> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getmotif.page/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Custom categories

> Create purpose-built groups of local tracks without moving or duplicating their source files.

# Custom categories

Use **Library → Custom** for groups that reflect your own workflow rather than information Motif inferred from filenames. A collection can represent a pack, an album idea, a client, a shortlist, a mood, a release, or any other purpose you want to preserve.

In the app, Custom collections are labeled **categories**: you create them with **New category** and add tracks with **Add to category**.

Custom collections live in Motif. They do not create Windows folders or duplicate the audio files they contain.

## Create a collection

1. Open **Library → Custom**.
2. Select **Create your first category** (shown when you have none yet) or the **New category** card.
3. Enter a name.
4. Press `Enter` to create it.

Choose a name that tells you why the group exists, such as `Loops for Maya`, `June beat shortlist`, or `EP sequence`.

## Add tracks

You can add local tracks in two ways.

### From a track menu

1. Right-click a local track.
2. Choose **Add to category**.
3. Select the collection.

The picker indicates whether the track already belongs to each collection, so you can add or remove membership deliberately.

### Drag onto a collection

Drag a local track onto a Custom collection card. The card highlights when it can accept the drop.

Both methods add the existing Library item to the collection. They do not move the source audio file.

## Open and play a collection

Select a collection card to see its tracks. Use the play control on the card when you want to start listening immediately.

Inside a collection you can:

* search and filter its tracks;
* change their visible order;
* play through the collection as a listening context;
* right-click a track to edit it or remove it from this collection;
* drag local files out to another application.

## Remove a track from one collection

While browsing the collection:

1. Right-click the track.
2. Choose **Remove from *collection name***.

The track remains in the rest of the Library and in any other Custom collections. Its source file remains untouched.

## Rename a collection

1. Open the collection card's **More** menu.
2. Select **Rename**.
3. Enter the new name.
4. Press `Enter` or click outside to save; press `Escape` to cancel.

Renaming changes the Motif label only.

## Add cover art

Use **More → Change cover art** to choose an image from your computer.

When a custom cover is present, **Remove cover art** restores Motif's default generated treatment. Cover art helps visual navigation and does not alter audio metadata or source files.

## Reorder collections

Drag collection cards to place the most relevant groups first. This creates a manual arrangement in Motif and does not affect the music inside each collection.

Use sorting when you prefer an automatic name, date, or track-count order. Return to manual ordering to preserve your dragged arrangement.

## Delete a collection

1. Open **More** on the collection card.
2. Select **Delete**.
3. Confirm the deletion.

Deleting a Custom collection removes the grouping from Motif. It does not delete any audio files or remove those tracks from the general Library.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Delete is appropriate when you no longer need the collection itself. If you only want to remove one track, open the collection and use **Remove from *collection name*** on that track instead.

## Optional Discord destination

A Custom collection can show a connected Discord channel beside its track count. When this relationship exists, eligible local tracks in the collection can offer **Post to #channel** from their context menu.

Treat the destination as a sending action, not as collection storage: the Custom collection remains a local Motif organization, while posting sends the chosen file to Discord.

## Custom versus other Library views

| View | How the grouping is created |
| - | - |
| **Types** | Motif groups music by beat, loop, or song information |
| **Collab** | Motif groups music around creator and collaborator context |
| **Custom** | You choose the name and membership |
| **Tracked** | You choose an external channel, chat, or cloud folder to follow |

Use Custom when the reason for grouping exists in your head or workflow rather than in the source filename.


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