Threaded Mode | Linear Mode

DavidHB · 19-02-2019, 10:56

And there was me, hoping to keep things simple ... Smile

I like all the suggestions in themselves, and I'm glad that Simon likes the "dashboard" idea. But over the years I have learned that the important thing is not the UI itself but the workflow. This idea, which you don't hear much of in Hi-Fi circles, is one I originally came across in photography, where applications like Lightroom are built from a concept of workflow that (obviously) has its origins in the darkroom. In essence, the UI is the means by which the workflow is implemented, and it stands or falls by how well it does that job.

A summary of the workflow I use for ripping CDs to add to the library would be as follows.

Set up dBpoweramp with appropriate folder (album) and file names and locations, and also with any downloadable metadata that can be used.
Insert and rip the disc(s) to the master library on the data drive of my PC
Open the newly ripped album(s) in MP3Tag, to complete metadata editing.
Open SyncToy and use predefined tasks to copy the new album(s) to my two NASs and my backup drive.
Run MinimWatch to place the icons for the MinimServer instances on my NASs in the notification area, then, for each instance, open the MinimServer log and do a rescan, checking for errors and rectifying/rescanning as necessary.
Play the music.

You can see how my original proposal would simplify the penultimate stage of this workflow, and so is a bit more than just placing additional buttons in the log window for the fun of it. This simple tweak would give me most of what I need without major reprogramming of the UI, nice as a "dashboard" approach and context sensitive links to the help files would undoubtedly be.

David