Relative folder paths

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Relative folder paths

Postby Eric Anastas on 19 Jan 2016, 12:59

I would like to be able to easily transfer/sync my collection between multiple computers. For example I may play on my laptop, but I prefer to organize my collection while sitting at my desk at my desktop computer where I have two large monitors.

The problem I keep running into is Cross DJ stores full paths to the media files which includes the drive letters, and I do not always want to store my collection in exactly the same location on both computers. Nor is it always easy or possible to create drives with the same letters. If I store a collection on an external USB drive, it does not always show up as the same drive letter. One computer may only have one C: drive, while on another the C: drive is a tiny SSD, but a lot more storage is available on a secondary D: or E: drive.

full path.png


Yes it is possible to re-path all the files in a collection using the Relocate feature, but I'd rather not have to do this every time I switch between computers.

This could be solved by simply storing relative file paths in the collection.crossdb database rather then the full absolute paths.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_(computing)#Absolute_and_relative_paths
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Eric Anastas
 
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Re: Relative folder paths

Postby RoJeC on 19 Jan 2016, 13:22

Relative paths create also challenges in file management.

However your issue can easily be worked with as this requires a classic dos command. This operates at a low level, so less performance than relative paths.

I e.g. Use k-drive for audio and L-drive for video tracks. The command is 'subst k: d:\music'
This substitute command can be entered in the Run box or you can create a batch file which is executed on startup of each comp.

Please be aware of having to handle analysis files.
Ronald

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Manual alternative link: ? https://www.mixvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cross-dj-user-manual.pdf
Audio dropouts? Increase audio 'buffer size' value.
FAQ iOS / Android / PC / MAC http://www.mixvibes.com/help/
Soundcard not available/working? Try the 32bit version of Cross (is also installed).
RoJeC
 
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Re: Relative folder paths

Postby Eric Anastas on 19 Jan 2016, 14:14

RoJeC wrote:Relative paths create also challenges in file management.


What kind of challenges does this create? Can you make an example?

RoJeC wrote:However your issue can easily be worked with as this requires a classic dos command. This operates at a low level, so less performance than relative paths.

I e.g. Use k-drive for audio and L-drive for video tracks. The command is 'subst k: d:\music'
This substitute command can be entered in the Run box or you can create a batch file which is executed on startup of each comp.



Ahh good idea. I didn't think of that. I'll have to give this a try.

Although, I can't see why relative paths would be any slower then absolute paths.

RoJeC wrote:Please be aware of having to handle analysis files.


What do I need to be aware of? Aren't the analysis files always stored in a "MixVibes Analyses" sub directory of the directory containing the collection.crossdb file?
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Eric Anastas
 
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Re: Relative folder paths

Postby RoJeC on 19 Jan 2016, 15:13

The subst command is lower level iteration. Relative paths always have to be 'calculated' with some more iterations, if only because it starts in the working directory.
Implementation challenge would be to go from one system to the other, as mixed is technically possible but wouldn't resolve anything. So if someone changes to an older collection in live situation you can't just have an auto update being in place.
Technical problems you can have can be a Share that isn't available at all systems, protocol issues with using device IP or device hostnames behaving different.

Just meaning to say both methods have different pro's and con's. Where the driveletter approach would be most straightforward.

You can place the analysis folder anywhere you like, just as you can with the collection(s) database(s). The analysis location is set in the preferences, so per comp you have to point to the same centralised location.
Ronald

Image

Manual alternative link: ? https://www.mixvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cross-dj-user-manual.pdf
Audio dropouts? Increase audio 'buffer size' value.
FAQ iOS / Android / PC / MAC http://www.mixvibes.com/help/
Soundcard not available/working? Try the 32bit version of Cross (is also installed).
RoJeC
 
Posts: 4926
Joined: 20 May 2011, 08:55
Location: Bussum, Netherlands



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