "Infer track properties" option is checked).

This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it IS very confusing. For example, I finally figured out that it didn't matter whether the tag was there or not when editting track properties. It would add them to the library when the file was imported, and the mp3 tag would get updated automatically because I use the "Update tags immediately after editting properties" option. Like I say, this method works fine, but it is NOT obvious. (Also, what if people just wanted to use the tagging and file renaming features WITHOUT importing tracks into the library?)

So, here is my suggestion for a new MM feature: Create an option that controls what is displayed in the My Computer node - 1) Real ID3 tag information (including the choice to display v1 and/or v2 tags) or 2) The information that MM infers through parsing. If this is not done, at least emphasize what is really happening in the documentation.

There is also something related to this behavior that I consider a bug. If I blank out one of the fields that is infered by MM's parsing. the value reappears the next time I go to node or when it's added to library. Somehow, MM needs to be able to tell the difference between a field that isn't filled in vs. one that was explicitly blanked out. I'm not sure that can even be done. Giving the "pure tag" display option would allow the user to figure out what was going on, so this wouldn't be a problem any more.

[Lowlander]

The function of the My Computer node is to be able to manage/play songs outside of MM. If MM would display anything else than a best effort it would take considerable time to get songs displayed. In all other node's it uses the DB to display the info which is fast. In the My Computer node it would need to read each song for tag info.

I would advise you to use other nodes (try location) to get the things done you want.


I find the way it is setup perfect as it allows me to play with songs without having them in MM. I'd like to keep it that way.

[roylayer]

I agree with you totally, Lowlander. I love the fact that MM provides a way to manage and play files without using MM's library. I want that to stay the same.

What I was trying to describe was the confusing / misleading display that MM provides for My Computer when a file doesn't have a tag. MM tries to figure out what the tags might look like based on the filename and path. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. Regardless, I don't like the fact that MM is showing me info under Artist, Album, Track#, Title, etc. that really isn't there!

Now that I understand what it's doing, it really doesn't matter much to me whether the display option I propose is implemented, but it might help other users. Frankly, I tried MM almost a year ago and decided not to use it, mainly because I was confused over the tag columns in My Computer. (I wasn't planning to use the Library feature at the time.)

From a newbie's standpoint, if you saw MM display something in the tag columns, wouldn't you expect to see those values in other applications that use the ID3 tags? I sure did, and when I didn't see them in WinAmp (or whatever), it was very confusing to me! I thought that either MM was screwed up or that it was doing something that I didn't understand. I spent a fair amount of time trying to figure it out then, but ultimately gave up.

[Lowlander]

Yeah I agree too, the info displayed there should not be confusing. Maybe something better can be found to do there without slowing MM down.