Please how can I get VLC to only indicate time duration when its been played (useful)

[chicken]

Hello users
I am new here, a search did not provide an answer.
My problem is, on my old version of VLC player one very use full feature I found, was that the time duration was not indicated in the window, until the music file was played, and I found this very user full especially in random mode to indicate which of the files has been played.
In new versions when dragging a group of files into the window the time duration is shown for all the files, which leaves me scratching my head, because I cant tell whats been played and whats not been played.
I have tried uninstalling the new update (which was automatically updated by my antivirus) and reinstalling an old version, but now even the old version has the time duration indicator, so how can i fix this

[postscripter]

I believe, it's the "Automatically preparse items" option, which can be disabled in preferences. Don't forget to restart.

[chicken]

Hello postscripter thanks for your reply, I am using VLC 3.0.0, and I cannot find "Automatically preparse items" anywhere in preference.

[postscripter]

I'm using 4.0, and it's here

[chicken]

thanks postscriptor
trying to post screen print could you say how please

[postscripter]

Just pick an external image hosting like this and copy a resulting bb-code here. I'm not sure if that one have english interface, though

Give a try to 4.0 nightie, it's pretty stable.

[chicken]

Thanks p0stscriptor but will have to do with out a image tool (forget it, dont know how to use)
My VLC tools > preferences> simple preferences/ interface/audio/video/subtitles and OSD/hotkeys.
In the tabs in simple preferences, audio, video etc , there is NO option or dropdowns to get to advanced preferences>automatically preparse items, as you have got in your screen shot.
note I am also using VLC 4, so my simple preferences must be different to yours, I am puzzled

[chicken]

Hope this works , screen print file with dropbox

https://www.dropbox.com/s/03pbx4smc7x3w ... k.jpg?dl=0

[mederi]

Select "All" in the bottom-left corner.

[chicken]

Bingo!!!!!!
Thanks very, mederi that was the key. Yes! it work thanks to postscripter and you mederi, problem solved.
Thanks to you both for your help and patience. Both of you have a very good knowledge of the inner workings of VLC, I could not find that by search in help .
One 76 year old chicken happy.
Many thanks