141
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: October 29, 2008, 09:39:36 pm »The biggest risk to my data is ME!"
Yep, I agree. Was just a bit annoyed with myself last night. Oh well, today is another day.
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Yep, I agree. Was just a bit annoyed with myself last night. Oh well, today is another day.
142
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: October 29, 2008, 02:21:39 pm »Sounds like sensible prioritisation to me. I'm looking forward to seeing 0.9.9 alsoThis is frustrating.
Just finished backing up my movies, updated PVD data then copied it to the backup drive.
Or that was what was suppose to happen. Unfortunately I rushed the last step and actually copied the old copy over the new one.
Now I'm back to on old copy of my PVD data which cannot be opened by a non-administrator. So will need to export to CVS, manually import pictures, & redo last 2 months cataloguing.
I'm really really looking forward to being able to export tags. Doing this stuff twice because of my own mistakes is very frustrating.
143
Feature Suggestions / Re: Vote: Features for 0.9.9
« on: October 21, 2008, 06:46:01 am »1. Unattended Import - I guess this would only really be useful for people such as myself who are new to this app and have quite a few movies to import. But it would be great if it could just scan a folder and automatically select the best match. Then I could go back through and double check at my convenience, rather than have to keep clicking ok all the time. For people who are importing a number of new movies to an existing database perhaps there could be a field to note that the data was unconfirmed.Go to Tools-> Preferences-> Plugins
Select "Silent mode for all plugins"
Run your batch import
Then uncheck the above option brior to editing the problem entries
2. More info in message windows when importing (or ability to see the main window) - as I write this I am importing movies (as I said above) and it is a bit of a pain that I can't see the file that the found info refers to. Some are quite obvious, but others - well who knows?? There seems to be no way of getting back to the main window while it is scanning folders/downloading data. This means that any I'm not sure about I need to skip and hopefully there is someway of downloading info for them individually (I'm assuming there is).After choosing "Scan folders for new movies / changed file paths"
Edit the "Title" and or "Original title" so a IMDB lookup has a reasonable chance of success
If you are not in silent mode you can then view the web page PVD suggests linking too & see its full file path
Not sure if this is how you are currently using PVD, but it works OK for me
144
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: August 20, 2008, 12:25:06 pm »I have no problem with writing a script for you
That is great news as with txtinfo_en.psf that will implement movie tagging functionality
but only after 0.9.9...
Sounds like sensible prioritisation to me. I'm looking forward to seeing 0.9.9 also
145
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: August 20, 2008, 11:49:37 am »Plugin templates seam more relevant to me. The closest I could find is the "Web Pages(Index&Movies)" template which produces one (html) file per movie.
I'm guessing what is need is to:
1) Set "recordfilename" to an absolute address based on "File Path" rather than an address relative to the index file. Not sure how to handle multiple entries in path, probably need to process them the same as PVD does when grouping files, or txtinfo_en.psf http://www.videodb.info/forum_en/index.php?topic=904.0 does in function GetDownloadURL : String; Had a go at the latter but couldn't get it working
I now suspect this is not possible.
Looking at http://www.videodb.info/forum_en/index.php?topic=766.0 and experimenting with "Templates for plane text export" I suspect templates for export plugin do not support functions and recordfilename does not support absolute addressing (sub-files must go in the same directory as user selects to save the index).
Looks like I will have to hope nostra adds tagging in 0.9.9 or learn to write my own export script.
146
Feature Suggestions / Re: Vote: Features for 0.9.9
« on: August 19, 2008, 02:44:44 pm »Try these for now.
It would be useful to have larger versions of the icons for use on the large screens used for htpc.
Pardon my ignorance, but where were you suggesting the close icon be used? The current exit function is a lot different to the open database function, so the icons should reflect this.
147
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: August 19, 2008, 10:55:07 am »For the patсh's problem: it is already possible to write a script that would generate a txt file with any information needed for each movie placing it near video file. Then a script like this http://www.videodb.info/forum_en/index.php?topic=904.0 could be used to retrieve the information from txt files.
Has anyone had any luck with this?
I had a look at scripts and they all seam to relate to importing data into PVD, typically via a url reference, parsing html page, and filling relevant database fields.
Plugin templates seam more relevant to me. The closest I could find is the "Web Pages(Index&Movies)" template which produces one (html) file per movie.
I'm guessing what is need is to:
1) Set "recordfilename" to an absolute address based on "File Path" rather than an address relative to the index file. Not sure how to handle multiple entries in path, probably need to process them the same as PVD does when grouping files, or txtinfo_en.psf http://www.videodb.info/forum_en/index.php?topic=904.0 does in function GetDownloadURL : String; Had a go at the latter but couldn't get it working
2) Produce a pages/movie.ptm to export the text file contents, probably based on "XML (Movies).ptm". Looks like it wouldn't be too bad to adapt to what txtinfo_en.psf wants
3) Run the export function to write tags to all known movie files.
