Importing issue

[pdun459]

This might be an issue with Windows Explorer but it also involves Audacity.

It's about importing files. For example, in Windows XP, I have to manually select the file with the mouse and import it. Then when I'm done and ready to import the next file from the same folder, I still have to manually select it, and so on for every file I want to import. Is there any way to make Explorer automatically select the next file when reopening the import dialog, so all I have to do is press the Enter key? I checked the Audacity Import/Export options but didn't see anything. Thanks.

[Gale Andrews]

This might be an issue with Windows Explorer but it also involves Audacity.

It's about importing files. For example, in Windows XP, I have to manually select the file with the mouse and import it. Then when I'm done and ready to import the next file from the same folder, I still have to manually select it, and so on for every file I want to import. Is there any way to make Explorer automatically select the next file when reopening the import dialog, so all I have to do is press the Enter key? I checked the Audacity Import/Export options but didn't see anything.

No.

If you don't mind importing the files all at once you can select multiple files at once and drag them into the same Audacity window. If the files you want are next to each other, hold SHIFT when selecting the next file. If the files you want are not next to each other, press CTRL while selecting the next file.

Please be careful with XP. Microsoft is no longer patching your system so you are exposed to all new hacks and security risks that come along. At a minimum, install an anti-virus program and do regular overnight checks (if you are not already doing so).

You can install a version of Linux for free if updating Windows is not practical.


Gale

[Gale Andrews]

Also, what edits are you making to these files? You could consider automating what you are doing by making a "Chain" of the effects you want to run (including an export command), then select the files you want to modify and Audacity will run the Chain on each file in turn.

See: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/ch ... ation.html .


Gale

[pdun459]

Hi Gale

Importing multiples is a good idea, the only problem is in Exporting. When you Export Multiple it retains my file names, but it messes up my custom tag info. It replaces it with what it thinks it should be.

Exporting individually messes up the file names AND tag info. It all has to be edited.

Doing them individually isn't that bad, I'm just always looking for a way to speed things up if I can.

[pdun459]

I do use Chains quite a bit, but there's still the same issue with Exporting. I tried importing multiples then exporting via Chain and the tag info and file names still got messed up.

[steve]

You've still not told us what you are actually trying to do? Are you just using Audacity as a file format converter?

[Gale Andrews]

In what way do the tags get messed up, exactly, using Export Multiple? Can you give an example?

If you are not using the seven built-in tags that come with Metadata Editor, but adding your own, they get changed to TXXX user-specified tags, but that applies to all methods of export.

In that way are the file names messed up when applying a Chain to files? The file names look the same to me.

I don't know if it would help, but you could import from a list of files and specify in the list that each file was to import into a separate window: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/lof_files.html . Then each project window would have the correct tags on import.


Gale

[pdun459]

Okay, I'll use three Alan Parsons songs as an example, including my tag info for each one. Let's say I import these songs into one window:

File Name: 01 To One in Paradise
Title: To One in Paradise
Genre: To One in Paradise

File Name: 02 Sirius
Title: Sirius
Genre: Sirius

File Name: 03 Eye in the Sky
Title: Eye in the Sky
Genre: Eye in the Sky

The first example is what results when I use Export Multiple. Notice it adds a number to the Title field which shouldn't be there and uses the same data for the Genre field in each file.

File Name: 01 To One in Paradise
Title: 01 To One in paradise
Genre: Eye in the Sky

File Name: 02 Sirius
Title: 02 Sirius
Genre: Eye in the Sky

File Name: 03 Eye in the Sky
Title: 03 Eye in the Sky
Genre: Eye in the Sky

This is the result if I export them individually:

File Name: 01 To One in Paradise
Title: Eye in the Sky
Genre: Eye in the Sky

File Name: 01 To One in Paradise
Title: Eye in the Sky
Genre: Eye in the Sky

File Name: 01 To One in Paradise
Title: Eye in the Sky
Genre: Eye in the Sky

It tries to name every file "01 To One in Paradise" and you have to manually change it, or it simply overwrites the previous file. It also uses the same Title and Genre data for every file.

When exporting using a Chain, it behaves the same as if you're exporting them individually, it just does it for you. But it doesn't give you the opportunity to change the file name, it goes ahead and overwrites.

I'm not aware of the seven built-in tags you mentioned. Are you talking about Templates? That's something I've never used and I'm not familiar with. I only use the Title and Genre fields but they always have different data. Is that something I could create a custom Template for?

I really don't want to use a separate window for each file. That's one of my biggest pet peeves about Audacity.

[kozikowski]

You've still not told us what you are actually trying to do? Are you just using Audacity as a file format converter?

That would be good to know. If you're doing very simple cutting and exporting, there may be much better software for that than struggling with doing something that Audacity doesn't want to do. Koz

[pdun459]

I said what I was trying to do in my first post, i.e. make Explorer focus on the next file when I reopen the Import dialog. Then Gale and I got sidetracked on the issue of importing multiples as an alternative. The bottom line is i want to make the process of importing and export as fast and as easy as possible. Hope that makes things more clear.