Browsing MTP devices?

[Thany]

Recently I realized that TC is unable to work with any MTP devices, like an Android phone or some kind of media device. They do not register as regular drive letters, but rather as a special sort of drive in Explorer. Because they are not drive letters, TC doesn't "see" them as browsable drives. Also it's not possible to "make" them register as driveletters...

A quick search through plugins only brought me to a very specific Android browser, which is okay-ish, but (a) requires an app to be installed which I'm not very fond of, and (b) only works with Android.

Any ideas?

I'm using TC 8.01 x64 on Windows 7 x64, if it's any help.

[EricB]

Hello Thany,

Use Ghisler's MediaAudio2 plugin (https://plugins.ghisler.com/fsplugins/wpdplug.zip) . It works for me with my MTP Creative audio device, as well as with my Canon camera.

Regards, EricB

[ghisler(Author)]

This isn't necessary, you can access them by clicking on the small triangle to the left of the current path, then on "My Computer".

[EricB]

True enough, I always forget about this feature (or cm_opendesktop command). The reason is that in XP this did not work for my older Canon camera, whereas the MediaAudio1&2 plugins did. Using those plugins has become a habit

Regards, EricB

[Thany]

Mr ghisler, I'm afraid I'm not seeing a triangle to the *left* of the current path. Perhaps it's configured not to show, but I've been using TC for such a long time (see my joined date ) that I have no idea when or where or how I might have disabled it

The one to the *right* I do have, but that isn't the one you meant, presumably. It's the history dropdown.

/edit
Using the cm_opendesktop command, I can get there no problem. But the way it works is a bit dissapointing, to be brutally honest. I was hoping for a bit more of an "integrated" experience. Copying/moving files is just using explorer's everything, you cannot see the full path into a device and it doesn't show any attributes.

Perhaps using a plugin (or by implementing it into the main program) one get get a more "native" experience, where browsing MTP devices feels no different from browsing regular directories and such...

Could you consider this a feature request?

[ghisler(Author)]

If you have disabled "Show clickable path parts" in Configuration - Options - Layout, the triangle to the left will not be shown.

[Thany]

Interesting. I honestly don't remember ever having seen this feature. Nifty

But I think my argument for browsing MTP in a more native way still stands...

[ghisler(Author)]

This is as native as it can get, unfortunately.

[angussf]

This is as native as it can get, unfortunately.

I was able to connect to my Android 4.2.2 device using MTP mode and copy a podcast to it. TC 8.01a (registered 3-user license for Win3 version years ago, thank you very much for your lifetime license policy!!) complains when I copy the file to the device:
Image: http://i.imgur.com/Rg1RCBg.png
but it copied fine and I was able to play the podcast.

However, I can't save the directory path for later easy access. I *can* press [Alt+Down] to access recently-used folders and get to it that way, but only if it is in the stack of recently used folders. When I save "C:\Users\MyName\Downloads\Podcasts" on one pane and tell it to "Also save target path" it saves just the string "\\podcasts", but when I tell it to save the MTP folder, it saves this monster string:
cd ::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\\\?\usb#vid_22b8&pid_2e62#t063203hh3#{6ac27878-a6fa-4155-ba85-f98f491d4f33}\SID-{10001,,12756828160}\{00000008-0001-0001-0000-000000000000}\{00000049-0001-0001-0000-000000000000}

BUT it won't return to that location even if the device remains plugged in. It seems that right now the only way to get there is with lots of very precise mouse-clicking, which is less than optimal for us keyboard junkies.

Also, for some reason there is some caching of the directory contents and I can't reload them. I used TC on the Android device to delete a file but it didn't show as deleted on the \\podcasts\ screen even when reloaded ....

[HolgerK]

It seems that right now the only way to get there is with lots of very precise mouse-clicking, which is less than optimal for us keyboard junkies.

TC 8.50(currently release candidate):
<Alt+F1>,<+>, browse to your MTP device.

Regards
Holger

[ghisler(Author)]

complains when I copy the file to the device

I'm getting that too - it comes from Windows, not from TC, and it's VERY annoying! I don't understand why I get this for mp3, the default Android player can play it! If anyone knows how to get rid of it, please let me know.

[KC_]

complains when I copy the file to the device

I'm getting that too - it comes from Windows, not from TC, and it's VERY annoying! I don't understand why I get this for mp3, the default Android player can play it! If anyone knows how to get rid of it, please let me know.

I get that all the time too. Even when copying videos. It is indeed very annoying.

[ghisler(Author)]

Unfortunately someone from Microsoft has admitted that this is a 'feature' which cannot be disabled:

technet.microsoft.com

[yetanotherlogin]

If you have disabled "Show clickable path parts" in Configuration - Options - Layout, the triangle to the left will not be shown.

In 8.01, after enabling this, I do see the downward-pointing triangle and I can access my MPT-based Android smarphone, but is there a keyboard shortcut so I don't have to use the mouse?

Computer > Galaxy Nexus > Internal Storage

Also, I notice that TC doesn't display file extensions for files in the phone. Is it a setting somewhere or a "feature"?

And F3 doesn't display contents ("Search path not found!").

Thank you.

[HolgerK]

... but is there a keyboard shortcut so I don't have to use the mouse?

<Alt+F11> / <Alt+F12> for left / right breadcrumb bar. Then <cursor down>.

Also, I notice that TC doesn't display file extensions for files in the phone. Is it a setting somewhere or a "feature"?

Maybe Explorer <Alt+T>(ools), "Folder options", Tab "View", "[_] Hide Extensions for known file types"?

And F3 doesn't display contents ("Search path not found!").

Normal behavior for virtual folders starting with "\\"

Btw: Why not using the actual 8.51a?

<Alt+F1>,<+>, browse to your MTP device.

Regards
Holger