PC Jukebox software

[dsiltcat]

Does anyone know of software to allow my very large music library (mp3) to be used by people at a party without danger to the files?  Googling 'Jukebox' generally just brings up media players but that is not what I want.  I want people to be able to browse the library and queue up tracks, but without being able to access the store directory which usually results in things being messed around, deleted etc.  In other words, just like an ordinary jukebox.

Is there such an application?  And if not, *censored*, why not?

Regards to all

[truenorth]

If i understand your issue correctly what you basically want to do is called "file sharing". However like a peer to peer file sharing program you want it to be generally available to the "public" as opposed to specific permitted users. Is that correct? As with peer to peer file sharing while access to the files exists the person accessing it cannot alter the file at your point of origin. Correct? Apart from the concern of the copyright issue of the music files (which CH members cannot become involved in) could you be more specific as to who you see accessing these files. There are on-line storage sites that can be accessed by other people under a permission basis that might allow you to achieve your objective. That would require that you make your music files available there. You mention "store". What is meant by that? truenorth

[rthompson80819]

Have you looked at this site.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Jukebox_Software

I haven't actually used any of the programs, but it seems like what you are looking for.

Another approach would be to use a mp3 player plugged into a stereo.  Then if someone messed up some files you could just reload the player from your computer.

[dsiltcat]

No truenorth I don't want to share, I can do that - although this site seems determined to list me as a beginner I am in fact an experienced user who used to run a 40-PC network.  What I want is just to be able to leave my laptop connected to a speaker system so people can browse and select, but without the danger that they will start rummaging through the computer at random.  My wife and mother (to name but two) whilst I love them very much, are capable of doing an enormous amount of damage in a very short time, in complete innocence.
I suppose I can stream via my digital radio but that has a complicated interface and a screen and mouse would be a lot easier.

To rthompson thanks, I will have a look now

[truenorth]

AH HA! i do believe it is becoming clearer as to your desire. You would like to make a Folder/file with "music" within it. Music you have already on your computer. However i suppose that you might not want "all" of it accessible. But whatever you do make available insofar as that computer is concerned it is ONLY that that can be accessed as opposed to all of the whatever else  programs/folders/files that also reside on the computer. So what you want is someway of allowing access to that exclusively but nothing else. How about creating a "guest" account universally accessible and password protecting access to any other accounts you have? Now here is where i go in over my knowledge head but given your own knowledge from your past experience you may know if this can be accomplished via that route. Can you only have the guest access the music folder and nothing else other than the obvious need for an audio player? Hopefully this might lead you to a thought that helps you with your needs. truenorth
P.S. If i am not mistaken that "beginner" status is a variable that the member has the ability to change as also you can chose to include an O/S if you chose. Plus you can add other enlargement parameters as to what that experience level reflects in your personal case. The parameter that you cannot change is the "newbie" in your case. That only reflects the level you are at in terms of your posts on the CH forums. It is not however a reliable depiction of a members competency. Somewhat like age which may or may not reflect wisdom and knowledge.

[BC_Programmer]

Not free: 

http://www.silverjuke.net/en/

This might work as well:
http://lifehacker.com/333550/put-windows-media-player-in-party-mode


Apparently there are some plugins for Winamp being developed for "Jukebox" mode, which would allow people to add things to the playlist but not modify the playing track (by going forward or backward for example). Not sure if that's exactly what you're after.

There is another method, where you could create an alternate account and then set the User shell for that account to the music player application (no start menu). Of course Control+Shift+Escape would show the task manager and the various other key combinations could be used to get "control" but it might work as a sort of damage control from novice users.

[dsiltcat]

Thank you very much.  I have tried various of the freeware apps over the holiday and the best you can say of them is that they are not actually permanently harmful!  Absolutely awful, but thanks for the suggestion.

Your various suggestions about new accounts are good but the suggestion of Silverjuke is the one!  Yes I have to pay for it but it took about three seconds of using the trial version for me to fire up PayPal.  It's great when you find a pieve of software that does just what you want AND feels like quality from the word go.

Thanks again.  Happy New Year