HDDTool for HDD100/120 upgrade

[Solon]

Hi,

i am the developper of the little HDDTool for HDD100/120 you can find at http://solonweb.free.fr .

I update today to 0.9.3 release including support of M3U playlists.

As said by robotman in an other thread, i am open to include new features in this Tool :-)

So if some of you have great ideas you can email me solonweb@free.fr and also post in this forum to discuss about your needs.

Regards.

Solon

[Obraxis]

GREAT work man :)

As I've emailed you before, I'm really after the change of the Philips boot logo, if you can work it out. I know that u can get the resolution of the player's screen from the Philips' documents/manual if that helps.

[Solon]

Hi,

hummm ...
about the boot logo, all i know is that image is not stored in the firmware file philips.mi4 ; i suppose there is a "BIOS" in the HDD saved in an EPROM but i have no idea how to acces it ....

Solon

[Solon]

Hi,

this message to inform you about some rewriting of the web site http://solonweb.free.fr.

There is also a new release 0.9.5 of HDDTool introducing a "FASTMODE".

This mode has been written to provide a faster way to add files on a HDD witch contains already lot of files.

I am waiting your comments about this evolution :)

Regards

Solon
solonweb@free.fr

[Solon]

Hi,

a new release of HDDTool for HDD100/120 is online.

The 0.9.6 is available at http://solonweb.free.fr.

See on the website for updates.

Here is an abstract of modifications :
0.9.6

- re-designed interface : new list, menu, ...
- FASTMODE is now the standard and renamed "HDD Standard"
- ability to play a selected file directly in HDDTool
- included help

Have fun :)

Regards

Solon
solonweb@free.fr

[Obraxis]

Cool stuff man, u dont get many replies, but your software is VERY much appreciated! Great work man! :)

[chicubs]

Just a request. Make the screen where you can see all the files be expandable for those whose files have long names. Thanks...otherwise nice job and thanks for putting in all the effort.

[Solon]

Just a request. Make the screen where you can see all the files be expandable for those whose files have long names. Thanks...otherwise nice job and thanks for putting in all the effort.

Hum ... release 0.9.6 makes that less usefull i think ...

But why not. I put this in the TODO list ;)

Solon
solonweb@free.fr

[chicubs]

Hey Solon, your latest version keeps locking up and me....well, not only me, but I guy in the forums here: www.dapreview.com

[chicubs]

Solon, I have a massive problem with your software. I didnt think it was the software until someone else had the same experience....Your software reorganizes a lot of my folders, renames them to numbers and moves my music elsewhere. Caused me a lot of headaches. It also moved around the key windows files and killed my startbar. It also has happened to someone here:http://austinv.com/forum_viewtopic.php?13.2994.10#3039

This happened a couple weeks ago to me, but I didnt think it was your software, but now IM positive its your software.

[Solon]

Solon, I have a massive problem with your software. I didnt think it was the software until someone else had the same experience....Your software reorganizes a lot of my folders, renames them to numbers and moves my music elsewhere. Caused me a lot of headaches. It also moved around the key windows files and killed my startbar. It also has happened to someone here:http://austinv.com/forum_viewtopic.php?13.2994.10#3039

This happened a couple weeks ago to me, but I didnt think it was your software, but now IM positive its your software.

Hi,

i just have read forum thread on DAPPreview ...

Just few things :
- HDDTool MUST BE copied to HDD Root and started from this place, NOT from hardisk
- HDDTool RENAMES audio files and folders with audio files on HDD to make them "HDD compliant" except if names length are short enough ... -DMM renames too your files during transfer)
- HDDTool DOES NOT scan HIDDEN directories (like System\MUSIC used by DMM to put your files) : you MUST NOT use both DMM and HDDTool on tour HDD, make a choice
- files transfered to HDD MUST NOT have "read only" or "hidden" attribute

Here what i can say for the moment ...

