Topics

1

MusicBee API / MetaDataType.HasLyrics Not Setting

« on: February 21, 2025, 06:40:03 PM »

I apologize in advance for posting this without thorough testing.

From my brief tests, the above field is not doing anything when set using:
mbApi.Library_SetFileTag(mbApi.NowPlaying_GetFileUrl(), MetaDataType.HasLyrics, "Test")

Is it read-only from the API side?

______________

The reason I'm even looking at it is because of:

I've looked and searched and can't find a way to access the "Mark as having no lyrics" option outside the Lyrics tab in the Tag Editor.

So this is all assuming "HasLyrics" has some relation to "Mark as having no lyrics".
If it doesn't, then the whole exercise is futile and there isn't a need to investigate the first half of this post.

2

Developers' Area / Display Issue // A-Z Jumpbar Overlapping With The Album Covers View

« on: February 06, 2025, 08:40:07 PM »

I didn't know where to post this one as I'm not even sure what the solution for it is - if there's even a need for one.
With the A-Z jumpbar set to display horizontally, and the Album Covers view set to display selected tracks on the right-handside:

The header of the selected tracks on the right overlaps with the jumpbar.
Not a train smash for me, just something I noticed right now, and thought I'd mention it for discussion.

3

General Discussions / Connection Timed Out

« on: January 15, 2025, 06:10:13 PM »

Anyone else frequently getting this error whilst browsing the forum?
I noticed it over the last 2 days and it has persisted this evening too.
I don't think it's my internet as I've alternated between wifi and mobile data without any improvement.
It's taking me a couple of webpage refreshments and some waiting to just browse between unread topics.


I get a 522 error code and a piece saying that it's an error on the website host.

4

MusicBee Wishlist / Album Covers > Show Selected Tracks to the Right of the Main Panel

« on: January 08, 2025, 05:04:15 PM »

I noticed that the panel resize lock setting under preferences > layout 1 does not yet apply to the above panel.
At the moment, when that setting is enabled, one can still resize this panel.
Please extend the setting to disable this location as well. Thank you.

5

MusicBee API / General Sample Code Blocks

« on: December 08, 2024, 04:46:18 PM »

Might be useful to others. Will post more as time goes by.
Anybody's welcome to add to this thread.

Catering For The Portable Version Or Otherwise

Getting the MusicBee edition:

private string getMusicBeeEdition()
{
   string appData = mbApi.Setting_GetPersistentStoragePath();
   if(appData.Contains("Roaming") == false) return "Portable";
   else return "Installer or Store";
}

Getting the Internal Cache folder:

private string getCacheFolder()
{
   string mbType = getMusicBeeEdition();
   string cacheFolder = "InternalCache";

   if(mbType != "Portable") cacheFolder = @"..\..\Local\MusicBee\InternalCache";
   cacheFolder = Path.Combine(mbApi.Setting_GetPersistentStoragePath(), cacheFolder);

   return cacheFolder;
}

Skin Overrides For Your Plugin

Loading the skin file:

private string loadSkin()
{
   string dataFolder = Path.Combine(mbApi.Setting_GetPersistentStoragePath(), "mb_MyPlugin");
   string skinsFolder = Path.Combine(dataFolder, "skins");

   string skin = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(mbApi.Setting_GetSkin());
   string skinPath = Path.Combine(skinsFolder, skin + ".xml");
      
   if(!File.Exists(skinPath))
   {
      File.WriteAllText
      (   skinPath,
         "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\"?>\n"
         + "<root>\n" + Environment.NewLine
         + "<element id=\"Element_1\" bg=\"r,g,b\" fg=\"r,g,b\"/>\n"
         + "<element id=\"Element_2\" bg=\"r,g,b\" fg=\"r,g,b\"/>\n"
         + Environment.NewLine + "</root>"
      );
   }

   using (StreamReader reader = File.OpenText(skinPath)) return reader.ReadToEnd();   
}

Querying the contents of the skin:

private color getSkinColour(string element, string attribute)
{         
   string search = "<element id=\"" + element + "\".*?" + attribute + "=\"(.*?)\".*?/>";
   string colour = Regex.Match(loadSkin(), search).Groups[1].Value;
      
   int r = Int32.Parse(Regex.Replace(colour, @"(\d+),\d+,\d+", "$1"));
   int g = Int32.Parse(Regex.Replace(colour, @"\d+,(\d+),\d+", "$1"));
   int b = Int32.Parse(Regex.Replace(colour, @"\d+,\d+,(\d+)", "$1"));
      
   return Color.FromArgb(r, g, b);
}

6

Bug Reports / Unable To Change The Data Type On Virtual Tag 47-50

« on: December 07, 2024, 09:17:59 AM »

v3.6.9083 P
Prefs > Tags 2 > Configure Fields ...

For some weird reason, the data type on virtual tag #47 to #50 isn't changing.
I'm trying to change #50 to <url>, but it's not sticking - nor is it with anything else other than the default <string>.

7

Plugins / Greyscale Artwork

« on: December 03, 2024, 05:00:55 PM »

Download link: here

This was designed specifically for this skin:
But it should blend in somewhat with other dark skins if it looks fun enough for you.

The download link has been posted above to complete the trilogy.
See below for the standalone prequels:  Oblivion (2022)  and  Lunar Eclipse (2022)

8

Skins / The Dark Knight

« on: December 01, 2024, 02:39:13 PM »

This is a preview of a skin I started working on last night which is near ready.
I just need to add a few touchups, then I will post a download link, but here's a sneak peek so long.

