 Contents

MP3 Manager 2.2

©Petr Strnad 1997

•	Introduction

•	Installation

•	Commands

•	Copyright and thanks

•	Known problems and goals

•	History

•	About author


 Introduction

"MP3 Manager" was made by me as an attempt to create a quality stable program for managing MP3. As a programming language I used Foxpro for Windows in version 2.6, which is suitable mainly for making great database applications. Program is based on ID3 Tags - see below. If you do not intend to use tags, MP3 Manager is definitely not suitable for you!

Main features:

1. I suppose this is first program in which you can choose between 2 players - shareware Winplay3 and freeware MaPlay

2. Full support for ID3 Tags

3. Automatic recursive search for MP3 on 10 independent drives or directories

4. Two faces of MP3 Manager -	a) with MP3 list window for searching or editing

b) narrow strip with controls only, which takes less place on desktop

5. Absolutely unique, simplest selection for play by artist or album you can imagine. Playing order can be changed subsequently.

6.Merging selections.

7. Many possibilities for random selections.

8. Saving/retrieving/deletion of selections. Saved selection is automatically added to programs menu for easy retrieval.

9. Very configurable

10. Export of database data to file in TXT, HTML, DBF, XLS (MS Excel) file format

You may ask, why database application for MP3?

1. Database application is from its origin ideal for managing long list of everything including files with extension *.MP3.

2. There is established an "ID3 Tag Protocol" which is based in adding 128 bytes of text to end of MP3 file. These 128 bytes are divided into sections: song name, artist, album, year, comment, genre. From finding this tag protocol there was only small step to idea making application based on this standard.

3. My collection of MP3 is growing and it is not possible to manage it with simple applications found on the net. Closest to my needs was Studio 3, which is supporting tags as well, but this is released as shareware.:-(

Foxpro 2.6 is a 16-bit programming language!

You may ask, why a 16-bit application at time of Windows95?

1. WinPlay3, player for MP3, is 16-bit application as well.

2. There is very small amount of 16-bit applications for managing MP3 (maybe even none???) yet.

3. Using ID3 Tag Protocol is a fine way for going over disadvantage of missing access to long file names.

4. There are only few "cosmetic problems" when running MP3 Manager under Windows95. (I am using Windows95 as well).

5. /Personally...I still get not used to Foxpro 3.0 which is 32-bit...:-). But maybe, if there will be an interest, I will make 32-bit version as well. NEW: Programming started, 32-bit version can be expected soon.

MP3 Manager is FREE!

You may ask, why is it free?

1. Because I hate shareware with its bothersome nags and asking for few bucks. I always admired people which are willing to make something not only for money.

2. I made this program for my own use.

3. At the time of version 2.0 release: I could not imagine previously, how big fun can be releasing freeware. I am nearly starting to think, that every programmer shall go through such experience. It is great!


 Commands

•	File

•	Edit

•	Select

•	Play

•	Window

•	Help


 Copyright and thanks

This software is free and nobody should pay for it. When copying, all files should be kept together.

As this is freeware, I will not take any warranty for it.

My thans are going especially to my wife for patience, language support and beta testing, Steffen for his simple, but clever Wieldy 2.0 (http://www.post1.com/~wieldy) which I am using for launching MP3 players and Geocities for my web page.

For testing and lot of comments thanks to Mason Louie.


 Known problems and goals

There are some known problems which are logical consequence of using relatively old 16-bit programming language, especially under Windows95:

1. It is possible to make my own icon for MP3 Manager, but this will not be displayed correctly under Windows95. So there is still well known fox icon.

2. I am not able to find out reason of shortly maximized main window after program start. Can somebody help?

3. Bigger font menu under Windows95.

4. Not active Close button (X) under Windows95.

Other known problems:

1. There is a known problem if running MP3 Manager on display with high resolution when "Large fonts" are used. Notice is displayed instructing what to do. This incompatibility I am probably not able to solve, so please switch your display to normal fonts if using MP3 Manager.

2. GPF occurs, when stopping WinPlay3 in version 1.4. Although it is most probably some WinPlay3 error, I am trying to solve it with author of Wieldy (this is  the small EXE which I am using for launching/stopping player). I can't recomend using of WinPlay3 in version 1.4 in the meantime.

Just again, if you are using WinPlay3 in version 2.0, you will NOT encounter this error.