4) Produce a txtinfo_en+imdb+allmovie.batch to import movie data into new user accounts. Maybe straight forward but I don't really understand how the various importing options relate to Scripts and Plugins
148
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: August 01, 2008, 07:23:10 am »a script like this http://www.videodb.info/forum_en/index.php?topic=904.0 could be used to retrieve the information from txt files.
Might be some value in extending this to extract the imdb link out of .nfo if present and not previously defined in database or tag file (.txt)
149
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: July 31, 2008, 11:43:26 am »For the patсh's problem: it is already possible to write a script that would generate a txt file with any information needed for each movie placing it near video file. Then a script like this http://www.videodb.info/forum_en/index.php?topic=904.0 could be used to retrieve the information from txt files.
Excellent.
This should achieve the functionality I was looking for.
Thanks for implementing it.
150
Feature Suggestions / Re: Vote: Features for 0.9.9
« on: July 31, 2008, 10:58:42 am »Quote- The alphabetical movie list without sorting small and capital letter. Now Small letter are sorted behind capital letter.
I do not have influence on sorting as it is done by the database engine - Firebird.
What about the option to standardise the capitalisation? eg MediaMonkey "Case checker ..." script
Alternatively sorting based on a hidden lower cased field maybe an option.
151
Feature Suggestions / Re: Vote: Features for 0.9.9
« on: July 07, 2008, 09:28:16 am »Never heard of this... What does EAG stand for? Any useful links for explaining what this is?I assumed it was a typo for Tag ie http://www.videodb.info/forum_en/index.php?topic=870.20
I do agree that references to where the idea has been discussed in the forum would be useful as I had to guess what a few of them refer to. It is being clarified as this thread goes on though.
152
Feature Suggestions / Re: Vote: Features for 0.9.9
« on: July 06, 2008, 10:21:07 pm »My housemate and i share a movie collection and would like to maintain it without having to keep exporting and importing to each other's installations of PVD.
That is what ID3 tagging (& scanning shared file servers) or client server version of PVD is aimed at addressing
153
Feature Suggestions / Re: Vote: Features for 0.9.9
« on: July 03, 2008, 04:52:22 pm »
Some form of tag export/import function to ensure if PVD needs to scans the folder again it will be able to import imdb and graphics data without human intervention. Aimed to provide similar functionality as currently available for music files via ID3 tags when scanning files from a different user / computer or moving some files to a different system.
For more detailed discussion see http://www.videodb.info/forum_en/index.php?topic=870.20
For more detailed discussion see http://www.videodb.info/forum_en/index.php?topic=870.20
154
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: June 29, 2008, 01:27:06 pm »
While I still think (in the short term) a separate file containing tag information is an efficient way of supporting all video formats and avoiding player compatibility issues.
It is interesting several programs support writing tags within movie files such as
IMDB Movie DB http://www.dancemammal.com/moviedb.htm
abcAVI Tag Editor http://www.exefind.com/abcavi-tag-editor-P21011.html
I note the movie file reader PVD uses supports reading some movie data, pity it didn't support writing as well
http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en
It is interesting several programs support writing tags within movie files such as
IMDB Movie DB http://www.dancemammal.com/moviedb.htm
abcAVI Tag Editor http://www.exefind.com/abcavi-tag-editor-P21011.html
I note the movie file reader PVD uses supports reading some movie data, pity it didn't support writing as well
http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en
155
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: June 21, 2008, 04:40:21 am »QuoteI do not think movie file tagging is widely used or standardised yet...That seems to be the case. I just spent hours trying to get image tag information into MC—it seems hopeless. I recall abcAVI Tag Editor saves IMDb information in AVI's,
To get MC to use tag information it both needs to be written to the movie file, and MC needs the code to recognise it. I suspect you would have problems with both steps ATM.
Quote
I had assumed that it was proposed a server version on PVD would need to be run on the file server and client versions run on other computers or accounts. For this to work I needQuoteMaster databases worry me...
I was assuming this would be a one-time thing—just for getting started. I meant "master" only in the sense it would include all movies on the server, and users would start their own database using a copy of it.
1) Server implementation of VDB (Master database implementation)
2) Computers sharing movie files to be switched on
3) Server VDB to be running once somewhere
4) Client version of VDB to be run by users
My preferred set-up is to just reliably re-scan my movie collection from each computer / account. For this to work I need
1) Version of VDB with 100% accuracy on re-scanning files (after it has been done once manually & results exported)
2) Computers sharing files switched on (running operating system file sharing)
3) Stand alone version of VDB on client computer (& intermittently rescanning shared file directories)
Quote
QuoteYes the files would need to be copied together if movie files were moved, but I already do that with subtitled movies.
