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Originally Posted by Roy Dennis

It does import in disc ID of 99 tracks per disc Id.

Example: if you make as I suggested in earlier post your first Book Id before adding folder 30000 it will import as 3000001 to 3000099 then will automatically go to 30001 which will make the next book id 3000101 to 3000199 and so on.

The 30000 I suggested is just how I do mine... It's just a way of keeping them separated and as I don't print audio and video books for the punters the large numbers aren't a problem, you may think different.

I think the best thing for you is to try it with a small amount of imports first to see what suits you rather than go and import them all. Just make a folder up with about 200 files in and import that first to get a better understanding how it will handle the book ids.

Roy is correct, the DiscID is forced to 99 maximum per DiscID, and NO, we will not change that in the foreseeable future. We tried to go to 4 digits, and it affects a core architectural decision we have built on for 10 years. Ain't gonna happen. Moving right along...

Originally Posted by Joe Nieves

Thank you for the reply Roy, I've already made that request long ago and they didn't express any interest in doing that at the time..
Our resources at this time are non-existant to make changes like this. Roy gave you a work-around. Use it.

I used Mp3 Tag program to make sure all field information was correct in the tags, could you tell me what tag fields will Hoster be looking for in the scan just to double check before I convert them into mp3 format,.... and do I have to deal with this 99 tracks per disc limitation problem if I just want to batch process my entire folder of over 5000 files..?

Joe, this is answered in the manual in numerous places

Hoster's Songs Database uses 5 primary fields to allow all the main screen "Add Singers & Songs" group buttons to work, but only Title is required. If that is missing, Hoster adds the filename in the Title field as that is all we have to go on. The other primary fields are Artist, Brand DiscID, Track#. If these are missing, you can still search on the Title field.

Only MP3 and WMA headers are opened and scanned for the 5 primary fields. Again, if Title is not found in this scan, the filename is copied into the Title field so you have "all the info" available to Hoster. It does NOT recognize your thought patterns, so if it isn't in the header or filename, it's not there.

Originally Posted by Joe Nieves

1. I have a question concerning importing a large batch of audio backing track and don't want to go through the trouble of entering DiscID info to import them into Hoster....I just need them to have index numbers so they could be listed, Played and printed...

2. they are all m4a files 320bit, I ripped the CD's into iTunes and want them in Hoster, so I can work from one program...

3. I also copied them all into one folder in my external backup drive....

1. You can totally ignore DiscID if you want and Hoster will auto assign XYZxxxx for you, auto incrementing it. If Roy's suggestion to enter a DiscID of AUD0001 will auto increment for the next DiscIDs BEYOND 99 tracks under each, go for it. However, I'm skeptical.

Also, in the Prepare Songbook dialog you can select to print Audio only, Karaoke only, Video only, or any combination of the three. As Roy pointed out, cataloging AUDIO file types will add the HDAUD tag on them, appearing in the Playlist, Edit Songs, Search, etc.

2. Glad to hear Hoster is your "go to" product. However, every month it seems like a new .xxx filename extension appears. We have a large list supported at this time, and I won't commit to researching M4A at this time. We are extremely busy and that will take us days to research and program support for it. Moving right along...

3. Great, you only need to add one folder in the Import Songs > Songs Database dialog > Build Database button, and click the Types to import, then the Add Folder button and select that one folder. That's as easy as it gets. NO... M4A is not there and won't be added soon. Moving right along...l

Originally Posted by Joe Nieves

1. First problem would be the BookID number with too many digits for it to work in line with what I already have in my books...

2. If that 99 track limitation problem was not there, then I could just for example put Hindi or Greek as a DiscID and let it rip all those numbers in a orderly fashion and done....

3. I went through this headache of a problem some years back with some Nutech, MagicTrack DVD's import delimma and it was not easy..so not looking forward to this again...

1. You must accept the limitations Hoster has. You don't see a rank of others making the same request, so it is NOT a high priority for us.

2. I have addressed this above.

3. So... their problems now become ours? Sorry I can't help you there.

The "Golden Rule" of product developers is: "Flexibility is the bane of ease of use." With 41 years of professional product development with 130+ products behind me, and the VAST MAJORITY of users can understand and use all of them. I am very cautious as to what we add, and the complexity it will involve. The "limitations" you are experiencing, are not a stumbling block to 99.999% (correct %) of our users.

Joe, your ideas are appreciated, and have changed my thinking on some features, but we won't become your "custom design house" and modify Hoster to your liking. Submit your new feature requests, preferably in light of not only how you want them, but to take into consideration how the other 99.999% would use it. Then, you will have my attention. Making a pure "my desire" type request isn't going to get us to consider your requests.

Originally Posted by Joe Nieves

Okay, Thanks for that.. it's more clear now, but on the DiscID I see the XYZ preface, can I change that to AUD for audio and not hurt anything..?

I don't know. Try it on a single folder (easily removed from the "Indexed Folders" list in the Build Database dialog) with 100+ files to see if entering "AUD" and a number will auto-increment the numeric part and leave AUD. I don't think it will, but it just might!