Alternate grouping view with a "cover" title

[Mathiross]

Hi, first of all, thanks a lot for developing the best music library software !  

I would like to suggest an alternate way to display grouping. I don’t know if something similar exists already or if it a has been proposed yet.
The purpose is to arrange albums like physical ones on a library shelves.
All is explained with this picture:



It could also compact all and save a lot of vertical scrolling.
Here is the standard grouped view:



For artist grouping view, it could also display the round artist image.
Let me know if this project could be possible.

All the best

[Sofocl]

+1
I don't use grouping because it's uneconomical.

[Steven]

Bumping this as I think its a good idea but would like to see more support before it would be implemented

[The Incredible Boom Boom]

+1 would be an improvement over the current way

[BoraBora]

+1, I'd like this.

[avididid]

I would like to see this also!! Tks, DN

[aktor]

+1

[fabulario]

+1

[Tybot]

Can't say for sure that I would use this but I'm always for more options on how to display the collection. The current grouping option is indeed uneconomical and it's the reason why I don't use grouping when displaying the album covers.

Adding to this suggestion, being able to change the background color and font would be nice to make these "group covers" blend in seamlessly.

[Steven]

This is done now for the v3.5 beta
https://getmusicbee.com/patches/MusicBee35_Patched.zip
unzip and replace the existing musicbee application files

In the Group By menu for the Album Covers view/ untick "Show Header in a Separate Row"

for skin developers to override the colours used:
Content[Artwork].GroupingHeaderFile bg="xx" fg="xx"

[boroda]

Steven, i get error on unticking "Show Header in a Separate Row":

MusicBee v3.5.8271.36235P  (Win10.0), 24 авг 2022 16:13:

System.NullReferenceException: Ссылка на объект не указывает на экземпляр объекта.
   в #=zhWkiOYVAEBaUuTlbKgOUUzcJYpm6.#=zystkm2TmSrVhdqsGhA==.#=zNkFCPX6XiUFEkQgfq8wrHuQ=.#=zXMjdA1uCrg3y6U0feQ==(Boolean #=zn4AiTHo56Os7)
   в #=zhWkiOYVAEBaUuTlbKgOUUzcJYpm6.#=zystkm2TmSrVhdqsGhA==.#=zNkFCPX6XiUFEkQgfq8wrHuQ=.#=zHTfIJ8SmdJzayYHkJg==(Object #=zs6SenPs=, EventArgs #=zQhPEl3k=)
   в System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)
   в System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   в System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

[aktor]

Same error.

[phred]

Using 3.5.8271 P

This error only occurs when Group By Album Artist is selected and then unticking 'show header in separate row.'
If Group By Artist is selected then no error is thrown when unticking the header option.

Code

MusicBee v3.5.8271.36235P  (Win10.0), 24 Aug 2022 14:04:

System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at #=zhWkiOYVAEBaUuTlbKgOUUzcJYpm6.#=zystkm2TmSrVhdqsGhA==.#=zNkFCPX6XiUFEkQgfq8wrHuQ=.#=zXMjdA1uCrg3y6U0feQ==(Boolean #=zn4AiTHo56Os7)
   at #=zhWkiOYVAEBaUuTlbKgOUUzcJYpm6.#=zystkm2TmSrVhdqsGhA==.#=zNkFCPX6XiUFEkQgfq8wrHuQ=.#=zHTfIJ8SmdJzayYHkJg==(Object #=zs6SenPs=, EventArgs #=zQhPEl3k=)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

[Steven]

It should be fixed now
https://getmusicbee.com/patches/MusicBee35_Patched.zip

[phred]

It should be fixed now

Confirmed. Thanks.