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General => MusicBee Wishlist => Topic started by: musicbee4dwd on December 25, 2020, 07:49:56 AM

Title: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: musicbee4dwd on December 25, 2020, 07:49:56 AM
I know this has been an ongoing topic, but since it really does take even years to get MB where you really like it, well, at least days, having a single all in one backup option would really Bee nice.

(https://i.imgur.com/4A6obm9.png)
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: sveakul on December 25, 2020, 05:30:13 PM
Not trying to be snarky, but a single all-backup solution (albeit without button) is available right now, if you use the Portable version of MusicBee.  Copying the single folder that you installed the Portable version to to your backup drive gets it ALL--settings, radio stations, layout, playlists (if stored at default location), etc.  Two steps, copy/paste.
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: musicbee4dwd on December 25, 2020, 08:32:09 PM
Not trying to be snarky, but a single all-backup solution (albeit without button) is available right now, if you use the Portable version of MusicBee.  Copying the single folder that you installed the Portable version to to your backup drive gets it ALL--settings, radio stations, layout, playlists (if stored at default location), etc.  Two steps, copy/paste.

That's not snarky at all. That would solve the problem, like old windows where you could back everything up by copying the install folder becasue before registry there were ini files, etc, for the program's settings. only.

What functionality will I lose using portable vs integrated?

What files do I need in order to move to portable? I'll d it today if plausible, and never again worry about it!
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: phred on December 25, 2020, 08:53:19 PM
What functionality will I lose using portable vs integrated?
None whatsoever. It is exactly the same application (unlike the Store version.) The only difference is the way it "installs." Be sure not to place it in a Windows controlled directory. I suggest something like x:\MusicBee.

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What files do I need in order to move to portable? I'll d it today if plausible, and never again worry about it!
Backing up you current settings isn't going to help as you're changing the install location. Save you panel arrangement (View > Import/Export...) and you'll get you're layout back. Other than that, you'll have to start all over. But don't do it yet, as someone else may have a better idea.
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: musicbee4dwd on December 26, 2020, 07:14:47 PM
What functionality will I lose using portable vs integrated?
None whatsoever. It is exactly the same application (unlike the Store version.) The only difference is the way it "installs." Be sure not to place it in a Windows controlled directory. I suggest something like x:\MusicBee.

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What files do I need in order to move to portable? I'll d it today if plausible, and never again worry about it!
Backing up you current settings isn't going to help as you're changing the install location. Save you panel arrangement (View > Import/Export...) and you'll get you're layout back. Other than that, you'll have to start all over. But don't do it yet, as someone else may have a better idea.

You mean I can't have the portable version on the C:\ drive at all, such as "C:\MusicBeePortable" ?

Also, as far as my stream stations go, isn't there a place where the stations' stream locations are stored that I can copy? They aren't local, should be the same stream location.

Last, I assume I can have installed both the full version and the portable version at the same time?
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: phred on December 26, 2020, 07:39:51 PM
You mean I can't have the portable version on the C:\ drive at all, such as "C:\MusicBeePortable" ?
Yes, you certainly can. My 'best practices' dictates that I move installations off the C drive completely whenever possible. The key point in using the C drive is to make sure your don't put it in C:'Users\...

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Also, as far as my stream stations go, isn't there a place where the stations' stream locations are stored that I can copy? They aren't local, should be the same stream location.
I can't recall exactly where they are stored. I -think- in an xml file, but I can't remember which one. And I currently have limited access to the PC on which MB is installed.

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Last, I assume I can have installed both the full version and the portable version at the same time?
Your assumption is correct. I suggest that you only make tag changes in one as you'll need to do a file rescan in the other in order to pick up the changes. Or keep the files in a monitored directory.
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: musicbee4dwd on December 26, 2020, 07:56:14 PM
You mean I can't have the portable version on the C:\ drive at all, such as "C:\MusicBeePortable" ?
Yes, you certainly can. My 'best practices' dictates that I move installations off the C drive completely whenever possible. The key point in using the C drive is to make sure your don't put it in C:'Users\...

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Also, as far as my stream stations go, isn't there a place where the stations' stream locations are stored that I can copy? They aren't local, should be the same stream location.
I can't recall exactly where they are stored. I -think- in an xml file, but I can't remember which one. And I currently have limited access to the PC on which MB is installed.

