Could you check your settings in
File>Options>Tags:Save Tags when navigating
If you do not tick this option then you have to press Ctrl-S or the toolbar button.
Yet, even when I had it ticked, Ctrl-Tab first moved to the filter window, then another Ctrl-Tab moved to the files list and only when I use a cursor button (to be sure that I do not hit a file in the current selection), all selected files get the modification...
In my configuration in "Tools/Options/Tags" the item "Save tags when using arrow keys/singe mouse click" is set to "on".
I followed your steps, but cannot repeat your result.
In my installed Mp3tag v2.70 on Win XP, all selected tracks have been changed to the new value at once, ... and the popup message box told me "Saved tag in 10 of 10 files."
DD.20150609.1313.CEST
I did another test with files within one folder only ...
and can confirm the misbehaviour now, ...
for example there were 6 from 9 files selected randomly in three steps as single file or group of files, ...
then prepared the new value into the ALBUM edit dialog within Tag-Panel, ...
then clicked into the listview ...
only 2 files have been updated.
Mp3tag Versions 2.58 + 2.70 Win XP 32bit
same behaviour on a different PC
Yes, the option is set to on, it has the expected working.
BTW. the CTRL+TAB function is a windows internal function to jump from active
window to active window within the client area, so it stops at the Filter only while open.
I did activate the 'message pop-up after save' option and it is telling me 5 out of 5 are saved. Expected is that 9 out of 9 are saved.
Line 2, 4, 5 and 6 in the ListView have NOT changed.
Let me point out:
CTRL+S works correctly independent of the place (FOCUS) from where it is depressed.
For the automatic update it is related to, that more then one block of lines are selected. In that case, the update includes ONLY the LAST block and afterwards selected SINGLE lines.
You are right. I also observed this behaviour if you select the files from top to bottom.
The behaviour cannot be observed (that is: all files get changed) if you have selected the files from bottom to top in the list ... weird.