Music Collector Manual
for Windows edition
Welcome to Music Collector Download and Install Navigating the Main Screen Cataloging CDs Cataloging Music Files How to search your Collection Adding Albums Automatically Adding Albums Manually Barcode Scanning Adding Multi-Disc Albums Adding Tracks Adding a Box Set Adding Music Files Import from iTunes Importing from text Adding Backdrops Managing your Wish List Search Settings Field Defaults Editing Albums Editing Multiple Albums List Items and more Changing the layout Adding Lyrics Files Find Cover Image Editing List Icons Update File Links Sorting your Collection Custom Field Names Custom Views Edit, Merge List Items Customizing Music Collector Activating Connect Sync & Share Synchronize with Connect Linking your albums for Connect CLZ Music for iPhone/iPod CLZ Music for Android CLZ Music HD for iPad Exporting your collection Managing Loans Printing a Simple List Using Folders Using the Filter screen Updating Music Collector The Options Screen Data Submission Guidelines Field Reference Transfer your collection Validating Music Collector Creating a Backup Keyboard Shortcuts Collection Statistics Print Screen Linking Albums
Navigating the Main Screen
Contents
Introduction
When launching Music Collector for the first time, it opens an example database.
The nice thing about the example database is that you can browse around, try out all the great features, and really get a feel for how things work, without having to worry about messing anything up or losing any personal data.
By default, Music Collector will start with the layout shown below in Figure 1; the main screen is split into 3 main sections.
You can rearrange sections from the main screen to suit your needs. More information about changing the layout can be found here.
Demo
The Main Screen
On the left you have a Tree List, similar to Windows Explorer. On the right, you have the Main List. The main list allows you to quickly sort your collection by clicking a column header. Below the main list is the Details Template, information about the selected album is shown here.
Click the links below to view a more detailed description of each section.
Figure 1: Default view of the Main Screen.
The Tree List
The Tree List can be used to browse your collection in a variety of ways. Selecting an album or folder from the tree view will show the contents in the Main List on the right, with more detailed information shown in the Detail Template. The tree view is useful for quickly selecting and switching between Folders. Folders are a very powerful way of browsing your collection. Below you can see an example of the Folder View at work using the 'Genre' preset.
For more detailed information about Folders click here.
Figure 2: Folder view demonstrating the 'Genre' folder set.
Tip: To change the sort order of the Tree View, first change the sort order in your Main List, e.g. click a column header. Once you have sorted the main list, click View > Refresh to update the sort order of the Tree View.
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The Main List
There are two methods of viewing your collection in the Main List.
- List View
- Image View
You can switch between different views by clicking the tabs above the column headers, or by clicking View from the menu.
Figure 3: List and Image tabs.
The Image View allows you to view and sort your collection by cover image. You can adjust the size of the thumbnails in the Image View display by clicking and dragging the slider (Figure 4) from left to right. Next to the slider is an option for regenerating thumbnails, useful if your thumbnail images are not displaying correctly, or if you update a music with a new cover image.
Figure 4: Image View.
Using the List view You can add and remove columns from the Main List, you can then quickly change the sort order by clicking a column header. The information displayed in the Main List is controlled by the selections made in the Tree View. For example, if you are using Folders and you click on a folder in the tree view, the contents of that folder will be displayed in the list on the right. If you click the name of your collection at the top of the tree view, your entire collection will be shown in the Main List.
To learn more about sorting your collection click here.
you can learn more about selecting different columns here.
The Detail Template
The Detail Template is where information about your music is displayed. This will show you cover images, track names, ratings, collection status, musicians, format, notes and much more. The amount of information shown in your Detail Template depends on which template you select.
Figure 5: Detail Template
If you wish to change how the data is displayed you can select select a different template. There are two possible ways to change the Detail Template:
- Click View > Details View Template then select one of the available templates.
- Or right click anywhere on the Detail Template.
If you have experience editing xsl, or you'd like to try your hand at creating your own templates you can find a tutorial on our website which explains how to modify the templates to suit your needs. This does require some technical knowledge. Click here to view our tutorial.
Back to ContentsToolbar Icons
Figure 2 below shows the default toolbar icons in Music Collector. Music Collector allows you to customize the toolbar based on your most used icons.
Figure 2: Toolbar Icons.
- Add Albums Automatically
- Click to open the Add Albums Automatically screen.
- Keyboard shortcut: Insert
- You can learn more about this feature here.
- Add Albums Manually
- Click to open the Add Albums Manually screen.
- Keyboard shortcut: Shift + Insert
- You can learn more about this feature here.
- Add Music Files
- Click to open the Add Music Files screen.
- You can learn more about this feature here.
- Edit Selected Album
- Click to Edit the selected album...
- Keyboard shortcut: Control + Enter
- You can learn more about this feature here.
- Remove Selected Music
- Click to delete the selected album.
- Keyboard shortcut: Delete key
- Edit Lists
- Click to open the Edit Lists screen.
- You can also click Tools > Edit Lists from the main menu.
- You can learn more about this feature here.
- Album View
- Click to switch to Album View
- Track View
- Click to switch to Track View
- Change Column Selection
- Click to select which columns will appear in your Main List.
- You can learn more about selecting different columns here.
- Change Sorting
- Click here to select or change which fields are used when sorting your collection.
- You can learn more about various sorting methods here.
- Change Screen Layout
- Click here to select various screen layouts.
- You can learn more about changing the screen layout here.
- Click to open the Print Screen.
- You can learn more about printing here.
- Play Tracks
- Click to Play a linked track
- This icon will only be available if you have a digital copy of your music linked to the tracks your collection. You can learn more about how to link digital movies to your collection here
- Quick Search Box, Set Filter, Filter on/off
- This section is used for searching your local collection.
- The icon on the right will remain grey unless you have a filter active.
- You can learn more about searching your collection here.
- Loan Selected Album, Return Selected Album, Manage Loans Screen
- These icons can be used to quickly place an album on loan, or remove it from the loan list.
- To loan an album, select it from the list then click the Loan Album icon.
- You can learn more about the loan manager here.
- Export to CLZ Mobile Application
- allows you to export to our Mobile Application.
- To use this feature you must have either an iphone, ipad or Android with our mobile app installed.
- You can learn more about exporting to our mobile apps here.
- Synchronize with Connect
- Click here to Synchronize your local collection with your Connect account.
- To use this feature you must have a Connect subscription. You can register for a free trial here.
- Already have a Connect Account? Learn how to Synchronize your database here.
- Open The Manual
- Click here to open our manual in your internet browser.
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