Chapter 9 - MP3rat User Guide

Reference
Chapter 9

9.1 Menu Commands

9.1.1 File Menu

New Create a new MP3rat song data file after saving and closing the existing one

Open... Open an existing song data file

Save Save the current song data file

Save As... Save the current song data file with a new name

Import... Import songs from a specific path

Import Wizard... Use the Import Wizard to assist you with importing songs from multiple directory locations

Export... Invokes the Export dialog where you can choose different export formats

Information... Display MP3rat song data file specific information

Exit Save the current song data file and quit MP3rat

9.1.2 View Menu

Playlist Display or hide the Playlist Window

Dictionary Display or hide the Dictionary Window

Refresh Redraw the program screen

Columns... Change and manage the columns displayed in the main window

Options... Display the Options Dialog

9.1.3 Edit Menu

Cut Delete the selected songs(s) and place them in the clipboard. This command works for songs in the main window and text in the search filter. If nothing is selected, this command is not available.

Copy Copy the filenames of the selected songs to the clipboard or to copy text in the search filter. If no songs are selected, this command is not available.

Paste Paste the contents of the clipboard into the window that has focus.

Delete If the main window has focus, this command displays a dialog which is used to remove the selected song(s) from MP3rat and optionally send them to the recycle bin. If the playlist window has focus, it will remove the song(s) selected in the playlist. If the dictionary window has focus, the selected keyword(s) will be removed.

Select All Select all items in the window which has focus. The window which has focus is the one that was last clicked on with the mouse. This command is only available for the playlist, dictionary, and main windows.

Properties Edit the properties of the currently selected song(s) in the main window or the playlist window.

9.1.4 Playlist Menu

New Create a new Playlist file, it will prompt you for the new filename

Open... Open an existing Playlist file

Save Save the current Playlist file

Save As... Save the current Playlist under a different filename

Clear Clear all the songs in the Playlist

Shuffle Reorder the current Playlist randomly

Play Externally Send the current Playlist to the preferred MP3 Player

9.1.5 MP3 Menu

Extract Song Data From Filename... Specify the format the filename is constructed in and then extract song properties from it

Rename Files... Rename files from the song properties

Move or Copy Files... Move and copy MP3 file from one location to another

Write Song Tags Write the MP3 tags from the song properties

9.1.6 Tools Menu

Run Status Checking Verify if MP3 files are present and available

Change Song Status This command will either make songs Read-Only protected or remove the Read-Only status and enable the songs to be edited and modified.

Search Options... Display a dialog window for the search options. The toolbar may also be used to set the search options, however, some may find this dialog to be more convenient.

Copy Keywords to Clipboard Copy the entire keyword dictionary to the clipboard in ASCII format which can be pasted in almost any word processor or editor.

View Log... View the diagnostic log file

9.1.7 Help Menu

Contents Display the MP3rat online help

Index Display the Index section of the MP3rat online Help

Shortcut Keys Display the help file section detailing the shortcut keys available within MP3rat

Enter License Display a dialog to enter your name and license ID into for users who purchased an Internet copy of MP3rat

Bug Report Send a bug report to Kaylon Technologies. Use this dialog rather than regular e-mail to report bugs because this function will automatically send the diagnostics log to us.

Check for New Version Automatically contact the Kaylon website and check if a new MP3rat version is available.

About Display copyright, license and program version information

9.2 Toolbar

Create a new MP3rat data file, same as the New command in the File menu.

Open a MP3rat data file

Save the current MP3rat data file

Clear search field. This will redisplay the entire list of songs.

Select Keyword Search

Select Detailed Search

Display a drop down menu of search options

Edit the selected song(s) properties

Write the selected song(s) tags

This will enact to Delete Dialog for any selected song in the Playlist or Main Window song(s).

Clear the current Playlist

9.4 Player Details

9.4.1 Volume Adjustment

The volume controls are located in the lower left-hand corner of the player.

The volume indicator is the slider bar located below the volume control buttons.

Decrease the volume by the configured step size, Section 8.1.11

Increase the volume by the configured step size, Section 8.1.11

Indicates audio is being played, pressing this button will mute the audio output

Indicates audio is muted, pressing will restore audio

9.4.2 Player Controls

The player controls are located in the middle of the player.

The slider bar on the bottom indicates the current song position, adjusting it will move the song position accordingly.

Previous song button

Play button that is replaced with the pause button when the player is active

Stop button

Repeat option, it is replaced with when repeat is enabled

Shuffle option, it is replaced with when shuffle is enabled

9.4.3 Current Song Information

The currently playing song information is displayed in the right-hand side of the player. The Title, Artist, and Album information is displayed along with the rating assigned to the song. A link is also provided to quickly edit the current songs properties further if necessary.

