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More => Old Versions => Media Center 11 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: DownwardSpyral on June 04, 2003, 02:32:07 pm

Title: Media Library Question
Post by: DownwardSpyral on June 04, 2003, 02:32:07 pm
Hello everyone. I'm new to Media Center and I have a question that will determine whether I use/purchase the player or not.

I'm a veteran user of WMP and recently Musicmatch Jukebox.  WMP is getting old, and MMJB is buggy, however, both programs have a folder monitoring feature.... that is, the program monitors certain folders you specify where you often keep media and it auto-loads it into the library whenever it detects a new file, and removes files when they are no longer detected.  I am interested in finding this feature in Media Center 9, but I can't find it.

If the player doesn't have this feature, is it planned to be added, or a plugin maybe?

Thanks for your time.
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: rocketsauce on June 04, 2003, 02:39:59 pm
No, monitored folders is not currently a feature of MC. I don't think there is a plug-in for it. Also, don't know if it is a feature that is going to be added.

But, there are many other features that, I believe, outweigh the lack of that one feature. Don't let it deter you from using MC. :)

Rob
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: DownwardSpyral on June 04, 2003, 03:07:51 pm
True, it is only one feature, but its a feature I've come to depend upon.  I suppose it wouldn't be hard to re-search the folder(s) every time I know the content has changed.
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: MachineHead on June 04, 2003, 03:16:53 pm
It's quick. It's painless. It's Import Media.

So ya have to click a mouse once in a while. Is it that much work? Agree wholeheartedly with rocketsauce. Do not let a really non-essential feature deter you.

Not paid for by J River Inc.TM
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: KingSparta on June 04, 2003, 03:22:39 pm
well really this is not true.

you can have a folder imported from time to time.

what you do is, set up media Scheduler to import files maybe once a day or something like that.
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: KingSparta on June 04, 2003, 03:28:55 pm
this is what you do

Set Up A Periodic Timer Task

Action: Start Custom Task

Start Time: You Set It to what ever

Command Name "import"

Program Path : C:\WINNT\system32\mjextman.exe (Your System Dir May Be Dif)

Command Line: (And Dir Path)

/import "C:\Program files\Kazaa\My Shared Files\*.*"

Or

/silentimport "C:\Program files\Kazaa\My Shared Files\*.*"

Every Day

I think that should work.
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: DownwardSpyral on June 04, 2003, 04:54:34 pm
Ok... awesome... now we are getting somewhere...

Is it possible to, instead, have it import a location(s) each time Media Center is started?

I don't think you can do this in Media Scheduler, but perhaps add the /import command line to the shortcut
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: rocketsauce on June 04, 2003, 05:18:33 pm
This is what I mean. :) Don't let the (apparent) lack of a feature deter you as there is usually a workaround or an alternative. I've been using MJ/MC for about a year now and am still discovering new things all the time.

Rob
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: JollyJim on June 04, 2003, 06:31:25 pm
Although I've never used it, I always assumed that 'Auto Import files into Media Library' in Options/General, did exactly that. In that case, what does it do please ?

thanks - Jim
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: DownwardSpyral on June 04, 2003, 06:34:07 pm
Good question.... I have it checked
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: rocketsauce on June 04, 2003, 10:26:34 pm
Quote
Auto Import files into Media Library


If you have MC set as the default player for audio files and you double-click in Windows Explorer to play a file, it also gets imported into the library.

Rob
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: DownwardSpyral on June 04, 2003, 10:57:14 pm
Ah... yeah.. cool. thanks.

I'm still wondering how to import automatically each time I open media center
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: DownwardSpyral on June 05, 2003, 02:59:21 pm
Anyone? please?

Is it possible?
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: JimH on June 05, 2003, 03:50:35 pm
It isn't now.  It might be some day.  No promises.  It has some down sides.
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: KingSparta on June 05, 2003, 05:19:46 pm
>> I'm still wondering how to import
>> automatically each time I open media center
Maybe a Batch File, so when you click on the ICon it loads MC9 with the Import command, MC9 will import and load at the same time.

I have not tested it but it should work.
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: DownwardSpyral on June 06, 2003, 12:17:01 am
I feel bad asking you to spoonfeed me.  I've done alot of DOS tweaking, so making a batch file is no problem.. however, I don't understand the command interface well enough to whip up a file. So.. could you... perhaps... help me out a bit?  Thanks

P.S: If its easier, you can Email or IM me. I use all the common messengers.

What kind of downsides does offering a "Watchfolders" option have Jim H?  You turn it on and select the folders if you want it, or turn it off if you don't.
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: Kambriel on June 12, 2003, 01:42:07 pm
One problem is CPU utilization. If you have a lot of music, it can be pretty CPU intensive to scan the folders each time. There should be a way that MJ can see new files in a folder and only add those, but it may be tricky to code that.

After the initial VERY UNHELPFUL comments, the one about using the scheduler was something I can use! (I wouldn't stop using MJ just because it doesn't auto-update, but I may have NOT STARTED using MJ because it doesn't have a feature that the competition has and that many people find useful!)

I feel that putting in a folder monitor option would be great, and the way the rest of MJ is done I think the programmers could do it more effectively than, say, Windows Media Player. (Can you say 'bloatware??')
Title: Re: Media Library Question
Post by: Doof on June 12, 2003, 01:50:59 pm
Where are these VERY UNHELPFUL posts?