Auto playlist from bin selection.

[richardssam]

Auto playlist from bin selection.

When you select multiple elements in a bin, the viewer stops showing anything. This change means that a temporary playlist is generated from the selection in the viewer, so you dont have to make an explicit Sequence to view the clips in sequence.

Describe the reason for the change.

The timeline viewer is almost too much if all you want to do is view and re-order a playlist, without trimming. This puts that control directly in the Playlist control, based on what the current selection is.

Describe what you have tested and on which operating system.

I've only tested on MacOS, but have tested a variety of playlists.

Add a list of changes, and note any that might need special attention during the review.

If possible, provide screenshots.

This was created with assistance from Gemini and Claude.

[kenmcgaugh]

Hi @richardssam, how is this different to the existing “String” compare mode?

[richardssam]

Not sure what the string compare mode is? (Perhaps I missed it). This is making an on the fly sequence based on the selection. So you dont have to create a separate sequence if you want to keep fiddling with the playlist order. If you want to change the duration the Timeline editor is superior, but this is just allowing you to have an on the fly sequence without the overhead of the OTIO timeline.

[kenmcgaugh]

Yes, that sounds exactly like the existing “String” compare mode. It plays the selected media in a string-out one after another, in their selection order. Give it a go, just change the compare mode to “String”.

[richardssam]

Briefly testing it, yes it is, learn something new every day!. Why is this "string"? Any reason not to have both?

[kenmcgaugh]

Briefly testing it, yes it is, learn something new every day!. Why is this "string"? Any reason not to have both?

I would think it is short for "string-out", which is a common editorial term.

Does yours offer any additional features or improved workflows? If not then I would suggest it isn't worth having both as the existing "String" compare mode is already well established, but then the decision isn't mine.

If yours does add something novel, could those improvements be built on-top of the existing "String" compare mode, thereby reducing the amount of redundant code?

I would also suggest using a term other than "bin", as that isn't really used anywhere in the xstudio code or docs for that purpose. I believe "Media List" is probably more appropriate.

[richardssam]

Fair enough.