When the Title, Artist, and Album fields are not available, the player will indicate that No Detailed Song Information is Available and it will display the MP3 filename.

The rating indicator is provided to quickly modify the rating of the current song. This way you can setup a large playlist and as you hear a song, you can assign a rating. Over time, as your rating fields all get filled in, you will be able to easily select your favorite songs to be played.

The current song properties button can be pressed and the Song Properties Dialog will be presented for the currently displayed song. This will enable you to quickly add keyword and modify songs after as you listen.

9.5 Shortcut Keys

General

Ins Add bookmark from browser

Ctrl+A Select all

Ctrl+C Copy

Ctrl+E Export Song Information

Ctrl+I Start Import feature

Ctrl+M Start Move files feature

Ctrl+N Create a new MP3rat data file

Ctrl+O Open an existing MP3rat data file

Ctrl+P Start Filename Extraction feature

Ctrl+R Start Rename mp3 feature

Ctrl+S Save the MP3rat data file

Ctrl+V Paste

Ctrl+X Cut

Ctrl+X Cut

Alt+C Clears all the songs from the playlist

Alt+L Reorganizes the playlist in new random order

Alt+N Create a new playlist file

Alt+O Open an existing playlist file

Alt+S Save the current playlist file

Alt+X Sends the playlist to the external player

Alt+Enter Opens the Song or Common Properties dialog

Del Delete the selected item from the main, playlist, or dictionary windows

Enter Either Add to Playlist or Direct Play it, see Section 8.1.11 for configuration

Alt Activate main menu

F5 Refresh

F8 Run Status Check for all songs

Main Window

The rating shortcut adjustments are to be made by highlighting songs in the Main Window and then pressing the CTRL key in combination with the numeric keypad key.

Ctrl+Plus Add 1 to the song rating

Ctrl+Minus Subtract 1 from the song rating

Ctrl+0 Set rating to 0

Ctrl+1 Set rating to 1

Ctrl+2 Set rating to 2

Ctrl+3 Set rating to 3

Ctrl+4 Set rating to 4

Ctrl+5 Set rating to 5

Ctrl+6 Set rating to 6

Ctrl+7 Set rating to 7

Ctrl+8 Set rating to 8

Ctrl+9 Set rating to 9

Ctrl+* Set rating to 10

Ctrl+/ Set rating to NR

Ctrl+W Write the selected songs

Enter Either Add to Playlist or Direct Play it, see Section 8.1.11 for configuration

Playlist Window

Alt+U Moves the song up one spot in the playlist

Alt+D Moves the song down one spot in the playlist

Enter Plays the selected song

Internal MP3rat Player

Alt+1 Mute

Alt+2 Volume Down

Alt+3 Volume Up

Alt+4 Previous Song

Alt+5 Play/Pause

Alt+6 Stop

Alt+7 Previous Song

Alt+8 Toggle Repeat

Alt+9 Toggle Shuffle

Alt+0 Edit the current song's properties

Alt+R Decrease the current song's rating by one

Alt+T Increase the current song's rating by one

Keyword Dictionary

Ctrl+Enter Add keyword to search string

Enter Set search string to selected keyword

Song Properties Window

Alt+Left Arrow Load the previous song's properties in the Song Properties Window

Alt+Right Arrow Load the previous song's properties in the Song Properties Window

9.6 Context Sensitive Menus

Context sensitive (popup) menus are displayed by right clicking on certain objects. The following items will display a popup menu when clicked on:

Individual bookmarks
A group of bookmarks
The MP3rat tray icon
Search Field
Playlist songs
Dictionary words

New	Create a new MP3rat song data file after saving and closing the existing one
Open...	Open an existing song data file
Save	Save the current song data file
Save As...	Save the current song data file with a new name
Import...	Import songs from a specific path
Import Wizard...	Use the Import Wizard to assist you with importing songs from multiple directory locations
Export...	Invokes the Export dialog where you can choose different export formats
Information...	Display MP3rat song data file specific information
Exit	Save the current song data file and quit MP3rat

Playlist	Display or hide the Playlist Window
Dictionary	Display or hide the Dictionary Window
Refresh	Redraw the program screen
Columns...	Change and manage the columns displayed in the main window
Options...	Display the Options Dialog

Cut	Delete the selected songs(s) and place them in the clipboard. This command works for songs in the main window and text in the search filter. If nothing is selected, this command is not available.
Copy	Copy the filenames of the selected songs to the clipboard or to copy text in the search filter. If no songs are selected, this command is not available.
Paste	Paste the contents of the clipboard into the window that has focus.
Delete	If the main window has focus, this command displays a dialog which is used to remove the selected song(s) from MP3rat and optionally send them to the recycle bin. If the playlist window has focus, it will remove the song(s) selected in the playlist. If the dictionary window has focus, the selected keyword(s) will be removed.
Select All	Select all items in the window which has focus. The window which has focus is the one that was last clicked on with the mouse. This command is only available for the playlist, dictionary, and main windows.
Properties	Edit the properties of the currently selected song(s) in the main window or the playlist window.

