Freebox Jukebox

E-Touch General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: simon26 on August 19, 2017, 04:58:42 PM

Title: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 19, 2017, 04:58:42 PM
Hi all

Just got a question please, I'm playing with the demo at moment and it seems better than other jukebox software I've looked at, so will most likely buy / subscribe ,  but am looking for the most basic easy to use version possible (in terms of end-user, so to speak, not setup).

Basically I'm wondering should I go version 10 as it's the newest? And which skin(s) the most basic please, if they even exist.

Will stick very few albums on there as all I really want is something set to freeplay with my music organised by decades and title / artist search also. This is for my kids to use also so needs as few option so as possible, real minimal.

So basically 60s / 70s/ 80s etc, the obvious search options and 'maybe' a few genres I'll stick in like reggae/ rock etc. I may not even bother with albums or genres  atall.

Is there anything in here as basic as that please?

Also, is it easy enough to set it to random / background music too when nothing been selected? I haven't quite got a handle on that yet.

Thanks
Simon


Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 19, 2017, 05:10:38 PM
Hi Simon,

Your purchase will get you version 10 as standard, but you can download older versions if still available but I would not recommend this.

A lifetime version gets you access to other skins, or it is easyish after practice to build your own.

The basic version is obviously a lot cheaper.

I am on the tablet for a while, but shall be on a pc lAter if you need further help.

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 19, 2017, 07:18:23 PM
Hi Mark

Thanks for your reply, so if I'm understanding correctly the basic version if I purchase won't include access to additional skins but if I buy the lifetime version I can use them?

Are there many different skins to choose from? Obviously I can't see what's about until I buy it.

And is it feasible to pretty much reduce the screen options to just search and decades?

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 19, 2017, 07:36:33 PM
Hi Simon,

These are the skins on lifetime and some on free basic version http://www.freeboxjukebox.com/Forum/index.php?topic=6126.0

You can pretty much do what ever you want really, yes with removing items from a skin, or not include items, if you can learn how to skin, but also with aimed tagging.

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 21, 2017, 12:53:13 PM
Hi Mark

Thanks for all that. So if i sign up for a lifetime membership i should have a chance to find a skin thats more singles / decades orientated than the demo hopefully?

Im starting to understand how to remove buttons i dont want etc now, so thats good, Im assuming setting genres and decades will involve the 'key shortcuts' section in the settings menu, so far as i can tell? (Not been brave enough to try and adjust any of that yet!)

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: berrywell on August 21, 2017, 01:37:24 PM
Hi Simon,

If you purchase the V10 (current version) you will have access to all those skins shown in the tread that Mark has linked to above, plus a couple of other skins that aren't shown in public.
Whilst you can alter any of the existing skins to suit your needs the nearest to a singles orientated skin would be the Retro Singles Layout skin.

Hope that sort of helps.

Regards
Tel.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 21, 2017, 01:47:56 PM
Hi Tel

Thanks for that, I saw that retro singles one - have a feeling thats the one Ill go for if i can adjust it to show a track queue and decades as everything else on it looks almost exactly what i want, don't want albums as an option atall really.

Its funny, this seems like Im going to take a fairly advanced bit of software and roll it back to something that looks and functions like its from a decade or so ago :)

Have ordered lifetime version now so will await the download code or what have you. Have a feeling ill be back with more questions(!)

Thanks Again

Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 21, 2017, 05:21:49 PM
OK, didnt take long to hit a problem :(

I stuck the retro singles skin on and sometimes now itll only play the first track i choose, the others following it in the queue (Which im guessing you cant see in this skin?) they just kind of sit there and dont play? If i select a new track it plays that one.

Also, how can I make it play random tracks when none selected please? Ive ticked the 'enable random play' button and set wait time between tracks to zero. Im missing something here I guess?

Is there a manual somewhere that basically guides me on the absolute basics setting this all up? Ive managed to stick an album on using an MP3 folder ive created in the program file, so Ive got somewhere I guess :) Even then, its stuck the album in as a single on the main menu so I havent got that right yet I guess.

