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[sonata31]

Hello

JRiver enables up-to-date information on movies and series from My Movies
I use DVD Profiler that does not use JRiver

I could see if I can develop a plugin for DVD Profiler from the xml file it can create

From what I have to start interface

[sonata31]

Nobody for help ?

[MrC]

Can you send me an XML file, or attach a zip'd copy here?

[sonata31]

I would do that Tuesday night, I'm traveling.
Thank you in advance

[sonata31]

Can you send me an XML file, or attach a zip'd copy here?

http://dialou.fr/elve/Collection.zip

Thank you in advance

[MrC]

I'll take a look this week...

[sonata31]

I'll take a look this week...

Hello

For another product (elve: http://www.codecoretechnologies.com), I wrote a driver in C# code that parses it, if it can be used I can give you the code

[MrC]

It appears the XML data for a DVD does not contain the full file path to a ripped movie.  I haven't tested, but it might be sufficient to place the converted XML file in the ripped movie directory at the appropriate location and name, and import.

Other than that, for supported fields, the conversion of the XML file to an MC sidecar XML file is pretty straightforward.  Fields that don't exist would be ignored.  Fields that translate to different MC field names are easy enough to convert (e.g. Actor FirstName, MiddleName, LastName would map to a combined single value in the Actors list).

[sonata31]

The full path to a ripped movie exists when it exists :

Code: [Select]

<Disc>
        <DescriptionSideA>File</DescriptionSideA>
        <DescriptionSideB/>
        <DiscIDSideA/>
        <DiscIDSideB/>
        <LabelSideA/>
        <LabelSideB/>
        <DualLayeredSideA>false</DualLayeredSideA>
        <DualLayeredSideB>false</DualLayeredSideB>
        <DualSided>false</DualSided>
        <Location>&quot;D:\films\hcsrv1\Possession\Possession.mkv&quot;</Location>
        <Slot/>
</Disc>


[MrC]

Ah, perfect.  Then it should be easy to create a converter.  I don't know that you need to learn how to create an MC plug-in to do this, but I suppose you could.

The easiest way to figure out what needs to be done is to import an mkv file, write out the tags so that MC creates a sidecar file, examine the structure of the XML file, and create a converter to go from the DVD Profiler to MC XML sidecar file.

Once the converted sidecar file is available, you can have MC Update library (from tags) to read the file.

[sonata31]

What is the structure of an MC XML sidecar file ?
From the code I wrote I should be able to write a converter to go from xml DVD profiler to MC XML sidecar file

[sonata31]

What I want to do is to have the information on to movies in the Theater view: cover, summary, cast, file path, ...

[Ekpen]

Greetings:
I do use Dvd Profiler to catalogue my BD movies. I currently use a Sony Mega changer.
I have been looking for ways to load DVD profiler  database or cover arts within MC-18. At times when I tried to load the dvd utility, it takes forever to load due to the grahics or logo screen.
The XML file if created, was wondering how to interface with MC. I am not ripping, and at the moment, I have no interest in ripping.
Can your program be modified to use from within MC, or whatever MrC is doing now to help, will it be possible to include direct disc read with no ripping.
I wish Matt el all could come out with a BD player utility that will scan the appliance either via IP, network, or Rs-232  then pull out the the info by directly reading in the discs.
I am almost 90%-95% ready with my HTPC, to test if my sony 400 disc changer will be scanned by MC when connected via serial interface.

Thanks to you, and MrC.
Ekpen.

[MrC]

What I want to do is to have the information on to movies in the Theater view: cover, summary, cast, file path, ...

Ok, do me a favor.  Take a look at your Collection.xml file, and create for me a mapping of the fields you see there to MC's fields.  For example:

DVD Pro --> MC
Regions --> Region
Released --> Date
Studios --> Studios
Audio:AudioTrack --> Comments
Rating --> MPAA Rating
Title --> Name
OriginalTitle --> Original Title
...

If you want several fields merged, for example, into Comments, just map them to comments.  I'll add them in the order you list them.  I'll ignore fields you don't specifically indicate.

