Chapter 8 - MP3rat User Guide

Configuration
Chapter 8

MP3rat is highly customizable but at the same time, very usable in its default state. All MP3rat options are stored in the file named rat10.ini that is located in the MP3rat directory. If you wish to copy your setup to a new computer, moving this file is all that is required.

8.1 Options Dialog

Select Options from the View menu to display the Options Dialog. The dialog window is broken into two parts: the Selection Tree on the left hand side and the Options pane which resides on the right side. The Selection Tree is used to choose what category of options you wish to edit and the Options pane is used to make the changes.

8.1.1 Startup

Reload last file

MP3rat remembers the name of the file that was being used when MP3rat last exited. When checked, this option causes this file to be reloaded when MP3rat is restarted.
Start MP3rat when Windows starts

When checked, MP3rat will include itself in the Windows Startup Folder so that it is automatically started when Windows is started.
Run Minimized

This option only applies to starting MP3rat when Windows Starts and will be disabled (grayed out) if the above option "Start MP3rat when Windows starts" is not checked. When this option is checked, MP3rat will start in the minimized state.
Import new MP3 files

This is enables the auto-import to run on startup. This will start importing songs from the directory specified in the Startup Import Path field. This option is very helpful if you use a song swapping service that puts your new MP3 files into a central directory. On startup, those new files will automatically be added.
Startup Import Path

The startup import path is the location the startup import will use to look for MP3 files that are not already in MP3rat.

8.1.2 User Interface

Enable Tooltips

MP3rat will display tooltips. When unchecked, they will not be displayed.
Flat Toolbar

When checked, the toolbar buttons do not display 3D effects unless the mouse is moved over top of one.
Confirm when clearing the Playlist

Prompt the user whenever the playlist is cleared.
Create backup file

MP3rat actually creates two backup files. These files have the same name as the original bookmark file but have extensions of .ba0 and .ba1. The file with the .ba0 extension is just the last file revision that existed before your most recent changes. The .ba1 file is a bit more complicated. In this file, MP3rat attempts to capture the largest collection of songs that existed in the past couple of months.
Automatic Saves

When checked, MP3rat automatically saves the currently loaded song data and playlist file at the specified interval.

8.1.3 Fonts

Display Font

The display font is used to display the dictionary, playlist and main windows. By default, the Display Font will match the default Windows font, however, this option allows customization of the font.

8.1.4 Colors

Headers

Headers are the title bars displayed at the top of the playlist, dictionary and main windows. This section allows you to configure the color selection for these items.
Ratings

The text and background colors can be configured based on song rating. When you select a rating in the list box, the text and background pushbuttons will reflect the matching settings. Clicking on the pushbutton will modify the color settings for the rating number that is selected in the list box. Instead of configuring colors individually, you can create a color gradient by selecting a start and an end color. The start color matches a rating of 0 and end color matches a rating of 10. The gradient will automatically be created when either the start or end color change.
Restore Defaults

This will clear the reset the color gradient and configure the color scheme to the default setting.

8.1.5 System Tray

Close to the system tray

Specifies whether to close MP3rat to the system tray when the when the upper right corner of the program is clicked.
Display MP3rat icon in system tray

When checked, MP3rat will display a small icon in the System Tray. The functionality of both this icon and the System Tray is discussed in Section 5.9.
Hide MP3rat when minimized

When checked, MP3rat will remove itself from the Windows Taskbar when minimized. This is useful when you want to focus on other tasks but keep MP3rat running. MP3rat only removes itself from the Taskbar when minimized.

8.1.6 Date and Time

Date and Time Format

Set custom time and date formats. Use the arrow button to the right of the format field to insert the year, month, day, hour, minutes or seconds.

8.1.7 Hotkeys

Switch to MP3rat

When pressed, the MP3rat window will be displayed.

Play/Pause

Shortcut to either start or pause the internal MP3rat player.

Previous Song

Direct the internal player to skip to the previous song in the playlist.

Next Song

Direct the internal player to skip to the next song in the playlist.

Volume Up

Shortcut to increase the volume amount. The volume will be increased the percent configured in the MP3rat Player Options Dialog.

