Multiple Libraries? MM3

[MoDementia]

To continue this discussion without the limitations of MM2.

There seems to be various categories for the use of multiple libraries in the aforementioned thread.

1. Multiple Users
2. Multiple Locations
3. Multiple Formats
4. Mutiple working lists
5. Combinations of any of them.

All of which need to consider if
Update tags when editing properties
Modify timestamp when updating tags
are checked or not.

4. Multiple working lists
The easiest which is now solved via filters in MM3
As I understand it there may be still issues with the filter not being applied to all nodes? But that would be a seperate wishlist for improved filter functions? Scripters have access to the filters so they can be updated to work with them.
Complex filter creation may restrict general user use
Visual identification of current filter
i.e. top right title:
Media Monkey: All (none)
Media Monkey: Mum
Media Monkey: Dad
Media Monkey: FLAC
Start MM with a filter
...\MediaMonkey.exe (All, None)
...\MediaMonkey.exe -Mum
...\MediaMonkey.exe -Dad
...\MediaMonkey.exe -FLAC

1. Multiple users.
Possible to filter out their own music: Creation of complex filters may be required.
Possible to retain settings: Requires seperate user logins
Not possible to apply mutiple user preferences for Case Format , Genre, Rating, Script settings, and many others when a track is in 2 or more users filters.
Update tag settings exacerbate all of the issues (What information is in the tags?)
There are so many fields that could be considered user preferable that a duplication of the DB may be the approach, however there is no way around the single instance of tags with out duplicating the actual track.
If the track is duplicated then it becomes a multiple working list senario.

2. Multiple Locations.
There seems to be 2 versons of this
2a Multiple users from different computers.
The preferred way to set this senario up is documented elsewhere but the issues are mostly related to option 1 see above.
2b Single user from different computers.
i.e. Home database, Work database.
An export, import (update) option should work here.
Home: Export database (full or partial based on filter/playlist/selected etc)
to USB stick etc.
Work: Import database (update/replace) from USB stick etc
Work: Export database (full) to USB stick etc
Home: Import database (update) from USB stick etc. Playcounts, ratings, typo corrections etc.
A simple replacement is not an option as the path/device will be different. It would have to use the Song ID only.

3. Multiple Formats
This requires a new table for cross-referencing the same track with different formats.
A seperate column for each set of tracks defined by a filter, playlist etc.
Any changes made to a track in whatever fomat needs to lookup the table and also update any other associated tracks (appropriate fields i.e. exclude path etc)
The option when converting tracks to add the converted tracks to the new table.
A manual way to construct the table using certain criteria e.g. filename without the extention and the 2 filters *.flac and *MP3+Bitrate.
or 2 autoplaylists etc
Table: Track Xref

Code: Select all

FLAC.ID            128MP3.ID        OGG.ID        SYNC.ID      SOMEOTHERLIST.ID
1234                 5678           91011         121314
2345                                                           6789

This works especially well for syncing from a portable player back to the PC. All the SYNC.IDs will update triggering the update of all associated (main database tracks)
The default filter would be probably the FLAC.IDs and switching to the SYNC.IDs for portable player syncing.

I hope I have covered most of the issues related to the request for multiple libraries but please post additional issues (try and categorise it or suggest a new one when posting)

Apart from 1. Multiple users and a "special library" for 2b Multiple Locations a single Library is acceptable.

I will try and keep this first post updated with other posts so the Devs have a full picture at all times.

[Morten]

Great that you have done this job. I'll read it later.

[MusicBringer]

You have set out an excellent summary here.
Good work, MoDementia.

[MoDementia]

I have written a script that should cover most of the requirements for Category 3. called SyncTheSync
Of course native support would be much nicer

[MoDementia]

I have written a script that should cover most of the requirements for Category 2b. called DEISync
Of course native support would be much nicer

[Eli]

This is a feature I would LOVE to see. I rip to FLAC, but use either AAC or MP3 for playing. I would love for MM to be able to handle this more gracefully.

Also, my wife and I both have our music on the same PC. It would be nice for us to be able to keep separate ratings. Even cooler if ratings from multiple users could be taken into account when creating on the fly playlists that everyone would like.

[MoDementia]

Some options

Load different libraries here and here

A couple of multiple user ratings options here

If you don't need to keep the FLAC - AAC/MP3 in sync as far as data goes then having them in the same libray and using 2 filters works quite well.

[kitkat]

[For #2b]
A simple replacement is not an option as the path/device will be different. It would have to use the Song ID only.

Not quite true. For at least some people who've made this complaint, a simple replacement would be fine.

Why? Because it's just the comments, ratings, tag info, etc.--not the ability to ever listen to the song again--that we want available at the stroke of a search.

Hope at least that scenario can be coded sooner!

most of the MP3s from my old MediaMonkey .mdb aren't on any computer anymore.

They're MP3s I've long since gotten rid of (or at least put away scattered on various data CDs in the back of my closet).

However, since I'm a DJ, it's important for me to have rating, BPM, album, artist, title, recording year, duration, etc. information even about MP3s I didn't like and didn't keep so I can avoid listening to them again if I find them on a new album in the future when I've already decided that I didn't like them the first time!

[John Ashman]

We sell Sonos and as such, have to help people organize libraries and multiple library support is the one thing that has been a huge limitation with iTunes.

Without going back and looking at every suggestion, the main thing is to be able to define your own libraries and have them be 'virtual' as in a playlist or 'actual' in which new folders and locations are created. For instance, I had a separate drive for classical music, but it was tedious moving anything classical there sometimes. I also wanted to create actual folders for jazz, rock, etc. Or create more subgenres instead of generalized genres but then group them all together, such as putting 'latin rock', 'latin pop', traditional latin', 'brazilian jazz' etc all in a folder called "Latin Music". Or put music we know is good demo music in a "Demo Music Library" or a "Favorites Library".

The best similar thing we've found is in Apple's Mail program where you can make "if/then" rules. For instance "If genre contains 'jazz', move to library "Jazz Music". Or "If user is Lucy, move to library "Lucy's music". Or "If format = mp3, wma, aac, move [or copy] to library "iPod Folder". Then be able to look at sub libraries which would at least include folder/drive locations, but also the user created libraries.

In this way, as long as you have the rules set up, all the music would be moved or copied to the right folders and show up as separate sublibraries.

[MoDementia]

Already possible with a combination of filters and/or auto organise rules.

[John Ashman]

Really? That's cool, except for the fact that I have an Apple!

[habeas corpus]

Hi, I also would like multiple libraries. I have a hot swapable esata hard drive dock and I keep my collection on 3 separate drives (6 if you include backups). Now when I put a drive in the dock xp assigns a letter, when I put a different drive in xp assigns the same letter. If I change the letter of the drive, it reverts back when I unplug the hard drive and put the new one in or put the same one back in. So I have to use the same drive letter in xp for different drives, each one containing different music. If I had multiple libraries I could have library 1, 2, and 3; one for each drive. As it is now, I cannot separate the hard drive music files from each other which means redoing the library each time I load a hard drive which is not acceptable. I would gladly pay $20 for a MM with multiple library support. Anyway, I am currently using Catraxx which is more of a database program and kind of a complicated pain to use.

Oh, and if anyone has any work rounds, please let me know.

[Guest2]

It would be so easy.
If the developers let us select different Mediamonkey.ini with a key, that is called with MM.exe, we could configure all those local/central/home/... scenarios.

[nynaevelan]

This is possible in the 3.1 Beta.

Nyn

[Timo_Beil]

Hi Developers,
great an very universal solution for nearly every requirement related with different DBs, Users and localities.

Thanks a lot!
-- Timo