Big goal:

Make 32-bit version. I started programming actually. As there seems to be less problems with upgrade to 32-bit version of Foxpro than expected, the 32-bit MP3 Manager could be released soon!


 About author

My name is Petr Strnad, I am 33, living in Prague, Czech Republic. Sorry for my English if I am making mistakes, as it is not my native language.

Please don't hesitate to contact me with proposals for program improving or reporting bugs. But basically, I will be happy when receiving e-mail from satisfied users as well.

E-mail:	strnadp@geocities.com

Web:	http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/5563/index.htm


 File

Following commands available:

Player locations setting -

At least one players location must be set. If you have already installed WinPlay3 in version 2.0, this will be found automatically. This setting can be changed in future.

MP3 files path setting -

At least one (the first) path for *.mp3 files has to be set. Other paths are optional. Up to 10 paths including subdirectories can be set.

User defined settings -

A lot of settings available. One remark referencing setting "Set max. number of songs sent to WinPlay3" - if you select more than ...songs and launch WinPlay3, some stupid empty error window appears. This is to avoid this internal WinPlay3 error. From experience this number is dependent on version of WinPlay3 used and probably on type of soundcard. You have to try.

Sort by -

You can choose one of 6 indexing settings for window "MP3 list". Please note if this is not enough for you, you can ask for a few others. I will implement them, if possible (many possibilities at Foxpro).

Export data from selected songs -

Enables export of database data to file. Free text format (TXT), HTML format, database table (DBF) and MS Excel (XLS) format supported. It is possible to choose fields  which will be included in output file. Option for adding header/footer is enabled if you are exporting to TXT or HTML format. This file can be then easily printed using any text editor/Excel. You have to select some/all songs before exporting. This makes the possibility to export only part of data from database.

HTML export:

Button "Site options" is available in "Define data to be included" window. Please set them before generating list with links to songs. Note: this data are not saved when MP3 Manager is exited.

Refresh all tags now -

Refreshes window "MP3 list" when necessary. Please note that setting of automatic refreshing of this window on startup is available in configuration "User defined settings" (default setting is "true"). But if you have really big collection of MP3's, then reading from drive every startup can be tiresome.

Delete current song -

There is no "recycled bin"! File under cursor will be deleted permanently.

Exit -

Closes MP3 Manager. (Isn't it surprising?) :-)


 Edit

Cut, Copy, Paste, Select all -

Working when editing MP3 tag

Find -

Search for any string accross whole database

Find next -

Search for next occurence of the same string.

Edit current tag -

"Edit current tag" window is the most important window. If you would not use it as supposed, then MP3 Manager is not suitable for you!!!

Set new album edit mode -

Enables/disables editing mode for easy adding tags for whole albums. In this mode fields artist, album, year, genre, comment, forbid random selection are copied from first edited song, so you need to insert only song name. This function works under following conditions:

1. Enable this feature in menu.

2. Use "Save + next" button for move to next song.

3. Function is restricted to songs which are without tag so far (new songs). This should assure data security.

Strip current tag -

Removes tag.


 Select

Select/Deselect current song -

Toggles selection for playlist. This is the only manual selection in MP3 Manager and it is supposed only for corrections in playlist or for changing playing order. There are other possibilities - see below.

Select all/Deselect all -

Nothing to say about it.

Invert selection -

Toggles selection accross whole database.

Randomly select "X" songs -

Number of songs for random selection can be specified in "User defined settings" . 1 to 99 songs can be selected randomly (if you have got so many songs, of course).

Shuffle current selection -

Randomly changes order of current selected songs. This can be useful for example if you make a selection by popups Select artist or Select album (see below). If this selection is BIG, you will probably never hear the songs which are on the bottom of your selection. In this way all songs in your selection have the same probability that you will play them.

Drop down boxes (popups) Select artist, Select album, Select genre  -

The most powerful method for selecting songs to playlist. Assuming that you are using tags because information about artist, album and genre are taken just from them.

Merge selections (popups only)

Enables/disables merging selections. Valid only for selections made by drop down boxes.


 Play

Play one song -

Plays one song which is currently under cursor in "MP3 list" window. Also available as button "One" or [image].

Play from current position -

Plays all songs between song under cursor and the end of the list. Also available as button "List" or [image].

