Music Files

How do I change information in my music file folder? I have some songs there that do not list the artist under the artist column but it will not let me edit that column, it will only let me rename the file, however, there are some with incorrect or missing information in the other columns (artist, genre, etc.) that I would like to make changes on. When I go to properties for that particular file it does not list the artist if the artist is missing on the file. Hope this makes sense to someone.

 

Hi, Joyce ~

Right-click the file, select 'Properties' > 'Advanced' button and click on the field and an edit box will seemingly magically appear as it doesn't seem apparent beforehand.

 

That's the problem, the field is not listed in the properties advanced section. It is in some of them, but not in others.

 

Sorry my mistake, that information is not in the advanced field it is in the summary field and if the field is not listed there you cannot edit it. My problem is that the field I want is not in some of the files. If the artist is not listed in the file, then that option is cannot be edited in the summary section of that file.

 

Hi, Joyce ~

What kind of files are you working with? I have yet to see a file that cannot be edited.

 

I will go in detail what I am doing. In "My Music" it lists as follows (the information columns that I have chosen)
Name (title)
Artist
Date Created
Size
Duration
Type
There are a few that don't have the artist listed in that folder. I right click then click properties. Within properties I click Summary>Advanced.
In the Advanced Summary under Music properties it will not have anything listed and will not let me add anything. (should have listed in music property a place to put title artist, track number, album, year, genre.... etc.) This is where the problem is. I cannot figure out how to enter the artist name in the properties either in Simple or Advanced summary properties.

 

On my XP-Pro PC, right-click the file name then properties~summary gives me a page to add missing information or modify existing.

You don't say which OS version you have and I'm never sure that Home and Pro behave the same but my guess is for this bit, they do.

 

I have XP home version. and it does not give me the option to add anything, it will give me the option to change what is already there, but not to add a catagory.

 

Well I figured it out. The files I was trying to edit were "read only" files. I took the files and converted them to *wav files, deledted the "read only" file and then converted them back to *mp3 files. And GUESS WHATTTTTTTT!!! I was able to enter information where I wanted to. Now comes the other question??????? How do you change a file/folder from "read only ". It won't let you uncheck that box. There must be an easier way than what I did. Any instructions on doing this?

 

I'm sure there is a new/improved/high tech way to do it but here is an oldie that still works fine.

start~run~cmd to open a "DOS window. Then use the attrib command and the -R switch which says to remove the read-only attribute.

To do all the stuff in your "My Music" folder from the command prompt and assuming you have the normal setup with stuff on your C: drive

- start~run~cmd
- cd c:\documents and settings\%username%\my documents\my music
- attrib -R *.* /S /D (which will remove read-only from all files in My Music as well as any sub-folders)