1.. _ConfigFiles:
2
3Configuration Files
4===================
5
6QL stores some of its configuration as plain text files, and in some cases
7it may be convenient to edit these files directly, or to synchronize them
8across different computers/ home directories.
9
10Like many Linux applications, QL stores user configuration in a hidden
11directory, in this case ``~/.quodlibet``. (Note that this may not always be
12the case, see :ref:`the FAQ <MetadataLocation>` for details). Feel free to
13explore; but maybe make a backup of the directory first.
14
15Saved values for search, tagging and renaming patterns
16------------------------------------------------------
17
18For :ref:`searching your library <Searching>`, :ref:`editing tags from a
19filename pattern <EditingTags>`, and :ref:`renaming files based on tags
20<RenamingFiles>`, you can save the (search or pattern) values you enter for
21later use. See the relevant section for how to do it using the GUI.
22
23The patterns you create using "saved values" are in fact stored in simple
24text files:
25
26 * ``~/.quodlibet/lists/queries.saved``:
27   Search patterns
28 * ``~/.quodlibet/lists/tagpatterns.saved``:
29   Patterns to tag files based on filename
30 * ``~/.quodlibet/lists/renamepatterns.saved``:
31   Patterns to rename files based on tags
32
33You'll see that the format is very easy: Each saved pattern consists of two
34lines, the first line contains the QL pattern, the second line its name.
35The name may be identical to the pattern. The next saved "pattern -- name"
36pair follows immediately on the next two lines.
37
38Here's an example of what ``~/.quodlibet/lists/queries.saved`` might look
39like::
40
41    artist = schubert
42    All by Schubert
43    artist = radiohead
44    All by Radiohead
45    &(genre = classical, #(lastplayed > 3 days))
46    &(genre = classical, #(lastplayed > 3 days))
47    ~format = ogg
48    All ogg files
49
50Or an example of a ``~/.quodlibet/lists/renamepatterns.saved``::
51
52    ~/music/<artist>/<album>/<tracknumber|<tracknumber>. ><title~version>
53    Music from an album
54    ~/music/misc/<artist> - <title>
55    Stray song
56
57Just edit these files or synchronize them across computers or home
58directories (for different users) as needed.
59