Change music browsing

Alexandre · 17 Dec 2009

Hi everyone (and sorry for my awful english),

I've got a question that's giving me a huge headache...
I'm actually used to Apple media center solutions (frontrow, apple tv, etc.) but I'm very tempted to switch to a Windows 7 Media Center solution which seems much more interesting and complete.

Nevertheless, it's missing something critical for me : I need to browse my music library (I'm talking about browsing using tags, not files and folders) by Genres, then Artists, then Albums.
Actually the Windows 7 Media Center, when you go to your music library and click on "genres", only the options "Albums" and "songs" are available (sorry if those aren't the correct terms, but I don't have an english version).

Does someone know if there is a way to edit those sub-menus to add an option ? To have also the option "Artists" after I click on "Genres" ?

I tried to mess with ehres.dll and the xml files within, but I couldn't find a solution (but I'm far from being an expert about this).

Thanks for your help !

Alexandre

Kari · 17 Dec 2009

Hello Alexandre, welcome to the Seven Forums.

I am not sure I understand your issue? When I click Genres, it shows I have 152 different genres to choose. I just scroll the list to find a genre.

Kari

TimStitt · 17 Dec 2009

Hi Alexandre,

My Music Library on Media Centre also has options similar to the one in Kari's picture. This includes the windows default + any genres' I have created.

The Windows media Player library may also be a useful alternative option for you.

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Geez Kari, I really thought the only genre you'd have would be Kalevala!

Kari · 17 Dec 2009

TimStitt said:

Hi Alexandre,

My Music Library on Media Centre also has options similar to the one in Kari's picture. This includes the windows default + any genres' I have created.

The Windows media Player library may also be a useful alternative option for you.

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Geez Kari, I really thought the only genre you'd have would be Kalevala!

The screenshot is from my wife's computer. I only have Kalevala and Music from Fosters commercials

Alexandre · 17 Dec 2009

Thanks for your answers...

and sorry, I wasn't very clear, here's what I meant :
The options I'm talking about are when you chose one genre.
Let's say I chose "Classical rock" I actually only have "Albums" and "Songs".
I would rather like to have a list of artists (belonging to that specific genre), then, when I chose an artist to have a list of albums.

Seems not much important, but my music is mostly classical, and is quite huge (it's about 360 Go) and I can't imagine using it another way

TimStitt · 17 Dec 2009

Ah.. I see exactly what you mean. Mine is as you say. I never noticed this because I've always used Windows 'Media Player' when I want to look at the tag info.

I'm not sure if you can change this on 'Media Centre'; but I'll have a closer look in a few hours and get back to you.

Did you investigate Media Player as an alternative? Picture attached.

Alexandre · 17 Dec 2009

Well, I already know it, but it's for a use with a remote on a TV screen.
If I have to use something like WMP? I'd rather stick with Mac Os and iTunes (stuff that I already have ^^).
Again, thanks alot for your help :)

TimStitt · 17 Dec 2009

I've had a good look for you; but I can't find an easy solution.

I even checked the Microsoft.MediaCenter.Shell.dll but I couldn't find anything we could use.

With MC, you may already know that there is a wealth of free plugin's available for the Win 7 version. Some of these include editing the menu theme's and others offer more detailed G.U.I.'s for media management. I only had a quick look at this; but couldn't find one that showed all the tag information the way that you want to see it. I'd recommend a little search of your own. I'm sorry that's all I have for you.

Maybe Kari or somebody else has more information.