Z120BT alphabet buttons don't work for artist/album etc

[adamjt]

I upgraded my Z110BT to the Z120BT software and have an Ipod Classic 30gb. If I try to go to Album or Artist on the Ipod from the stereo, I can't use the alphabet letters on the side. If I click them I get none found (can't remember the specific wording). I can scroll through and see the artists though in the main listing though.

 

Any idea on whats going on?

[Seel]

I am having the same problem. I updated my iPhone to firmware 4.0 and the alphabet isn't working correctly.

 

I press the letter on the alphabet row and it takes atleast 8 seconds for the artitst/song to show up. Very annoying. It used to be instant.

 

Can anyone help here?

[rcs2prsctr]

The short answer -- no, I don't think there's a fix. Despite the fact that the unit is supposedly "Made for iPod," I don't think Pioneer's genius programmers managed to figure out that iPod/iTunes has a "Sort Artist" field for people who want (ex:) Jimi Hendrix filed under "H" for Hendrix, and not "J" for Jimi, and who don't want him listed as "Hendrix, Jimi". I suppose you can't blame Pioneer, though--that feature was only added in what, iTunes 6.0? <sarcasm>

 

I was having the same problem as you - X920BT, 5000 or so songs in my iTunes library, but getting "Not Found" for 3/4 of the alphabet keys (including really common letters like "R" and "S"). As an experiment, I went into iTunes, selected my ENTIRE library (yes, that's EVERY song I own), clicked "Get Info," checked the boxes next to "Sort Artist," "Sort Album," and "Sort Album Artist", and deleted the information in each text box. (In other words, I deleted the Sort Artist, Sort Album, and Sort Album Artist information for *every* song in my library). After that was done, I synced my iPod, then took it and connected it to the unit. Every alphabet key now works, except I have to press "J" to find Jimi Hendrix (instead of "H"), "S" to find Stevie Ray Vaughan (instead of "V"), etc. And, of course, my whole iTunes library is now sorted by first name.

 

The really weird thing is that the "Sort Artist" bug screws up even seemingly unaffected letters. For example, I tried going back and re-inputting some of my "Sort Artist" data, thinking that maybe just one or two artists were the trouble. I got through the "A"s (Alan Jackson, etc.) no problem. After doing the "B"s, however, the "U" alphabet key stopped working. I don't have ANY artists whose first name begins with B, but whose last name begins with "U" -- why should (in effect) switching "Bruce Springsteen" to "Springsteen, Bruce" stop me from finding "U2"?

 

The other weird thing is that the "Sort Artist" bug doesn't seem to affect bands with "The" ("The Doors," "The Beatles," etc.) After clearing out all of the "Sort Artist" data, I expected that all of my "The _______" artists would be sorted under "T" in iTunes. Not so--"The Doors" were still under "D," "The Beatles" under "B," and so on. It appears that iTunes automatically recognizes "The ______" bands, and automatically puts the "Sort Artist" info in, even if you delete it. Even stranger, that DOESN'T seem to affect the Pioneer--pressing the alphabet "B" key gets me "The Beatles".

 

I've been really disappointed with the bugs, glitches, and seemingly poor quality control of this unit. I also have a Pioneer home theatre receivers, and it's just as buggy and unintuitive. I'm stuck with both of them for the next few years, but when time and $$$ present themselves, I'm dropping Pioneer like a bad habit.

[Seel]

The short answer -- no, I don't think there's a fix. Despite the fact that the unit is supposedly "Made for iPod," I don't think Pioneer's genius programmers managed to figure out that iPod/iTunes has a "Sort Artist" field for people who want (ex:) Jimi Hendrix filed under "H" for Hendrix, and not "J" for Jimi, and who don't want him listed as "Hendrix, Jimi". I suppose you can't blame Pioneer, though--that feature was only added in what, iTunes 6.0? <sarcasm>

 

I was having the same problem as you - X920BT, 5000 or so songs in my iTunes library, but getting "Not Found" for 3/4 of the alphabet keys (including really common letters like "R" and "S"). As an experiment, I went into iTunes, selected my ENTIRE library (yes, that's EVERY song I own), clicked "Get Info," checked the boxes next to "Sort Artist," "Sort Album," and "Sort Album Artist", and deleted the information in each text box. (In other words, I deleted the Sort Artist, Sort Album, and Sort Album Artist information for *every* song in my library). After that was done, I synced my iPod, then took it and connected it to the unit. Every alphabet key now works, except I have to press "J" to find Jimi Hendrix (instead of "H"), "S" to find Stevie Ray Vaughan (instead of "V"), etc. And, of course, my whole iTunes library is now sorted by first name.

 

The really weird thing is that the "Sort Artist" bug screws up even seemingly unaffected letters. For example, I tried going back and re-inputting some of my "Sort Artist" data, thinking that maybe just one or two artists were the trouble. I got through the "A"s (Alan Jackson, etc.) no problem. After doing the "B"s, however, the "U" alphabet key stopped working. I don't have ANY artists whose first name begins with B, but whose last name begins with "U" -- why should (in effect) switching "Bruce Springsteen" to "Springsteen, Bruce" stop me from finding "U2"?

