Windows > Third Party Plug-ins, Programs, and Skins
Guide: Data Fiddler (MC Library <-> Spreadsheet Import/Export/Update)
jmone:
Last Updated: 21 Aug 2016
Background: MC has all the power you need to maintain and modify data within it's GUI. A few members however want to be able to import/export their library to tools like excel, some want to the modify and update this information, and others would like to be able to use a spreadsheet to add new items (for existing meta data holdings, dummy files etc)
This utility has 4 Options (see pic)
- Export the Library From MC: Exports your entire Library (or just the items Selected in the MC GUI) to a MPL and optionally converts to a Unicode/Tab Delimited TXT file which you edit in Excel etc
- Convert a MC MPL Playlist File: Converts an existing MC MPL (playlist) File to a Unicode/Tab Delimited TXT file which you can edit in Excel etc
- Update MC Library: Updates existing Items in your MC Library from a Unicode/Tab Delimited TXT file
- Create/Import a MC Playlist File: Creates a MC MPL (playlist) File from a Tab Delimited TXT file (optionally asks it you want import) that lets you add new items to the MC Library
Examples: Read the posts below for examples of what it can do.
- Adding Items to MC from a Spreadsheet - useful if you want to add items with no associated file such as managed a physical disk collection
- Updating Items in MC from a Spreadsheet - useful if you want bulk update vales for existing items.
- add your "off line" media library to MC by 8139david
- How to update a non editable System Field like Date Imported
- others???
Notes, Limitations, Future Stuff:
- It is an AutoHotKey script so it only runs under Windows
- It takes me about 2mins to export my 30K library to a Unicode/Tab Delimited Text file and will use a bunch of Memory in the process
- It will create a spreadsheet of all used Library Fields (eg if you have not populated a field it will not appear), many of these fields are system fields
- It does not handle some extended characters sets well, so keep an eye on your files - It should now work with Unicode Chars
- *BEWARE* it WILL change or add stuff to your Library and there is no "Undo".... so backup your Library before you modify it.
- To increase the compatibility with various TXT editors, Excel etc, any field in MC that has Tabs and Carriage Returns Line Feeds embedded in the data will be shown as {TAB}, {CR}{LF} in the exported Text File. So in an Excel you may have a Description that looks like "This Movie version is:{CR}{LF}{TAB}- The Original Theatrical Release{CR}{LF}{TAB}- Filmed in Sydney Australia" all in one cell, and in MC it will appear as:
This Movie version is:
- The Original Theatrical Release
- Filmed in Sydney Australia
"Key" Vs "File Key": In the MC GUI, the primary key for all entries is shown as "FileKey", yet during the import and export this field is oddly called just "Key". So if you are using the "Update MC Library" the Column Header in your TXT file should be called "Key" (not "FileKey") or nothing will match and be updated
Setting Up Media Server Access: This script uses MC's Web Services (MCWS) to Import, Export, and Update your Library. For this to work, you will need to ensure that:
- Media Server is running
- In "MC --> Tools--> Options--> Media Network" check both "Use Media Network" and "Authentication" with "Username/Password"
- When you first Run Data Fiddler, it will ask you to enter your Connection Details, and allow you to test it works. If you ever need to change these just delete the "MC Data Fiddler.ini" file in the same directory.
Options:
- I've attached both a 32 and 64 bit compiled Version and the original AHK Script. The 64 Bit will handle much larger libraries but will only run on 64Bit versions of Windows
- The first time you run it, it will ask you for your MC Login Details. The second time the menu will be presented
Let me know of any bugs!
Thanks
Nathan
8139david:
Thanks! I'll try it soon, probably tonight :)
CountryBumkin:
How does your program differ from the built-in tool "File>Export Playlist (where you export "all files" to a .cvs and select either "visible fields" or "all fields")?
The JRiver export tool seems to provide a nice spreadsheet file with each File listed on a separate row with its tag properties, that can then be opened/edited in Excel.
I think it is the "import process" that is missing.
Thanks for your work!
jmone:
Nothing yet, I was playing with how to import dummy files to MC and then update them, so ended up looking for how to convert MPLs as they contain the data differently to the Native CSV Export from MC. One thing I could not get was an export that included the FileKey data when creating a CSV using "Included Fields = All Fields" (you have to use Only Visible Fields), which makes it harder to then later do an update. MPL export has this info, but I should do a comparison of what other fields different between the two methods.
Anyway, in summary this is actually a MPL Converter (it asks MC for a MPL of everything and parses that)
jmone:
Update: 29JAN16
- Update: Cleaned up the output a bit
- New: Added the ability to a Convert a MPL to a Unicode/Tab Delimited TXT file
- New: Added the ability to Convert a Unicode/Tab Delimited TXT File to a MPL
Adding Items to MC from a Spreadsheet: This is where it now gets a bit more useful. You can now use any editor that can create a "Unicode/Tab Delimited Text File" (just about anything but in particular Excel for most) and convert it to a MPL that when Imported into MC will add the items to the Library.
1. Create Your Spreadsheet (see pic) - Make sure in each cell the First Row (the Header Row) contains a valid "MC Library Field" name that you want to populate (non-MC Library Field names will be ignored by MC). Add you data for each item you want to create in the rows below (note: now all lines needs to have data for all fields, as blank data cells will be ignored when creating the MPL).
2. Save Your Spreadsheet (see pic) as a Unicode/Tab Delimited Txt File
3. Run MC Data Fiddler and select "Create/Import a MC Playlist File (from Tab TXT File)" and when prompted select the file you created in Point 2.
4. MC Data Fiddler will then create a "MC_Import.mpl" file (and optionally offer to Import it for you). I'd recommend that you Open it up in Notepad and have a look that all seems well then manually import this file by Dragging it onto the MC Menu Bar --> Import. Or Right Click on the newly created MPL file --> Media Center --> Import. Either way, your Data should be in the MC Library (see pic)
You will also be able to see what was imported into MC each time by looking at the MC--> Playlists--> Imported Playlists--> "MC Fiddler Import YYYMMDDHHMMSS". You can delete these playlist files without deleting the items that they imported.
*** WARNING *** - Be careful, backup your library first as there is no Undo if something goes wrong. Try a small import first.
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