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Topic: How to delete unused tag field names (Read 6917 times) previous topic - next topic
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How to delete unused tag field names

Is there some way to delete unused tag field names?

Example: I use a tag named KEYWORD. At one point though, I somehow entered it as KEYWORDS. Now they both show up in the list of tag field names. There are several others that I would also like to delete.

I know that I can just delete the foobar2000.cfg file, but then I have to redo all of my settings. Any help/suggestions appreciated.

Thanks, Rob

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #1 –
You could select all the files and masstag them with "Remove field..." and put in KEYWORDS.  Could take a while depending on the amount of files involved.

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #2 –
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You could select all the files and masstag them with "Remove field..." and put in KEYWORDS.  Could take a while depending on the amount of files involved.
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252561"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I don't think he wants to delete that tagfield from his files, I think he wants to delete the field name from foobar preferences dialouge box. That is AFAIK unfortunatly still not possible in any other way than the one he described. (Hacking into the foobar2000.cfg file is probably really not recommendable!!!) It's a feature I've been anxiously awaiting myself, giving me the opportunity to delete borked and stupid fieldnames without having to redo a 100.000 other costum modifications. Well, well....
"ONLY THOSE WHO ATTEMPT THE IMPOSSIBLE WILL ACHIEVE THE ABSURD"
        - Oceania Association of Autonomous Astronauts

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #3 –
Quote
Quote
You could select all the files and masstag them with "Remove field..." and put in KEYWORDS.  Could take a while depending on the amount of files involved.
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252561"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I don't think he wants to delete that tagfield from his files, I think he wants to delete the field name from foobar preferences dialouge box. That is AFAIK unfortunatly still not possible in any other way than the one he described. (Hacking into the foobar2000.cfg file is probably really not recommendable!!!) It's a feature I've been anxiously awaiting myself, giving me the opportunity to delete borked and stupid fieldnames without having to redo a 100.000 other costum modifications. Well, well....
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252600"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


I did spend quite a bit of time searching the forum without any luck, so I suspected it wasn't possible. It seems to me like this would be a fairly common request or suggestion, but I guess not. 

Thanks, Rob

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #4 –
It's a shame the config file isn't something more easily editable, like XML.

I had a similar request recently.  When you create a new Diskwriter profile it just gets appended to the end.  It would be nice if you could order them.  I had a look at the .cfg and decided to leave well alone.  If it was XML I could have cut'n'pasted to my hearts content.

I guess it is probably slower to initialise from a plain text config (?)...

I like Filezilla's XML config file.
I'm on a horse.

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #5 –
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It's a shame the config file isn't something more easily editable, like XML.[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252746"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Yeah, i'd really want to have to check the consistency of a components internal configuration at each startup, because a user might have messed with it. And then, how many users would be able to edit a reasonably complex XML file without breaking it? I'm not talking about programmers or webdesigners, but everyday people. After all, XML is meant to be a textual, machine-readable representation of data. For a mere textual configuration file that is to be edited by users with varying skill, there are far simpler choices than XML.

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I guess it is probably slower to initialise from a plain text config (?)...[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252746"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
That's not really the point. Sure, some people would complain because their startup increases by (guessed) 20%. I'm more worried about the cases where you get (error) messages on the console, because the configuration file is broken.

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #6 –
Quote
Quote
It's a shame the config file isn't something more easily editable, like XML.[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252746"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Yeah, i'd really want to have to check the consistency of a components internal configuration at each startup, because a user might have messed with it. And then, how many users would be able to edit a reasonably complex XML file without breaking it? I'm not talking about programmers or webdesigners, but everyday people. After all, XML is meant to be a textual, machine-readable representation of data. For a mere textual configuration file that is to be edited by users with varying skill, there are far simpler choices than XML.

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I guess it is probably slower to initialise from a plain text config (?)...[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252746"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
That's not really the point. Sure, some people would complain because their startup increases by (guessed) 20%. I'm more worried about the cases where you get (error) messages on the console, because the configuration file is broken.
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252757"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
In my opinion, if some idiot screws up their config by hacking around with it that is their tough luck!

OK, don't use XML, use an INI... see if I care 

I can mess with the current .cfg file using notepad - as I can with any file.  By turning the config file into a readable type I would have thought there was less chance of someone corrupting it irrevocably. Edit: I would have thought a decent XML parser could quite easily cope with corrupt elements.  Microsoft's .NET technology is using XML for it's app/web.config files.
I'm on a horse.

