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[Daniel Warner]

Is there any way to split or separate my movies into 'Suitable for Family' and, er 'Not'! ?

I don't need to implement strict parental controls as my kids respect the way I currently do it in Windows Media Center: I have a folder in the 'Videos' section called 'Not for Children'.

Is there a way to implement this simple structure in MC?  Currently, however I have the folders organized, it just lumps all videos together when in Theatre view.  I know I can go to 'Files' when in the standard view but I don't want o to have to get the mouse & keyboard out with my living room media PC.

I may be being thick so I wait to be put right.

[Scolex]

Yes there are many ways you can split you movies/shows into groups based on age restriction.
Are you wanting this in theater view, standard view, etc, all?
You can create custom views or use Access Control and set rules for access to certain files.
When using Access Control a password is entered to view the protected file, just use a numeric password
so you can use a remote for entry.

[bunglemebaby]

When using Access Control a password is entered to view the protected file, just use a numeric password so you can use a remote for entry.

I thought that Access Control just hid a set of files from view entirely. How can you view/play these files from within Theater View?

[Scolex]

My bad Access Control doesn't work the way I thought, I assumed when you entered the password it would show the hidden files and the only way to see them is instead to turn it off after entering the password. It does it's job but not very conveniently.
It has been forever since I used it which was just to see if it were useful for me but I remember it being different for some reason.

[Daniel Warner]

Thanks for the reply and yeah, it kind of works.  It's not ideal tho as you're right, the only way to view the hidden files is to turn Access Control off and you can only do that from the Standard view, hence needing the mouse and keyboard - very annoying in the living room and my wife hates it when I have to do that. I think it reminds her that there is 'yet another PC' in the house!! lol

If anyone can think of any other ideas, they would be most welcome.

[Scolex]

Did you miss the part about creating a custom view.
Do you know how to filter what is shown in a category?
Do you know how to create and/or edit views for Theater View?
Just trying to get a feel for what you know so I know how much detail you need.

[glynor]

There are a bunch of ways, depending on how hidden you want them to be.  From this:

I don't need to implement strict parental controls as my kids respect the way I currently do it in Windows Media Center: I have a folder in the 'Videos' section called 'Not for Children'.

It doesn't seem like you need it to be iron-clad.  So here is an easy way:

1. Take any files you want to be "Not For Children" and mark them with a tag.  An easy one to use would be [Media Sub Type]=Adult, but it might also be convenient to use [Genre]=Adult (because if you use Media Sub Type, then automatic metadata won't work for the files unless you do it first and then change the [Media Sub Type] afterwards).

2. Filter this tag out of all of your regular views.  In Standard View, right click on the three "top-level" views, Audio, Images, and Video, and pick Customize View.  Then in the dialog that appears, click the Set Rules for File Display button under Included Files.  In the dialog that comes from that, add a rule that says [Genre] is not Adult (or [Media Sub Type] is not Adult or whatever you're using).  Since these filters are automatically "inherited" by the "sub-views" of the top three, this will automatically filter down and apply the same rule to everything "below".  You'll need to do the same thing in Theater View under Options -> Theater View.

3. Then, make a few special views under Audio, Images, or Video and make them ignore/reverse the previously described rule.  The easiest way to do this is to simply copy one of the existing views that you already use.  So, what I'd do is this:

a. Make a new empty view under Video called "Not For Children" or "Adults Only" or whatever you want.  Don't bother customizing it, it is just a folder to hold them.
b. Take each of the regular views under Video that you use and drag-drop them onto your new "Anti-Children" view.  When it asks what you want to do, pick Copy.  This will make a copy of that view in your Adults-Only "folder", all identical to the ones you already use.
c. Right-click on the Adults-Only View and pick Customize View.  Under Included Files, uncheck "Use Parent Scheme rules for file display" (this prevents the filter-down effect) and also uncheck the Allow Tree Selection box.  Also, add the opposite of your excluding rule to this view (eg [Genre] is Adult).  While you are in there, you'll also need to add a rule to replicate the rules under the regular top-level Video view (so it only shows video files and not audio and photos), since it is no longer honoring it's parent's rules.