I have no doubt you can do it—you're the one running an industrial network in your home! Other users don't where or how there files are stored. For them, separate files increases the risk of things going wrong.
You over estimate what I'm doing.
"File server" is a windows XP machine the "share folder" enabled the the directories containing my movies.
I find some movies have more than one file (trailer, subtitles). So for consistency I put each movie in it's own directory, so adding another file to that directory would be a trivial change. For those that have multiple movies in one folder they could either move the whole directory also or sort by file name and move the movie file & associated tag file. If not manual re-scan would be require. Either way I believe it is workable until tags within movie file are better supported.
In summary
What I'm really trying to achieve is 100% rescan accuracy without human intervention. Independent of path to the movie, user account I'm scanning from or computer I'm using. This ability can then be used for many applications including a multi-user network environment, movie storage updates, holiday set up etc.
The only way I can see this being achieved is if the manual selections made during the initial scan are stored with the movie file. The simplest implementation being a file containing the URL to the movie description (eg imdb) and cover image (eg Amazon).
The rest of the discussion is really just trying to predict what direction the industry is likely to go in the future by comparing how it is done with music files (a more mature technology).
156
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: June 20, 2008, 10:07:48 am »One question: would it not be much better and easier if you install a database server on your Server PC and have a single PVD database on the server as well that is accessed by all the users in the network.A server version would definately help with some but not all of what I'm trying to acheive.
It would allow multiple users to access the PVD on the file server
The difficulties I would have are:
1) The "File server" in my case is just a PC with large hard disks which are shared over the network. People log in to multiple accounts to use it as a PC, so it would not be easy to ensure the server version of PVD was running, and running only once.
2) File storage updates. I regularly need to buy more hard disk space, which often results in the path to some of the movie directories changing. If the basic movie description data is stored with the movie file then PVD rescan is virtually garanteed to accurately update it's database (even if I needed to open a new database & scan in the file server again). With a server version I'm not as confident server configuration updates would go as smoothly.
3) When we go on holidays it is nice to bring a laptop +/- an external drive with some movies. If PVD supported tagging I could effectively bring it too, as setting it up for the new configuration would be trivial.
To illustrate how it could work, I can describe how audio is handled
I digitise my music, tag it, and put it on the file server (resulting in key track data being stored with the sound data).
Media Monkey http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediamonkey is configured to rescan the file server directories on startup.
So any new music is available to everyone at home.
As each user runs their own copy of Media monkey, they also have personalised data such as ratings, play lists, last played & frequency etc. (Some users even still persist with iTunes or Winamp)
I would like to achieve a similar thing with my movies, hopefully through PVD.
What about other programs using the same information? Being able to get my PVD information into MC would be great, for example, but what would PVD do when MC wrote its version of the information back to the tags?
I do not think movie file tagging is widely used or standardised yet (which is why we are having this discussion). As such I think it is very unlikely any tags created by PVD would automatically work with MC. However I believe tagging will be more widely used in the future, and at least a de facto standard will emerge with time.
Quote
I suppose each user would want to maintain their own database, but based on the same store of movies on the server. Nevertheless, would it not make sense to built a "master" database of all movies on the server? Then each user could start with a copy of that, and delete the movies they're not interested in.
Master databases worry me. Simple single user programs accessing movies on a file server sounds less complex and mor flexible to me.
Quote
I thought ID3 was for music onlyAgree
..
saving the information in the movie files removes the risk of the files getting separated.
ID3 was suggested as a format to start from that much of the industry is familiar with.
Incorporating movie tags within movie data files will no doubt be the ultimate standardised solution. The separate file was a simple way of achieving the same functionality with all movie file types without compromising compatibility with movie players or needing to write to large video files. Yes the files would need to be copied together if movie files were moved, but I already do that with subtitled movies. Tags within movie files (.avi .mkv .wm etc) could be progressively added later as resources and tools permit.
157
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: June 20, 2008, 02:44:41 am »Quote
Could you describe your tasks and working environment more precisely, so I can imagine what changes need to be done.
With pleasure
Movie files are stored on a file server and accessed by multiple users / computers within the home.
PVD is an excellent way of selecting a movie to watch so I would like to use it on each computer on the network.
Setting up PVD on each computer requires "Scan folders for new movies" and pointing it at the file server.
Doing this the first time is labour intensive as I need to manually check each imdb and Graphics/Amazon link.
Doing it from subsequently computers could be fully automated (which would make PVD network friendly)
Probably the easiest way to achieve this is if PVD had "*.id3" export and import formats.
Export *.id3 would write a file to the same directory as each movie on the hard disk, using an identical name but .id3 file extension.
The id3 file would contain at least the imdb link, but preferably other generic fields (eg graphics or link to Amazon, but not individual user data such as their rating & if they have watched the movie).