Operations to use correctly HDDTool are :
- clean HDD (no musics transfered using DMM on it ; the best is to format in FAT32 ...)
- copy HDDTool on HDD (at root) and start HDDTool from that place
- be sure that HDDTool running mode is "HDD Standard" (use Tools / Swicth Names menu option if necessary)
- transfer music files to HDD using drag and drop from Windows Explorer to HDDTool window
- if all files you want are transfered (you should have the list on HDDTool window), close HDDTool
- you now can unplug your HDD from your PC

If theses steps don't work for you, let me know and send me a precise description of what you did and what you got (messages, errors, ...)

Regards

Solon
Mail : solonweb@free.fr

[Doflow]

In my opinion you don't need to clean HDD before you can use HDDTool.
What I did is the following:
-Move all mp3's from the default place (G:\System\MUSIC) to a seperate music folder on HDD (G:\MUSIC).
-At first HDDTool doesn't know the original filenames, but who cares, while you can now see tag information (artist, album, tracknr and title).
-if you want you can run 'switch names', rename your files using tag information (with a mp3 renamer utility), run 'rebuild HDD List' and switch names again (this will rename the files, but original names will be remembered through names.txt.
-if you didn't do the previous step, now run 'Rebuild HDD List' from the tools menu.
-Close HDDTool (database will be written).

You can also run HDD Tool (standard mode), then you can just add directories, files etc. in explorer. When you're finished, run 'Rebuild HDD List' and your new dirs and files will be renamed and added to the HDD database. Great!

Thanks a lot Solon, for me it's the perfect DMM replacer!

2 Points:
-Always start HDDTool from the root of your HDD! (some people appear to have missed that ;) )
-for enhancement I would like to see the window resizable and a switch 'stay on top' and the possibility to add files and dirs in a certain directory on the HDD. (now files and dirs are always copied to the root of HDD). You can copy to a certain dir with the method described (just copy within explorer), but then you have to run 'Rebuid HDD List', which can take some time.

Regards,

Doflow

[Solon]

In my opinion you don't need to clean HDD before you can use HDDTool.
What I did is the following:
-Move all mp3's from the default place (G:\System\MUSIC) to a seperate music folder on HDD (G:\MUSIC).
-At first HDDTool doesn't know the original filenames, but who cares, while you can now see tag information (artist, album, tracknr and title).
-if you want you can run 'switch names', rename your files using tag information (with a mp3 renamer utility), run 'rebuild HDD List' and switch names again (this will rename the files, but original names will be remembered through names.txt.
-if you didn't do the previous step, now run 'Rebuild HDD List' from the tools menu.
-Close HDDTool (database will be written).

You can also run HDD Tool (standard mode), then you can just add directories, files etc. in explorer. When you're finished, run 'Rebuild HDD List' and your new dirs and files will be renamed and added to the HDD database. Great!

You are totally right ! i just said to clean HDD prior to use HDDTool to make simple :)


-Always start HDDTool from the root of your HDD! (some people appear to have missed that ;) )

Yes ! This point is NECESSARY !! If you don't you will be prompted that HDD file system is altered because HDDTool is looking on your hard disk !!


-for enhancement I would like to see the window resizable and a switch 'stay on top' and the possibility to add files and dirs in a certain directory on the HDD. (now files and dirs are always copied to the root of HDD). You can copy to a certain dir with the method described (just copy within explorer), but then you have to run 'Rebuid HDD List', which can take some time.

Resizable window is now ready and will come with the next release :)

"Stay on Top" ... why not. I tried such function and i have yet some little things to correct.

For the directory, HDD firmware limits the length of path name for audio files, so it is important to preserve the maximum usefull information ... at root we only have 3 directories levels to put audio files ... not so much ...


Regards

Solon
Mail : solonweb@free.fr

[Doflow]

For the directory, HDD firmware limits the length of path name for audio files, so it is important to preserve the maximum usefull information ... at root we only have 3 directories levels to put audio files ... not so much ...


