Database Library / Item Details

Database Library / Item Details

The DAC Database allows you to maintain your audio with easy access to searching, sorting and file manipulation. Touchscreen users will find that it's easy to work with and the on-screen keyboard makes finding an audio file extremely easy - There's also "Load In Player" buttons for when you need to air that track quickly!

Items in the Database are categorized into various ItemTypes: ADVERT , COMMAND , JINGLE , NETWORK , PACKAGE , PROMO , SONG , VOICETRACK - These are used as "parent" groups and your audio must belong to ONE of these Types. Categories/Genres exist under each ItemType and an audio item may belong to SEVERAL of these - eg: SONG > 80S , DISCO , PARTY for an 80s disco/party song.

The Database is loaded by clicking the new Database / Library button just under the page toggle buttons. This opens the Database window which can be moved/sized to suit - The size/position is remembered between launches as well as the current view saved when "hiding" the window.

The Database window looks like this - and can be easily hidden by pressing the "Hide" button. This keeps the window active (maintaining the current search results/view) but merely keeps the window invisible. The ItemTypes can be selected from the top row of buttons: Adverts, Commands, Jingles, Network, Packages, Promos, Songs, VoiceTracks.

Remember, when loading items into the Players from the Database, the Artist, Title, CueIn and Genre settings are used regardless of file tag (APE/CartChunk/ID3) or JMD data - The database always has "priority". Files dragged from Windows or any other location are treated according to the Config setting: Filenames, APE/ID3, CartChunk, JMD, mAirList etc.

Adding Items to the Database
To import items into the DAC Database, click the Import Audio button on the Database Browser (or via a right-click in the main window) - This will open the Add Files window which allows you to select files from a folder, find new files or load an M3U playlist to be imported.

You MUST define some Genre/Styles in the Config, first. These can be anything you like, but DANCE, POP, 70S, JAZZ etc are good examples. If you do not define any styles, you will not be able to see your imported files!

Add Files
Files can be added manually by navigating to a folder, selecting the files and clicking Add Files. You can do build-up an import list by visiting many folders before performing a single import routine. If a matching JMD file is found, the Cart Number from it will be used if it exists - DAC will then use that field to store the item and will not rely on the Start Cart value.

Find New Files
This routine will scan the current folder for missing filenames against the Database - It is an effective way of ensuring that you do not have any duplicate items.

Load M3U Playlist
You can import an M3U playlist directly into the files list - This makes it easy to add certain types of tracks which have been exported from WinAmp, MyLibrary or compiled in a text-editor as the file is simply a path\filename reference to the audio file.

Editing Item Details
Attributes such as Artist, Title, Year, End Type plus CueIn, Intro and Segue points can be set in this screen - You can also set the ItemType+Genre/Style for the track.

Setting cue-points is achieved by starting playback, and then pressing the relevant "Set" button to place a cue-point at that playback position. You can test the cue-point by pressing "Test" or clear it by pressing "C". The "Auto CueIn/Segue" button will perform an automatic CueIn/Segue cue setting without you having to play the audio.

Searching for Items
There is a textbox which allows you to enter a search criteria (Artist or Title) - Simply type and then press enter or the "Search" button. You may also bring-up the on-screen keyboard by pressing the small keyboard button. This works great with a touchscreen and offers an easy way to find items without resorting to the QWERTY keyboard.

Removing Items from the Database
Items can be removed by selecting the item/s you wish to remove (using standard CTRL or SHIFT multi-select), then select Remove Items from the right-click Database menu. Those items will then be removed from the Database - They will NOT be deleted from your hard-drive.

Mass Changing Items in the Database
It's possible to change items en-masse very easily - Select the item/s you wish to change (using standard CTRL or SHIFT multi-select), then select Mass Change from the right-click Database menu. This will then bring up the Mass Change window allowing you to alter various fields in a single action.

There is no undo for these operations - so take care when making a change!