View Full Version : Track naming template
Just been experimenting with the different options in the track naming format.
The manual says %F is filename. but if i use it i just get a number. Any ideas anyone? ???
jmarshall
2008-08-10, 23:31
It's because as far as XBMC is concerned, the filename of a song in the database IS a number (we use a virtual filesystem to handle the music library views).
Ah gotcha
Doubt there's any plans to include the actual filename any time soon
for files view, it will show the actual filename. and it can be corrected to show the true filename for library paths as well. you can open a trac ticket and assign it to me. should this be a bug or not, is the question. its technically working :)
Reason i was trying to use the actual filename is after tagging i rename my ordinary album files as "Track - Title.mp3" and compilations as "Track - Artist - Title.mp3"
makes it a lot easier if searching through a compilation when building a play list.
so would be nice to just see the artist name if the track is part of a compilation.
as for if its a bug or not i'm not a dev, but i wouldn't have thought the number is of much use in a display situation although i'm sure its got plenty of functions "behind the scenes" in the code.
happy to raise a ticket if you want me too
this should be changed to show the real path, not the database path. open a trac ticket so it can be tracked.
so, you really only want to use this a work around because you only want to see the artist when the track is flagged as part of a compilation? i wonder what other applicability this has, related to the other request.
Timewalker
2008-08-26, 18:55
Ok, so in a similar vein, I set my track naming template to list track number - title - artist - album. It works in files view (which I never use), but in library mode, no matter what I set it to, it lists Album - Title - Artist. And when you have a long album title, that's a lot to have to scroll through just to see what the song title is.
Am I doing something wrong?
hmmm... unless you have defined a specific library trackformat in advancedsettings.xml, the one in the gui should apply to the library as well as files view.
Timewalker
2008-08-26, 23:01
The only thing I have in advancedsettings.xml is display remote codes from when I was setting up my universal remote.
there's always the possibility that it;s just broken. so in the gui, you have the template as "%N - %T - %A - %B" ? (i think that's right. this is from memory.)
wait! i think i know why this is. there are fixed templates based off the "sort by" field. if you're in "sort by: artist", that'll be the first field. i think you need to be in "sort by: name" to see the custom template.
** edit **
and before you ask, no, they are not configurable today unless you compile you're own version. they are in guiviewstatemusic.cpp
jmarshall
2008-08-27, 00:02
Also, note that skins can use whatever they like - there's no reason why they need to respect the GUI setting (i.e. they need not display the label).
the template can be defined in the skin? using listitem.* properties?
jmarshall
2008-08-27, 00:27
Sort of, yes. It doesn't have to use listitem.label at all, and some skins just render using listitem.album, listitem.artist etc.
Timewalker
2008-08-27, 01:17
Yes, my template is set up the way you mentioned. I have tried the sort method every different option available. I'm using the XTV skin, but it looked the same when I changed to PM3. And I didn't understand a bunch of what you guys just said. :)
i can check in a few hours. i would expect PM3 to adhere to the setting. i just took a peak at the code, it should use the user defined template when "sort by" is either "track" or "label".
Timewalker
2008-08-27, 04:24
where can I sort by "track " or "label"?
Under Settings -> Music -> Files all I can choose for Sort Method is "Name", "File", "Date", and "Size" on PM3 and XTV?
Also, tried again with XTV, PM3, AEON, Containment, and Amped. All show the same thing - "Track Number. Track Title - Artist - Album" in File view, "Album - Title - Artist" in Library view. So it doesn't seem to be a skin thing.
Thanks again. Maye it's just hosed.
With PM3, I'm seeing my user defined template in both files and library views. In PM3, the "sort by" button is to the left of the file listing. It's not in settings.
Timewalker
2008-08-27, 18:14
Ah, thanks, I'll check that when I get a chance to step away from work.
Timewalker
2008-08-28, 03:09
That did it. Stupid me. I set it to sort by Album way back a year ago when I first modded, and I was just getting used to XBMC. Then w/ XTV you have to use the right arrow to bring up that context menu and I didn't notice it. Anyway, it fits my custom template now. Thanks again Kraq!