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[pickle]

Is there anyway to get the Media Server Library to be refreshed on a periodical basis?

i.e. for the player connecting to the media server to have the library reloaded on a time basis which I can set (e.g. every 4 hours or once a day etc.)

Why? because if you add, delete or change any tracks on the music server computer, that information does not get added, deleted or changed in the player of the client computer until you shut it down and reload it, and it requests a copy of the library again from the media server.

[Robert Taylor]

This would be good!

Maybe there are a bunch of changes coming along soon related to Media Server functions. I for one would still love it if the Media Server was updatable from the clients (multiple client access to the MS database).

We've been waiting for this for a while...

[pickle]

I for one would still love it if the Media Server was updatable from the clients

Do you mean that one client could add, delete or change information from the media server and then these changes would be reflected in any other clients accessing the same server?  If so, great idea.

Is there a development thread / wish list for the media server somewhere. I've done a search but can't seem to find anything.

[Robert Taylor]

Pickle,

The current situation is that any tag changes etc. to your database MUST be made on the machine running Media Server.

If you make changes (or play tracks, which updates playing now, times played etc), on a client machine, the changes are NOT propagated to MS.

This can be a trap, as the client APPEARS to make the changes, but when you exit and restart MC, and re-connect to the MS, you find your changes have vanished.

I run 3 clients in my house of my server, and it is a shame that after using MC for around 18 months (I think), I have no accurate playing now info (ie. how many times I play certain tracks, last played info etc.).

Obviously, I don't play a lot of music on my server...

I (and a few others), have been waiting patiently (and will continue to do so), for this feature. To me, it would be a very good thing. For others, who make no use of Media Server, there probably soesn't seem much point.

Various JRiver staff have hinted that this is "in the pipeline", but i'm sure there are other priorities.

I'm not aware of any specific thread etc. for Media Server - maybe there should be - JRiver - Are you listening in?

[jleerigby]

For others, who make no use of Media Server, there probably doesn't seem much point.

It's because of this limitation that I don't use media server.  It's vital that I'm able to add ratings from my client machine so I chose to share the MC Library instead.  I can do this safely because I'm careful not to run more than one instance of MC at any one time.  

I'd like to see multiple clients with write access to the library but I can see how it might be problematic.  Perhaps it would be possible for Media Server to allow one (nominated) client to have write access while the others are read only?

[dedidio]

I've been waiting for this too.  I used to run two client machines and one server but because of this limitation of the server I now run two client machines with mapped drives to the server and maintain 2 databases (having to clear the library and re-import everything on one of the machines every few weeks).

It's a solution, but I would much prefer this added functionality.  I'll continue to wait patiently

[dtblair]

I write databases for a living.  The problem with media server is that it is not a true database.  It's just a flat file with tags.  That's really too bad because if they fixed that (or let my company fix it) it would be a kick-ass system.  I've found that Media Center is last in controlled.  When you open multiple instances of Media Center. it downloads a copy to each WorkStation.  Any changes made are only recognized by that machine.  As each machine is shut down, it replaces the database file on the server with it's copy.  So the last machine to close overwrites any other changes.  I have found a work around.  When I want to add files or make changes to the database.  I do a backup of the library which creates a zip file.  Then when all machines are closed, I restore the zip.  This keeps my changes.  Too bad they are not using a true relational database, then all changes would be recognized by each machine

[pickle]

So to clarify this, there are really two issues which need to be addressed:
1) Allowing clients to make alterations to the Media Server library
2) Having the Media Server library refreshed to all clients (ideally immediately, but at the very minimum on a timed basis which the user can set)

So how can we make this happen?

[jleerigby]

2) Having the Media Server library refreshed to all clients (ideally immediately, but at the very minimum on a timed basis which the user can set)

Won't that bring performance issues if you have a large library?

[pickle]

if it used relational databases like dtblair suggested it would be VERY quick as only one record on each client would need to be updated each time a change was made. But even without this, working on the basis of just doing a refresh every "X" number of hours, each time it refreshes and reloads the library it would only take a matter of seconds.

[drosoph]

Count me in!  I run a server with my files on it ... and Media Server running ..

I would LOVE to be able to update file tags and Played counts via the Media Server (even if I had to setup a separate interface for a READ/WRITE login/password and another for a Read-Only user !

This would be EXACTLY what I need!

[TimB]

I'd def. like my play counts updated.

-=Tim=-

[rpalmer68]

An old thread, but still something that I also need to be able to do.

How can my MC11 remote machines automatically download the latest database from the server?

Maybe an option to update every x minutes, or at specific times could be implemented.

I know there's advantages to going a true database etc, but at least some sort of reload function in the meantime would mean the good wife will stop complaining that the Cd she wants to listen to (and I only recently ripped) isn't on the server thingy.

Cheers
Richard