autonext

[j_c_hallgren]

randomize the contents of the file view, this would be really useful for queueing up a list of new music and sorting/deleting/tagging them as appropriate.
... this improvement would really help users who want to process new music or who just want a to listen to a few podcasts/tunes.

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although i agree, that without a dropstack, it would provide challenges for trying to play a group of files. my needs are less for playing multiple files (which i use a media player for) and more oriented for manipulating the currently playing file.

I've extracted parts of two of your posts (the original & most recent) and marked the words that caused some of my confusion...in first post, it appeared (to me) that you wanted to "play a group", so my replies were addressing that issue, but now it seems you have clarified it to be single file oriented...

In which case, maybe the way to handle it would be a fourth drop-down option of "play next selected", so XY could be set to either 'go to next sequential in list' or 'go to next selected' modes, which would seem to satisfy all user needs..

[cracksloth]

this would be really useful for queueing up a list of new music and sorting/deleting/tagging them as appropriate... this improvement would really help users who want to process new music or who just want a to listen to a few podcasts/tunes.

"list" and "few" in this case indicate playing a *folder* of files in contrast to playing a *selection* of files. this was my first post and at this point i was not aware of the group selection idea so i did not think to distinguish between these two ideas.

although i agree, that without a dropstack, it would provide challenges for trying to play a group of files. my needs are less for playing multiple files (which i use a media player for) and more oriented for manipulating the currently playing file.

i agree that when these are placed in context together, it seems poorly worded. to sum it up:

my method would work well for playing a randomized folder of music or for playing a group of sequentially named files (like podcasts). it would not work for playing a mixed selection:

file1
file2
file5
file7

the benefits of my method are that you can perform file operations on the currently playing file (move, rename, delete). to *me*, this bonus has more benefit than the ability to play mixed selections like the one above and it seems more consistent with the goals of a file manager.

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i hope this clears things up. when the current file completes playing, the next file in the list becomes selected/focused and thus begins playing in the preview. so it is not necessarily "single file oriented" (in fact, the point of the feature is for playing files one after another) - it just has the bonus that the currently playing item can be moved/deleted/renamed. think of it as being "file management oriented".

but you are right, a 4th option would make everyone happy! another way to achieve the results you want:
      1) dropstack (or)
      2) create a toggle that allows users to rearrange files in the
          list - users could place files in the order they wanted them
          to be played.

[j_c_hallgren]

Puuh, lots of words thrown on autonext...
Now you can go on with your chat...

We threw a LOT more words at it until we got ourselves and it straightened/sorted out! And we certainly DID go on with the chat!

but you are right, a 4th option would make everyone happy! another way to achieve the results you want:
      1) dropstack (or)
      2) create a toggle that allows users to rearrange files in the
          list - users could place files in the order they wanted them
          to be played.

I think, at this point, having that 4th choice of "play next selected" would be the simplest solution...given that drop stack is in future plans, as documented...and a toggle to rearrange seems like a whole 'nother can-of-worms that maybe should stay unopened for now.

[admin]

We threw a LOT more words at it until we got ourselves and it straightened/sorted out! And we certainly DID go on with the chat!

Yes, and the results look well thought out AFAI see. I'll give it (3 or even 4 options) a try soon...

[jacky]

drop stack is in future plans, as documented...and a toggle to rearrange seems like a whole 'nother can-of-worms that maybe should stay unopened for now.

Just a quick FYI while I'm around here: this ability (custom order) is actually planned with drop stacks

[cracksloth]

wow! it sounds like if dropstacks and "play next" are unveiled we will essentially be able to create a custom playlist (which is even more powerful than just playing a selection of files). this is awesome news!

[admin]

wow! it sounds like if dropstacks and "play next" are unveiled we will essentially be able to create a custom playlist (which is even more powerful than just playing a selection of files). this is awesome news!

I'm working on "play next" right now...

[admin]

- play once
- play next
- loop

Done!

[jacky]

- play once
- play next
- loop

Done!

Yeah, but as said before I think it would probably have been better if one could actually choose which files to be previewed...

I would say this new option would be as simple as this: when previewing a file, when we're done and if there are more than one file selected, give focus to the next one in List (according to current List order).

so you select #2. It has focus & is previewed. Hold down & select #5, it gets also selected, got focus and is previewed. If you don't do nothing anymore, when the preview is done either it stops there, as there are no more selected files, or it starts again from first file selected (#2).

Now when you say you select #5, #2, #6, #1; if done in that order then once done #1 has focus so it is being previewed. Then #2, then #5 and then #6. According that you don't do nothing of course, as selecting/focusing another item would affect this, so would changing the list sort order, etc.

As I said, I'd see this simply as a "move focus to next selected item in List" feature, nothing more. Only special case is having the focused one not included in the selection. Well, then maybe the first item of the selection gets the focus, and then it's all a next, next, next...

That way one could choose which files to be previewed; and you could check if only one file is selected then do like now, ie. then move focus&selection to the next one on List.

[j_c_hallgren]

but you are right, a 4th option would make everyone happy!

I think, at this point, having that 4th choice of "play next selected" would be the simplest solution...

It would appear, I think, that jacky is also in agreement with this solution, given his latest post.

And from another thread (why a separate thread when this one was here?):

Now, the next step: when files are selected, only play next file within the selected files (so, also, start from top of SELECTED list if bottom is reached), and the preview functionality will be great! ;-).

(http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?t=1277)

So that looks like four users that desire "play next SELECTED"...

[admin]

Yes yes. easy folks. I never said that I won't do "Play Next Selected". I just had to stop for a moment because I was hungry. After dinner, work goes on...

[lukescammell]

Slacker =P

[j_c_hallgren]

Yes yes. easy folks. I never said that I won't do "Play Next Selected". I just had to stop for a moment because I was hungry. After dinner, work goes on...

You should have said this in your "Done " post above! Which left the impression you were complete...thus our concern, ok? And having food input is always a good thing! Definitely helps create code output!

[surrender]

The XY drumroll is a fun to play with. .

I have a question though:
Is Playnext (PN) without Autoplay (AP) possible?? Because if autoplay is off there would be no 'playnext' but only 'gonext'. See option 2 below

option 1.
PN=0 + AP=0
Spacebar press plays focused file.

option 2.
PN=1 + AP=0
Spacebar press plays focused file and goes to next file.

option 3.
PN=0 + AP=1
Clicking the file triggers play and stops at the end of song.

option 4.
PN=1 + AP=1
Clicking the file triggers play and goes to the next file and plays the next song.

To me option 2 is somehow redundant with 1.
In option 2, I expected AP to be automatically ON when PN is turned ON. Is it just me??

Update: After thinking a bit, I think its a bit too trivial. or??

[j_c_hallgren]

Having this drum file set gave me a much quicker and easier way to verify if autonext was working the way I had hoped for...and...it's NOT!

When I select a random group of items, and have PN=Y, but AP=N, it doesn't allow me to play first item, then simply move focus and wait for me to start it....it loses the selections that I've made except for one!

I wanted the ability to either position at next seq item or next selected, but still having autoplay off so I have control over start/stop.
That's why I was suggesting "PN" and "PNS" as separate, but seems there is a way to tell difference via internal detection of nbr of sel items.

Also, when PN=Y and AP=Y, it cycles thru the list over and over...I'd like to see the ability to do list just once and then stop...to make this compatible with drums (and other users), it would thus need to be a selectable option.

Surrender:As I've written above, I definitely see a difference between your opts 1 and 2...I like having AP=N but still want ability to move to next file, when desired.