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: ecbrad on August 21, 2017, 09:55:13 PM
In Random mode you need to select some tag options such as Genre or Decade

Brad
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 09:10:23 AM
Hi Brad

Thanks for that, I'll try it but haven't managed to set up any decades or genres yet unfortunately.

I consider myself fairly intelligent but already looking very unlikely I get this setup, the lack of manual is extremely frustrating , I'll probably just try and pay one of the tekky people at work to spend the next week / month / year / rest of their life figuring this mess out , bit annoying if I'm honest but that's life. Failing that I'll just try alternate software and see if it's less ridiculously complex to set up :(

I wrongly assumed the demo was just bare bones and the full version would be easier to use and have the manual included etc -way off the mark on that one.

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 22, 2017, 09:25:08 AM
Hi Simon,

Giving up before you begin, is a very bad trait. I posted some youtube videos a while back, once I stop downloading, I shall post some links to help you.

The best way of learning something is not to have such a negative attitude, it is very easy once you get the hang of it, and no need to pay people.

Just have faith and patience.

Part 1 - Installation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0Z6ZyTzKxI
Part 2 - Installing songs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JWPgalSElc ROUGH UNEDITED VIDEO
Part 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr0RxU0G390 ROUGH UNEDITED VIDEO
Part 4 - A long one SKIP TO 20 mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXDuXwPkIjI&t=595s I was doing other videos shorter ones, but I think I deleted before I uploaded to youtube.

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Barcrest on August 22, 2017, 10:10:49 AM
To get it up and running shouldn't be much of an issue, there is lots of information on here.

I think you have fallen foul of the following,

Do not install into program files, use something like C:\E-touch\
Make sure you right click and run as admin. You can set it to do this everytime by right clicking and selecting properties and under compatability setting it to always run as admin. You need to do this for all the exe's at least the config.exe and the e-touch.exe.

Once you have done that it should just be a case of running the config and pointing it to your music and generating the library. Make sure you have a least 2 albums there, it can act funny with only one (2 sub folders of music from where you build it).

The random play is quite indepth, you need to put the tick in audio so it will pick randomly from your audio library. The boxes with number in allow you to weight certain things so like 4 in audio and 6 in video should be a 60% video bias.. This works for all the various categories etc allowing you to tailor it pretty well. For basic random play you just need random turned on and the audio selected with any weighting number. Make sure E-touch DJ isn't turned on.

If you follow what i have said here you should be up and running. I also suggest getting everything running under the default skin first so you can be sure skin errors are not causing something to act funny.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 11:49:49 AM
Hi

Thanks for the replies, its just been frustrating so far as what im after doing is just using the most 'basic' elements of this really.

Have set up a test rig next to my desk with touchscreen etc (Have a warehouse literally full of the necessary hardware as run an IT recycling company, usefully) and started making progress i thought yesterday, but then afterwards I read about the administrator thing plus not putting the software into program files, so moved it across and made those changes before i left here last night.

This morning i come back in switch it on and its somehow rolled back to the demo version and lost my changes / music, despite me running regedit to remove all trace of the demo before installing the full version yesterday - and i guess this is what im saying, you do need some genuine top draw IT skills to run this, it definately isnt an off the shelf type program to be fair.

So toys out the pram again, ive given up for now and passed it to my best guy whos an ex programmer etc and basically a genius, as i think thats what its going to take, short of me giving up work and sending the kids off for adoption so i can dedicate my life to this :)  Its a shame as i was quite up for just doing this myself, but clearly Im far more stupid than i ever realised.

Hes playing with clearing the registry now again before we give up and reinstall windows, as it keeps coming back to the demo version for some reason. Ive pointed him to this thread so he can use the pointers you guys have laid out to hopefully speed things up, once he gets the full version booting again.

Thanks
Simon


Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 11:53:23 AM
Oh, and the random play settings thats exactly what i did, but i did only put one album on initially to test with, so maybe thats one of the issues here.

