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3. Quick Tips on the Interface

3.1 Configuration

The very first thing you should do the very first time you run qCd is configure it. Hit the "Config." (or "Cfg.") button. The configuration popup is very primitive at the moment. I'll improve it at some point.

Some things you might want to configure:

Look at the next section for more info on databases, especially if you don't have any yet!

After you've made any changes, hit "Save". If you don't, you'll lose all your changes when you quit (this is also the only way to cancel changes, besides re-editing things).

Also, in order for your changes to become active, you need to restart qCd, so you kinda need to "Save".

3.2 Using Databases

Starting from Scratch: Making a New Database

If you don't have any databases, or have never heard of databases, but want to use them, you must create the appropriate files. qCd won't do this for you, at least not yet.

The first thing to do is decide which type of database you want to use. It really doesn't matter. Pick whatever you want. (You can even use both at once.)

Next, do a "cd ~/" to go to your home directory, which is typically a good place to store these things.

If you want to use WorkMan-style databases, do a "touch .workmandb". This creates an empty file called ".workmandb" in your home directory. You could name the file anything, but you must do a "touch" to create an empty file! Now enter the full name of this file --- including the path --- in the "WorkMan Database File:" box.

If you want to use Xmcd-style databases, do a "mkdir .cddb". All you need is an existing, empty directory to store the database files in. Once you have one, enter the full name of this directory --- including the path --- in the "Xmcd Database Directory:" box.

Existing Databases

If you have an existing WorkMan or Xmcd database, just enter the appropriate filename and/or directory name --- including the path --- into the appropriate place in the Config panel.

For those using existing Xmcd databases, note that qCd searches subdirectories. It will only save new entries to the base-directory, however.

If you have several different Xmcd database directories, and they're not all subdirectories under a single base directory, you can specify a colon-separated list of directories under "Xmcd Database Directory:". Example: "/home/me/.foo:/usr/local/lib/xmcddb". qCd searches all of the directories in the list, but only saves to the first directory on the list.

Xcd v1.3 Database Bug

If you have a WorkMan database that you've constructed using Sean Vyain's xcd program, you might have a problem.

For some reason, some versions of xcd used a slightly different entry format than WorkMan. I noticed this problem in a database of mine from xcd version 1.3. Version 2.0 is okay, however. I don't know about versions earlier than 1.3; they may be WorkMan format, they may not.

If you are using a WorkMan database made with xcd-1.3, not to worry. I've written a program that does the necessary conversion:

fix_xcddb (oldfile) (newfile)

You must specify both an (oldfile) and a (newfile) to do the conversion. If older versions of xcd suffered from the same flaw, this program will work with databases from them, too.

3.3 Adding Entries to the Database

Once you have a database set up, you can start making entries to it. Put a new CD in the drive and fire up qCd. Now hit the "Catalog" button.

You can now enter the title of the CD, the artist, and the names of each track. The buttons "Cancel" "Save" and "Close" all do what you'd expect. The "Undo" button works a bit differently, however. It's like a min-cancel for the track names; it cancels any changes you've made while the Catalog panel has been open and restores the old track name.

One last thing: you must hit "Return" after you finish editing an entry. Don't click the mouse someplace else before you hit "Return;" you'll lose your changes.

Once you've saved an entry to the database, qCd will automagically look it up and read it in the next time you put in that CD!

3.4 Neat Tricks and Quirks

  1. Shuffle mode: when you shut it off, qCd leaves you at the track that's playing currently. Or, it should... (That may be something I need to fix.)
  2. Scanning: It won't play anything until you let go of the scan button you're holding down, and it won't scan beyond the end of the track.
  3. Volume: Sets both left and right channels equally. It controls the CDROM-drive volume, not the audio mixer. That will change at some point.
  4. Try clicking on the CD title (the title itself, not the label in the box that reads "Title:"). Try clicking it again.
  5. Try clicking on the time LCD.
  6. Try holding down the left mouse button while the mouse is over an empty area of the panel, then move the mouse around.
  7. Try creating a program, then shuffling.


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