The MC field list is here:

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

[sonata31]

I'm doing this list

Would it be possible to have the file structure of Sidecar.xml created by My Movies?

[sonata31]

Here is a list of correspondence between DVD Profiler and JRiver

It is not complete, because I do not always understand the use of all fields of JRiver

[MrC]

Update.  I have your entire 35 meg DVD Profiler collection file parsing and converted to MC's sidecar format.

There are 1358 actual files (969 vob, 381 mkv, 8 avi).

I can have the program output a single large mpl file which I believe can be imported in one shot (I haven't tested this yet), or create individual sidecar files that can replace the existing ones in the same directory as the current sidecar.  Either way, MC will update tag information.

Probably it makes sense to try a couple to see that the field mappings are what you want.  I'll post them later today.

[sonata31]

Ok, thank you in advance

[MrC]

Ok, I have good news.  The script is complete and I've been able to import your entire 1674-entry Collections.xml into MC from the converted MC .mpl file (see attached screenie).  So this means the conversion can be done in one shot, and you can import with a single Import operation.  It was pretty fast on my system, both the conversion and the import, both taking less than 10 seconds.

Even the entries with no real files were imported.

I've mapped the fields above as per your request, with some changes, additions, omissions:

MC Fields
---------
Director and Artist: Dual mapped, from Credits::Credit::CreditSubtype="Director".
Channels: currently there are several channel mappings, one per language.  Which language should be used?
Credits: Where MC has specific fields (Director, Composer, Screenwriter), I've mapped to those fields and did not dual-map to Credits.
Description: Mapped from Overview
Name: Mapped from Title
MPAA Rating: Mapped from DVD::Rating
MPAA Rating Description: Mapped from DVD::RatingSystem
Media Type: Must be mapped to Video for MC

Critic Rating: Not mapped - I don't see a rating value (this is a rating like 4 stars, or rotten tomatoes 90%)

Date Created: Not mapped - this is an MC calculated field from the filesystem date info - it can be mapped.
Date Imported: Not mapped - this is an MC calculated field, when MC first created the record for the entry - it can be mapped.
Date Modified: Not mapped - this is an MC calculated field from the filesystem date info - it can be mapped, but will keep changing.
Dimensions: Not mapped - auto-calculated
Duration: Not mapped - auto-calculated  Mapped in next release.
Image File: Not mapped - this is an internal MC field used to indicate image file location.  Mapped in next release (may not work).
Date Recorded: No mapping specified.
Custom*: No mapping specified.
Disc#: No mapping specified.
Episode: No mapping specified.
Season: No mapping specified.
Sequel: No mapping specified.
Series: No mapping specified.
Series Description: No mapping specified.

The script requires ActivePerl.  Its free, safe, easy, and non-invasive to install.  Get the 32- or 64- bit installer for your version of Windows.

I'll attach the script in a follow-up post, with instructions.

[sonata31]

This is very good news, I am eager to test it on my last update of xml file generated by DVD Profiler

thank you again

[MrC]

Here it is, unzip the attached script, save it where you want, and run it as follows:

1) Install ActivePerl
2) Open a Windows command shell
3) Run the command below (change Perl64 to Perl if you installed the 32-bit ActivePerl):

      C:\Perl64\bin\perl.exe path\to\dvdprofiler2mc.pl path\to\DVDProfilerCollection.xml > path\to\converted.mpl

   where converted.mpl is the output the conversion script will create.

4) Backup your library
5) From MC, File > Import Playlist and select converted.mpl.

MC will import the playlist content, and you should now have your data.

Examine the data, and feel free to suggest changes you'd like to see.  Mappings are trivial.

[sonata31]

I will test it this weekend

thank you again

[sonata31]

I just did a quick test in the office, the file collection.mpl does not seem created, it does not appear in the directory specified

I'm in Seven 64bit, I opened a command window as administrator

[MrC]

Run it without the "> path\to\collection.mpl" to see what is happening and report back.