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 22, 2017, 11:57:23 AM
Hi Simon,

You need at least 10 albums in the library at one time, maybe even 20. If you only have one album, it is not really going to work, as it is scratching it's head wondering what the hell am I going to play next?

The software is good, but there are still a few annoying gremlins, but that happens more so when you don't really have a library to speak of.

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 12:20:18 PM
Thing is Mark we cant even get to that stage now anyway, the damn demo keeps resurfacing, my guy has gone into the files and entered my key / username a couple times and its accepting it but just bounces back to demo every single time (I presume, in license show on the jukebox software front page it should show my license number, not that 1234444### or whatever?)

Honestly, the best thing would of really been to put all these tips, especially the one about installing to its own folder on C drive and running it in admin, in one little basic user manual pinned somewhere on forum or even in notepad / pdf or whatever as part of the full software download, as it is Im jumping about finding things here there and everywhere and its a bit of a nightmare as when trying to make this work we are going back over old ground each time and its painful :(

If you could see the key word searches i did yesterday on here youd see where Im coming from - i held off as long as i could from asking all these silly questions and annoying everyone but its just so hard to put this together.

Even my really smart guy getting the hump already, and hes top-draw, so Ive literally no chance.

Reinstall of windows looming - and to have to do that every time something goes wonky is going to be crazy. I cant understand why regedit doesnt clear it all, so strange.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 12:35:02 PM
Actually, is there a way please to check if were still in demo or if my license is on there?

Its not totally clear in license agreement show, only way i can think of is to reinstall a demo on something else and see if that long numbers the same? (License show button doesnt bring up my username or key etc)

Another strange thing is we seem to have a few files relating to software versions 8 and 9, in fact 9 comes up in some of the settings on the menu screens after hitting escape - is that just because version 10 was built on top of version 9 and 'shares' some things or is something wrong there on our side?

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 22, 2017, 12:58:32 PM
Did you enter a license key? Once you get rid of the demo version, you should have a black box pop up, where you enter your license code, and forum user name.

If you did not do that, it is still demo

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: berrywell on August 22, 2017, 12:59:08 PM
Quote from: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 12:35:02 PM
Actually, is there a way please to check if were still in demo or if my license is on there?

Also, when you initially launch E-Touch, in the small rectangle window that displays whilst loading, look in the top right hand corner, it should say 'Licenced To: username' which in your case username will be simon26. If it doesn't say that then it's the demo version. You can also check by going to E-Touch settings screen, it should say somewhere Version 10.1.5 for HOME use only (if it says 10.0.0) then that's the Demo version.

Hope that helps a little :)

Regards
Tel.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 01:37:51 PM
Thanks for that, its saying version 10.1.5 so must be the legit version again now, thats progress (Just hope it stays, theres definately something funny going on that regedit wont clear)

Assuming we get past this initial setup grief all we need to try and do is remove a bunch of buttons we wont need (I can do that at least, probably the most straight forward function ive played with on there) and reduce this down to mostly singles organised by decade, some albums organised by genre and the basic artist / track title search feature. Being able to see the track queue would also be handy. If I can somehow achieve that then Im done, i think.

My singles are mostly organised by year, about 100 in each file - im guessing if i try and stick them up like that into decade categories 100 at a time itll be too big? Do i need to break those down into smaller batches to kind of replicate album sizes first before trying to upload them? I think i read somewhere on here yesterday that large groups of tracks could cause problems with slowdown etc?

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 22, 2017, 02:02:24 PM
Hi Simon,

If I am reading what you want to do correctly (sod it I need a beer brb) you want more of a singles jukebox, rather than an album jukebox, but you still want albums as well.

I have tried this, and from my experience, it works well for so many singles, and then it struggles with the singles and does not generate/update anymore.

You have to remember that near enough every software has an upper limit to it, so it best not to push too hard.

100 would be the maximum that I would do, to be honest, and ideally, a structured folder directory so that it does not slow down the system.

If you can give a better example of what you want to do, it would help, myself and maybe other people, a screenshot of your folder structure would be good.

