#52 Changing ROM properties in a search/virtual folder has no effect

[sourceforgot]

Go to a virtual ROM, select a few ROMs and batch-change their game type. After you go back to a normal folder, the properties are restored to what they were before.

[TonyWoode]

this happens because search folders aren't stored as romdatas at all, they are akin to stored database quieries, with an attempt made to render them as if they were romdatas. Course this can be helpful since the results are generated fresh each access, but unhelpful when you want to reify the results

So, given this, what would you like to happen? I guess ultimately the terminology is misleading and there should be a 'search' and the ability to save both the search AND print off a timed/dated result?

[sourceforgot]

Hey, Tony. Since edits made from within the virtual folder aren't saved, you could remove the Rom Properties context menu entry altogether from virtual folders. Remove ROM from Romlist and other options that don't apply to virtual folders should be omitted from the context menu too.

The terminology isn't misleading to me. It's just that these options are available but don't work.

[TonyWoode]

Yes absolutely thanks for making that very clear! You're absolutely right that's a job to do: 'normal' folder options that don't apply should be removed, 100%. But I still think there is a 'misleading' aspect to the virtual folders, because even if we remove these options we are STILL left with effectively pre-made quieries pretending to be normal romdata folder views, and its still not self-explanatory that there is a difference in use case and functionality - making them unnecessarily complex to understand and use. But virtual folders are fantastic, I'm not saying the functionality is bad : its amazing isn't it! Ideally there should be enough visual difference in the UI design that its clear that virtual folders are a different part of QuickPlay, there's a lot of potential there....I'd welcome any other ideas about how to make this functionality stand out/be better/be clearer!

[sourceforgot]

Well, I actually like the way they're displayed. The background with the magnifying glasses makes it clear to me that I'm not seeing one of my normal folders.

If you feel that's not enough, what about adding a bar at the top or bottom with a reminder that the current view was generated automatically from a search? Something like:

This list was generated automatically from a search. Edit query