Media Commander Help file
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Version 1.5.2.7
Overview
-Collections
Browser
Lists
-Creating lists and populating with records
-Exchange records between lists
-Exchange files between Lists and drives
-Managing lists
-Check List integrity
- Work with the auxiliary list
-Import and export lists and collections
-Concatenate Lists
-List options
Tools
-Search tools
-Find Duplicate
-Find records
on Lists
-Find files on disk
-QuickShow
-ID3Tag Editor
-Directory Tree structure of List
-DVD Player
-MediaCommander Editor
-Make backup/Restore backup of the current MediaCommander.ini
file
-Remote
-Windows explorer tools
-CPU monitor
Other
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Overview
Media Commander is a special media-files manager that has some great ability due
to his multiple lists concept. Media Commander is a tool designed to help you
find and organize music, picture, video or any others files. Created especially
for huge mp3/wav collections, this program can be very useful to find and remove
unnecessary duplicate files, to create a lot of different lists/catalogs of
files, to view/edit information about Id3Tag and due to integrated players, to
provide a comfortable Media experience.
You can easily customize the look of Media Commander from Options >
Configuration. The toolbar button �Select main configuration� allow you to
choose from four configurations:
- Browser
- Browser & main list
- Auxiliary and main list
- Main list
Here are two examples:
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Collections
A collection has one or more lists that contain files (often) of the same type.
Thus, you can make a audio file's collection named 'My Music' that contains some
lists with all audio files you have, each list may have tracks from the same
Artist, from the same Album, Genre or Year, or same CD/DVD/disk etc.
Collections differ by the file info that will be stored in that collection's
lists. So, all collection's type will store info about:
- Path;
- Filename;
- Extension;
- Size.
In the lists from a collection may be also stored some supplemental information,
such as:
1) Id3Tag:
- Title;
- Artist;
- Album;
- Genre;
- Year;
- Comment.
These info may be stored in MP3 file's body and Media Commander can read and
store them in different columns for each MP3 file.
2) Information about the content of audio and video files:
- BITRATE;
- CHANNELS;
- MPEG;
- LAYER;
- FREQUENCY.
These can be stored for all WAV, MP3 and AVI file types.
3) Track length information of audio and video files:
- Track Length.
These infos may be stored for all WAV, MP3 and AVI file types.
- For WAV files Track Length is computed by: Size (bytes) /
AverageBytesPerSecond.
- For AVI files Track Length is computed by: Frames (Total) / FPS (frames per
second).
4) Last Modified Date and Time information
- DATE / TIME.
These may be stored for all file types.
5) Picture Width/Height information:
- Pictures or AVI movies dimensions.
These infos may be stored for BMP, JPG, JPE, JPEG, GIF, WMF and AVI file types.
If you have IrfanView installed on your system and 'Use IrfanView for
unsupported graphics format' option is checked in Configuration > Viewer menu,
then Media Commander may use this program to read an retrieve information about
graphics and some movie width and height for unusual graphics and movie format
like: PNG, TIFF, PCX, TGA, etc.
6) Different infos about your files:
- File Description.
These infos may be stored for every file type and will be manually edited for
one or more files at a time. For example, you can make some notes about a
graphics file - a picture (Description: The best picture of last summer) - or
about an MP3 file � even you can make a short description in the MP3's Comment
field etc.
These Descriptions may become very useful when your file have some strange or
cryptic name like: LP29V.ZIP; you will find this file quickly after some time if
you made a full description of its content.
So, in order to create a new collection you must activate the Collection > New
Collection menu, and check the desired options (presented above). It is
advisable to well consider the infos that you want to be included in your new
collection, because you won't be able to modify the collection's format
afterwards (only if you export collection and import later in desired format).
On the other hand, more infos about your files mean more memory allowance and
more on-disk storage space, while program's speed will decrease. All lists from
within a collection will be of the same type (same format, same number of
columns). File transfer between lists in the same collection is possible (via
editing commands using the Clipboard), but NOT between lists appertaining to
different collections.
Based on the current collection type, the options from the search window 'Find
files Within Lists' will change. E.g., if the collection doesn't contain infos
about Title, Artist, Album, Genre, Year, the option for searching within these
fields (columns of list/lists) will be grayed out (not accessible).
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Browser
The Browser enables managing files. The Browser contains three parts:
� the �disk drives' combobox;
� the �extensions' (filter) combobox;
� the �folders/files' list. This list has 4 fields: Path,
Filename, Extension and Size.