This skin will go hand-in-hand with another plugin that I'm currently developing that will convert all cached artwork to grayscale.
Artwork not cached like artist pictures and album covers on the Track Info panel & "more albums" section of the Music Explorer will remain coloured.

The rounded artwork is not enforced - you will only see this if you install the plugin of the same name released yesterday.
This skin is inspired by redwing's Gray (slim) and of course, the Bat of Gotham.

Edit: Download link: here

9

Plugins / Rounded Artwork

« on: November 30, 2024, 11:58:15 AM »

Download link: here

I haven't found a way to manipulate the album covers on the Track Information panel.
But this seems to work for all other locations (as far as the layouts I primarily use are concerned).

I've borrowed the code from here:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1758762/how-to-create-image-with-rounded-corners-in-c

The background colour and radius of the stripped corners can be overridden using:
...MusicBee\AppData\mb_RoundedArtwork\Skins

NB: This does not and will not replace the actual artwork on your music files.

Supported features (descriptions commented out in gray):
 
 
 

I would like to have the album artworks with rounded corners just like on Apple Music for example.

But I'd really wish we would have an options to turn sightly rounded corners on album artwork.

is it possible to round album covers (corners) in the main panel by 15px. and increase even more the distance between album covers.?

10

General Discussions / AnyDesk - Remote PC Access Between Users

« on: November 09, 2024, 07:07:43 AM »

At my workplace, I believe our IT department makes use of this program called AnyDesk to remotely control PCs.

Is this something that would go a long way in making the process of helping some of the users on here easy and quick?
or will this open a security risk that the forum could do without? (or it'd be made clear that participating individuals are acting at owner's risk?)

This is the thread that's brought this up on my mind:
https://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=42107.msg229612#msg229612

Was caught between posting this here and in the Beyond MusicBee board

11

General Discussions / 2024 - Compliments / Reviews / Observations

« on: November 04, 2024, 05:53:03 PM »

This is a bit earlier than last year, but I think we should get the ball rolling as we come to a close for the 2024 period.




A big thanks to Steven for the continued support on this excellent program - v3.6 is officially up and running!

Unfortunately this year, I come bearing a complaint to the stars:
I don't like how there hasn't been any regex challenge for me to exercise my brain cells with :-/
I remember 2022 being full of those where I'd thought to myself that these damn expressions and virtual tags really are the solution to every problem around here.


In other news, this is probably my most memorable thread for the year - excited to see what the future holds:
General Discussions: MusicBee and OpenAI (ChatGPT)

12

Plugins / MusicBee Patch Update (Virtual Tag Notification)

« on: November 03, 2024, 08:35:05 AM »

Hi Guys,

This is for the bunch that likes to keep up to date with Steven's updates.
I know there's already a feature intended for this in the preferences screen > general > application > check for updates on startup ...
But I've never seen the fruits of its labour - not sure when or where that notification is supposed to reflect (never seen one in the past 3 years of my MB use).

Download Link

 


Installation

-   Download the "mb_MusicBeePatchUpdate_v1.1" zip file and select it from MusicBee -> Edit -> Preferences -> Plugins -> Add Plugin.
-   In the same preferences screen, go to the Tags (1) tab > Define New Tags ... set up a virtual tag as follows: $IsNewVersionAvailable()
-   Then display that virtual tag in the Track Information panel (this is optional, you can display it wherever you like).
-   Note that the virtual tag will only return a value when a new patch is available. When you are on the latest version, nothing will display.
-   Also note that this is for notification purposes only. The plugin won't download the update for you.


How to Get a Direct Download Link

-   Create a virtual tag as follows:   $GetNewVersion()   which will be a clickable link if displayed on the track info panel.
-   To make it clickable,  go to Preferences  > Tags (2) > configure fields ... > change your virtual tag data type from "string" to "url"


How to Modify the Message Returned

-    $IsNull($IsNewVersionAvailable(),"Already on the latest version",$IsNewVersionAvailable())
     To display something else when there isn't a newer version.

-    $RxReplace($IsNewVersionAvailable(),"^.*$","New Version Out Now")
     To override the message when an update is available

13

General Discussions / Error When Logging Out

« on: October 15, 2024, 06:59:25 PM »

Must be related to the recent forum issues we have/had.
I now see this every time I log out:

AN ERROR HAS OCCURRED!

Session verification failed. Please try logging out and back in again, and then try again.

14

General Discussions / Surge of Spam Posts

« on: September 16, 2024, 07:03:03 PM »

Not my intention to give them an audience, but has the forum ever been hit like this before (by one specific advertising group)?
It's the first time I've noticed an endless wave of spam posts for the same thing on here.

Our mods would have a better indication, but it's been horrific from what I've seen every time I accessed the forum since the downtime the other week.
Did some website captcha setting fall off the shelf during the reboot?

15

MusicBee API / Toolbar Buttons - Separate Icons for Different Modes Offered By a Single Hotkey

« on: September 14, 2024, 05:40:03 PM »

Steven is this possible for plugin hotkeys?

All the functions needed to set up the hotkey as a plugin were already available, so I have created one here:
https://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=41310.0

That's some impressively fast and good service/solution.

Just a thought about it from a technical perspective:
Perhaps it would be useful if it allowed for having separate icons for disabled and enabled status?
Like this:


Not sure if that's even possible for a shortcut like this one (and I personally don't care since I wouldn't use this feature) but I thought to mention it anyway.

Bringing this here so that it gets its own topic for possible discussion.
On the AB Repeat plugin, I would have liked to have 3 icons to indicate the plugin's three different states:

- start time set
- end time set (repeat on)
- repeat off