song database

[slsides]

i've tried to figure this out, and searched the forums as well, but i can't find out how to change the location of the songs database in hoster.

in the old version, there was a control on the dialog box that allowed one to manually select the location. i can't find any such thing in 3.321, and i even struck out finding a registry key to edit.

i have the songs directory set to the external drive. i want to have the database on the external, too, but it insists on being at c:\mtu\hoster

thanks,

shaun

[Beavis]

im not using the latest version, but you have to move your files then rebuild your database.

[slsides]

Originally Posted by Beavis

im not using the latest version, but you have to move your files then rebuild your database.

move what files? i don't have any songs in it yet

[ddouglass]

You cannot change the location of the songs.mdb database file and never could. The only thing you can change is the location of the song files (.KMA) by using the "Select Folder" and "Remove Folder" buttons at the top of the Build Database window.
If you have changed the Import location to the external, then that should already show in the list of locations as it is automatically added when you change the Import location.

[slsides]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

You cannot change the location of the songs.mdb database file and never could. The only thing you can change is the location of the song files (.KMA).

i can assure you that in the version i've been messing with up to now, i was able to define the location of the songs.mdb. i are you saying that i can't put the database on the external hdd? :: sigh ::
i have the kma location set to D:, which is the external hdd. the database location, displayed in green text at the bottom of the dialog, is still showing as C:\MTU\Hoster.

[mindonstrike]

Originally Posted by slsides

i've tried to figure this out, and searched the forums as well, but i can't find out how to change the location of the songs database in hoster.

in the old version, there was a control on the dialog box that allowed one to manually select the location. i can't find any such thing in 3.321, and i even struck out finding a registry key to edit.

i have the songs directory set to the external drive. i want to have the database on the external, too, but it insists on being at c:\mtu\hoster

thanks,

shaun

If you are referring to the database file Hoster creates after building the database, that Hoster uses to find KMA's for adding to your playlist, you've never ever been able to change the location of that file (songs.mdb).

If you are refering to the folder(s) you store your kma's in you just need to use the "select folder" button on the build database screen to tell Hoster where your KMA's are.

Sam

Oops, Dale beat me to this by 2 minutes! - That's what I get for typing so slowly

[ddouglass]

What you were changing previously was the folder location of the song files not the location of the "songs.mdb" file which was located originally under the Program Files area before Vista (BV?) but is now located in C:\MTU\Hoster\. This is the location shown in green near the bottom of the Build Database window.

[Beavis]

i thought he wanted to move his music to another folder.

[slsides]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

What you were changing previously was the folder location of the song files not the location of the "songs.mdb" file which was located originally under the Program Files area before Vista (BV?) but is now located in C:\MTU\Hoster\. This is the location shown in green near the bottom of the Build Database window.

again, i am in no way confused or wondering about this. the database location could be manually defined. the database files were on the external hdd previously.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by slsides

again, i am in no way confused or wondering about this. the database location could be manually defined. the database files were on the external hdd previously.

Ok, but for versions at least since 3.301 when I started, that has not been possible, so no you cannot move it to the external. If you want to make a copy to keep on the external for safety (backup) but it won't work from there.
If I remeber correctly this was a client that had the whole program installed on his external drive? In that case yes the database file would have been there too.

[slsides]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

Ok, but for versions at least since 3.301 when I started, that has not been possible, so no you cannot move it to the external. If you want to make a copy to keep on the external for safety (backup) but it won't work from there.
If I remeber correctly this was a client that had the whole program installed on his external drive? In that case yes the database file would have been there too.

no, his original rig had everything on the internal drive. for his new one, he wanted to be able to run it with everything installed on the external, but that was deemed unfeasible. so i had the program installed to C:, but everything else on the external. and his version is 2.219

[Beavis]

are you sure you know what your talking about????

[gd123]

If memory serves, yes, at one time one could type into the Songs Database Destination Folder. I had a hard time figuring what was what in this Menu early on.

2.219 is a very old version where it may be hard to find someone to actually advise properly.

But, really, what does it matter where the Songs.MDB is located other than, it would be quite handy on an external drive that would be used on other computers. For instance, if one wanted to import on one computer and then Import on a different Computer. This would prevent having to synchronize databases/Merging, etc.