Done.  Now you have these files filtered out of all your "regular" locations, and you have your own little private views where you can see only those files.

Another way would be to just use a separate adults-only Library, and don't even import the stuff into the "Kid's Library", and then make an easy mechanism to switch between Libraries (I have the Library button on my top toolbar).

[Daniel Warner]

Thank you, I will implement those ideas in the morning and let you know.  I really appreciate your help.

I did know how to create custom views to filter stuff and customise them how I want.  What I couldn't figure out (And am still not sure until I try the above suggestion) is how to switch these views from within theatre view using a remote.  I suppose I could just map a button to do it in the remote control prefs.

The access control thing seemed good but I don't need to password protect anything.  I don't need to control my kids that much - they seem to understand that stuff marked as 'Not for children' is just that.  If only the film companies would stop putting swearing etc into films marketed to kids, but that's another story!

Thanks again for your help, I'll let you know tomorrow.  Time for bed... -.-

[glynor]

PS.  In case anyone else comes upon this thread, if you want it to be iron-clad, here's the easiest way:

1. Make a True Crypt container with a password.  You'll probably want a big one.  If you choose AES encryption it will be absurdly fast to use with a new CPU, as they have AES acceleration built-in.

2. Mount the True Crypt container as a drive on the computer, and move all of your porn, bomb making ebooks, and ABBA songs onto it.

3. Make a folder on the "drive" called Library (or whatever).

4. In MC, make a clone of your Library by picking it from under Playing Now in the tree and choosing Clone Library.  Give it a good name like "Steve's Personal Pr0n Stash" and save it to your True Crypt drive in that Library folder you made.

5. Now, you can import all of your weird furry cartoon pictures into this library, and switch to it whenever you want to obsessively organize them.  You won't be able to use it at all or even find the files in Windows Explorer unless you first mount the True Crypt container.  Add that Library button to your top toolbar to easily switch back and forth between your regular family-friendly library and the one with all of the terrible Futurama fanfic stories you saved off of Usenet.

PS. You may also want to check the Thumbnails settings and File Locations Options in MC after you load your new Library, because it will save thumbs out to a file on the C drive otherwise, I believe.  If you're super-paranoid, you could use a portable install of MC itself on the True Crypt drive, and then the library record wouldn't even show in your regular copy of MC (and the Thumbs and everything wouldn't be an issue).

[MrC]

...all of your porn, bomb making ebooks, and ABBA songs onto it.

I've always suspected ABBA was a gateway to hedonism and anarchy.

[glynor]

I've always suspected ABBA was a gateway to hedonism and anarchy.

Agreed.  That's why I included that.

Also, no child should be subjected to that filth.*

* Even if mine dances the froggy dance like crazy to Momma Mia.  Shh.  Don't tell.  I know, I'm the devil.

[glynor]

Also, they're just creepy.  Creepier than most "horror movies".  I mean, look at them.



Shudder.   

[rick.ca]

I did know how to create custom views to filter stuff and customise them how I want.  What I couldn't figure out (And am still not sure until I try the above suggestion) is how to switch these views from within theatre view using a remote.  I suppose I could just map a button to do it in the remote control prefs.

All that's being suggested is a separate view that excludes the adult media. Switching views will be no different than it is with existing views. If you're used to having a separate 'Not for Children' view, you'll probably want to do the same in Theatre View. In other words, exclude adult media from the regular 'family' version of Video views, and make another view or set of views that includes only adult media. You might want to make that a primary view on the main menu and not adjacent to the regular video view—so it's not selected accidentally. That would easily happen if it were on the secondary roller of the regular view (along with various 'family friendly views'), especially considering it 'remembers' and returns to the last used secondary view.

I'd call the view 'Restricted' and put it at the end of main menu. I know you trust your kids, but as an additional control you could pad your adult collection with a bunch of ABBA videos. That should repel anyone who selects the view 'accidentally'.