When click the desired drive and folder; you will see the content of that folder
will meet specific pattern listed below. In the Browser file list there are many
usually Windows Explorer's commands like Open, Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Rename,
Properties, and some file extension depended commands like Id3Tag, Play in
Winamp, Enqueue in Winamp (of course, only if an MP3 files was selected and
these file extension is associated with Winamp player) . The most important
commands are Select All and Add selected to List; you can use them to append
filenames to current list (see below).
� Most of these commands can be obtained from Browser' list contextual menu
(right-click).
� Very powerful command is 'Rename Tool' and �Multi Rename Tool�. These allow
you to easily rename your file(s).
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Lists
Create lists and populate them with records
Select New list from List menu or
from toolbar. A dialog will appear which will invite you to type the name you
want for the new list. The name must be different from preexistent list names.
You can create any number of lists you want (<1000). These lists will be stored
by the program in the �MediaCommander\Lists� subfolder. First, every new list is
empty. You can navigate through lists by upper-right Dropdown combobox named
�List�.
Click Browser to specific windows on the left side. Now selecting the desired
drive and folder, you will see the content of that folder which will meet
specific pattern listed below. Select one or more files from that file list.
Click Select All if you want to select all of them. The command Add to list is
available from toolbar and from Browser contextual menu (also you can use Drag &
Drop). Chose it to add all selected filenames (only names, not files) to current
list that appears on the right side.
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Exchange
records between lists
You can exchange records between lists via the MediaCommander clipboard. To do
this you have two choices:
- select some items from the current Listt and click �Cut selected records� to
clipboard from the Edit menu. Selected records will be deleted from current List
but they will remain in clipboard until you change the content of the clipboard.
Now select another list from Dropdown list or create a new one. Click �Paste
selected records� from clipboard from Edit menu. You will see now that all
records from clipboard will be added to the current List.
-select few numbers of items from the currrent List and click �Copy selected
records to clipboard� from the Edit menu. Selected records will be copied to
clipboard but they will not be deleted from the current List. Now you can add
them to another list (even a new one) by the �Paste selected records from
clipboard� command.
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Exchange files between Lists and drives
You can delete, copy or move the files indicated in your List by the File menu.
� Copy files. Select some filenames from the current list. Now click Copy file(s)
from File menu. You will be prompted if you wish to copy the selected file(s).
If you choose yes, you will be prompted to select the destination folder.
Selected file(s) will be copied from the source folder indicated by your List to
the destination folder. If some files were not found on your drive, you will be
advertising about that (maybe you didn't choose to Check List Integrity before).
� Move files. Select some filenames from the current list. Now click Move file(s)
from File menu. You will be prompted if you wish to move the selected file(s).
If you choose yes, you will be prompted to select the destination folder.
Selected file(s) will be moved from the source folder indicated by your list to
the destination folder. At the end you will be prompted to choose if you wish to
change the path of moved files corresponding to target folder. Usually, you
should want to do that. If some files were not founded on your drive, you will
be noticed about that (maybe you didn't choose to Check List Integrity before).
� Delete files. Select some filenames from current list. Now click Delete file(s)
from File menu. You will be prompted if you wish to delete the selected
file(s). If you choose yes, you will be prompted again if you wish to delete the
corresponding entry from List (because the selected file(s) will be no longer
available, your list will contain invalid filenames). The file(s) will be sent
to the Recycle Bin. If some files were not found on your drive, you will be
noticed about that (maybe you didn't choose to Check List Integrity before).
Every time Media Commander fails to accomplish your request about some files,
those filenames remain selected, and you can still see them.In Edit menu there
are available few more commands: Select All, Invert
selection, Remove selected filename(s) from list, Remove All , Id3Tag - see
Change Mp3' Id3Tag.
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Tools
Search tools
Find duplicate records
Searching for duplicate filenames is another nice feature of this program.
Simply click Duplicate from toolbar or Search > Find duplicate files from menu.
You can choose now to compare one list with another or even find duplicate
within the same List. Searches are always non case-sensitive.
Options
� If the �Letters/Numbers only� is checked, the program will ignore all
characters except
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvxywzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVXYWZ,
and 1234567890.
Example:
Pink_Floyd-The_Wall.mp3 will be the same with: PinkFloyd - TheWall.mp3
If the "Ignore extension" is checked, the program will ignore filename's
extension.
Example:
Pink Floyd - The Wall.mp3 will be the same with: Pink Floyd - The Wall.wav
� If the �Sound like� is checked, then the program will do same heuristic
comparison between filename (this option will slow down the search).
Example:
U96 - Love sees no color.mp3 will be the same with: U96 - Love sees no
colour.mp3
(color = colour)
The Connells will be the same with: The Connels
( LL = L )
� �Look for� combobox enable you to establish what fields will be compared:
�filenames�, �Title� or these pairs: �Title-Artist�, �Title-Album� and
�Artist-Album�.
