travisbell:

That is how I added the folders before but maybe the 360 can't resolve the drive letters? I added them via, W:\ Which works on Vista, but not the 360. Should I use the network path instead? \\machine\folder ? Thanks man,

Very definitely - drive letters are defined per user, so W: could be \\anothermachine\folder for the extender, but \\machine\folder for the console user.

Also, you'll need to make sure that your security is set to allow the extender to access to the network share - see the following support article for more info:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932306

At the moment, if you don't get the security right, TV Library will crash.  I've modified the code tonight to show you the error message (rather than crash) - I'll post the new version once I've got the transcode stuff in place.

Cheers,
Andrew

Groovy.

I can't wait to see the Transcode stuff!

travisbell:

Groovy. I can't wait to see the Transcode stuff!

Wait no more!

http://www.digitallivingsolutions.co.uk/downloads/TvLibrary_1_0_0_070903.zip

Again, this is very experimental, so I haven't put it up as the TvLibrary_1_0_0.zip file, just as the dated version.

Now when TV Library finds a file that is in a format not supported by the extender, then Transcode360 is called .   If Transcode360 is not installed, then you'll see a message "Transcode360 is not installed" (i.e. the installation of TV Library isn't dependent on Transcode360 being installed).   If the transcode succeeds you'll see the video, if not you should see an error message saying what the issue was.

Currently I'm just checking for the extensions .wmv, .mpg, .dvr-ms, and .dvr as valid types - if anyone has a definitive list, or a way to tell whether a file is valid without checking the extension, please let me know!

Let me know how you get on.

Cheers,
Andrew

Andy,

You are a superstar, I have been waiting with baited breath for Niall to finish his Bigscreen App, as this is the final thing my VMC needs to be exactly what I want.  You have delivered, and in an astonishing form.

Everything works great for me, I'm now just going through the fun process of adding all of my data and making sure I don't break anything, I just have the odd feature request for now.

Using Ben's TVCollectionManager (as I would guess a few people are), you get an XML file looking something like this:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<MetaData xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <SeasonNumber>1</SeasonNumber>
  <BroadcastDateTime>2007-08-20</BroadcastDateTime>
  <Description>Becca invites Hank to her Mom and Bill\'s house for a dinner party with some mutual friends. After he arrives, however, he realizes that Karen has planned a little setup for Hank with a scientologist friend of hers, which doesn\'t thrill Hank all that much. But, Hank gets a nice laugh out of it after the rest of the party people walk in on him and Sonja in the bedroom. Hank also gets a little news about the job he recently accepted.</Description>
  <Content>\\<PCNAME>\Test\Californication\Season 1\1x02 Hell-A Woman.avi</Content>
  <Title>Californication</Title>
  <Subtitle>Hell-A Woman</Subtitle>
  <Credits>/David Duchovny/Evan Handler/Madeleine Martin/Madeline Zima/Natascha McElhone/</Credits>
  <OriginalChannel>Showtime</OriginalChannel>
  <OriginalRunTime>18000000</OriginalRunTime>
</MetaData>

If the Information screen for that episode could also display Originally Aired: (<BroadcastDateTime>2007-08-20</BroadcastDateTime>) and Runtime: (<OriginalRunTime>18000000</OriginalRunTime>) that would get the info on the screen with up-to-date data, as currently I'm seeing Aired: 02/01 with a runtime of 00:00:01 (or something like it).

The other thing that has been mentioned that would also rock, the ability to hit Random, and just get a random Episode of either the whole series, or the particular season, depending which folder you're in.

The last point to be made, is earlier in the thread, you mentioned you thought you might make this Commercial Software, I for one would be happy to pay you for this when it's all up and running, as it's everything I've been looking for.

Thanks again,

Schlep.

Schlep,

Thanks for the kind words - hearing stuff like this that is what makes me do development work!

The recorded date/duration is a bug I know about, but haven't fixed yet.  I'll put in as my "next to do" item.

Cheers,
Andrew

Nice job, guys!!

This is exactly what I was looking for. I was going to modify the TV Archive posted on TGB sometime ago but this (along with TVCollection Manager) does exactly what i want! I would definitely pay for something like this --maybe a little extra to get source code for non-commercial private use so I could make tweaks for my own uses.

1. How come the folder settings aren't in an XML file like everything else :-) ?

2. I'm confused about something. If my setup is
\\MediaServer\Videos\TVShows
 \Farscape\Season 1
  \Season 2
 \Naruto
 \Rome

what am I adding to LibraryFolders? Am I adding "Farscape", "Naruto", "Rome"? Or am I just adding the "TVShows" folder. If I add just the "TVShows" folder what am I supposed to when I select the "TV Library" tile? "TVShows"? or the "Farscape", "Naruto", "Rome" folders? When I checked last night, it seemd to list the "TV Shows" folder then I had to go into that to see the rest. I am hoping it doesn't include the root and just show the indivual show folders...

3. To help out new users (who ask "why doesn't library setup work?"), why create the LibraryFolders reg settings in the installer project? Then they just have to modify the key to add their folders.

4. I'd say remove the "folder settings" command button for now, if theres' nothing there. Also, for the library setup page, put in a disclaimer message "Not yet implemented. To add folders do the following..."

Just wanted to second the fact that this is working great for me.

I'm adding my TV shows into the collection manager, and the export function is working great.

Thanks to all involved.

 

Andy you rock...

Sorry about the rouble you had initally, I'm pretty sure that the default Transcode button only works from the extender and doesn't really handle right on a full fledged Media Center.

