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Author Topic: Adding image files to library from list in text file  (Read 2486 times)

pwantzel

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Adding image files to library from list in text file
« on: March 18, 2009, 12:56:47 pm »

I have a large collection of image files on a (networked) computer other than the HTPC (running MC) on which I wish to display a slide show of a (small) subset of these images.  I use a different image database application (IMatch) on the other PC.  This application has a database with all kinds of tags and I can select the subset of images I would like to display.  This subset contains images from many different directories on the other PC.  It can then produce a text file with the names (including full paths) of the images.  Is there a way to add these images to the MC library from this list? 

I tried creating IPTC tags in the image files on the other PC and then importing the whole set of images to MC's library, but it took forever and MC eventually bombed out.  Then I could have selected the (small) subset via MC's image tag selection.  There are about 500,000 images.  Is this too many? 

I realize that I could just copy the files, but even though the number of images is small compared to 500,000, there are still several thousand.  I would like to avoid doing this if I could.  And it could create problems if I ever wanted to edit any of these images, to keep the original and the copy in sync.

Or does anyone have any other ideas?
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Lasse_Lus

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Re: Adding image files to library from list in text file
« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2009, 01:06:57 pm »

u can use mc13,exe in the systemfolder

mc13.exe /Import [filename]

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/The_Command_Line
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pwantzel

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Re: Adding image files to library from list in text file
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2009, 01:13:32 pm »

According to the referenced page, this imports only one file:
     mc13.exe /Import [filename] Imports the specified file into the Media Center library and launches Media Center.

Although I suppose I could make a script file from the text file that ran this command several thousand times for the several thousand files.  Should get the job done.  But I wonder how long it might take.
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Lasse_Lus

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Re: Adding image files to library from list in text file
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2009, 01:23:19 pm »

you should be able to run

1
2
3 lines
..
400

why not do a test  :)

you run the "/Import" command with MC open, there is also silentimport


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Alex B

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Re: Adding image files to library from list in text file
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2009, 01:25:10 pm »

The simplest format of a playlist that MC can import or export is just a list of the file names (including the complete or relative paths). If your program can export a text file in which each filename is a separate line you can easily import the files to MC.

Change the filename extension to .m3u and use the File > Import Playlist command. When a playlist is imported the files are automatically added to the database. Test it with a small playlist before importing a list of thousands of files.

For example, here are the contents of a small m3u playlist file that I just exported:

Quote
X:\Fu-Tourist\The Universe Is For Us\Fu-Tourist - The Universe Is For Us.jpg
X:\Fu-Tourist\The Universe Is For Us\The Universe Is For Us - Back.jpg
X:\Fu-Tourist\The Universe Is For Us\The Universe Is For Us - Booklet 1.jpg
X:\Fu-Tourist\The Universe Is For Us\The Universe Is For Us - Booklet 2.jpg
X:\Fu-Tourist\The Universe Is For Us\The Universe Is For Us - Booklet 3.jpg
X:\Fu-Tourist\The Universe Is For Us\The Universe Is For Us - Booklet 4.jpg
X:\Fu-Tourist\The Universe Is For Us\The Universe Is For Us - CD.jpg
X:\Fu-Tourist\The Universe Is For Us\The Universe Is For Us - Inlay.jpg


Edit: there were too many "if" words...
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Lasse_Lus

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Re: Adding image files to library from list in text file
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2009, 01:34:06 pm »

japp theat works too  :)
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pwantzel

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Re: Adding image files to library from list in text file
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2009, 01:46:19 pm »

Quote
If your program can export a text file in which if each filename is a separate line you can easily import the files to MC.  Change the filename extension to .m3u and use the File > Import Playlist command.

That is exactly what I was looking for.  Although I sure couldn't find in the help.  Thanx very much!
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pwantzel

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Re: Adding image files to library from list in text file
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2009, 07:00:52 pm »

I tried this tonight.  It worked like a charm!  Thanx again.
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