The Find button starts the search. It can be halted by pressing Stop or
Exit/Cancel button. If you find some records, you can select some or all of them
and add to a new List (see Creating a new List), or you can remove them. An
interesting feature is that you can select filenames from one list or both lists
that were compared.
Also, you can double click one filename to open that file with its associated
application.
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Find records on
list(s)
You can make a global search through all your lists or only one of them, to find
records containing words or parts of words. There are three fields:
� The main field where you type word(s) or part of word(s).
� �Extensions� � filter. Observation: you can specify one or more file
extensions separated by ";"
� Search criteria:
- All words
- Any of the words
- Exact phrase
- �Search all list� checkbox; if this is unchecked, you can specify in which
list the search will be made.
If you find any filenames, you can select some or all of them and add to a new
List (see Creating a New List). Also, you can double click one file name to open
that file with its Windows associated application.
Media Commander can list only filenames, not folders. Still, you can search for
pathnames but those folders (the file's path) will be listed with all files they
contain.
If you leave blank the first field, search will be made for all files (like *.
wildcard).
� Media Commander allows you to look in MP3' Id3Tag. Check <Id3Tag> option and
then the corresponding command button for configuration; you can choose to
search for desired word (words) in "Title", "Album", "Artist", "Comment" of MP3'
Id3Tag or after its year or genre.
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Find files on drive(s)
This works the same with Find Filenames on Lists. All first three input fields
are here too.
� You can select the root folder.
If you leave blank the first field, search will be made for all files (like
*.wildcard). Observation: you can specify one or more file extensions separated
by ";"
� Media Commander allows you to look in MP3' Id3Tag. Check <Id3Tag> option and
then the corresponding command button for configuration; you can choose to
search for desired word (words) in "Title", "Album", "Artist", "Comment" of MP3'
Id3Tag or after its year or genre.
� �Find text in file(s)� checkbox. If checked, you can do a search in the
content of files for specified word(s) or part of word(s). A �search criteria�
checkbox is also available.
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Managing Lists
Commands that you can access from toolbar or List menu are:
� Delete List (which will remove current list from your
database);
� Rename List (which will change the name of current list).
� Refresh (update) list
� Randomize the records in list
� Check list integrity (see below)
� Check and delete not available records
� Show list like a tree structure
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Check List integrity
If some files were not found on your drive, you will be noticed about that when
you try to Copy, Move, Delete (but not Open) them. When the files were moved or
removed or the storage media is not present in the drive, your lists aren't
valid. You can check this at any time from Check button or Lists > Check List
Integrity.
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Work with the
auxiliary list
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Import and export lists and collections
The options currently available are:
Import List
- Import MCex (Media Commander exchange fformat) List; this format is useful for
exchange lists between deferent computers, preserving all parent collection
format.
- Import m3u lists. These are usually Winnamp and other programs playlist files.
- Import ASX3 lists.
Import Collection. Import a previously saved collection. A dialog window will
appear, and the deferent info stored in collection can be chanced.
Export List
- Export List to MCex (Media Commander exxchange format).
- Export m3u files. You can export currennt list in Winamp-format playlist.
- Export to HTML. You can make a HTML pagge with the content of current list.
- Export to ASCII. You can export currentt list in ASCII format (name.txt) and
you can edit it with Notepad or other text editor.
- Export to EXCEL. You can export currentt list in Microsoft EXCEL format.
- Export to ASX3. You can export in knownn ASX3 format the current list.
- Export Collection - export a collectionn or backup a current collection.
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Concatenate Lists
Two or more list can be concatenated into an existing List. A configuration
window will appear.
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List options
There are few important options available for every list, that can be configured
from �Configuration>List�.
� Font type, font color and list back-color
� show grid
� show tooltips ( display as tooltip entire content of a each row)
� full row select
� �Auto Check list integrity�
� �Auto Check for duplicate records�
� selection mode:
- like in Explorer (with left mouse button and CAPS & SHIFT
for multiple selections)
- like in Norton Commander (with right mouse button)
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QuickShow
MediaCommander has a built-in player for audio/video files and an image viewer
named 'QuickShow' who can be activated and can play/view files pointed from
every MediaCommander' window. Internal audio / video player use 'Windows Media
Player'. You have five command buttons ('Start', 'Stop' and 'Pause') and two
options: 'Continuous Play' and 'Shuffle'
'Next' and 'Previous' are available for both audio/video player and image
viewer. For some types of image' files Media Commander use 'IrfanView' program
(if this is installed in your computer and MediaCommander is properly configured
(select path to IrfanView program in 'Configuration' > 'Viewer' menu) You have
these options: 'Random Order', 'Fit images to window', 'Fit window to image',
'Fit images to Desktop'.
