Dolphin Details View - Can I set the defaults?

[oshunluvr]

Just throwing out a number - sort of a common term where I work to mean "almost there." I described exactly what I want, but at least I can fake it by coping the .directory en-mass. Thanks again for the idea.

[bra|10n]

Now that's a good Idea! At least it gets me 90% of what I want. My data is about 90% stable so I won't have to go through 1000 clicks - just a couple whenever I add a new artist.

For newly added folders it is simply a matter of copying across the .directory file again. - NO clicks!
You could have a copy of the file in your Documents folder and create a bash alias for the copy paste even.
Out of curiosity what does the last 10% entail?

[oshunluvr]

Now that's a good Idea! At least it gets me 90% of what I want. My data is about 90% stable so I won't have to go through 1000 clicks - just a couple whenever I add a new artist.

[bra|10n]

Ok, you got me. There's only 1408 Artists and Album folders times a couple clicks each. Still, having the settings option would be better IMO.

I have to commend you on your persistence. I appreciate trying to help me (or help me understand!)

Thanks. I remember well editing a similar music database by hand (for no result ultimately).

BUT

Again I believe I can accomodate you lol...

The datatype info, (type,order etc) and the folder view settings are stored in .directory files within each folder. I managed to reorder the datatypes in this file and copy/paste it to another folder with only the need for "Remember view properties..." set in dolphin. And indeed the reordered data and folder view settings applied after closing and reopening the folder.

Now all you need to do is create a suitable .directory 'master' file that cannot be overwritten or accidently deleted and copy that to all of your 'Album' folders in the database via a script or command.

This link might be of some use to you.

Good luck

EDIT

It surely cannot end up being as simple as this, presuming your file structure and location is ~/Music/Artist/Album

cp ~/Downloads/.directory ~/Music/*/*/

[oshunluvr]

Ok, you got me. There's only 1408 Artists and Album folders times a couple clicks each. Still, having the settings option would be better IMO.

I have to commend you on your persistence. I appreciate trying to help me (or help me understand!)

[bra|10n]

Yes, but that's a dozen or so times a 1000 or so.

Oshunluvr, respectfully I still disagree. It doesn't matter how many album folders you might have, whether it be 6 or 6000, they are all being set at the same time. Of course this is on the presumption you want the same datatypes shown in detail view for all song titles. You are setting everything in Music to details view with your selection of datatypes, and then changing only your Artists folder and Music folders back to icon view.

The only catch I can see are folders created after applying these settings will not inherit the datatypes you set using "Remember view properties..." , however this should not be an issue given you are editing view modes of existing folders.

At the end I'm happy if your happy. If your convinced this will not work for you (excluding a way to set datatype order) then that makes one of us.

[oshunluvr]

Exactly.

Or even certain datatypes for music, files or movies within each purpose heirarchy, bearing in mind the more datatype configurations obviously the more work.

It seems to me you do NOT want "Use common view properties..." whatsoever. This does not preclude an icon view for the majority of folders as is your want.

e.g, contents of...

Music - Icon view
|
Artist - Icon view
|
Album1 , Album2 , Album3 etc - Details view

This can be achieved with a dozen or so mouse clicks.

Yes, but that's a dozen or so times a 1000 or so.

What I envision is under Configure Dolphin > View Modes > Details: rather than just adjusting the default icon size and system font that there also be the selection of details available and a way to set the order in which they appear.

Then I could have my cake and eat it too!

For the time being, I have to set Dolphin to "Use common view..." when I'm working with my media storage and then change it back to "Remember view properities..." when I go back to regular day activities. Not optimal but it's the best I can do at the time. I posted a "Wish List" request with the developer. Who know's? Maybe I'll get my wish.

[bra|10n]

in other words do dolphin >settings>configure dolphin>click general >tick "use common view property’s for all folders " ...VINNY

No. I believe this is not what Oshunluvr wanted.

Using "Remember view properties..." gives what I described above where desired, with Icon view as the main view generally.

The key is to begin with the Artist folder with a combination of "current folder including all sub-folders", and then working backwards starting with editing the same folder again as "Current folder...", then up one level using applying "Current folder" once again all the way back to Music in the example given.

[vinnywright]

in other words do dolphin >settings>configure dolphin>click general >tick "use common view property’s for all folders " in the behaviour tab and apply.
then it dose just that .
go to a folder and click the details button then view>additional information and set what you like ....now every time you click the details button it will show the details you chose no mater what folder

VINNY

[bra|10n]

you can as long as your happy with the same set of info being displayed in details for all folders

VINNY

Exactly.

Or even certain datatypes for music, files or movies within each purpose heirarchy, bearing in mind the more datatype configurations obviously the more work.

It seems to me you do NOT want "Use common view properties..." whatsoever. This does not preclude an icon view for the majority of folders as is your want.

e.g, contents of...

Music - Icon view
|
Artist - Icon view
|
Album1 , Album2 , Album3 etc - Details view

This can be achieved with a dozen or so mouse clicks.

[vinnywright]

you can as long as your happy with the same set of info being displayed in details for all folders

VINNY

[oshunluvr]

I agree that once I select a folder and change it's details view - it stick's that way. I was mistaken on that point. But that's not what I care about.

I want to retain the settings I choose for Details view regardless of whether or not I'm using "Use common view properties..." or "Remember view properties..." and that's not how it works. If you enter a previously un-set folder using Details view you get only name, date and size.

To put another point on it: Having just name, date and size hardly qualifies as viewing details.

[oshunluvr]

Here, I changed it:

REVISED Steps to reproduce:
1. Have Dolphin set for Current Folder under Apply View Properties.
2. Select a folder using Icon View.
3. Change to Details View.
4. Right click on Dolphin and add any number of columns to Details View.
5. Change to Icon View.
6. Select a different folder.
7. Select Details View.
8. Observe Details View has reverted to only name, size and date.

The point is - I should not to have to amend the Details view for 1000's of folders just to see the info I want. Nor should I to be forced to use the Details View for every folder.

[bra|10n]

actually they stick for me using that way as well (view>adjust view property’s) Humm strange

VINNY

Thank you Vinny.

Oshunluvr,
Rather than using Step 4 in your process of applying this, you try View -> Adjust View Properties -> and click Additional Information there, and see whether you can confirm Vinny and my results.

[vinnywright]

actually they stick for me using that way as well (view>adjust view property’s) Humm strange

VINNY