New	Create a new Playlist file, it will prompt you for the new filename
Open...	Open an existing Playlist file
Save	Save the current Playlist file
Save As...	Save the current Playlist under a different filename
Clear	Clear all the songs in the Playlist
Shuffle	Reorder the current Playlist randomly
Play Externally	Send the current Playlist to the preferred MP3 Player

Extract Song Data From Filename...	Specify the format the filename is constructed in and then extract song properties from it
Rename Files...	Rename files from the song properties
Move or Copy Files...	Move and copy MP3 file from one location to another
Write Song Tags	Write the MP3 tags from the song properties

Run Status Checking	Verify if MP3 files are present and available
Change Song Status	This command will either make songs Read-Only protected or remove the Read-Only status and enable the songs to be edited and modified.
Search Options...	Display a dialog window for the search options. The toolbar may also be used to set the search options, however, some may find this dialog to be more convenient.
Copy Keywords to Clipboard	Copy the entire keyword dictionary to the clipboard in ASCII format which can be pasted in almost any word processor or editor.
View Log...	View the diagnostic log file

Contents	Display the MP3rat online help
Index	Display the Index section of the MP3rat online Help
Shortcut Keys	Display the help file section detailing the shortcut keys available within MP3rat
Enter License	Display a dialog to enter your name and license ID into for users who purchased an Internet copy of MP3rat
Bug Report	Send a bug report to Kaylon Technologies. Use this dialog rather than regular e-mail to report bugs because this function will automatically send the diagnostics log to us.
Check for New Version	Automatically contact the Kaylon website and check if a new MP3rat version is available.
About	Display copyright, license and program version information

Ins	Add bookmark from browser
Ctrl+A	Select all
Ctrl+C	Copy
Ctrl+E	Export Song Information
Ctrl+I	Start Import feature
Ctrl+M	Start Move files feature
Ctrl+N	Create a new MP3rat data file
Ctrl+O	Open an existing MP3rat data file
Ctrl+P	Start Filename Extraction feature
Ctrl+R	Start Rename mp3 feature
Ctrl+S	Save the MP3rat data file
Ctrl+V	Paste
Ctrl+X	Cut
Ctrl+X	Cut
Alt+C	Clears all the songs from the playlist
Alt+L	Reorganizes the playlist in new random order
Alt+N	Create a new playlist file
Alt+O	Open an existing playlist file
Alt+S	Save the current playlist file
Alt+X	Sends the playlist to the external player
Alt+Enter	Opens the Song or Common Properties dialog
Del	Delete the selected item from the main, playlist, or dictionary windows
Enter	Either Add to Playlist or Direct Play it, see Section 8.1.11 for configuration
Alt	Activate main menu
F5	Refresh
F8	Run Status Check for all songs

Ctrl+Plus	Add 1 to the song rating
Ctrl+Minus	Subtract 1 from the song rating
Ctrl+0	Set rating to 0
Ctrl+1	Set rating to 1
Ctrl+2	Set rating to 2
Ctrl+3	Set rating to 3
Ctrl+4	Set rating to 4
Ctrl+5	Set rating to 5
Ctrl+6	Set rating to 6
Ctrl+7	Set rating to 7
Ctrl+8	Set rating to 8
Ctrl+9	Set rating to 9
Ctrl+*	Set rating to 10
Ctrl+/	Set rating to NR
Ctrl+W	Write the selected songs
Enter	Either Add to Playlist or Direct Play it, see Section 8.1.11 for configuration

Alt+U	Moves the song up one spot in the playlist
Alt+D	Moves the song down one spot in the playlist
Enter	Plays the selected song

Alt+1	Mute
Alt+2	Volume Down
Alt+3	Volume Up
Alt+4	Previous Song
Alt+5	Play/Pause
Alt+6	Stop
Alt+7	Previous Song
Alt+8	Toggle Repeat
Alt+9	Toggle Shuffle
Alt+0	Edit the current song's properties
Alt+R	Decrease the current song's rating by one
Alt+T	Increase the current song's rating by one

Ctrl+Enter	Add keyword to search string
Enter	Set search string to selected keyword

Alt+Left Arrow	Load the previous song's properties in the Song Properties Window
Alt+Right Arrow	Load the previous song's properties in the Song Properties Window