The file extensions you are using should be fine for now. That's actually one step further than any other plugin I've seen use Transcode360. MyMovies just adds a second play button so the user can decide if they need to transcode or not. But I will get this new version setup and let you know how seemelss it really is. Thank again, my patience has definitely payed off!!!

Hey man, I grabbed the new version and while Transcode360 works by itself (the old school way) when I try and play a video from within my new library the "Transcoding..." panel shows up, disappears after about 5 seconds and nothing ever starts. Any idea where I can look to start troubleshooting this? Thanks man, this is looking incredible.

I haven't put any logging in at the moment, but will do that tomorrow and post a new version.   In the meantime, can you confirm what version of Transcode360 you are using.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

Sounds good.

I am using the latest 1.6.3 from transcode360.co.uk for Vista.

Cheers,

Andy,

I just set this up to try and I am running into the same problem as travisbell. The OK dialog that says "Transcoding..." comes up but then it goes away you are are still on the details screen.

SO far this is looking sweet though. I would say that the caching takes quite a bit longer on the extender, though I haven't checked yet weather it's only just the first time you go into the folder.

The loading shouldn't take any longer as it's the same cache that was built in your console session (unless you've not been into that folder before).  Also, check that the permissions on the folder are correct for the extender user.

Just to check, the "Transcoding..." dialog times out after a couple of seconds, it isn't set to continue until the transcoding is complete.  However the wait cursor is, so if you are seeing the wait cursor then could it be that it is just taking a long time?

Cheers,
Andrew

I don't think it's taking a while, I sat there for over a minute expecting something to happen and nothing did... plus, I have full control over the UI (I went back and forth through the menus to check on stuff) and nothing happened. Thanks man,

JackLuminous:

Nice job, guys!!

This is exactly what I was looking for. I was going to modify the TV Archive posted on TGB sometime ago but this (along with TVCollection Manager) does exactly what i want! I would definitely pay for something like this --maybe a little extra to get source code for non-commercial private use so I could make tweaks for my own uses.

1. How come the folder settings aren't in an XML file like everything else :-) ?

2. I'm confused about something. If my setup is
\\MediaServer\Videos\TVShows
 \Farscape\Season 1
  \Season 2
 \Naruto
 \Rome

what am I adding to LibraryFolders? Am I adding "Farscape", "Naruto", "Rome"? Or am I just adding the "TVShows" folder. If I add just the "TVShows" folder what am I supposed to when I select the "TV Library" tile? "TVShows"? or the "Farscape", "Naruto", "Rome" folders? When I checked last night, it seemd to list the "TV Shows" folder then I had to go into that to see the rest. I am hoping it doesn't include the root and just show the indivual show folders...

3. To help out new users (who ask "why doesn't library setup work?"), why create the LibraryFolders reg settings in the installer project? Then they just have to modify the key to add their folders.

4. I'd say remove the "folder settings" command button for now, if theres' nothing there. Also, for the library setup page, put in a disclaimer message "Not yet implemented. To add folders do the following..."

Jack,

Missed this post earlier, but hopefully this will help answer some of your questions:

JackLuminous:

maybe a little extra to get source code for non-commercial private use so I could make tweaks for my own uses

As a commercial developer, the source code is my only intellectual property (mostly the applications themselves are developed for other people), and provides my income.  It's not something I'd feel comfortable with giving away.   I'm more than happy to take feature requests though - Transcode360 is an example, as something that I personally don't use (I have two 360's for development and testing, but I don't use them outside of my development environment), but will implement as the demand is there.

JackLuminous:

1. How come the folder settings aren't in an XML file like everything else :-) ?

On of my goals for the app was to have it work straight away, just by setting up the library locations, with the richness of the UI experience improving depending on the level of work you subsequently put in.  For a lot of people the only thing they will have to do is add folder icons, and create the folder details INI files. They will never have to touch any XML metadata (as they are storing DVR-MS moved out of recorded TV into a different folder).  I decided that INI files would be easier to understand for these people rather than XML, which requires you to be much more precise to get it right.

JackLuminous:

2. I'm confused about something. If my setup is
\\MediaServer\Videos\TVShows
 \Farscape\Season 1
  \Season 2
 \Naruto
 \Rome

what am I adding to LibraryFolders? Am I adding "Farscape", "Naruto", "Rome"? Or am I just adding the "TVShows" folder. If I add just the "TVShows" folder what am I supposed to when I select the "TV Library" tile? "TVShows"? or the "Farscape", "Naruto", "Rome" folders? When I checked last night, it seemd to list the "TV Shows" folder then I had to go into that to see the rest. I am hoping it doesn't include the root and just show the indivual show folders...

In your particular case, you just need to add the "TV Shows" folder to your library.  The reason you see a single icon in the library view is that you only have one category of recordings in your library - if as well as season based shows you had films, you could make another category called Films at \\MediaServer\Videos\Films which would then give you two folders at your library root etc.

JackLuminous:

3. To help out new users (who ask "why doesn't library setup work?"), why [not] create the LibraryFolders reg settings in the installer project? Then they just have to modify the key to add their folders.

Need to remember that this software is "in development" - some parts will work, some won't (sometimes intentionally, sometimes not!).  I'm not sure what difference adding an empty registry entry would make to those users who ask "why doesn't library setup work?" - it still wouldn't work with a blank registry entry! 

JackLuminous:

4. I'd say remove the "folder settings" command button for now, if theres' nothing there. Also, for the library setup page, put in a disclaimer message "Not yet implemented. To add folders do the following..."

As soon as I get around to it I'll be adding "Not yet implemented" to both of these items.

Cheers,
Andrew