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[forbigd]

I discovered a problem with my setup for TV viewing, and I wonder if I am setting it up right.
I use theater mode, and I have rules set so if [Number Plays] is 0 it shows in the view, and if it is 1 or more, it doesn't show. This was fine until the wife started her Episode of American Idol. She said, "I thought I hadn't finished one". I checked and sure enough the previous episode, one that wasn't visible had not finished playing and MC asked if I wanted to continue.
So the [Number Plays] does not require the clip to be played all the way through? Is there an exact amount of the show that needs to be played before it says "Number Plays = 1"? This episode had 20 minutes to go, yet MC said "it has been played, so i will not show it". How can i have a list that only shows things that have not FINISHED playing? Not a list that shows stuff that hasn't been played at all?

Thanks!

[Matt]

50% is the threshold to count something as a play.

By default, Media Center reports the percentage of a TV program watched in Theater View using the expression: TVInfo(WatchedDisplay)

[forbigd]

I had no idea, thanks so much!I will experiment with it now.
And also thanks to all for not saying "Didn't you read x?"
Some forums are full of folks who answer like that. Here everyone is friendly. I look to see who I can help..
Thanks again.

[forbigd]

Is there a way to "Set Rules For File Display" to include an Expression?
I have the percentage now showing, and it will be well received by the American Idol watcher. Can I set it up so any show that has been watched at least 95% be not shown? (This sounds like my Jukebox question in another thread ) I had it so if [Number Plays] were zero it would show. Can I do it so only shows played less than xx% are visible? It seems I can only insert fields, not expressions.

Thanks

[Matt]

Is there a way to "Set Rules For File Display" to include an Expression?
I have the percentage now showing, and it will be well received by the American Idol watcher. Can I set it up so any show that has been watched at least 95% be not shown? (This sounds like my Jukebox question in another thread ) I had it so if [Number Plays] were zero it would show. Can I do it so only shows played less than xx% are visible? It seems I can only insert fields, not expressions.

Thanks

This gets kind of complicated, but you can use expressions in a search.

For example:
[=INSERT EXPRESSION HERE]=normal search stuff

Shows you've watched 65% or more of:
[=Compare(Math([Bookmark] / [Duration, 0]), >, 0.65)]=[1]

[forbigd]

[=Compare(Math([Bookmark] / [Duration, 0]), >, 0.65)]=[1]

I have played with this line for hours, but can't seem to figure out where to put it, Matt.

In standard view, I added fields for Bookmarks and TVInfo(WatchedDisplay) so I can see what is happening.

I have put your expression in a search box, I have tried a smartlist, and, I have used it in a custom field.
In all cases it returns a response like this. [=1] [=1] if any amount has been played. If it hasn't been played at all I get a [=0] [=1]
Changing the 65 number has no effect. It seems if there is ANY number in Bookmarks, it returns a 1 for the first number.

It seems Duration is a Time number xx:xx where Bookmark is a whole number (seconds played?) Can you perform math on these two?


What am I missing?

Thanks
Don

[Matt]

I sent you down the rabbit hole.  I'm sorry.

I think this smartlist will work (notice it needs to divide by 1000 since a bookmark is ms and duration is seconds):
[Media Type]=[Video] [=Compare(Math([Bookmark] / 1000 / [Duration, 0]), >, 0.95)]=[1]

DVD bookmarks are special, so it won't work for DVD.

[forbigd]

Rabbit hole yes, but a good one. 

Your new expression works for me with just a few minor changes.
I now can make this limit what we see in Theater view to just shows watched less than 95%. Excellent, thanks.

But in my search to find an answer I delved pretty deep into the expressions section of the wiki and learned alot.
So much power! So many things you can do. Actually sending me on a chase was a very good thing.
I am now becoming dangerous
Thanks for your help

Don

[MrHaugen]

I've added this expression as a library field: [=Compare(Math([Bookmark] / 1000 / [Duration, 0]), >, 0.95)]=[1]

I can't add this expression/library field as a Rule for Theater View Views. Is there a way around this limitation? Anything obvious I have to do with the expression? I'm lousy at this sort of things.

[forbigd]

I am sure I will be told there are more elegant ways.  But I wanted to see in standard view the status of my watched shows. And while testing I needed a way to see what the output of the Expression was.
So I created a NEW field called "Watched" and assigned this expression to it. Once that is done you can use the field in any view or sort.

I am still working on this though. It isn't perfect. If for some reason a show is started accidentally, or for some other reason MC thinks the file was Restarted, it resets the percentage watched and it appears in the list again. I did add a field to Theater view that shows TVInfo(WatchedDisplay) so I can see if it has been played, but I need to make it disappear. (Not really, but it is a wish)

I know what to do, I just need to learn how. I need to make an expression that says "If Watched Field = 10% or more AND Number Plays are greater than 0, Don't show the file."
That way if the file is accidentally started and it now shows a small percentage played, the Number Plays field will show it played once already and hide it. If Number Plays =0 and Watched is less that 95% it will be displayed.
But even that won't be perfect. Even shows we have watched once all the way through show up for some reason, the percentage is 100% played, but it still appears. If I restart the file and play it through, it then thinks it has been played and hides it.  And if the file is played over 50% it will increment Number Plays and then hide the file if stopped there. It is a challenge. But entertaining. This is the kind of PC game I enjoy. If I make it perfect I will post the expression used.

Best of luck

Don

[rick.ca]

I am sure I will be told there are more elegant ways.

Well, maybe you should hear it from someone often accused of being too elegant: You're trying to be too elegant.

As you've discovered, bookmarks are volatile. As such, they're not a good choice for using in Rules for file display. I think you should accept the fact [Number Plays] is incremented when a file is played beyond 50%, and use [Number Plays] to determine whether the file appears in a "Watched" or "Not Watched" view. In both views, display prominently (e.g., at the top of the file info panel) something like...

[Last Played] If(IsEqual([Bookmark],),,FormatDuration(Math([Bookmark]/1000)) // [Duration])

Then, if a file is played less than 50%, it will appear first in the "Not Watched" view (i.e., no problem). If watched 50-95%, you're going to know it will be moved to the "Watched" view. Hopefully, you'll remember and look there for it, and the file info panel will indicate clearly exactly where you left off and when.

If that's not good enough, the next degree of elegance would be to add a "Bookmarked" or "In progress" view of files with bookmarks greater than 0 and less than 95% (or whatever rule makes sense to you).

The next step (and probably one too far) is to introduce a manually set flag that will override the rules that would otherwise determine which view a file appears in. Your rule for "Not Watched" would be [Number Plays]>0 OR [Flag]=N and for "Watched" [Number Plays]=0 OR [Flag]=W. Setting such flags is fast and easy to do in Theatre View.

[forbigd]

This will take a few days to absorb...thanks!

The next step (and probably one too far) is to introduce a manually set flag that will override the rules that would otherwise determine which view a file appears in. Your rule for "Not Watched" would be [Number Plays]>0 OR [Flag]=N and for "Watched" [Number Plays]=0 OR [Flag]=W. Setting such flags is fast and easy to do in Theatre View.

When I switched (From XBMC) to MC for TV I had the problem of many series being half watched. How do you make Number Plays increment manually? I can't find a way.
So I added "w" to the comment field of all the shows we have already watched and then have them not show in Theater View at all. Eventually that rule can go away, but it will be months.
Elegant minds think alike....

Don

[MrC]

How do you make Number Plays increment manually? I can't find a way.

See Number Plays:

  http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/File_Properties_%28tags%29