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #7 –
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OK, don't use XML, use an INI... see if I care 

I think using ini files has already been discussed quite a few times here (and the idea was shot down immediately for many reasons).

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I can mess with the current .cfg file using notepad...
[snip]

No you can't, you'll need a hex editor to edit the configuration file.

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #8 –
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I think using ini files has already been discussed quite a few times here (and the idea was shot down immediately for many reasons).[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252798"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Shame.  Whatever the result of this discussion (and it seems like there will be none) it is still my opinion that a plain text config file would be preferable to the current .cfg file.
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No you can't, you'll need a hex editor to edit the configuration file.[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252798"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
To edit it successfully, yes.  I can edit a FLAC file in Notepad.  It won't work afterward... and  that was actually my point.
I'm on a horse.

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #9 –
I don't really need to be able to edit the cfg by hand, but it would be nice to be able to remove entries I don't use, and especially old typos. I'm sure it will be an option sooner or later, as it doesn't really make sense to be stuck with your typos. But, no hurry on my part... 

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #10 –
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In my opinion, if some idiot screws up their config by hacking around with it that is their tough luck![a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252760"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Unfortunately it is not just their own problem. Because that same user will come to these forums with useless bug reports and god knows what after he has broken his config.

And this creates problems that are just a huge unnessecary mess to sort out for the moderators, the tech support staff and the developers.

The config is simply best left alone by the users. In case anyone wants a certain configuration feature added, simply ask about it in a different way then some way of editing the config.

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #11 –
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Unfortunately it is not just their own problem. Because that same user will come to these forums with useless bug reports and god knows what after he has broken his config. [a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252819"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
So you create a pinned topic which tells them they are a dumbass and gives them a default config file to download...
...

I could argue this point all day, but I concede - the people in the know obviously think this is a poor idea, so I will desist.  Truth is I don't overly care, the tone of foosion's post simply forced me to debate the point, and subsequent posts haven't convinced me otherwise.  The argument appears to be that a plain text config file will force more numbskulls to suddenly begin editing their config file willy-nilly - and I disagree, but I'm supposed to have desisted, so <zip>...

OK, OK, alternatives:

Well at the moment it just seems to be the field dropdown (posts #1, #3 & #10), and the Diskwriter profiles dropdown (me!) that are niggling.

I can't really comment on the fields dropdown want, as I don't use it - however I assume we just need a "Remove" button somewhere.

With regard to the Diskwriter list I guess I could just hassle the author (Mr. Pawlowski?) to add a new method to sort the list manually, or just a checkbox to specify "Keep list sorted alphabetically" (which relies on you as a user to name the profiles well).

The other alternative (that I can think of) is someone develops an external application or Foobar component (most preferable) that allows you to edit your .cfg file from a GUI - e.g.: editing strings, and deleting and moving list entries.  Some sort of tabular display.  I think this would be overkill though (and before anyone says: Yes, it would be overkill to develop a GUI for the whole of it, but being able to edit a whole config file allows for 100% scalability and configurability).  Oops! <zip>
I'm on a horse.

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #12 –
Quote
The other alternative (that I can think of) is someone develops an external application or Foobar component (most preferable) that allows you to edit your .cfg file from a GUI - e.g.: editing strings, and deleting and moving list entries.  Some sort of tabular display.  I think this would be overkill though (and before anyone says: Yes, it would be overkill to develop a GUI for the whole of it, but being able to edit a whole config file allows for 100% scalability and configurability).  Oops! <zip>
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=252840"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Actually it could be kinda cool to have an editor for the config file  Though I don't think it would be very useful for anything else than for cleaning up your config (ie deleting the mistyped tag field names) or faking your total play time (so your virtual penis would grow 5").

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #13 –
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or faking your total play time (so your virtual penis would grow 5").[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
The female contributors may be slightly concerned about this "benefit"...

As for me, I could use all the help I can get. 

Hmm... foo_phallus...


[span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%']Edit: Sorry, can't resist: [a href="http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/edit]http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/edit[/url][/span]
I'm on a horse.

How to delete unused tag field names

Reply #14 –
It may sound blunt, but you would be suprised how stupid, ignorant, abusive and wasting people can be - no amount of warning signs(sticky topic, etc.) will stop them. I'm not saying that every average user is an idiot - just that there are enough of them and that they are _NOT_ sane and will not play to the rules you come up with.

This is not meant as a rant or insult - just real-world experience.

- Lyx
I am arrogant and I can afford it because I deliver.