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[nwboater]

This morning when I left home my wife was raving about how great MC is. She had been working on several playlists for a big party her sister is having. When I came home she had a very different attitude about MC, and it was not good!

Here's what's been happening. We have all media on a WHS computer. We have several Clients and they all run with the server library loaded - we don't do anything with local libraries. So a few days ago my wife made some playlists on Client #1 (our HTPC). I noticed that the lists showed up on all our other Clients. Cool!

Yesterday I told her that if it would be more convenient to use Client #2 (her desktop) to continue the playlist project there. So yesterday she put a bunch of time on the playlists. She actually renamed her original 3 playlists and added a lot of music to them. When she turned on Client 2 this morning all of her work from yesterday was gone! In their place was the original playlists she had created on Client 1. Bummer!

So it seems that her changes to the playlists on Client 2 were not saved on the server. But the original playlists made on Client 1 had been saved. Did it not save them because she made the changes on a different Client than where they were created?

I would sure appreciate it if someone could explain the functioning of saving playlists and changes to playlists in a server/multiple client configuration. We are not sure how to proceed with this project and have to have it done by tomorrow. She has rebuilt all the playlists and is now afraid to turn off her computer. I have 'Exported all Playlists' on her computer, but must admit it's still a little spooky.

Thanks for any assistance.

Rod

[imugli]

Try Syncing the changes to the Library under File > Library.

You may need to authorise the client first if you haven't already, as only authorised clients can save changes to Libraries.

[JimH]

I think it depends on whether the client is set to sync changes back to the server.  That requires authentication.  You may have it set for one client but not all clients.

[nwboater]

Try Syncing the changes to the Library under File > Library.

You may need to authorise the client first if you haven't already, as only authorised clients can save changes to Libraries.

Thanks very much for the suggestions.

I think I may have found the problem: Under Media Network, Client Options (when connected to a library server), Automatically sync changes made on client back to server was Not checked. It is now. In the older versions you had to sync changes under File, Library, although I notice that is still available.

Can anyone confirm that in the newer versions of MC16 (I'm running .128) that playlist changes are synced when that box is checked?

The Authentication box in Media Network on appears when the box 'Use Media Network to share this library and enable DLNA' is checked. I don't want to use DLNA. I think that this option is to allow sharing the library on the Client Do I still have to check this box so I can get the Authentication box?

Thanks,
Rod

PS - Jim your post came in just as I was going to post this. But my questions still pertain.

[nwboater]

So I have just done some testing of syncing on my client (#3). I have the sync box checked. I have deleted an old unused playlist and restarted MC. Each time I restart it reappears. I also tried syncing under File, Library and each time it reappears. It just wont stay away!

Rod

[imugli]

On your server, make sure "Authentication" is ticked in Options > Media Network.

Next time you connect to the library from a client, you'll be asked to enter the username / password. Then when you sync any changes from a client it should be saved.

[vicini]

I had a nice long post ready to go, but after re-reading the original, it had me a little lost. You use the term

Client #1 (our HTPC).

It appears this is the Media Server? If so, let's call the Server and not Client.
If this is correct, then yes, any changes done here will show up on the other 2 clients #2 and #3
To get the changes on Client #2 and #3 back to Server, you need to authenticate from client to server to sync your changes.

Here are the steps to set this up.
On Server (HTPC), go to Tools - Options - Media Network.
Check "Use Media Network to share the library and enable DLNA". Also check "Authentication (must be on to use Library Server Sync)
This will pop up a window asking for a username and password. Input your choosing here.

On Client PC, connect to library. Connecting to library will ask for the username and password you entered on server pc.
Then go to Tools - Options - Media Network. On right pane, click Client Options and check Automatically sync changes made on client back to server.
Do this to both clients.
After making changes or playlists, you can do a manual sync by going to File - Library - Sync changes with Library Server. Any changes will also sync when you close MC on Client PC.

Hope this helps

[nwboater]

Imugli, vicini & Jim,

Thanks a lot for your well thought out responses. And Jim sorry if I was a bit curt in my PS last night.

Here's where we stand:

1. Our Server is a Windows Home Server machine. So when I referred to any of the clients they are in fact Clients.

2. Clients and Server are running version .128

3. On the Server 'Share Media Network' is checked and Authentication is enabled with a password.

4. On the Clients I am not using a local library. They start up with the server library.

5.On each Client when I first tried to access the Server Library it asked for a username/password. I entered them. On subsequent startups it does not ask for them and appears to log onto the server library.

6. On each Client I have the Automatically Sync changes to server box checked.

7. Here's a quote from one of my last nights posts: "So I have just done some testing of syncing on my client (#3). I have the sync box checked. I have deleted an old unused playlist and restarted MC. Each time I restart it reappears. I also tried syncing under File, Library and each time it reappears. It just wont stay away!" When I check on the Server directly the Playlist is still there.

8. I tried the exact same thing this morning and get the same results.

Why is it not syncing the changes??? My Wife's Client still has MC on. Could that be having any affect? I'm afraid to turn it off until I copy the Playlists to another computer from hers.

Thanks again for all the support here.

Rod


On Edit added Version #.

[vicini]

ok, there seems to be a issue here.
I am doing this to test your setup.

I have 2 clients connected to Media Server. We will call them Client A and B.
I created a playlist on Client A with no other connection. After syncing, Playlist appears on server.
I created a playlist on Client B with no other connection. After syncing, Playlist appears on server.
I created a playlist on Client A. (While Client B is connected). After syncing, Playlist appears on Server.
I created a playlist on Client B. (While Client A is connected) After syncing, Playlist appears on Server.

However, it "does not" delete playlist not matter if only 1 or both clients are connected. so, appears you are doing nothing wrong as far as deleting a playlist. But I am able to create a playlist no matter the number of connections. It always gets the new playlists to the server.

Here is what you can do. The playlist you are worried about that your wife is working on, you can Export the Playlist and save it to that local machine your wife is using.

So, we need to better understand because i am still not clear.

But i am able to create a new playlist and sync to server if 1 or both Clients are connect to server.

I'm still confused on your setup. You say your wife is using (Client #1 (our HTPC)). Is this the WHS computer you refer to? Is this the computer that is running Media Library Server?

[vicini]

I posted the concern of playlist deletion from a client and the response is:

Not a "bug" but a limitation of the current system.  I'm hoping for eventually being able to modify or delete any views from a LS Client.  Currently, though, you cannot.

so no need in pulling your hairs out. You can not delete playlist from clients. You will have to delete from server side.

[nwboater]

Hi vicini,

Thanks so much for all your efforts.

Here's the latest:

1. I have copied her Playlists & music to the Laptop we will use for the party. They work fine using MC on the Laptop with Local Library. After that I felt safer turning her MC off.

2. I backed up her Playlists on her machine.

3. As in my post #3 above: 
"I think I may have found the problem: Under Media Network, Client Options (when connected to a library server), Automatically sync changes made on client back to server was Not checked. It is now."

4. Her Playlists are showing up on the Server and other Clients. All is well with the world!

5. Playlist deletions from Clients are still not working. This really threw a curve ball at me thinking my problem may be bigger than it actually was. I saw your new thread and Glynors response on it. Thanks.

6. I only refer to the WHS machine as a Server. And yes it is the computer running the Library Server. Anytime I mentioned a Client it truly is a Client. Sorry if I created any confusion here.

I just saw your latest post re deletions. I don't have enough hair yet to pull out, so will have to just accept that that function is broken. Thanks again for all your follow through.

Rod

[vicini]

Sounds good. Enjoy the party.