BRIAN has several list features to allow quick retrieval of information about the database. Many of the lists are contextual, meaning that they only work in the context of what is displayed in a window. The list to display all issues is non-contextual – it can be displayed at any time regardless of which window is active. The list of issues containing a specific song is contextual in that it can only be used to display information of the current song selected in the Songs window.
Lists generated from BRIAN
These are listed by the categories from the Lists menu.
- Sessions
- All Sessions – a complete list of sessions entered in the database.
- Flagged Sessions – a complete list of sessions flagged in the database.
- Session for Flagging – same as the All Sessions list, but with a checkbox added for flagging the session.
- Sessions Marked No Reports – a list of sessions that have the No Reports flag set.
- Sessions with no Performances – a list of sessions that have no performances entered.
- Songs
- All Songs – a complete list of songs entered in the database.
- Issues containing Song – a list of issues containing the song displayed in the Songs window.
- Performances of Song – a list of performances of the song displayed in the Songs window.
- Songs Without Composers – a list of songs entered in the database, but without composers assigned.
- Songs Used as Performance – a list of songs entered in the database that are used in any session.
- Session Report for Song – not a list, but this will generate a basic session report for the song displayed in the Songs window.
- Related Songs – a list any songs that have been entered as related.
- Composers
- All Composers – a complete list of composers entered in the database.
- Songs by Composer – a list of songs entered in the database where the displayed composer is credited.
- Session Report for Composer – not a list, but this will generate a basic session report where composer displayed in the Songs window has a song used in a session.
- Composers with Assigned VIAF – a list of composers in the database that have been assigned a VIAF id.
- Personnel
- All Personnel – a complete list of personnel entered in the database.
- Personnel with Assigned VIAF – a list of personnel in the database that have been assigned a VIAF id.
- Issues Containing Person – a list of issues where the artist displayed in the Personnel window appears.
- Issues Filed Under Person – a list of issues filed under the name of the artist displayed in the Personnel window.
- All Performances of Person – a list of performances of the artist displayed in the Personnel window.
- Performances of Person As… – a list of performances of the artist displayed in the Personnel window playing a specific instrument.
- All Sessions of Person – a list of sessions of the artist displayed in the Personnel window.
- Sessions of Person As… – a list of sessions of the artist displayed in the Personnel window playing a specific instrument.
- Solos of Person – a list of performances where a solo is performed by the artist displayed in the Personnel window.
- Session Report for Person – not a list, but this will generate a basic session report for the person displayed in the Personnel window.
- Labels
- All Labels – a complete list of labels entered in the database.
- Issues for Label – a list of issues for the label displayed in the Labels window.
- Sessions for Label – a list of sessions for the label displayed in the Labels window.
- XML Listing for Label – generate an XML file for the label displayed in the Labels window.
- Labels with Assigned VIAF – a list of labels in the database that have been assigned a VIAF id.
- Issues
- All Issues – a complete list of issues entered in the database.
- Issues By Selected Format and Tags… – a list of issues filtered by format and tags. See page about Issue List Generator for full description.
- Issues Marked No Reports – a list of issues that have the No Reports flag set.
- Track List Files for Selected Issues – see page about Displaying Track Lists in Session Reports for a full description.
Common List Features
The lists share common features of searching, exporting, sorting, and customization.
Searching
At the bottom of the list window is a text field for entering a string of characters used in searching the list. Entering a string of characters activates the Find button. After using the Find button to initiate a search, the Next button will activate for the purpose of finding subsequent entries. Hotkeys can be used for these features. (Command-f and Command-g for the Mac or Control-f and Control-g for Windows.)
The search begins at the entry selected in the list. When first opening a list window, the search position is the top of the list. After starting a search, the Start At Beginning checkbox must be clicked to force a subsequent search to begin at the top of the list. The searches will not “wrap”. At the end of the found entries for a search, any subsequent search will fail. The Up and Down radio buttons allow for change of direction on the search.
Exporting
Any list can be exported to a tab-delimited text file suitable for opening in Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet apps. Use the Export button at the bottom of the list window and select the Tab Delimited item in the popup menu.
Where sessions are being displayed, items in the list can be selected and exported to XML by clicking on the Selected Entries to XML menu generated from the Export button at the bottom of the window.
Sorting
Sort order of lists can be changed by clicking on the heading of any column. Clicking will rotate the sort from ascending to descending order.
Customization
Columns in lists can be resized by dragging. The preferences file will remember the customization of the columns and the position of the window on the screen when the list window is closed.
Navigation
Double clicking on an entry in the list will navigate to an appropriate display of the entry. What does “appropriate” mean? If you are looking at a list of all songs in the database and double click on an entry, it will bring you to the Songs window and display the entry for the song. If you are looking at a list of all sessions, double clicking will bring you to the entry for that session in the Sessions window. If you are looking at a list of all performances by an artist, double clicking will bring you to the entry for that session in the Sessions window.
Printing
Use the File->Print menu to print the lists. The column widths of the printout will correspond to the percentage of widths displayed on the list. Adjust the widths on the window by dragging the edge of the column header.