-Brading Software Message Board
+--Forum: Mp3/Tag Studio Support and Bug Reports
+---Topic: Mass renumbering tracks in directories started by calberga
Posted by: calberga on Feb. 26 2006,18:28
I have a bunch of directories containing mp3 files from splitting albums. I would like to change the track# tags in these files to run from 1 to n in each directory. Currently I am running "tag from list" on each directory, using a list for numbers from 1 to 120 (which is more than the number for files in any of the directories).
Is there any way to do this in one fell swoop?
Is this a case for macros, which I confess I still haven't looked at?
Posted by: Magnus Brading on Feb. 26 2006,18:37
Hmm, I think recording a macro might do it, at least if it is then executed from the shell extension (due to reasons too length to mention here right now), but I cannot say 100% off the top of my head. Please try it and let me know.
PS. You will never regret having taken a few minutes to look at the macro functionality in either case. Mp3/Tag Studio with macros is 1000 times more powerful than Mp3/Tag Studio without macros (and that's pretty powerful to begin with
).
Posted by: calberga on Feb. 26 2006,21:41
Well, I've read the "help" text on macros, but obviously before I can comment intellagently I need to records some and examine the files. Generally, I prefer systems where I can write the macro in a text editor, rather than recording in. I always seem to make false starts and have to go back and start again. In WordPerfect I usually record a dummy, and then go in and hack at it.
I note that there is, quite explicitly, a prohibition on changing directories. But that is what I need to do. Basicly I need a macro which looks like:
Go to first sub-directory
loop:
process the files in the current directory
if ~(last sub-directory)
move to next sub-directory
goto loop:
else
exit
As I have said, I haven't looked at any example of macro code yet, but reading between the lines I suspect that the current implementation lacks if statements and loop control. (I know that goto statements are considered evil, but I started programming in 1958 and am somewhat stuck in my ways. Obviously, the above could be re-written as a "while" loop.)
I understand (but have not used) that there exists a similar macro facility for the windows GUI, but it also is a "record and execute" program. I suppose I could go off and learn php (which would be helpful elsewhere) but at this stage in life I'm not sure I need another programming language, especially one that looks like C, which I have managed to avoid.
Sorry to natter on, but it is a but frustrating!
Posted by: Magnus Brading on Mar. 01 2006,23:34
You are correct in your observation that the macro language does not include if statements (except limited such, in the form of usage of the filter) and loop control.
The sad truth is that most people, unlike you and me, do not at all like to edit their macros manually, and thus, I have designed the macro language from the bottom up for the "record and replay" methodology. I really (truly) wish I had unlimited resources to put on a feature that 0,01% of users would appreciate though, then I promise you that Mp3/Tag Studio would contain the ninja macro language from hell.
Sadly, this is not the case for my current resource situation though. 
The reason that I mentioned the shell extension in my earlier post, is that is treats the different directories as separate macro executions though, which might be exactly what you're looking for...
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