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Last, I assume I can have installed both the full version and the portable version at the same time?
Your assumption is correct. I suggest that you only make tag changes in one as you'll need to do a file rescan in the other in order to pick up the changes. Or keep the files in a monitored directory.
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My limited local files are all stored by individual directory naming, so I don't use any player organization stuff, so that's easy. So if I can find the stream xml file, I can copy it to the same directory, and all of my stations should populate into their respective Radio Folders?
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: frankz on December 26, 2020, 10:22:48 PM
Radio stations are stored in the MBL (backed up as <libraryname>.bak in the same folder as the library).

Phred might be thinking of podcast subscriptions, which are stored in subscriptions.dat (backed up as subscriptions.bak in the same directory as the subscriptions each time you close mb)
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: musicbee4dwd on December 27, 2020, 12:25:44 AM
Radio stations are stored in the MBL (backed up as <libraryname>.bak in the same folder as the library).

Phred might be thinking of podcast subscriptions, which are stored in subscriptions.dat (backed up as subscriptions.bak in the same directory as the subscriptions each time you close mb)

So if I do a File>Library>Backup that should pick up the streams, etc for import into the portable version?
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: frankz on December 27, 2020, 12:41:19 AM
You don't need to backup / import anything from your library to the new install.  Just open your current MBL library file in your new portable install and your library will be the same as in your current version.

File->Library->Open Library

If your current library is not in the list, or there are no libraries in the list, then select "Create New Library" (yes, this is correct) and browse for the current library toward the bottom where it says "Or select a library that is not in the list" (something close to that wording).

Once your have the library open, you may want to use the function within MB to move the library to the portable location.  This won't move your music files, just the library database-related files.
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: musicbee4dwd on December 27, 2020, 12:50:08 AM
You don't need to backup / import anything from your library to the new install.  Just open your current MBL library file in your new portable install and your library will be the same as in your current version.

File->Library->Open Library

If your current library is not in the list, or there are no libraries in the list, then select "Create New Library" (yes, this is correct) and browse for the current library toward the bottom where it says "Or select a library that is not in the list" (something close to that wording).

Once your have the library open, you may want to use the function within MB to move the library to the portable location.  This won't move your music files, just the library database-related files.

Can't I just copy it manually?
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: frankz on December 27, 2020, 01:00:42 AM
You can probably copy it manually.  Copy whatever you want manually.  Good luck I hope this process works out for you.
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: phred on December 27, 2020, 02:32:54 AM
Can't I just copy it manually?
It's always better to do things like this from within MB so it knows where things are. But if you want to do it manually, go right ahead. I hope you can configure it once it's been manually copied.
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: sveakul on December 27, 2020, 04:50:47 AM
With radio stations, you could also right-click the Radio header bar and choose "Export Stations", where you can export them to an xml file.  These can later be imported following the same procedure if somehow you lose your *.mbl file (where as frankz said all their info is stored), but it will not include any links to pics you may have assigned to the stations.
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: musicbee4dwd on December 27, 2020, 06:44:25 AM
With radio stations, you could also right-click the Radio header bar and choose "Export Stations", where you can export them to an xml file.  These can later be imported following the same procedure if somehow you lose your *.mbl file (where as frankz said all their info is stored), but it will not include any links to pics you may have assigned to the stations.

Got it. I just old schooled it: Found all of the layout files in the installed Music Bee, such as EQ settings, mbl, skins, and just copied things over to the portable in their respective folders. Done!

Good-bye WORRYING ABOUT my MB backups!

Thanks guys!
Title: Re: Single Button Backup of all Settings, including Radio Stations.
Post by: musicbee4dwd on December 27, 2020, 06:01:32 PM
With radio stations, you could also right-click the Radio header bar and choose "Export Stations", where you can export them to an xml file.  These can later be imported following the same procedure if somehow you lose your *.mbl file (where as frankz said all their info is stored), but it will not include any links to pics you may have assigned to the stations.

I had to go searching for that mbl file. Thanks for that information. So many options, so little time. I don't assign stations images, so that is no bid deal to me!