Optimal tagging for the Database

[Carson Dyle]

Hi all, I'm fairly new to Rockbox and have a few questions regarding how best to tag a library for use with the database navigation.

I've read elsewhere that it's best to minimize the tag fields contained in files to speed up refreshing the database.  Getting rid of COMMENTs, for instance, and any other fields that aren't actually used.  Is there any truth to that for Rockbox, or is that only in regard to the OF?

Are all tag fields read by Rockbox stored into the database, or only the ones that is recognizes and uses?

Since embedded artwork is not used by Rockbox, is there any advantage in deleting it from MP3 files (beyond just shrinking the size of those files slightly)?

[saratoga]

I don't think clearing out tags is going to make much difference in how fast the database scans.  Is that really a concern for you anyway?

[Carson Dyle]

If it makes no difference, then it's not a concern.

You didn't answer the other question of whether or not unrecognized fields are read into the database.  That could greatly affect the size of the database if, for example, someone has extensive lyrics or comment text embedded in their files.

Other questions:

Does Rockbox utilize sort tags such as ARTISTSORT (TSOP in ID3v2) or ALBUMARTISTSORT (TSO2) for sorting the artist list?  From what I've seen to date, it does not.

If not, is there some way to have Rockbox strip leading articles from artist name, so that something like 'The Rolling Stones' appears under R?

When browsing albums, is there any way to have them ordered by something other than album name?  Such as artist/year/album?

[saratoga]

You didn't answer the other question of whether or not unrecognized fields are read into the database.  That could greatly affect the size of the database if, for example, someone has extensive lyrics or comment text embedded in their files.

No thats not possible.  If its not recognized its just crap and it can't be inserted into the database.

Does Rockbox utilize sort tags such as ARTISTSORT (TSOP in ID3v2) or ALBUMARTISTSORT (TSO2) for sorting the artist list?  From what I've seen to date, it does not.

If not, is there some way to have Rockbox strip leading articles from artist name, so that something like 'The Rolling Stones' appears under R?

When browsing albums, is there any way to have them ordered by something other than album name?  Such as artist/year/album?

http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/DataBase