Filters vs New (Additional) Library

[phred]

Here's what I'm trying to do ... I want to create some auto playlists that do not add tracks from certain genres.  I know I can set the auto playlist so that genre "is not one of..." and be done with it.  Which would be fine for new auto playlists.  But I've got about 50 already and it's a pain in the butt to go back and edit the criteria for all of them. 

So I set up a filter that eliminates classical (and a couple of other genres) from showing, but that doesn't work as expected.  IOW, tracks from the filtered genres still show in the auto playlist.

Should I set up another library that only contains tracks of genres I don't want in the auto playlists?  If so, once I create the new library, can I copy/move tracks from my existing library to the new one?  I guess I would have to physically move them from where they now live on my NAS to another (new) directory, correct?

As always, I'm looking for some ideas on the best way to do this.  Or if I should just bite the bullet and manually remove the unwanted tracks from the existing auto playlists?

Thanks.

[psychoadept]

So I set up a filter that eliminates classical (and a couple of other genres) from showing, but that doesn't work as expected.  IOW, tracks from the filtered genres still show in the auto playlist.

And you used that filter as the only source for the auto-playlist?  That SHOULD work.  Can you share your playlist and filter settings, and maybe show one of the tracks that shouldn't be in the playlist?  (Also, be sure nothing accidentally got added to the "Add Files" and "Remove Files" boxes for the playlist.)

[phred]

So I set up a filter that eliminates classical (and a couple of other genres) from showing, but that doesn't work as expected.  IOW, tracks from the filtered genres still show in the auto playlist.

And you used that filter as the only source for the auto-playlist?

I just created 4 screen shots to in response to your query.  Just before I posted them I reread your reply and notice the line quoted.  Which then caused me to go back to the playlist settings where I noticed there was a drop-down for 'library" which (obviously) I hadn't noticed before.  As soon as I selected the new (no classical) library, all became right with the world.  Both for new, and my pre-existing, auto playlists.

Just for clarification, if I have a track that has the genre set to "rock; comedy" and comedy is filtered out from the library, MB will not select this track since "comedy" exists as part of the genre tag, correct?

Hopefully here's the final question regarding auto playlists. In the auto playlist settings, if I select "filter out duplicates when the same track is repeated on multiple albums" and I have ten tracks of The Rolling Stones Brown Sugar, MB will randomly select only one of these, correct?  Assuming the Artist and Title tags match. 

I've been using MB since April 2009 (version 0.3.3379.)  I often read in the forums about features I haven't been using and get blown away when I finally get around to using one and it does just what's needed.  After a little help from my friends. 

Thanks for clearing all this up. 

[phred]

Just for clarification, if I have a track that has the genre set to "rock; comedy" and comedy is filtered out from the library, MB will not select this track since "comedy" exists as part of the genre tag, correct?

Is this the expected behavior?  If yes, is there any way around it, so that I can filter out comedy and this album still appears?

[psychoadept]

Yes, I'm pretty sure that any track with comedy would excluded, in your example.  I'm not sure what you mean about classical, but if you wanted to exclude "comedy" but not "rock; comedy" you could try using the <Genres> tag instead of <Genre>, i.e. <Genres> is not "Comedy".

[phred]

<Genres> being a custom tag?

[psychoadept]

No, Genres is an existing tag in MB.  It's actually a more "normal" form of <Genre>, i.e. it doesn't do any of the special formatting or processing that <Genre> does.  You just get "Genre 1; Genre 2; Genre 3" etc.

[phred]

Hmmm ... I seem to be missing something.  Probably a piece of my brain. 

Where exactly do I find <Genres>?  I opened the Tab Editor and it's not there.  <Genre> is, but not <Genres>.   

[Bee-liever]

Where exactly do I find <Genres>?  I opened the Tab Editor and it's not there.  <Genre> is, but not <Genres>.   

<Genres> is <Genre>. If you have more than one genre tag it's how MB reads them.
If you only use <Genre> in filters, MB only looks at the first genre, even if multiple genre tags exist.
To get MB to look at all the genre tags you need to use <Genres> in the filter.

[phred]

Let's make sure I understand this correctly because my brain seems to be missing more pieces than it was yesterday.

I have, for example, a filter for No Comedy.  I have some albums by Weird Al Yankovic which I have tagged the genre as comedy and rock (comedy; rock).  Currently the filter parameter is "Genre is not comedy."  This filters out all tracks that have "comedy" as part of the tag.  But it also filters out "comedy; rock".  Are you saying that if I reverse the parameters it will work?  IOW, "Genre is rock; folk; funk; jazz; a cappella; etc; etc; etc..."  Which means entering about twenty genres that I -do- want to show.  And there's no way to select multiples from the filter parameter drop down.  It would be nice to be able to select all the genres and then deselect comedy.

[psychoadept]

Ah, Genres is not included in the filter rule selections.    That's too bad.  But I find I can select.multiples if I use "genre is any of..."

[phred]

Ah, Genres is not included in the filter rule selections. 

Ah HAH!!!!  So I'm not going crazy!  That's what kept throwing me off.

But I find I can select.multiples if I use "genre is any of..."

And there's the solution.  This accomplishes what I've been trying to do.

Thanks

[Pingaware]

Ah, Genres is not included in the filter rule selections.    That's too bad.  But I find I can select.multiples if I use "genre is any of..."

Indeed, Genres can only be accessed through Virtual Tags. I have one reserved for that very purpose.

[psychoadept]

Indeed, Genres can only be accessed through Virtual Tags. I have one reserved for that very purpose.

It's available in the main panel, which is the source of my confusion.  But you're right, you could always configure it in a virtual tag to use it elsewhere.  Irritating that you have to do that, though.

[Bee-liever]

I have, for example, a filter for No Comedy.  I have some albums by Weird Al Yankovic which I have tagged the genre as comedy and rock (comedy; rock).  Currently the filter parameter is "Genre is not comedy."  This filters out all tracks that have "comedy" as part of the tag.  But it also filters out "comedy; rock".

In the filter panel, where 'Genres' is not available, wouldn't this achieve the same result?