I've been wondering if I missed something so I checked the documentation.
Currently there isn't a way to clear the filter field by mouse click.
It would be handy if there was an 'X' button inside the field box that you could click to clear the filter field when using it.
To disable the filter either press F3 or use View>Filter.
The advantage of that implementation is that you can quickly toggle between filtered and unfiltered list without the need to type the filter expression in again.
If you clear the field, you have to start from scratch.
Let me clarify. This is not related to the list, just the field you type into.
If you type something into the field and need to clear it. Rather than having to do anything with the list.
There would be a 'X' button right in the field box that you click to clear the contents of the field and reset the filter immediately just as if you manually deleted the information in the field you typed.
But if you are in the process of typing a filter and you find out that something is so wrong that you want to delete it (clear it), then you have your fingers on the keyboard anyway. So I would assume that a simple Ctrl-A and then Backspace would be much quicker than going to the mouse, navigate to the clear button and click it.
I do see your point that there is currently no quick mouse action to clear the filter field.
(I have not yet missed it - I see such a function in Foobar but I hardly ever use it. But people are different...)
That was an assumption, if you make a mistake.
I'm talking if you type in criteria to isolate a group of tracks and you're dragging them to other applications for processing and then you just need to clear the field to reset.
The keyboard slows your down when you can just click an x button to clear the field which resets the filter immediately.
For example if you're searching in Outlook for specific criteria or word and then you want to clear the field. You just click the X and keep it moving.
For example,
True - there is an x-button. But there is also no other way to disable the filter whereas MP3tag has
That's not ideal because you don't want to disable filter everytime you need to clear it.
No, I just want to disable it so that I see the unfiltered list - this is what happens if F3 hides the filter input. The effect is the same as keeping the filter input visible but clearing it with the disadvantage that the previous filter has to be typed in again, if I need it again.
If I use F3 instead of clearing the filter, then pressing F3 again restores the previous filter, I don't have to type it in again - which I find quite convenient.
If want to apply a different filter (in MP3tag) then I have to type it in which means I have my fingers on the keyboard - where a Ctrl-A selects the whole filter expression and the next keystroke, probably the first character of the new filter expression, overwrites the selected part.
That is my workflow.
Yes this is what the X button would do. So that way you could still use F3 in the manner you wish.
I created a named Filter and called it "Clear Filter" while leaving the actual filter blank. Add a check mark so it will be in the list. If you click the arrow on the far right of the filter bar, it is there and easy to select with only the mouse.
That's a clever workaround in the mean-time. Thanks for the suggestion.
Another one for using the mouse would be the one applying to almost all input fields:
Right-click into the field and select "Select all" (which is sometimes not even necessary as the whole text is selected anyway).
(Right-click again and) Then select "Cut".
This also removes the filter expression.
That would work too. In the mean-time I created the blank filter and put it at the top of the list.
This allows me to click on the arrow, then click the blank filter.