Changing Tag Panel and Column configuration via Toolbar button

[Patch]

Loving this new feature in 3.34!

Just one thing missing for me, though. That’s the ability to create buttons for calling layouts/views (recalling configurations for Main Pane Columns, and for the Tag Panel).

Could really use shortcut buttons for each of those…

Right Click Tag Panel > Customize > Utils > Load Configuration > Select *.ini > Open

and;

Right Click Main Pane Columns > Customize > Utils > Load Configuration > Select *.ini > Open

[Sergius]

Hello @Patch,

You're probably referring to the Utils command, which is located in the Columns folder (see image).

@Florian already had a discussion with @LyricsLover about this, indicating that the data was stored in a toolbar.ini file. He was referring to the "Customize Toolbar" section (for the first line).

(The second line was created a few days later and is located in the same folder: data\toolbar_custom.ini.)

@LyricsLover

@Florian

I thought it might be best to have a separate human-readable file for that, so it's in data\toolbar.ini.

Good idea!
This would allow us to share our favourite toolbar compilation.

BTW, for those interested:
The toolbar.ini file also includes information about custom third-party icons, such as in the following example:

Of course, the icon_file "link" to the external source (like chrome.exe in the above example) must exist at the given path on the target computer.

You're probably referring to the Utils command:

[Patch]

I am referring to the Utils Command.

I want to be able to recall layouts for the main pane and the Tag Panel at the click of a button, using a new button that I’d put in the Custom Toolbar…

[Sergius]

Hello @Patch,

Please excuse my mistake.

You were referring:

@Patch

I want to be able to recall layouts for the main pane and the Tag Panel at the click of a button, using a new button that I’d put in the Custom Toolbar…

With a button: Utils…
Similar to the Tag Panel section…

[Patch]

Yes - in the new Custom Toolbar.

I’ve tried creating a Tool to do it, by using the %path% command and pointing to the .ini file - but that’s not working…

[Sergius]

@Patch

I’ve tried creating a Tool to do it, by using the %path% command and pointing to the .ini file

If I understand correctly, you tried to program your own tool, not the Mp3tag one, to place your data in the toolbar.ini file.

Is that correct?

[Patch]

No - the .ini file is already created. It is a layout that I have created and saved. I have many. I have tried to create a Tool in the MP3Tag Options Menu to open the .ini file.

I want to create a button in the new custom toolbar that I can click, that will apply the layout in the *.ini file.

[LyricsLover]

@Patch

I want to create a button in the new custom toolbar that I can click, that will apply the layout in the *.ini file.

In theory, you can add any external batch *.cmd or Windows .exe file you like.

If you could provide us with more detailed instructions on the steps you took, we might be able to help you create a similar Tools entry (with an external batch) in Mp3tag.

[Sergius]

Hello @Patch,

Here's how to program a tool to open the .ini file:
Example: toolbar.ini

C:\Users\Your filename\AppData\Roaming\Mp3tag\data\toolbar.ini

I learned this programming from @LyricsLover

Mp3tag Tools

Name: Open(Mp3tag): toolbar.ini
Path: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe
Parameter: /c start "" "C:\Users\Your filename\AppData\Roaming\Mp3tag\data\toolbar.ini"

This opens the toolbar.ini file.

Hello LyricsLover, I have a question: I tried this formula in the Mp3tag tool, but it doesn't work.

C:\Users%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Mp3tag\data\toolbar.ini

The Mp3tag tool refuses to read %USERNAME%. It seems to me that this is a commonly used setting in Windows.

Does the Mp3tag tool, need to be configured differently?

[ohrenkino]

@Sergius

The Mp3tag tool refuses to read %USERNAME%.

What do you get as preview if you enter %username% in Convert>Tag-Tag?

To get the environment variable for the user's name, try $getenv(username)

[LyricsLover]

You can try it this way:

Parameter:
/c start "" $getenv(appdata)\Mp3tag\data\toolbar.ini

I'm not sure if @Patch is looking for this

BTW:

@Sergius

%USERNAME%

is usually correct inside a pure Windows Batch-CMD.
In a Windows Batch-CMD %username% will be expanded to
C:\Users\Sergius

%appdata% would be expanded to
C:\Users\Sergius\AppData\Roaming

---

For those who are interested:
You can also define a specific Windows editor (like the built-in notepad.exe) that should open your *.ini file:

Also a 3rd party editor like Notepad++ is possible:

/c start "" "C:\Program Files\Tools\System\Notepad++\notepad++.exe" "$getenv(appdata)\Mp3tag\data\toolbar.ini"
Of course, you will need to adjust the full path to your third-party editor depending on how you installed it.

[Sergius]

Hello @ohrenkino
Convert>Tag-Tag?

Format string: %username%

No data

Format string: $getenv(username)

Correct data:

(My computer name)

Hello @LyricsLover,

Indeed, I use %USERNAME% for my Batch-CMD scripts.

Thank you so much for your explanations and examples. I hope @Patch finds what he's looking for...

This $getenv(username) data that ohrenkino and you, LyricsLover, gave me works very well...

Thank you, LyricsLover, for the programming data for the Tools. It's not easy to program this command in the Tools...

Thanks again for the Notepad and Notepad++ examples. I'm going to do some tests; I find it very interesting...

[Patch]

Well this has taken a bit of a turn.

I definitely don’t want to open the .ini file to edit it - I just want the view settings in it to be applied in MP3Tag, without having to click:

1. Right Click Main Pane Columns or the Tag Panel > 2) Customize > 3) Utils > 4) Load Configuration > 5) Select *.ini > 6) Open

I want to create a new button, in the custom toolbar, to have the view applied.

Replace 6 mouse clicks with 1.

It’s a good use for the new custom toolbar buttons, no?

Tell you what - keyboard shortcuts for views would also be killer…

[Patch]

So, uh, I’ve had to admit defeat on this one.

@Florian Do you think this is something that is even possible? Feels like a really god use of the custom toolbar, no?

[Florian]

I've seen your suggestion and it might be possible. I haven't experimented with this and I'm currently not working on it. However, I've added your suggestion to my internal wish list.

---

Glad you like the new toolbar and the configuration options!

TBH, I haven't replied to every post and email that sneaked in yet another feature request, my brain was pretty fried after the past weeks of work and I'm mostly spending my days doing taxes and answering the gazillion emails in my inbox.