 

The other weird thing is that the "Sort Artist" bug doesn't seem to affect bands with "The" ("The Doors," "The Beatles," etc.) After clearing out all of the "Sort Artist" data, I expected that all of my "The _______" artists would be sorted under "T" in iTunes. Not so--"The Doors" were still under "D," "The Beatles" under "B," and so on. It appears that iTunes automatically recognizes "The ______" bands, and automatically puts the "Sort Artist" info in, even if you delete it. Even stranger, that DOESN'T seem to affect the Pioneer--pressing the alphabet "B" key gets me "The Beatles".

 

I've been really disappointed with the bugs, glitches, and seemingly poor quality control of this unit. I also have a Pioneer home theatre receivers, and it's just as buggy and unintuitive. I'm stuck with both of them for the next few years, but when time and $$$ present themselves, I'm dropping Pioneer like a bad habit.

 

 

We aren't having the same problem.

 

I updated my iPhone to firmware 4.0 and that is when it started. The day before when I was running a different firmware it did not do that. The alphabet system worked great in my 2000+ song library. Band names would appear under their respective letter almost instantly when pushed.

 

I'm just trying to figure out why there is a delay now. Thanks for your input though. -Seel

[rcs2prsctr]

We aren't having the same problem.

 

I updated my iPhone to firmware 4.0 and that is when it started. The day before when I was running a different firmware it did not do that. The alphabet system worked great in my 2000+ song library. Band names would appear under their respective letter almost instantly when pushed.

 

I'm just trying to figure out why there is a delay now. Thanks for your input though. -Seel

 

Interesting. I use it with a regular iPod, although I have used my iPhone on occasion. Just out of curiosity, do you have "Sort Artist" information all throughout your library, or do you alphabetize your artist by first name--i.e., when you want (ex:) "Johnny Cash," do you push "J" or "C"?

[Seel]

Interesting. I use it with a regular iPod, although I have used my iPhone on occasion. Just out of curiosity, do you have "Sort Artist" information all throughout your library, or do you alphabetize your artist by first name--i.e., when you want (ex:) "Johnny Cash," do you push "J" or "C"?

 

I would push J most likely. I just remembered this because I was listening to an artist named David Black earlier and I pressed D (waited 6-8 seconds) and the D's came up with his name up top. I just learned yesterday that the bluetooth audio works pretty well from my iPhone with this system but I would rather not scroll through my iPhone while driving.

[adamjt]

The short answer -- no, I don't think there's a fix. Despite the fact that the unit is supposedly "Made for iPod," I don't think Pioneer's genius programmers managed to figure out that iPod/iTunes has a "Sort Artist" field for people who want (ex:) Jimi Hendrix filed under "H" for Hendrix, and not "J" for Jimi, and who don't want him listed as "Hendrix, Jimi". I suppose you can't blame Pioneer, though--that feature was only added in what, iTunes 6.0? <sarcasm>

 

I was having the same problem as you - X920BT, 5000 or so songs in my iTunes library, but getting "Not Found" for 3/4 of the alphabet keys (including really common letters like "R" and "S"). As an experiment, I went into iTunes, selected my ENTIRE library (yes, that's EVERY song I own), clicked "Get Info," checked the boxes next to "Sort Artist," "Sort Album," and "Sort Album Artist", and deleted the information in each text box. (In other words, I deleted the Sort Artist, Sort Album, and Sort Album Artist information for *every* song in my library). After that was done, I synced my iPod, then took it and connected it to the unit. Every alphabet key now works, except I have to press "J" to find Jimi Hendrix (instead of "H"), "S" to find Stevie Ray Vaughan (instead of "V"), etc. And, of course, my whole iTunes library is now sorted by first name.

 

The really weird thing is that the "Sort Artist" bug screws up even seemingly unaffected letters. For example, I tried going back and re-inputting some of my "Sort Artist" data, thinking that maybe just one or two artists were the trouble. I got through the "A"s (Alan Jackson, etc.) no problem. After doing the "B"s, however, the "U" alphabet key stopped working. I don't have ANY artists whose first name begins with B, but whose last name begins with "U" -- why should (in effect) switching "Bruce Springsteen" to "Springsteen, Bruce" stop me from finding "U2"?

 

The other weird thing is that the "Sort Artist" bug doesn't seem to affect bands with "The" ("The Doors," "The Beatles," etc.) After clearing out all of the "Sort Artist" data, I expected that all of my "The _______" artists would be sorted under "T" in iTunes. Not so--"The Doors" were still under "D," "The Beatles" under "B," and so on. It appears that iTunes automatically recognizes "The ______" bands, and automatically puts the "Sort Artist" info in, even if you delete it. Even stranger, that DOESN'T seem to affect the Pioneer--pressing the alphabet "B" key gets me "The Beatles".

 

I've been really disappointed with the bugs, glitches, and seemingly poor quality control of this unit. I also have a Pioneer home theatre receivers, and it's just as buggy and unintuitive. I'm stuck with both of them for the next few years, but when time and $$$ present themselves, I'm dropping Pioneer like a bad habit.

 

I did what you suggested (deleting the sort data) and everything works perfectly now. Thanks!