Volume Down

Decrease the volume of the player.

8.1.8 Status Check Icons

Icon Selection

This section allows you to set which icon you prefer to have associated with different song statuses. To change the icon associated with a status message, select the desired status message in the left hand list and then click on the desired icon you wish to associate with this message.

8.1.9 MP3 Tags

Tag Format

Specify which tag formats MP3rat should use to write the song data. The ID3v2 tag is stored at the beginning of a song, so it can take longer to write but it can be almost unlimited in length. The ID3v2 tag is stored at the end of the file, is faster to write, but the title, artist, album, can comment fields are limited to 30 characters. ID3v2 is suggested because is less limiting.
Tag Fields

Select the tag fields that you want MP3rat to write include into the tag being written.

8.1.10 MP3 Players

Preferred Player

Select the player that MP3rat should use to play songs or playlists.

8.1.11 MP3rat Player

Start playing on a Playlist addition

MP3rat will automatically start playing the playlist when this option is enabled.
Song Selection Method

Play Immediately - start playing the currently selected song in the player. If more than one song is selected, the first song in the list is played.
Add to Playlist - adds the selected song(s) to the playlist.
Play and Add to Playlist - starts playing the selected song immediately and also adds it to the playlist. If more than one song is selected, the first song starts playing and all the songs get added to the playlist.
Increment listen count %

Specify the percentage of a song that should be listened to before the listen count is incremented. Configuring this setting will help to create a more accurate profile of the songs you enjoy listening to.
Volume Up/Down increment %

Configure the volume adjustment size when the volume up or volume down buttons are pressed.
Revert to the beginning of song after %

You can set the percent completion of a song that must be played before the player will revert back to the beginning of the song. Often you might have 10 songs in a playlist, but after listening to 5 seconds of a song you press the previous button. Rather than going to the beginning of the current song and making you press the previous button again to get to next previous song, you can set a percentage barrier for MP3rat to revert back to either the beginning of the current song or the previous song in the playlist, thus saving you an extra pressing action of the previous button. If this song is not greater than the specified percent completed, pressing the previous song button will jump to the beginning of previous song in the list.

8.1.12 Winamp

Location of Winamp Program

Specify the location of Winamp so MP3rat can communicate with it. Usually MP3rat will locate the program automatically
Launch at Startup

When checked, Winamp will be started every time MP3rat is run.
Add Songs to Playlist when selected

You have two options to play songs in Winamp, you can either add songs to the current Winamp playlist or you can replace the current playlist with the new songs that are selected. When selected, MP3rat will add any selected songs to the Winamp playlist.

8.1.13 RealPlayer

Location of RealPlayer Program

Specify the location of RealPlayer so MP3rat can communicate with it. Usually MP3rat will locate the program automatically.
Launch at Startup

When checked, RealPlayer will be started every time MP3rat is run.

8.1.14 MusicMatch

Location of MusicMatch Program

Specify the location of MusicMatch so MP3rat can communicate with it. Usually MP3rat will locate the program automatically.
Launch at Startup

When checked, MusicMatch will be started every time MP3rat is run.

8.1.15 Windows Media Player

Location of Windows Media Player Program

Specify the location of Windows Media Player so MP3rat can communicate with it. Usually MP3rat will locate the program automatically.
Launch at Startup

When checked, Windows Media Player will be started every time MP3rat is run.

8.1.16 Default Player

Location of Windows Default MP3 Player

Specify the location of Default Player so MP3rat can communicate with it.
Launch at Startup

When checked, the default Player will be started every time MP3rat is run.

8.1.17 Diagnostics

Reload last file

MP3rat remembers the name of the file that was being used when MP3rat last exited. When checked, this option causes this file to be reloaded when MP3rat is restarted.
Start MP3rat when Windows starts

When checked, MP3rat will include itself in the Windows Startup Folder so that it is automatically started when Windows is started.
Create diagnostic log file

When checked, MP3rat will log internal actions to assist in debugging and fixing bugs.
Filename

Name of log file.
Log Options

Select which actions should be logged.