[Feature Request] The ability to create folders for multiple tracks.

Forums

Ok, another simple (sounding) FR.

I ask for the ability to create folders to contain multiple tracks.

Initial workflow suggestion:

The user creates an empty folder by clicking on a new "Add Folder" function (or a shortcut, woohoo), in the track menu, and names it. (Example, 1st-violins). A window opens that contains all the tracks in the project, with a tickbox alongside each listing. The user ticks the tracks he or she wants, and closes the window with an OK button. The tracks are now contained in the folder, so for our example, the folder contains;

1st-violins-legato
1st-violins-staccato
1st-violins-pizz
1st-violins-tremolo

The tracks no longer appear in the track window, instead, they appear when the user activates a toggle button (double click of the mouse and/or shortcut) that opens the folder. The folder is not a track, but appears in the general track list window, and the tracks added to the folder become visible as child tracks of the folder. (And unlike Reaper or other DAWS that may use the folder as an "executive" track, i'm suggesting just a simple container for tracks, in keeping with the elegant minimalist design of Qtractor.)

To remove a folder or edit the contents, the user opens the folder popup window again, and either unticks everything (a "global" tickbox at the top of the track list?), or adds/removes any tracks they wish to add or remove to the folder. If the folder is completely emptied, then when the window is closed, the folder is dissolved.

Any tracks that are removed from the folder reappear immediately in the main track window.

In the list of tracks in the main track list window, any folder appears as a blank track header with it's name in place of a normal track name. In terms of navigating from one track to another, the folder track is a "track" so the previous/next shortcuts smoothly apply. When a folder track is highlighted, then the user toggles the folder open, as described above, and the navigation shortcuts then move from one child folder track to another within the folder. When the folder is closed it is automatically selected, if a child track is still selected within the folder.

I've tried to think this through as a Qtractor unique folder design, but also draw on previous experience from other daws.

Any input or suggestions to "shape" this design welcome.

Alex.

Permalink

hi, yes it's only simple when said...

albeit in various forms, the fact is it's been a way looong overdue FR--it has been asked for several times over the years--to no avail.

so sorry.

thanks anyway.

Permalink

While not the same thing of course, you may be able to cheat by making use of a recently added feature where a track's height can be toggled between minimized and default. I don't use what I'm about to propose but it'd go something like this.

  1. All tracks belonging to a certain "group" are colored the same.
  2. Select all of these tracks and then minimize their height using the previously mentioned feature (Assigning an intuitive keyboard shortcut would be very useful here).
  3. Now toggle the height as mentioned.

Not sure if the feature works against multiple tracks but I'd be willing to bet it does?

Again, it's not the same as the workflow proposed but this "cheat" would certainly free up vertical space and add clarity; improving focus.

Add new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.

Markdown

  • Parses markdown and converts it to HTML.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type='1 A I'> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <h2 id='jump-*'> <h3 id> <h4 id> <h5 id> <h6 id> <img src alt height width> <strike> <pre> <p> <br>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

Filtered HTML

  • Allowed HTML tags: <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <b> <i> <pre> <img src alt height width> <strike>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
File attachments
Unlimited number of files can be uploaded to this field.
2 MB limit.
Allowed types: jpg jpeg gif png txt doc docx xls xlsx pdf ppt pps odt ods odp zip gz bz2 xz patch diff wav ogg flac ogv mp4 qtz.