BTW, there was a discussion recently about implementing some sort of simple access control in Theatre View, but JRiver doesn't seem interested. So I cobbled together something using global variables that mimics the same behaviour. I can't recommend it because it's hopelessly complicated, but the result is an effective 'proof of concept'. I have a menu item for selecting an 'access mode'. Each mode has a list of restricted files associated with it (just like Access Control). When one is selected, the user is free to select another more restricted mode, but not a less restricted one—unless a password is entered (also done via the menu). So if I'm entertaining a girlfriend, I just select the 'Guest' mode, and rest easy knowing all of my ABBA albums are hidden from view. If my guest has children with her, she can select 'Safe' mode and let them watch whatever they want. The content will restricted to child-appropriate media until someone enters a password and changes the mode.

[Scolex]

rick
I would be interested in knowing how you accomplished this regardless of it's complexity as I always enjoy a challenge since they are almost always a great learning experience.

[glynor]

I'd call the view 'Restricted' and put it at the end of main menu. I know you trust your kids, but as an additional control you could pad your adult collection with a bunch of ABBA videos. That should repel anyone who selects the view 'accidentally'.

Oh god, that would certainly work.  

Ha ha ha ha.  Picking on ABBA is fun.

Anyhow..

Yeah, that's basically what I meant, though I was more detailing how to set up multiple views in Standard View (assuming there was some TV Shows they wanted to block, some movies, and maybe even some audio and images).  So I wanted to show a way to easily copy their existing views over to a "sub-folder" to keep everything nicely together and identical to what they're used-to now, just filtered differently.

For Theater View, I'd put it as a Top-Level View too, just like Rick suggests.  You do these separately, so they don't have to match.

BTW, there was a discussion recently about implementing some sort of simple access control in Theatre View, but JRiver doesn't seem interested.

True, but everyone wants the world.

I think there would be "global value" in a system that allowed you to mark particular files (via a simple Yes/No boolean [Restricted] tag) as "protected", and then a similar system that allowed you to mark a particular view (in Theater View, Standard View, or the Media Network views) as similarly "restricted".  When you enable this for the first time, it would prompt for a required PIN number (that could be reset and otherwise configured under Options -> Parental Controls or Options -> Restrictions).  And then, of course, any time you try to open a restricted view, or play, tag, or otherwise modify a restricted file, (or whatever), it would prompt you for the PIN.

A typical 4-digit PIN number system would make it easy to use from the couch with a remote.  And the PIN-entry box could just have a "don't prompt me again for X minutes" doohickey that defaults to something reasonable like 30 minutes or an hour (so that if you're tagging or browsing and then watching a bunch of short things, or flipping through pictures, it wouldn't prompt you constantly).

That would be an awesome feature for MC 18.

I probably wouldn't ever use it myself for Parental Controls, because I have... let's say, unconventional, views about the wisdom of over-protecting our children from the real art, media, and news in the real world.  But I'm a minority.  Lots of "regular folks" would want parental controls that are simple to use.  But, even for people like us, it would be handy to be able to lock files and protect them from accidental tag-editing (which was the impetus for many previous discussions of this kind of system).

But, imagine if under that new Options -> Restrictions dialog, you could set what Restrictions were PIN-enforced.  You could allow playback of [Restricted] files, but still protect Deleting and Tagging, by simply de-selecting "Playback" as one of the Restricted features.

[rick.ca]

I would be interested in knowing how you accomplished this regardless of it's complexity as I always enjoy a challenge since they are almost always a great learning experience.

Okay. This is your fault. Since you enjoy a challenge, I'll try not to include unnecessary details and explanations...

• Let's start with my Access Control search (see first screenshot). The individual rules don't matter (I just picked some to illustrate the concept to myself). What is significant is it effectively matches different rules to each defined mode.
  
  
• The mode is set by the expression field [Mode.x] = If(IsEmpty(Load(mode)), work, Load(mode)) which initializes it to my unrestricted 'work' mode.
  
  
• Modes could be saved as global variables, but I wanted something that wouldn't seem too out-of-place in Theatre View. So I chose to use dummy (.log) files with associated 'cover art' to represent them (see second screenshot). They're tagged with [Genre]='Modes'.
  
  
• The 'Access' main menu item in Theatre View has Rules for file display of...
  