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Directory Tree structure of List
This is a very important feature of MediaCommander, allowing seeing the
directory tree structure of any list, to count the number of files from a
directory or Drive.
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DVD Player
The MediaCommander DVDPlayer works only within Windows XP and later and requires
the Web DVD component (which is commonly installed under this OS)
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MediaCommander Editor (Text editor)
This is a standard text editor suitable for read and edits TEXT, RTF, HTML,
movie subtitle and any other file. The Editor has nice built-in search engine
with color text highlight.
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Remote
Commander's main window will disappear, and you will see the Remote control.
From Remote you can easily change/select desired playlist and send to your
player (Winamp' playlist compatible). You can access Remote from File > Remote
menu. The Media Commander's main window
will disappear, and you will see the Remote control. From Remote you can easily
change/select desired playlist and send to your player (Winamp' playlist
compatible).
You can choose from 3 buttons, Minimize, toggle Always On-top and Exit button,
which will close Remote and return to Media Commander main screen. To change
current playlist (if any), you must left-click on Remote and select then from
the dropdown list. Remote skin can be freely changed by the user (search for 'Skin.gif'
in MediaCommander folder).
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CPU monitor
Media Commander provides a CPU monitor (Win95-98 only) which can be useful to
compare and measure deferent process speed and time. The form is sizeable and
has �On Top� attribute
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Make backup/Restore backup of the current MediaCommander.ini file
It is very important to create a backup of the MediaCommander.ini file, which
kept the Collections and List configuration.
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Windows explorer tools
Media Commander gives you quickly access to some Windows utility: Explorer, Find
Files, Calculator, Regedit, and Control Panel. You can access them through
File>Utility menu.
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ID3Tag Editor
In the main window you have the opportunity to access Edit>Id3Tag menu. This
will display Id3Tag window which offer all the Mp3' Id3Tag information. This is
a stand alone window with On Top trigger, and can by closed with <Cancel>
button. If "Id3Tag" checkbox is checked, the file have an Id3Tag and this can be
chanced by edit "Title", "Album", "Artist", "Comment", "Year" and "Genre
"fields. <Update> button will write all information in MP3' Id3Tag. If you
uncheck "Id3Tag" and click <Update>, all MP3' Id3Tag fields will be erased.
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Other
In the main program's window you can send current list or only selected items to
Winamp (or the program associated with m3u playlist files), or open one file
with its associated application. For this you must use Open file, Send list to
Winamp and Send selected file(s) to Winamp command buttons from toolbar.
Media Commander has the ability to remember almost every setting you had made.
Also, you can change HeaderColumns width and Columns order in every
windows/lists.
From 1.0.9.7. Version, you have the opportunity to access mixer 'Wave Volume'
control within MediaCommander. Volume Bar is located in upper-right corner of
main screen. If this is not visible, you can check it in 'Configuration' menu.
The �Norton Commander style� for selecting records & files with right mouse
button, work fine only on faster computer (PIII or better).
MediaCommander.ini
If you have trouble using some lists, you can manually edit MediaCommander.ini
file located in Media Commander installation folder. The content of this file is
listed below:
1.5 - version number
Number of collections: - comment
5 - Number of collections
My Music - first collection name
My Pictures - second collection name
My Movie - third collection name
NewMusic - forth collection name
NewPictures - fifth collection name
0 - Type of first collection
1 - Number of lists in the collection
0 - type of second collection
1 - Number of lists in the collection
0 - type of third collection
1 - Number of lists in the collection
37 - Type of fourth collection
2 - Number of lists in the collection
48 - Type of fifth collection
2 - Number of lists in the collection
Line empty
My Music � List1 - name of the lists in the first collection
My Pictures � List1 - name of the lists in the second collection
My Movie � List1 - name of the lists in the third collection
NewMusic - List1 - name of the lists in the fourth collection
NewMusic � List2 - name of the lists in the fourth collection
NewPictures - List1 - name of the lists in the fifth collection
NewPictures � List2 - name of the lists in the fifth collection
List files are in LISTS subfolder (�My Music � List1.mcl� etc). Numbers and
names (without extensions) of lists must be correctly showed in
MediaCommander.ini file.
Requirements
MediaCommander require Pentium I processor or equivalent with 32Mb RAM (recomand
PII or better), a (32 bits) VGA graphic card, a sound card, Win98SE, Internet
Explorer 6.0.
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