Changing tags invalidates file location

[mwiht]

I have mm setup to keep my files organized. It puts all music in a folder for the songs genre, then artist name. I'm using the portable installation so my wife and I can each add songs to the library from our individual user profiles in Windows. When we edit a songs tag information, especially the artist name or genre, MM reports that it can no longer find the file. The organizational feature moves the file accordingly, but the database apparently isn't being updated to reflect the new location. I have to use the feature to rescan files to make it work again. But this sometimes creates a duplicate entry in the database. One entry that points to the old file location and therefore won't play, and the new entry that points to the actual file and will play properly. Is there a way to fix this such that editing the tag information updates the file location and database at the same time so everything stays in sync without these extra steps?

[Lowlander]

Which Build (Help > About) of MediaMonkey are you using?

Are you using 1 or 2 MediaMonkey Libraries? It seems like you may be using 2, 1 for each person. Are changes made by 1 user a problem for both of you or just the other person?

[Rob_S]

Just some random thoughts here ... me being just another user.

If each user installed portable in their own profile, this could definitely cause that effect, as each installation stores its own db in its own program folder location.

Whereas if a single portable installation is being accessed by both users, then this should not occur. Correct???

I also wonder, as the music files themselves are apparently stored in each user profile, how does a portable install access the other users files??

[mwiht]

Which Build (Help > About) of MediaMonkey are you using?

Build 5.0.4.2693 (portable mode)

Are you using 1 or 2 MediaMonkey Libraries? It seems like you may be using 2, 1 for each person. Are changes made by 1 user a problem for both of you or just the other person?

MM portable is installed on our D drive, which is a local SSD accessible to both users. We simply launch the MediaMonkey.exe file with a shortcut on our respective desktops. So I assume it's identical regardless of which user is using it? That was my intent in installing it this way, anyway. When either user changes the artist or genre tag information, this cause MM to move the file to a new folder since the "auto-organize" option is set to organize files thus <Genre>\<Artist>\<Title> It should be noted that the actual mp3 files are located on our NAS which has been mapped to drive letter W:\ for both users. Once the file is moved, MM can no longer find the file, regardless of which user updated the tag (It's lost to both users). Using the file>locate moved/missing files option will fix it for both users, but usually results in duplicate entries in the database, one to the old file location and another to the correct file location. The old location entry obviously doesn't work and must be manually deleted. It's just a lot of follow up steps every time you want to make a simple correction to a song and if you forget to do any of the steps (which my wife inevitably will) then things become a hot mess.

[Lowlander]

You're using an old release of MediaMonkey 5. Please update to the latest MediaMonkey 2024 release and see if this resolves the issue.

[mwiht]

You're using an old release of MediaMonkey 5. Please update to the latest MediaMonkey 2024 release and see if this resolves the issue.

I have deleted the MM portable folder and installed 5.0.5.2695 (latest version from the website) and can confirm the issue persists. As a programmer myself, it seems this would be a simple fix. Whatever method that runs to move files to a new folder after the tag has been changed should wait for the file to finish moving and then call the auto organize method (the one that runs with the CTRL+R shortcut), preferably without the corresponding confirmation window so the operation is transparent to the end user.

[Lowlander]

Please try with [urlhttps://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=86639&sd=d]MediaMonkey 2024[/url] as suggested above. Does the problem persist?

[mwiht]

Please try with MediaMonkey 2024 as suggested above. Does the problem persist?

I downloaded the latest version directly from MediaMonkey.com which is version 5.0.5.2695. Is that the version you requested? The problem persists with this version. I have the lifetime gold features as well, but they don't seem to help here

[Lowlander]

No, the latest MediaMonkey 2024 release was requested, available at the link above: viewtopic.php?t=86639&sd=d

[MattTown]

Lowlander is suggesting that you install the latest Beta version of the software, which is available at the link offered. Don't be concerned about it being a Beta build - that updated software has all the fixes in it and is much more reliable than the earlier versions. I have used the Beta builds for years and it has only occasionally tripped me up, less often than the released versions did.
Cheers
Matt

[mwiht]

No, the latest MediaMonkey 2024 release was requested, available at the link above: viewtopic.php?t=86639&sd=d

I'm sorry, I was looking at your reply on my phone and didn't notice you had provided a direct link. I'm now using version 2024.0.0.3082 (portable mode) and it looks like I can now update the tags without it invalidating the file location. However, adding a new song to MM with the artist and title in the filename (example: michael jackson - thriller.mp3) but no tag data saved to the file renames the filename "unknown.mp3" and the song appears in the MM library list as a complete blank line item. The only way to find the file is to go to the "recently added" playlist and manually set the tag information. It used to at least show the filename before. I see an option tools>options>library that says "infer properties" which says it will infer artist and title information from the file name, but it doesn't appear to be working. In the upper right corner of that same window is a button "Add/scan settings" and it has an option to lookup missing information via auto tag" but when I check the box to enable that option and press save, then go back into that window again the box is unchecked. I have the lifetime gold license, so this option should be available to me?

[Peke]

Hi,
It looks like you have Auto-Organize enabled which Auto Renames imported file according to Tags (in that case none so you get Unknown). Check Tools -> Options -> Library -> Auto-organize.and if there is something disable it. Then Infer track properties should work normally.

[Lowlander]

1. It sounds like you have Infer properties disabled. Although I'd generally recommend it to be disabled, in this scenario it would help guess tags on scanning from the filename.

2a. Alternatively you could use $If() in your Auto-Organize Mask in combination to with <Filename> so when a tag is unknown you use filename instead.
2b. Or exclude a "new files" folder from Auto-Organize (by using Collections), so you have a chance to edit files after they're added (you'd then need to manually organize them).