New Compact Player Layout

[redwing]

Horizontally-oriented pictures are not being cropped properly. The right one should be zoomed out. Vertical pictures are fine.

[Alexis]

2. The outer edge/border of the player is not reflecting the color of the parent skin even when 'change panel color for each displayed picture' is unchecked. For me, it goes to a deep black in dark skins and a gray in lighter skins  that in the case of my skins, I know are not present.    Makes the skinning on the playbar seem off in that respect..

i assume you are referring to when the artist picture is extended into the caption bar - i believe its working as intended. Its based on the skin fill colour (which is based on the Playing Track panel colour settings) and the border made a darker shade is so there is a distinct border

You are right in that the extended into caption bar is checked, as you can see in the image.  What is NOT checked is in this image is 'change panel color for each displayed picture"

Note that the black borderline which is not visible in the skin if both of those options are unchecked. The skin has a softer black.  You can find the skin here  http://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=7368.0  (You can also see the black borderline in redwing's images):

[Steven]

You are right in that the extended into caption bar is checked, as you can see in the image.  What is NOT checked is in this image is 'change panel color for each displayed picture"

Note that the black borderline which is not visible in the skin if both of those options are unchecked. The skin has a softer black.  You can find the skin here  http://getmusicbee.com/forum/index.php?topic=7368.0  (You can also see the black borderline in redwing's images):

i am sorry but i am really failing to see what is wrong - you are using a dark skin and the borders will be a darker shading of the main player Playing Track panel fill colour. Does the colour stay the same for each artist afterwards?

[Steven]

http://musicbee.niblseed.com/V2_1/MusicBee_Exe_Patched.zip

updated to handle extending the artist picture into the caption bar when using non-skinned window borders.
Also now allows you to drag the window from the artist picture when in this mode

[redwing]

I believe this is what Alexis meant and I too wish to see (left: current, right: proposed)



This would illustrate the point better.

[Alexis]

What redwing posted.  THANK YOU redwing.

[9cupsoftea]

I have one request, could it be possible to 'skin windows borders' in compact view (which I think looks great and gives menu button) but not have that option selected for the main player (which I think looks less cool, and takes away windows snap functionality)?

Also, in compact view, how can I search my library? I'd love to have Musicbee in compact view, but I don't see how I can select an album without flicking constantly between main and compact players. I'd really love something like the 'fade to compact view' discussed in the other thread.

[redwing]

Also, in compact view, how can I search my library? I'd love to have Musicbee in compact view, but I don't see how I can select an album without flicking constantly between main and compact players. I'd really love something like the 'fade to compact view' discussed in the other thread.

Currently what I do is to add all tracks in now playing list and use search box there. But I agree the transition needs more thoughts and works.

[9cupsoftea]

Also, in compact view, how can I search my library? I'd love to have Musicbee in compact view, but I don't see how I can select an album without flicking constantly between main and compact players. I'd really love something like the 'fade to compact view' discussed in the other thread.

Currently what I do is to add all tracks in now playing list and use search box there. But I agree the transition needs more thoughts and works.

How do you get the search box up in compact mode?

[redwing]

Open now playing list, click on any track, and then type what you want. Then search box will open at the top of the list. Looks like, for album & tracks list, it searches only for artist name.

[Alexis]

- you can disable automatic colouring so it only uses the skin colour

By the way, this is a very cool touch.  Thanks again Steven.

[Steven]

@9cupsoftea, i am planning to add some library search capability. In the interim you can use the "Now Playing Assistant" which can be opened from the bee icon or hotkey

[VX]

@9cupsoftea, i am planning to add some library search capability. In the interim you can use the "Now Playing Assistant" which can be opened from the bee icon or hotkey

'Quick track' command on MB icon in the tray could be useful, provided that there were an option to append selected Albums/tracks/Artists/genres to the Now Playing List. The current behaviour is that Now Playing List is cleared after something is added with 'Quick track' - that's why it's not as useful as it could be...

Should I post it to the Wishlist 

[9cupsoftea]

@9cupsoftea, i am planning to add some library search capability. In the interim you can use the "Now Playing Assistant" which can be opened from the bee icon or hotkey

Great! And thanks to others for the tip. (And I didn't know I have a menu on the bee icon in non-skinned borders mode, cool).

@9cupsoftea, i am planning to add some library search capability. In the interim you can use the "Now Playing Assistant" which can be opened from the bee icon or hotkey

'Quick track' command on MB icon in the tray could be useful, provided that there were an option to append selected Albums/tracks/Artists/genres to the Now Playing List. The current behaviour is that Now Playing List is cleared after something is added with 'Quick track' - that's why it's not as useful as it could be...

Should I post it to the Wishlist 

Yes I agree with this, something like a 'send to playlist' for now playing. Also, in main player my 'now playing' list is always my entire library because I shuffle by album, whereas in compact mode only the current album is in the list. Would be nice if compact player had the same behaviour as main in this regard (for me, anyway!).

[be_wz]

I really like the new compact mode but is there a way to have the player controls on top?