Play selected songs -

Plays all songs which are marked by order number in column "sel" of "MP3 list" window. Also available as button "Selected" or [image].

Stop (close player) -

Stops play by closing player. Also available as button "Stop" or [image].


 Window

Hide/Show MP3 list window -

The big "MP3 list" window  can be hidden for saving place on desktop. Then select songs randomly or by popups "Select artist" or "Select album". Permanently to be set in "User defined settings". Commands from menu for editing tags etc. are not available in this mode.


 Help

This help. Interesting, isn't it?


 History

Version 2.2 - 29APR97

Features added:

1. Selections saving/retrieval. Made on request. (Finally!)

2. Better HTML export. Link to file can be added and page is generated as a table.

3. "Album edit mode" added.

4. Added few more MP3 file types with unusual bitrate/frequency.

Version 2.1 - 21APR97

Features added:

1. Is it now possible to forbid some songs to be selected randomly. Made on request.

2. Merging selections by artist, album, genre. Made on request.

Bugs found:

1. When attempting to start already running MP3 Manager, error occured if "display path on title bar" enabled. Corrected in subversion 2.0a

2. Small error in menu system. Corrected in subversion 2.0b.

Version 2.0 - 16APR97

Major upgrade. Features added/changed:

1. Added export of database data to file. TXT, HTML, DBF, XLS formats supported. Made on request.

2. Added selection by genre

3. Buttons are available as bitmap or text.

4. Standardized "Find" function. Ctrl+F finds first occurence of text, F3 looks for next. Made on request.

5. Increased field for number of songs sent to WinPlay3 and for random select to 3 digits.

6. Shortcuts changed. F1...F4 (Play,...) functions moved to Ctrl+F1...F4. "Refresh all tags now" moved to F5 (similar to File Manager or Explorer). Made on request.

7. All *.dbf files are now temporary.

8. Added option for displaying path of selected (activated) song on title bar similarly to File Manager. Made on request.

Bugs found:

1. There is a known error if running MP3 Manager on display with high resolution when "Large fonts" are used. Notice will be displayed instructing what to do instead of error message. This incompatibility I am probably not able to solve.

2. Sometimes error occured when shutdowning Windows if MP3 Manager minimized. Corrected.

3. Error occured if attempting to select more than 999 songs. Corrected.

Version 1.5 - 08APR97

1. Number of paths for *.mp3 files increased up to 10. Made on request.

2. Added function "Shuffle current selection". See here for further details.

3. Automatized paths setting on first program start, if WinPlay3 already installed.

Version 1.4 - 05APR97

1. Bullets showing song selected for play are replaced by its order number. It is now possible to choose whatever play order if you select songs manually. As well random playlist now works really randomly. Till now songs were selected randomly, but then played according to position on the MP3 list from top to the bottom of the list. Made upon e-mail request.

2. Added support for display resolution up to 1280x1024 pixels.

3. Some minor bugs corrected.

Version 1.3 - 01APR97

Database indexes now handled as temporary. After program exit all indexes deleted from HD.

Deleting file from disk now available as hotkey Ctrl+Del.

Strip tag dialog has in title name of song now.

Version 1.2 - 29MAR97

Found following bugs:

1. Foolish information on time counter when MP3 Manager reads invalid byte indicator for data bitrate. Corrected.

2. Found and corrected few bugs which occured after deleting song or tag and subsequent select of songs by artist or album.

Version 1.1 - 27MAR97

Found following bugs:

1. When starting second instance of already running MP3 Manager, program goes to endless loop. Corrected. Program now automatically switches to already running window.

2. Not updated counters for number and length of songs after deleting file by menu command. Corrected.

Version 1.0 - 26MAR97

 first public release


 Installation

Unzip all files from MP3MAN??.ZIP and FOX26ESL.ZIP into one directory (you can alternatively locate FOXW2600.ESL somewhere else on your path, for example in windows directory, if you are running some other Foxpro 2.6 application) and run MP3MAN.EXE.

If you received only MP3MAN??.ZIP and do not have Foxpro library, you can download it from my web page at: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/5563/index.html

After application first start must be set at least location of one player . If you have already installed WinPlay3 in version 2.0, this will be found automatically. Path to *.mp3 files will be set to root of current drive. Both these settings can be changed in future from program menu.