An example

1990
- Pop Music
- Rock Music

Something like that, so can try and gauge what you want to do, would be great, I am brain dead most of the times, and even more so as I am working on two computers at the moment.

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Barcrest on August 22, 2017, 02:18:42 PM
You can have as many singles as you like. The full version cannot downgrade to the demo they are separate exe files but it looks like you have that part sorted now.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 02:38:22 PM
Hi

What were trying to do at the moment (And failing badly) is just set this up with the below;

Search function - artist / title - thats easy its on there already and works.

Display track queue somehow - in the singles retro skin were playing with this seems a non starter, please correct me if Im wrong?

Decades - again in the retro singles skin it appears we cant do this, I just wanted to point the singles i have (Already properly tagged MP3's grouped by year on my backup of them) at the correct decade. Failing that Im just as happy to try and create a genre category for each decade, if that works easier.

Albums - I only want to stick a handful on there really to cover certain niche types, like country / reggae / xmas etc - Im not even going to bother worrying about categorising my existing singles in this way, sorting them by decade is just fine.

So really, aside from setting up random play in the background somehow so theres music when nothing been selected all i need to know how to do is build genres and get the buttons for them on the screen, and possibly put a queue display somewhere, thats it.

Once ive got the genres/categories up there Im hopeful i can figure out how to point the various files at the correct category when using the database generate tool.

Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 22, 2017, 02:42:12 PM
Most of what you want, is separate pages, you have one main option, and then you have more options. Some of what you want can be done with a hack I think, the next track, but for the majority, you cannot have everything on one page, not even the commercial jukeboxes do this.

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 03:13:21 PM
Hi Mark

Does it have to be separate pages? I was hoping to just click a button on the left (genres) which say weve tagged with 1980s and then just scroll down alphabetically through all the tracks weve pointed towards that genre. Failing that Ill just have to have each year in that decade as a separate album i guess? (Which weve got to now)

Weve (Well not me to be fair) now got an 80s genre set up on the left i think (No art so just a blank unlabelled button as not atall sure how to label it yet) that brings up the 10 batches of 80s tracks (1980, 1981, 1982 etc etc) which are seen as albums on the front page, and not the one other album weve stuck on for testing, so theres definate  progress.

Is there any way to lump them all in together as one 80s list we can just scroll through a single decade alphabetically by artist? Or will sticking basically 1000 tracks in one group kill it? It just seems a pain to have to go to each year separately when just browsing through various 80s tracks?

And is there any way to see a queue in the retro singles skin? I can go to 'whats playing' and see what track is next in line, but no more.

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 22, 2017, 03:56:47 PM
I am on tablet now, so my replies will be short. Are you running a dedicated jukebox?

If you are it is easier, you could give the same genre or year etc.

If you use other programs then hard to get everything tagged. I use MP3 tag among others a little tip I have found is I can use multiple genres on say kodi if I tag as such

80s Rock Music\\Rock Music\\Europe Discography

However etouch and other programs can usually only use just one.

Right finger hurts so shall finish here.

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 04:09:57 PM
Hi Mark

By dedicated you mean not in use for anything else? If so then yes, i have set up a pc solely for this purpose, not one other bit of software on it but windows 7.

The random play still wont wont work - am i being thick here, does random play not mean that it plays various tracks when nothing selected? Or am i barking up the wrong tree.

This is literally the hardest thing ive ever had to do in my entire life, im stunned :(

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 04:12:55 PM
ok random play may be sort of working now, except it just plays the same track over and over again?
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 04:19:18 PM
ive found the queue now, so thats a box ticked, it was under menu, thats one off the list :)
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 04:26:50 PM
Random play more or less fixed, not sure how but it is. Im cooking on gas now.

Is there a different skin i should use please in order to get decades up as an option to search the tracks please? If not then i need to just enter them as genres i guess and keep each year set as an album?

Sorry for spamming up the thread, I just dont want anyone wasting their time trying to help me on the bits ive now got on top of. And thanks for the youtube videos you made Mark, i only just clocked those.