[sonata31]

Sorry, it's my fault, I did not see the redirection character ">" I thought the script writing directly to a file

The file is created

Sorry

[sonata31]

First tests

It seems that all the movies have a file (specified in Location) were not created in the file mpl
How would it be possible to manage the series?
How to get the jacket? The corresponding file is created from the ID:
Front: Images \ ID + "f.jpg"
Back: Images \ ID + "b.jpg"
If the file does not exist it will: Images \ ImageNotFound.jpg

[sonata31]

Missing:
Duration = RunningTime
? = CollectionNumber

[Ekpen]

Hello

JRiver enables up-to-date information on movies and series from My Movies
I use DVD Profiler that does not use JRiver

I could see if I can develop a plugin for DVD Profiler from the xml file it can create

From what I have to start interface

If What MrC did, works well, will you still want to develop a plug in for MC?
I will appreciate it.

Thanks.
Ekpen.

[sonata31]

Why develop a plugin, if the script works well ?

[sonata31]

First tests

It seems that all the movies have a file (specified in Location) were not created in the file mpl
How would it be possible to manage the series?
How to get the jacket? The corresponding file is created from the ID:
Front: Images \ ID + "f.jpg"
Back: Images \ ID + "b.jpg"
If the file does not exist it will: Images \ ImageNotFound.jpg

They exist in the mpl file but do not appear in JRiver

[sonata31]

AspectRatio is in the mpl file but is not displayed in JRiver

[Ekpen]

Why develop a plugin, if the script works well ?

But the script seems to be unigue to your specific set up. Anyway someone else can use it ?
I am just about to finish  putting my server together, then will load or re install dvd profiler, then try to intergrade my dvd profiler with MC.

Ekpen.

[sonata31]

The script must be able to handle all the fields that we will submit

[sonata31]

How to have an organization:
Serie_name> Saison_Number> Episode_Number-Name
What should be the structure of the mpl file for this?

[MrC]

I've had some family matters to attend to.  I'll update shortly.  Keep the feedback coming.

[sonata31]

No problem

[Ekpen]

The script must be able to handle all the fields that we will submit

.

I used to like dvd profiler, but the author did not want to develop an Android version, so I lost interest in it.
With your help in making dvd profiler more useable with MC, I am really interested in it now. I store my BDs in mega changer. I just want to try to interface the Sony changer with MC if it will work with its RS232. The server I am building with have a  pair of legacy rs232 port.
If all fields are in your  utility, then it will be adequate for others to use.
Again, I do appreciate your help and MrC  for time spent developing the xml interface.

At the moment, I do not have a working server yet, for me to see the practicality of what I am trying to do. I am still using an old notebook, that does not have much power. So all interfacing all these 3rd party utilities with MC 18 is just imaginary.

Thanks.
Ekpen.

[MrC]

I've fixed:

- Duration
- Aspect Ratio (was missing the space between the t and the R).
- Added the front cover art via the ID.  MC only tracks one art file, but you can keep others in the folder.  MC might see/use the {ID}f.jpg file if it is assigned to Image File, but I'll have to test when I return.

DVD Profiler groups all files related to a DVD set, whereas MC is file-based.   So I'll have to create a higher level container to track multiple files, and this will have to wait until I return.

As for your CollectionNumber, I'm not sure how this number is used and how you want it mapped.  It appears to be your numeric tracking ID for a DVD set.  Should this number be mapped to the group (as per above) and so pertain to multiple MC entries?  If you want to use an existing MC field, let me know which one.  If you want to use your own field ID, that's no problem, just create a new user field in MC, probably of type Integer.  Creating a mapping in the script is simple - there's a table that drives simple mappings, so we can just add this field.  If there is enough call, I can add a mapping mechanism that is either command line based, or configuration-based.

[MrC]

Ekpen,

The script is essentially a generic XML transformation script - it takes the XML produced by DVD Profiler, and converts it into a format that MC can consume.  It isn't specific to sonata31's usage.

To convert it to another language would require writing or using existing libraries that do:

  - XML parsing (in an event-oriented fashion)
  - Date manipulation and range calculation
  - HTML entities encoding/decoding
  - regular expressions

so it might be a little work, or a lot.  The script is only 165 lines currently, so isn't difficult.  It is compact because it uses the strengths of perl, and is likely to bloat in another language.