During "Scan folders for new movies" PVD would then look for an .id3 file. If found it could add the movie without user intervention, making the "Scan folders for new movies" 100% accurate from a new computer or user account.
In an ideal world the id3 tag information could be appended to the movie data file, similar to mp3 music file. Unfortunately I suspect .avi does not support it http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms779636(VS.85).aspx and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_container_formats I believe some of the later movie file formats support Metadata /Tags, so this may happen in the future, but in the mean time a separate file would achieve the same end.
Interestingly this program appears to put similar information within .avi files http://www.exefind.com/abcavi-tag-editor-P21011.html
I thought I read somewhere that it does it by putting the information within unallocated blocks within the file but I could be wrong. Actually I don't want to distract you as an external file is probably easier and would achieve the functionality I'm after.
BTW
id3 file format is not critical, I just choose it as it is relatively standard and currently stores similar information. A .xml files would probably work just as well.
158
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: June 20, 2008, 01:03:55 am »
Thank you for you wonderfully prompt response. You have been a great assistance.
I assume from
"Shrek (2001).avi", "Shrek II (2004)" instead of
"Shrek 1 (2001).avi", "Shrek 2 (2004)"
Or separate episodes of a TV serial which PVD has not recognised.
One way to facilitate suitable file associations would be to this would be to have an extra option in "Optimise Database..." which looks for separate entries with identical imdb link and asks how they should be linked (ie main movie, blue-ray/dvd versions, trailer, episode in series, or delete duplicate file)
(100% rescan accuracy is valuable when the movie files are on a central file server, accessed by multiple computers & users within the home. Also useful if file server structure is changed over time).
So my question is, do any of the output formats write a file to the same directory as each movie file, and will PVD then use this data when subsequently rescanning the file server from a new computer / user account.
I assume from
Quote
PVD identifies CD1..CDN and Title1..TitleNThen to ensure sequels to movies are treated as separate movies I should ensure my titles do not inadvertently follow this format, for example I should use
"Shrek (2001).avi", "Shrek II (2004)" instead of
"Shrek 1 (2001).avi", "Shrek 2 (2004)"
Quote
Movies with a sample file / trailer eg "Shrek - sample.avi", "Shrek.avi" are assumed to be two separate movies.
Quote
Such files are not supported yet. I'll add this to my TODO list.A similar issue occurs with movies I have two copies of (high and low resolution versions).
Or separate episodes of a TV serial which PVD has not recognised.
One way to facilitate suitable file associations would be to this would be to have an extra option in "Optimise Database..." which looks for separate entries with identical imdb link and asks how they should be linked (ie main movie, blue-ray/dvd versions, trailer, episode in series, or delete duplicate file)
Quote
Has writing cataloguing data back to the movie files been considered, in a similar manner to ID3 tags are used for mp3 files.
Quote
You can use export function to create such text files. Naming video files according to data from database is planned for future.The function I'm trying to achieve is 100% rescan accuracy of "Scan for new movies/changed paths..." allowing fully automated rescan. I suspect to get the graphic images to rescan correctly I many need more than a text file but I suppose if it contained the Amazon link a text file would do.
(100% rescan accuracy is valuable when the movie files are on a central file server, accessed by multiple computers & users within the home. Also useful if file server structure is changed over time).
So my question is, do any of the output formats write a file to the same directory as each movie file, and will PVD then use this data when subsequently rescanning the file server from a new computer / user account.
159
Support / Re: Scan folders/file scanner confusion
« on: June 19, 2008, 04:32:12 pm »I admit I am new to the program, but I am at a loss how to use the Scan folder/file function properly.
...
In the case of Movies with more than one file
I to are confused, and would like to know how I should name files for the scanning to work in 3 different situations.
1) Movie over more than one disc. It seams to identify "Shrek cd1.avi" "Shrek cd2.avi" etc as multiple discs for the same movie.
2) Later movies in a series I usually put in the same directory (eg "Shrek 1.avi", "Shrek 2.avi", "Shrek 3.avi"). It seams to assume it is all one movie over multiple files so combines them. I'm not sure how I should name them to prevent this. Also is there an efficient way of splitting up the enteries after they have been scanned (and falsely grouped)?
3) Movies with a sample file / trailer eg "Shrek - sample.avi", "Shrek.avi" are assumed to be two separate movies. Does Personal Video Database have a convenient way of handling these trailer files? How should I name the files so they are appropriately recognised.
Last of all. Has writing cataloguing data back to the movie files been considered, in a similar manner to ID3 tags are used for mp3 files. If .avi files do not support ID3 style tags them perhaps a separate file could be added to the directory containing the movie file, similar to how subtitles are handled with .srt files
The reason I ask is then the movie file would retain the cataloguing information enabling subsequent scanning to be much more accurate. Useful if you have your movie collection on a file server accessed by multiple computers and multiple user accounts, like I do