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Barcrest on August 22, 2017, 04:32:28 PM
You can't search by genre but you can filter on a genre. For genres it uses an image named the same as the .cvr file in the genres folder. So if you have an 80's genre called 80's.cvr then you need an 80's.jpg in that folder and it will show up. This is how it works for all the genres, years and artists used in the filters.

If you post a picture up of your random play page in the options screen i can tell you exactly how you have got it set up.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 22, 2017, 04:33:11 PM
Hi Simon,

It is good that it is a dedicated juke I would start with about 20 to 30 albums. Get used to the system, how to tag it for how best to do things.

Experiment until you are 100% unless you are in a massive rush, all what it takes is to delete records files.

You can do almost anything with this software, it just takes a bit of time. It can be frustrating but worthwhile having frustration to see how things work.

What size monitor are you using out of interest?

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 04:56:10 PM
Am just using a 15" ELO touch monitor, space will make it tight for anything bigger where its going for now.

Am starting to upload tracks now, have a couple more questions Im afraid.

Where my mate put the 80s tracks up it shows as 'chart' under genre in the database, and the 60s ones i just put up says 'oldies' - is there anyway for me to rename those? This is just in the config mode where i load them up. The single album we put up when first testing (Madness) is under 'Rock' , id want to put that under something else when the time comes also ideally?

Also, he seems to have done something funny with the 80s tracks where on the actual jukebox screen the albums are up twice, yet in the config mode i can only see them once? Its kind of doubled up in the jukebox for some reason?

lastly, i  followed your video and ticked the 'generate image thumbnails' and copy rename first cover boxes, but it doesnt seem to have lifted the little bit of cover art i have on the mp3's (Just a generic little 'billboard 1960s' logo jobby) ?

Worst case, how hard would it be for me to clear these all out and start again out of interest?

Ill try take a picture of the random play settings screen (Im not putting this pc on the net unless i really have to as all antivirus disabled)

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 05:02:16 PM
hopefully ive attached the picture correctly
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 22, 2017, 05:37:02 PM
Click the box top right
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 05:41:01 PM
Hi Mark

Do you mean in the picture above? Select the 'audio' box?

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 22, 2017, 05:53:58 PM
You have enable random play top left, click top right one next to where you have audio. I cannot see much as on tablet, so can't do as much as I can on pc
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Barcrest on August 22, 2017, 05:55:15 PM
That is set up correctly, if you have a small library take the tick out of do not repeat for 20 songs. This is because with a small library it can end up with nothing to play. If you have more than 20 songs you should be ok to leave it in. You do not need to click anything else.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Barcrest on August 22, 2017, 05:55:48 PM
Quote from: Mark Norville on August 22, 2017, 05:53:58 PM
You have enable random play top left, click top right one next to where you have audio. I cannot see much as on tablet, so can't do as much as I can on pc

That is for E-Touch DJ he doesn't need that one.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 22, 2017, 05:59:37 PM
Ok thanks. So the more or less last thing for me to do is the genres / album covers - and your saying i need to use the cvr program to deal with that somehow?

I was hoping it would just lift the cover images off the albums but im guessing theres something else i need to do on that?

Also, to clear that doubled up album issue I had,  I just hit generate in the config mode and it seemed to clear out and replace only with the contents of the folder i pointed it towards - was that the right way to deal with it please or could i cause problems doing that? (It did seem to work a treat)

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 22, 2017, 06:31:20 PM
I am off for the night as my fingers are hurting now typing on a tablet, someone will be on later to maybe help or if not tomorrow 19:30 UK time now, so not sure where you are so for me will be about 14 hours, as movies then bed.

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 23, 2017, 10:22:48 AM
Hi All

Thanks for your help yesterday, Im clearly not the best with software as Im sure you can tell(!) so apologies if i come across a bit awkward - its not intentional.

Anyway, got some albums up, found where the queue is, got random play going, and even got the album covers on now, so Im doing ok.

Ive just got a bit stuck working out how to group these into genres now and put some art / logos up on the left where the genre groups go?