[JimH]

Thanks for all your work on this, MrC.

[sonata31]

MrC

Another big thank you for this work

For CollectionNumber I would create a field "Collection Number"
This is a number that I assigned to my DVD, Bluray for storage by purchase order and thus find

The movies with a file (specified in Location) exist in the mpl file but do not appear in JRiver

[MrC]

I now have the multiple Filename work done.

A question - in the Credits and Actors, there are sometimes Dividers that sometimes break credits/actors into groups by episode, and sometimes not.  There is no real pattern to the Caption value in the <Divider> tag, so I can't reliably determine which grouping goes with a given episode (i.e. Filename).  So I'm just collecting all Actors and all Credits into each MC entry, so the information, while present, is not accurate anymore (in other words, the Credits and Actors are for ALL episodes, not any given episode).  And this is also causing the same name to be included multiple times.  I can eliminate the duplicates if you want.  Is this all OK?

Finally, there are parent references to top-level box set entries.  Without changing the entire parsing structure, and reading the entire file into memory, these references are going to be lost and the box set entries useless.

[sonata31]

I now have the multiple Filename work done.

A question - in the Credits and Actors, there are sometimes Dividers that sometimes break credits/actors into groups by episode, and sometimes not.  There is no real pattern to the Caption value in the <Divider> tag, so I can't reliably determine which grouping goes with a given episode (i.e. Filename).  So I'm just collecting all Actors and all Credits into each MC entry, so the information, while present, is not accurate anymore (in other words, the Credits and Actors are for ALL episodes, not any given episode).  And this is also causing the same name to be included multiple times.  I can eliminated the duplicates if you want.  Is this all OK?
Yes

Finally, there are parent references to top-level box set entries.  Without changing the entire parsing structure, and reading the entire file into memory, these references are going to be lost and the box set entries useless.
Yes, unfortunately

[MrC]

Here's a new version to test out.  It also includes your Collection Number.  Be sure to define the field in MC.

[sonata31]

Again, thank you for working on this script

I think there is confusion between artist and producer

In Theater view, there is no grouping Series - Season, each episode is seen as a movie

If I scan directly by JRiver the series folder on my hard drive, there is this grouping

[sonata31]

...

In Theater view, there is no grouping Series - Season, each episode is seen as a movie

If I scan directly by JRiver the series folder on my hard drive, there is this grouping

I think this requires a Media Sub Type = TV Show

[sonata31]

I think this requires a Media Sub Type = TV Show

And fields Season and Series exist

[sonata31]

When you create this field:

<field Name="Image File"> 3333973145407.8f.jpg </ Field>

Which is supposed to find the image file?

[MrC]

I think there is confusion between artist and producer

Do you mean Artist and Director?  If so, I mentioned above that I've dual-mapped Director to Artist.  See:

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

Let me know if you don't want this dual mapping.

I think this requires a Media Sub Type = TV Show
...
If I scan directly by JRiver the series folder on my hard drive, there is this grouping

How can I know how to map Media Sub Type from the XML data available?

I'm not scanning your folders, so don't have this information.

And fields Season and Series exist

Where is this information reliably stored?  I don't see anything that is consistent.  I mentioned above a number of fields are not mapped, because the data is not there (at least, I don't see how to reverse map it, from free-form formatting to a Series or Season).  You need to help me here.

When you create this field:

<field Name="Image File"> 3333973145407.8f.jpg </ Field>

Which is supposed to find the image file?

When the file exists in the same directory as the media files, it should be found when you perform the import.  I tested it with an mpg file.

I've fixed an issue where only the first Credit was being included.  Grab the new (1.2) version here.

[MrC]

I should add... if you want to use existing file names and folder locations to drive Series, Episode lookups, you'll want to Import the media first with MC's auto-import so that Carnac can run and pull the information from the paths and file names.  There's no sense in me reinventing the wheel here.  Once imported via auto-import, you can then do the manual import of the MPL file to pull the additional information.  You might or might not want Media Sub Type set in this case.