Hi Solon,

The reason I asked is because if all dirs and files are saved to the root of the HDD, it makes the root a bit messy, making it hard to find the SYSTEM directory and possible other directories made on the HDD to use as a storage device for other files than music.
I prefer to have all my musicfiles in a seperate directory root/music, still leaving 2 directories to create a directorystructure within the /music dir, which is plenty (for me, only using 1 directory /Artist - Album/).
Just wanted to let you know, hope you can implement this. If you don't think it's worth it, that's ok by me, I am already happy with the tool as it is now! :thumb

Regards,

Doflow :cheers

[mr_robotman]

Maybe this forum should be renamed to the HDDTool Forum :) . I am really impressed at the tool, and I do agree with the previous suggestions. I have had the same problem, where I organized all of my music by artist then album in the file structure on the HDD100, so that everything was neat, then when I added another file it just threw them in the root directory, kind of annoying, but I could deal with it. It would be nice to be able to catagorize it though. I can't wait till the next release, sounds like a good one.

Thanks, alot

Ryan

[Doflow]

To keep the root tidy, what you can do is create a temp music folder ie c:\temp\Music and copy or move the files and directories you want to transfer to that directory.
Then you drag the whole \Music folder to HDDtool.
The directory tree (including the Music folder) will be copied to the HDD.
After transfer, move the files back to their original location.

Regards,

Doflow

[Solon]

The reason I asked is because if all dirs and files are saved to the root of the HDD, it makes the root a bit messy, making it hard to find the SYSTEM directory and possible other directories made on the HDD to use as a storage device for other files than music.
I prefer to have all my musicfiles in a seperate directory root/music, still leaving 2 directories to create a directorystructure within the /music dir, which is plenty (for me, only using 1 directory /Artist - Album/).
Just wanted to let you know, hope you can implement this. If you don't think it's worth it, that's ok by me, I am already happy with the tool as it is now!

I have had the same problem, where I organized all of my music by artist then album in the file structure on the HDD100, so that everything was neat, then when I added another file it just threw them in the root directory, kind of annoying, but I could deal with it. It would be nice to be able to catagorize it though.
Ryan
Hi,

Ok men, i read you :)

So next release will include ability to create and use a MUSIC directory at HDD root !
It should be available in few days with other things like equalizer management and resizeable window ...

Mr Robotman, what would you say in "It would be nice to be able to catagorize it though." ? Can you give me some precisions ... perhaps your wishes could be included ... ;)

Regards

Solon
Mail : solonweb@free.fr

[Doflow]

Wow, that's a good response :)
Looking forward to the next release!

Thanks Solon,

Doflow :thumb

[mr_robotman]

I meant that when I add files they would be put into the existing file structure. Example, my current file structure is music/artist/album, so when I add a new song it would be nice to have it be automatically put in the correct folder.
So if I had the song X by Y which is on the album Z, it would be put in the folder music/Y/Z, if those folders weren't there then they would be created, and if they were there already, the song would just be put into the proper folder.
Hopefully this makes more sense.
Thanks,

Ryan

[Solon]

I meant that when I add files they would be put into the existing file structure. Example, my current file structure is music/artist/album, so when I add a new song it would be nice to have it be automatically put in the correct folder.
So if I had the song X by Y which is on the album Z, it would be put in the folder music/Y/Z, if those folders weren't there then they would be created, and if they were there already, the song would just be put into the proper folder.
Hopefully this makes more sense.
Thanks,

Ryan
OK it's clear for me now ! :)

On the actual release of HDDTool when you transfer the directory "artist" structured like artist/album/title.mp3, HDDTool creates structure artist/album at the root of HDD and put the title.mp3 in this.
With the "MUSIC folder" option coming with next release, if you transfer the same directory, HDDTool will create artist/album/title.mp3 in MUSIC so you will have MUSIC/artist/album/title.mp3 on HDD.

I hope this will satisfy you :)

Regards

Solon
Mail : solonweb@free.fr

[llbbl]

See this thread for guidelines on Li-ion battery use...

http://forums.designtechnica.com/showthread.php?t=4966

It will tell you lots of things about how long it will last and whats the best way to prolong the life. The HDD100 comes with a Li-ion battery

[mr_robotman]

Solon,

So are you planning any more updates for the HDDTool? In its current form it is working pretty good and supports almost everything that the DMM tried to, so is there anything that you are still working on trying to incorporate into the tool? Just wondering...