Basically I have a horrible feeling i need to change the album tags, as the 60's stuff is tagged as 'oldies' which isnt so bad as at least its all together - is there a way if I leave that genre tag I can just stick a bit of art up on the button saying 60's or something?

The real issue is the 70's though to modern stuff is all bunched together as tagged as 'charts' i believe (Its all under one genre filter button on the left hand side thats not been labelled yet). Is there a way of me separating this out into decades by creating genres labelled as such please? And can i achieve this all through the .cvr tool as the boss kindly mentioned above?

Im so close now :)

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Barcrest on August 23, 2017, 10:34:57 AM
You do not need the CVR tool. If you do a generate and put the ticks in to generate the genres (Under advanced mode in the config) you will end up with a genre folder. In there you will see a collection of CVR files. You need a JPG in that folder to match the name of the CVR. So rock.cvr would need a rock.rpg and that will show when filtering by genre. The bad news for you is that it does indeed use the genre tag to build these groups. You can also do it by year and artist in the same way.

Hope that clears up the last issue for you.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 23, 2017, 10:42:42 AM
Hi Simon,

In the folder genres, you will have a file called oldies.cvr, all what you need to do is put a graphic into that folder, and call it the same as the file so it will be oldies.jpg I think it is, if not try png

This will show up, so if you do not want to retag then just use a 60's graphic and call it oldies.

You can do bulk tagging if you just want to change genre with a program called tagscan.

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 23, 2017, 11:17:15 AM
Hi

thanks for that - it wont let me open oldies.cvr - it says needs to look for a program online to open it with - do you know what i need there please?

Have downloaded tagscanner to start trying to sort the tags out in bulk also, will play with that this afternoon.

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 23, 2017, 11:34:58 AM
The cvr file is a file format, the same as txt, jpg etc. It needs a certain program to open it. It is called a file extension.

CVR is not a known file format, however you can open it with word pad.

I am not sure why you want to open the CVR file for though?

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 23, 2017, 11:55:13 AM
Thanks Mark, i didnt realise i could just lump the image in the main genres folder - thought i had to somehow put it into the little specific  file - got 60s set up now, image on the genre bar and properly tagged 1000 tracks, happy days (!)

One question, as i make changes im just hitting generate to put a whole new DB im over the top of the old one - is this ok or could i cause problems doing this?

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 23, 2017, 12:05:55 PM
Hi Simon,

I personally prefer to delete the old records and generate new ones, at times you can have problems, as you are only playing around to start with, I would suggest deleting records.cvr files etc when you are ready to start your database for real.

I am going on the tablet soon, as the light is not good at the moment, and my eyes keep ghosting the screen.

So my replies will be shorter, and I will probaly drop the regards Mark as it is a pain in the arse on the tablet to type as much, especially using one finger to type with lol

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Barcrest on August 23, 2017, 01:13:35 PM
I always recommend using the generate feature to create a new DB, make sure you check the clear boxes next to build genre, artists and years under advanced mode so you don't get duplicate entries in those CVR files.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 23, 2017, 01:40:55 PM
Thanks, thats what im doing now. This all seems to be working a  treat now - slightly steep learning curve initially to be fair, but now i more or less know the basics i can see this is going to work just right for me.

Final question I think please - is there any way of me removing the artist and year buttons down the bottom left corner of the screen? I cant find them in the settings menu for buttons ?

I dont see the need for them for my purposes as everything set to genre now and have the search functionality so thats all i need. - If i hit artist or year it brings up those blank image buttons and the thought of arranging about a thousand artists and 50+ years doesnt appeal :)

thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 23, 2017, 01:51:23 PM
Sorry one other thing, what happens if i put a compilation in thats got a track thats already on there please?  Just thinking about this going forward.

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 23, 2017, 04:04:34 PM
It will show up twice, one as album a and one as album b for example.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on August 23, 2017, 06:13:52 PM
Ok thanks, maybe I'll just manually delete the one from the compilations folders so it doesn't double up when I encounter this.

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Mark Norville on August 23, 2017, 06:34:43 PM
If you do that, you will forever be doing it.

Giving an example, how are you going to manage a now thats what I call music album?