       [=
       If(IsEmpty(Load(mode)), Save(relax, mode, 1),
       If(IsEqual([Password], 1234), Save(work, mode),
       If(IsEqual(Load(mode), work), Save(relax, mode, 1), Load(mode))))1
       ]=1
       [Genre]=[mode]
  
  It has a 'Current' submenu to show the currently selected mode, and the other modes that can be selected by that mode (see third screenshot). It's Rule for file display is the folder containing the mode files. It's Category is 'Mode' = Load(mode).
  
  
• There is a submenu for each mode, the purpose of which is for selecting and changing to that mode. Each has a Rule for file display of [Name] = {its name} and a first (search list) Category named 'Select to set mode' with one item, also [Name] = {its name}.
  
  
• Each mode menu item has a second (expression) Category named 'Set Mode' something like...
  
       [Name];
       If(IsEqual([Password], 1234), Save(work, mode),
       If(IsEqual(work|relax|guest, Load(mode), 8), Save(safe, mode),))X[Password]S&DataType=[list]
  
  If the [Password] has be set to the value specified, the mode is reset to the unrestricted mode (this could be more complex, with different results for different passwords; I prefer to keep it simple). Otherwise, the mode can be set only by the modes specified. This, too, can be whatever you want it to be—it doesn't have to be a strictly hierarchical. You could have, for example, restricted (adult) 'guest' and 'kids' modes, together with unrestricted 'his', 'hers' and 'unrestricted' modes (so Mom and Dad can restrict views to their favourite media, but still be able set whatever mode they want to use).

Like I said, too complex to be practical. But the result is very practical and easy to use. It would fill the needs of many who have expressed a need for a simple (and not super-secure) method for restricting access. It serves equally well as a method to restricting files to whatever is preferred in the circumstances (i.e., like my 'his' and 'hers' example). I think it would be a fine addition to Theatre View if it could be built-in in some way that's easy to configure.

[MrHaugen]

I really hope JRiver does some work on this one day. I'm scared just by looking at those examples.
A simple user mode with ability to set different tags on media, and switch between them easily would solve most of peoples' needs. Now we have to spend hours even to understanding complex solutions like this, and you'll have to be a real nerd even to start thinking of putting the effort into it.

[Scolex]

I really hope JRiver does some work on this one day. I'm scared just by looking at those examples.
A simple user mode with ability to set different tags on media, and switch between them easily would solve most of peoples' needs. Now we have to spend hours even to understanding complex solutions like this, and you'd have to be overly passionate to even start thinking of putting the effort into it.

No offense but you could use a course in not being so abrasive (pun intended).
I agree though as when I got what I asked for I thought to myself "WOW I am going to need a fresh mindset to get my mind rapped around this".

[rick.ca]

Now we have to spend hours even to understanding complex solutions like this, and you'll have to be a real nerd even to start thinking of putting the effort into it.

I wish you would read what's been said before posting...

So I cobbled together something using global variables that mimics the same behaviour. I can't recommend it because it's hopelessly complicated, but the result is an effective 'proof of concept'.

Like I said, too complex to be practical. But the result is very practical and easy to use.

...There's no hint of a suggestion this is something anyone should want to do. I posted at Scolex's request. If there's any purpose to it other than that, it's to demonstrate the fact the do-it-yourself method isn't very practical, and those who need the functionality would be well-served by a built-in feature.

[MrHaugen]

I wish you would read what's been said before posting...

What the heck... You think you're a mind reader? If so, I have to tell you that you're a bit off. I DID read it. All of it. Everything I write is NOT a direct comment of your posts.

Yes I DO think it's complex. And it's in the very least complex for normal users. You can not expect most people to get solutions like this? Or even spend the time needed to get the basic knowledge of expressions, views customization and such to create this kind of system. I know you are not saying that this is easy, and you express a wish for similar systems built in to MC to make it usable to more people. I've also made my self very clear that I want the same. So why do you presume I do not read your posts??? It sounds like we don't agree, but we do. So, why? WHY such comments?

[rick.ca]

Now we have to spend hours even to understanding complex solutions like this, and you'll have to be a real nerd even to start thinking of putting the effort into it.

What else could you possibly be referring to as a 'complex solution like this'? And yet it wasn't presented as a solution of any kind. So why would anyone feel the need to understand it—or anything like it?