Since it can't and if the above is the case, an extra step would be necessary in making sure that the SINGLE Songs.MDB file would work. Just copy it to the external HD after importing and recopy it from the External HD to what ever Computer had Hoster that would be used to PLAY KMAs or IMPORT.

Other than that, I don't see any reason to have the Songs.MDB on an External HD as a "BASE" of operations.

Hoster Terminology 101
Songs.MDB is the DATABASE (The DATABASE is NOT the KMAs)
KMAs are the Songs (KMAs are NOT the Database)

When Songs are IMPORTED, which are converted to KMAs, information about the KMAs are logged in the Songs.MDB "Database," including their LOCATION.

Sometimes, External HDs get assigned a different Drive Letter when connected to a Computer. One could reason that, if the Songs.MDB could be on the same external HD that share the KMAs, then, it wouldn't matter what Drive Letter a Computer assigned.

But it would matter, as the DRIVE LETTER is logged upon IMPORTING.

Even if an operational Songs.MDB could be located on an External HD that was assigned Drive Letter E, Hoster on an alternate Computer would NOT be able to locate and PLAY KMAs if the alternate Computer assigned the External HD Drive Letter D, as the Songs.MDB, located on the External HD, would be telling Hoster that the KMAs were IMPORTED to E and to look for them there.

Join the crowd on the location of the Songs.MDB.

[admin]

Originally Posted by slsides

again, i am in no way confused or wondering about this. the database location could be manually defined. the database files were on the external hdd previously.

Shaun, you are correct. Once upon a time long ago, we had this really creative spurt that we would allow users to create multiple Songs Databases anywhere they wanted.

You could build one for Friday night's show, another for Wednesday nite, etc. limiting which songs appeared and "slowed down" the searches.

Well, folks created Songs Database here there and yonder... and they forgot what they were for. They would open the wrong one, and call MTU all hot and bothered. There is NOTHING we hate more than hot and bothered customers, especially when it was PILOR ERROR that they were suffering from.

It didn't take us long to realize the simple fix was to ONLY allow one Songs Database and to force it to a known location where Hoster could ALWAYS find it. When we released this "functional reduction", we didn't have any complaints... either the loss of fuction or having multiple Databases you didn't understand what they contained. End of problem!

2.219 released 10/20/2004. You're playing with a stacked deck to use that today. PLEASE... upgrade your customer/friend.

Originally Posted by gd123

1. Since it can't and if the above is the case, an extra step would be necessary in making sure that the SINGLE Songs.MDB file would work. Just copy it to the external HD after importing and recopy it from the External HD to what ever Computer had Hoster that would be used to PLAY KMAs or IMPORT.

2. When Songs are IMPORTED, which are converted to KMAs, information about the KMAs are logged in the Songs.MDB "Database," including their LOCATION.

3. Even if an operational Songs.MDB could be located on an External HD that was assigned Drive Letter E, Hoster on an alternate Computer would NOT be able to locate and PLAY KMAs if the alternate Computer assigned the External HD Drive Letter D, as the Songs.MDB, located on the External HD, would be telling Hoster that the KMAs were IMPORTED to E and to look for them there.

1. Good theory, however Hoster is HARD-WIRED to look for the Songs.mdb in a SINGLE location. It cannot be moved and work.

2. Correct! That is why the Tools menu > Build Songs Database dialog requires YOU... the user... to identify where you KMA files are located. If you don't, they won't be in the Songs Database. The full PATH C:\MTU\KMA Files we now use (or the prior C:\Program Files\Micro Technology Unlimited\Hoster\Databases we were forced to discontinue in VISTA - can work in XP/2000 but not recommended) to every KMA files is stored in a field in the Songs Database. That way, Hoster can find and play a song instantly and would NEVER loose where they are, under normal conditions.

3. Correct! If you have a USB DVD drive and an external USB HDD, just plug them in differently one time in the wrong order and poof... neither works and you have to locate the drive and rebuild the Songs Database again.

We have EXTREMELY few users getting confused about where their Database resides. Mostly, it is experts who want to add flexibility we INTENTIONALLY removed, selfishly for our and our reputation's protection.

ENJOY your reliable Hoster program!