You will have 36 artist, and possibly 36 albums by those artists, with the song in. It would take up far too much time, for the hassle it is not worth it.

I have seen commercial jukeboxes with the same song repeated. Although some might be remixes.

You are over complicating things, and going to make too much work for yourself.

In fact to give you an even more example

2 Unlimited - Twilight Zone on a 2 unlimited album
2 Unlimited - Twilight Zone on a 2 unlimited best of album
2 Unlimited - Twilight Zone on a now thats what I call music album
2 Unlimited - Twilight Zone on a best of the 80's album
2 Unlimited - Twilight Zone on another 80's album

The list is endless

Regards

Mark
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Barcrest on August 31, 2017, 08:01:01 AM
Disc space isn't a premium now so I don't bother removing duplicates.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on September 01, 2017, 07:59:50 PM
Ok all running great now thanks , only thing that's still a slight issue is what I asked above ? Have pasted below if anyone has any ideas please-

- is there any way of me removing the artist and year buttons down the bottom left corner of the screen? I cant find them in the settings menu for buttons ?

If I could even just disable them would be good. Basically as I haven't bothered putting art / text files in fur every artist and year (and I'm really not going to) when someone accidentally selects that it makes the genre art on left vanish for Those generic blank 'filler ' type buttons and I keep having to explain to family and friends to press genre to bring it back to something usable .
Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: berrywell on September 02, 2017, 01:09:32 PM
Quote from: simon26 on September 01, 2017, 07:59:50 PM

- is there any way of me removing the artist and year buttons down the bottom left corner of the screen? I cant find them in the settings menu for buttons ?


Download the attached .ini file.
Then in the Retro Singles folder you can either rename the genre_v2.ini file (to something like OLD_genre_v2.ini - if you wish to keep that) & then place the new file into the folder.
Or you just overwrite it with the downloaded genre_v2.ini file.
This then should remove the buttons to the bottom left and leave you with just the genres on the left hand side, plus the arrow buttons.

If you have any problems, just ask. :)
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on September 03, 2017, 06:16:22 PM
Hi

Thanks very much  for that, I'll download the file and try this week, much appreciated .

I've got another question now though , hopefully my last! (Sorry)

Is there any way of skipping tracks when on random play if something comes up we don't fancy , other than selecting a particular track of course ? I realise that when you select tracks it stops random play but wondered if there's any way of staying in random but skipping it along one atall ?

Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: ecbrad on September 03, 2017, 10:12:34 PM
IF you have Player Controls enabled (its on by default) then yes press the "forward" button and it will start playing the next track.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on November 27, 2017, 02:11:53 PM
Hi All

Sorry its me again :)

All running great thanks to the help i got on here previously, but Im just still stuck on one thing.

Whatever I do in the random play settings I just cant seem to make it only select from the genre(s) I want when in random play, it just plays literally anything it wants. Im ideally trying to set it to just play 80's stuff in random. Does anyone have any ideas please?

thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Barcrest on November 27, 2017, 02:23:51 PM
Post a screen shot of what you have set on the random play screen.
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on November 27, 2017, 02:33:38 PM
OK thanks, Ill try get that uploaded today
Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: simon26 on November 27, 2017, 02:49:37 PM
Ok someones took this for me so touch blurry, but hopefully ok?

Title: Re: Which version / skin should I go for please?
Post by: Barcrest on November 27, 2017, 04:38:16 PM
Take the tick out of audio (ALL), Also as you have do not repeat song for 20 songs make sure you have enough songs in that 80s genre.

At the moment with that setting you have it set to pick from the entire library v 80s genre 8:1

UPDATE:
To clarify, the numbers are used for weighting so if you had audio (ALL) selected with 1 and 80's genre with 9 then 90% will be from the 80s genre and 10% from the entire library. I like to use the auto DJ but that can get a bit lost, it basically will play a song related to the last song played. This is open to manipulation by someone putting a comedy song on then it continuing with comedy songs... I am looking to maybe tweak this to add an option to play a random song first then switch to auto dj.