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Topic: Columns - Save/Load Layout ? (Read 1843 times) previous topic - next topic
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Columns - Save/Load Layout ?

Heya,
one thing I can't seem to find a good way to do in Foobar:
Essentially I'm looking for a way to get a better grasp on the metadata & file infos - both of which I only need sometimes, but then it becomes very important. So as is, I have a gigantic set of custom columns being displayed (I've usually just used the right-click to column, and set/un-set the ones I needed, but it's a lot of repetitive clicking that I would like to avoid if possible, on top of that, I've also hit the screen boarders a while ago, and setting columns to show/hide via right-click on columns has become finicky due to the arrows that are now needed to scroll up/down... one reason for this thread...).
So I was wondering if any of these exist, as there's a few things that could help me here:
- is there a way or component that allows you to save/load displayed columns quickly ? I've had a look around to no avail...
- as an alternative if the above doesn't exist - is there some sort of colapse-able column-grouping possible (either native or through components) ? i.e. to define column groups that are shown together, but can be collapsed, as to not to take up screen space when not needed
- if neither of the above exists, I guess my only option is to try and write scripted groupings, i.e. wrapping all file info into one field bitrate, codec, samplerate, etc - downside is, it's not sortable... :/

ps. Additionally - might be this is a function that exists somewhere in the foobar universe - can you somehow query a files' file & metadata, and spawn/alter your columns layout so it shows all metadata & file info available for the set of data selected ? Probably not... also in that case, I still would need a way to roll back to/load my 'original' column layout... pointing back to the above to be able to save & load column layouts.

Any pointers or ideas & suggestions are much welcome.
Cheers.
c.

Re: Columns - Save/Load Layout ?

Reply #1 –
Assuming default UI and the standard playlist view, you can enable view>layout editing mode. Then right click your playlist>copy. Now paste in windows explorer and you have a new .fth file. Rename it and then dump it inside %appdata%\foobar2000\themes (if using portable mode, use the themes folder inside the program folder).

Now customise some columns and repeat the above steps to create a new .fth file. When done, turn off layout editing mode.

Finally, go to view>quick setup and the .fth files should be available as presets under playlist layout.

Re: Columns - Save/Load Layout ?

Reply #2 –
Awesome, thanks Marc2003 !

For future generations, one thing I struggled to find first of was this: "playlist>copy", to be more explicit:
Right Click in your main library/playlist view UI panel - then menu point "Copy UI Element", then paste that cache into file browser thingy, which then generates the re-loadable .fth file.

Additional question... is there any way to write these out as asciii, not binary, or convert them from binary to ascii and vice-versa ? So one could human-read/edit them as ascii directly ?

Cheerio.
c.

ps. Also, this is neat and helps me - I can now remove 'occasionally used' columns/metadata queries, plonk them in a column layout .fth file, and reload without needing the query definition in 'custom colums', so I can clean that up now that it doesn't span multipl screens / needs to scroll... (yet - ascii editing of the .fth files would be the pumpkin sized cherry on top. :D)

Re: Columns - Save/Load Layout ?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: alec.tron on
Additional question... is there any way to write these out as asciii, not binary, or convert them from binary to ascii and vice-versa ? So one could human-read/edit them as ascii directly ?

Nope.

Re: Columns - Save/Load Layout ?

Reply #4 –
Fair enough ;)
Thanks for the help!
c.