Thanks,

Ryan

[Solon]

Solon,

So are you planning any more updates for the HDDTool? In its current form it is working pretty good and supports almost everything that the DMM tried to, so is there anything that you are still working on trying to incorporate into the tool? Just wondering...

Thanks,

Ryan
Hi,

yes i am still working on the next release :)

There are some little "bugs" in the current version and some people send me suggestions to improve it, so i am trying to implement them.

Up to now, following things are included in the future release :
- add the "recordings" to files list
- save and restore window position and size
- buttons of messageboxes should be all translated (for english)
- no more limitation about hidden files and folders (to scan "recordings" by example)
- "read only" attribute of files are resetted when transferring them from PC to HDD (avoid some future move/delete problems)
- after rebuild of HDD List, palylists are now re-displayed
- playlists are not renamed when switching between "standard" and "long names" modes

I also worked not only for HDD users but for Bantam BA1000 too as the 2 platforms are very close and use a similar database ; so HDDTool should now support also Bantam BA1000 (transparent for HDD users) :)

If you have some good ideas to implement in HDDTool, it is the time to send me them ;)

Regards

Solon
Mail : solonweb@free.fr

[Ogion]

I can't wait for the next update, particularly the playlists being renamed. That's my only problem with your prog but even then it's better than DMM thanks Solon! :thumb


Oh yes it would also be good if you edit how playlists and tracks are arranged on the HDD menu. Id like my playlists in alphabetical order but it's kinda not working. I'm pretty sure it arranges things by when you put them on the HDD. Keep up the good work!

[Solon]

Hi,

just a message to tell you that HDDTool upgrade is available : 0.9.8.

In this new version, you will find :

0.9.8
- add "recordings" to list of files
- save and restore last size and position of HDDTool windows
- save and restore last "Always visible" option
- ability to automatically create one playlist for each folder transferred to HDD
- "No tags" option to use folders and files names instead of ID3 tags (need structure like artist\album\title.mp3)
- translation of button labels in message boxes
- no more limitation of scanning "hidden" folders and files (System dir is read ; for "recordings" support)
- "read only" attribute is resetted when files are transferred to HDD
- playlists are shwon after using "Rebuild List"
- playlists are no more renamed when switching between "HDD Standard" and "Long Names" modes
- fixed bug for 12 chars length filenames (incorrect display whn playing)
- ... support for Bantam BA1000 player

There are yet some work to do before the 1.0 release ...

Regards

Solon
solonweb@free.fr

[Doflow]

Thanks Solon!

Let's check it out!

Doflow :cheers

[RK7]

Solon

I was wondering if you could add some sort of linux support for your hddtool, or something of that nature. also, how exactly did you figure out how to reverse engineer the software? it seems like an amazing feat to me. anyways, many thanks for designing it - it has proven invaluable. now i don't have to deal with that useless dmm.

thanks.


RK.

[foker]

woot Solon himself!! Great to meet you,..! Legendary app u have created!!

[sksemke]

Hello,

I just purchased a Bantam BA1000 and want to use the HDDtool, however I'm not very computer savy and it says "This file MUST be COPIED at ROOT of HDD prior any use and MUST NOT be used from PC hard drives" please explain in laymans terms what this means. I would really appreciate step by step instructions on how to instal, I dont want to screw up my computer or mp3 player. Thanks in advance for any help!!

[hassassin]

i wasnt awere hddtool worked with the Bantam BA1000, so i dont think it will work,

anyway what it means is you have to copy the exe file onto your mp3 player, so download it and cut and paste i off your computer onto your mp3 player, then run the programe of your mp3 plyer all the time

[Hybrid]

hey solon!
would it be possible to have a clock sumwhere in the upper part of the display?

Hybrid