Set columns displayed permanently

[Pietercape]

Is there a way to set the colums displayed permanently?
Every time I open a new group I need to reset the columns I want to see. I cannot find a way.

[Lowlander]

Last used is remembered? Can you please provide more details (steps) on what you're experiencing?

[Pietercape]

Hi Lowlander,
What I am looking for is a setting where I set the default columns to display for all views (list, list by album etc) and all Collections and groups within Collections and the sub-nodes.

I use a the tree with Collections and sub-nodes. When I open Collection "Classical Music" and select the "List" display and then select the columns and sequence of the columns (Track #, Title, Artist, Album etc. and I then move to another collection say Jazz I want the same columns and sequence to be displayed in the List view. At present every Collection needs to be set individually. A huge task given multiple Collections.

What makes it worse is that In the Collection “Classical Music” there are sub-nodes. One is “Genre” If I select Genre and want to view it in a different view say list-Album then I again need to reset the columns as they are now in some MM5 Default list including columns such as Rating, Date, Source etc which I do not need.

I suppose this means that for every Genre (in my case 33 in Classical Music) I need to set the columns for every view. Crazy.

I know MM5 is an entirely different concept compared to the older versions (MM4) but previous versions did not have this issue. Neither do the other two Music Players I use and I find that I am now using MM only for adding and editing new music. I would love to again have it as my Go-To player but constantly having to change the column settings adds irritation to what should be relaxation.

Please tell me I am missing some basic setting that will fix this problem.

[Rob_S]

How many times do users have to request this before it will be accepted as an urgent need???

Create my layout, and save as default, and apply to all applicable views.

[Lowlander]

No, you don't need to set it for each individual Genre value. However each node like Genre, Album, etc. does allow for it's own separate setting.

[Timo_Beil]

each node like Genre, Album, etc. does allow for it's own separate setting.

Or from another point of view: "requires mandatory overwriting of the nonsensical defaults."

[Barry4679]

I use a the tree with Collections and sub-nodes. When I open Collection "Classical Music" and select the "List" display and then select the columns and sequence of the columns (Track #, Title, Artist, Album etc. and I then move to another collection say Jazz I want the same columns and sequence to be displayed in the List view. At present every Collection needs to be set individually. A huge task given multiple Collections.

Try creating a custom View:

1. menu View>MainPanelView>ManageViews
2. scroll to the bottom, and press "<Add New>"
3. Clone your new List View from the shipped List View
4. Set sort, columns etc for your custom View, then press enter

You can use that View in any Collection or sub-node. They will all look the same once you have switched to your custom View.

The thing you have to be aware of, when using the custom View, is that if you alter what you see (ie. change column visibility, or column positions, or row sort sequence) ==> that change will alter the specification for your View .. everywhere you use it.

A small pain, but at least you only have to correct that one View again, and it fixes it for everywhere.
Not perfect, but no longer a "huge task" either.

[Timo_Beil]

You can use that View in any Collection or sub-node.

Almost... in the node "Location" you are allowed to build a separate list (or change the default). The lists stored for the other nodes are not available there.

[Barry4679]

Almost... in the node "Location" you are allowed to build a separate list (or change the default). The lists stored for the other nodes are not available there.

Yes, I forgot that other wrinkle in the plan. Thanks.
The Folder node is excluded also.

[Pietercape]

Thanks all for your input. And yes Lowlander, every sub-node can have it's own settings but that is just my point. Imagine having to set the columns for every sub-node and then, when you switch the view window (list, list-album) it is back to the MM5 default and it needs to be redone.

Point is that in MM5 it seems that one cannot set a default column preference for all views. It is just a basic setting that, in my experience is available in virtually every player I have seen or used. However, after using MM for 18 years it is in my DNA and it seems my only option is to go back to MM4. Or to stay with MM5 and to continue to use it only for editing.

[Barry4679]

Point is that in MM5 it seems that one cannot set a default column preference for all views. It is just a basic setting that, in my experience is available in virtually every player I have seen or used. However, after using MM for 18 years it is in my DNA and it seems my only option is to go back to MM4. Or to stay with MM5 and to continue to use it only for editing.

Read my response above again.
I am not 100% happy with the design either, but Custom Views do allow you set a column preference for (almost) all Views.

[Pietercape]

Hi Barry,
I decided that I wanted to have a clean start with MM5 and uninstalled, downloaded and started from scratch.That was last night. I am now setting up my collections and sub-nodes and I am using the custom view as you suggested. Thank You very much for your help. It cuts the setiing up time down to four keystrokes per view.If MM for some reason changes the columns, fixing it will be easy.

[Barry4679]

It cuts the setiing up time down to four keystrokes per view.

That's good. You can probably reduce that down to 2 keystrokes.
Use the down arrowhead that is to the right of the Funnel icon on the toolbar.
That will open the View selection menu.
In my earlier post I described how to get there via the View menu. That is less direct, but more foolproof to describe.

If MM5 allowed assigning a Hotkey to a Custom View, we could get it down to 1 keystroke, but we don't have that option.

[Pietercape]

Hi Barry,
My library is now compltely set but there are some quirks that one will need to live with. I have set up all 15 of my collections and their sub-nodes for the "List" view using my custom column preferences. It works well but if I for some reason want to see say the Jazz Collection in the "List - Album" view It goes to that view but the columns revert to the MM5 default.

I suppose I could set up some collections for other views but then I am stuck with that view. There is no flexibility.

Thanks for your help and lets hope the developers give us a nice KISS (Keep it simple stupid) solution soon!

[Rob_S]

You can create multiple custom views, which you can select for any node you are working in.

For example in addition to your custom list view, you could create "MY list by album" which would contain whatever columns you want to see.