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[HTPC4ME]

curious if its possible to setup theaterview to show actors, artists, directors in both first and last name in our views?
Ex.
Right now the way i have it setup when going to all actors A al pacino is there. If I/another person were to search for Pacino but believes the search would start with P for Pacino, they currently cannot find al pacino.
If possible how would one set this up please?

Thanks.

[MrC]

"search" or "present"?

As for present, you can save your artist names in both formats, and construct the view to list both names.  For simple names, you can do this programatically, w/out the use of a new field.  But the complex names will require help.

[HTPC4ME]

present correct.
could you tell me how to do it programmatically, or what the option is called in settings please?
Thanks MrC

[MrC]

See this thread:

    http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=76866.msg520572#msg520572

for the basic idea.  But to be clear, there's no foolproof way to convert from Firstname Lastname format, since we have no way of knowing how many words are in Firstname and Lastname.  For example:  Francis Ford Coppola - how does software know which is correct:

    Coppola, Francis Ford
    Ford Coppola, Francis

From Lastname, Firstname, the job is much easier to automate.

So if you really want to do this, which format are your names in now?  If Lastname, Firstname, you can add both your field to the view but also combine it with an expression (like those from the link above) to produce both formats of names.  If you have Firstname Lastname, then I'd go about this by using an expression that catches most cases (by taking just the last word as the last name), and also using a new field name, such as NameLastFirst, and fill in values for the exceptions.

[MrC]

I was at a baseball game last Friday.  Guess who was there?

[HTPC4ME]

If you have Firstname Lastname, then I'd go about this by using an expression that catches most cases (by taking just the last word as the last name), and also using a new field name, such as NameLastFirst, and fill in values for the exceptions.

sorry for late reply, i was fixing all actor/director foreign letters... took a bit.

as it sits now all my actors/directors are setup as Firstname Lastname.

i do have another question being i will be working on expressions to accomplish first last / last first.

right now in all my theaterviews i have tv/movies/music videos setup as series... is there any possible way for me to make the Name field auto fill series? right now due to my views using series any new auto import does not show up in theaterview on server or clients I'd like them to show up and be accessible right away with out me having to goto server and manually copying name to series) and by doing so when i do want to do maintenance then i can just double check the series names, and edit them as need be. i have checked Manage library fields as you taught me with setting up ArtistS and GenreS, but in the name field nothing seems to be editable... i was going to shoot in the dark and add this - [series]&datatype=

Thanks MrC

[MrC]

is there any possible way for me to make the Name field auto fill series?

How are your videos being created on the server?

The only automatic way of tagging is via Auto-Import rules, and these trigger only the first time media is Imported into MC.

[HTPC4ME]

How are your videos being created on the server?

sorry don't understand what you mean by created? Most videos are downloads or jriver tv imports.

i looked at auto import and the spot i think your talking about is when i click edit under folders watched, there is an option for apply these tags (optional) would i just click add/custom field=name/value = series? and what ever is name would then goto series?
thanks MrC

[MrC]

That's the correction location to enable auto-import rules.

They will run for your downloads when the file is placed in a watched folder.

I don't know if they run for recorded TV - you'll have to test.

[HTPC4ME]

thanks MrC
well i must be doing it wrong:(
just removed a file from the library then redid auto import, and nothing has happened with series it's still empty
here is how i set it up


as far as TV i noticed that where i have my tv recordings stored Mapped Drive/Time Shifting drive is not in my  auto import list, but yet jriver does import the recorded tv shows...what i usually do is if it's a tv show we want to keep then i manually move it over to one of the movie drives. But if i want all those recorded shows to show up in theaterview then i would need to watch that time shifting folder from what you are saying?
Thanks

[MrC]

The only automatic way of tagging is via Auto-Import rules, and these trigger only the first time media is Imported into MC.

You need to remove them also from the Removed database. 

Create a smartlist with Modifier: Limit database to Removed.  After you remove a file, go to that smartlist and then remove the entry from there too.  Then, remove any sidecar files MC created for this file.  This is the way MC will think the file is new.

[MrC]

as far as TV i noticed that where i have my tv recordings stored Mapped Drive/Time Shifting drive is not in my  auto import list, but yet jriver does import the recorded tv shows...what i usually do is if it's a tv show we want to keep then i manually move it over to one of the movie drives. But if i want all those recorded shows to show up in theaterview then i would need to watch that time shifting folder from what you are saying?
Thanks

MC already knows about the shows it records (like recordings made with Scheduler, or Podcasts).  They don't need to be imported like other files.

[HTPC4ME]

You need to remove them also from the Removed database.

Create a smartlist with Modifier: Limit database to Removed.  After you remove a file, go to that smartlist and then remove the entry from there too.  Then, remove any sidecar files MC created for this file.  This is the way MC will think the file is new.

tried that.. it gave me over 350 files with over 3/4 of the files actually still in my library, and needed. so i did not go any further with Removed database smartlist.

I then went to youtube Via a diffrent Pc with firefox, and downloaded a video, then moved it from my downloads drive to server location/movies, Then did auto import, and name is auto filled in. but series remained empty.

MC already knows about the shows it records (like recordings made with Scheduler, or Podcasts).  They don't need to be imported like other files.

  ok then i'll try recording a show tonight, and see if series auto fills for me.
thanks

[HTPC4ME]

I then went to youtube Via a diffrent Pc with firefox, and downloaded a video, then moved it from my downloads drive to server location/movies, Then did auto import, and name is auto filled in. but series remained empty.

I tried again, with a different FRESH file yet to be imported. with field of name, and this [series]&datatype=[ list] as value, and series remains blank. ( i added space before l, because jriver forum removed the last part of the expression.)

[MrC]

I tried again, with a different FRESH file yet to be imported. with field of name, and this [series]&datatype=[ list] as value, and series remains blank. ( i added space before l, because jriver forum removed the last part of the expression.)

You're going to want something like this (see attached).  You might want to conditionally assign it based on Media Sub Type.

You don't need the datatype cast.  That's only necessary in places like a view pane or category expression.  Think of it as meaning "break a string at each semicolon, creating separate sub-strings instead of one long string".

[HTPC4ME]

Awww needed to flip/flop them... Thanks so Much, this will save me alot of time.

conditionally assign it based on Media Sub Type.

to accomplish this then i'd need to uncheck audio, image correct? if so, is there any other way to incorporate this expression? reason being, i need image, audio and video all checked, because i tag all media types( i save covers in movie drives.) but it would be nice if i could set it up to only do video Series via another route? i really dont want series filled in for images, or audio.
Thanks Again MrC

[MrC]

What exact conditions do you want to test to assign Series (e.g. Media Type = Video and Media Sub Type = TV Shows,Movies, etc.)?

Auto-import (and rules) are per-folder tree.  If you want all the media types imported, but only want Series auto-assigned, then the expression will test a compound set of values (like above).

[HTPC4ME]

i just would like all video types to fill in series from name, but not images, and audio even though i have those ticked for other tagging purposes.

slightly on subject... if i wanted to do the same thing with genres to keywords... Keyword: [Genres] would jriver after getting info, auto delete all keywords, and replace with genres?

[MrC]

ifelse(isequal([Media Type], Video), [Name])

slightly on subject... if i wanted to do the same thing with genres to keywords... Keyword: [Genres] would jriver after getting info, auto delete all keywords, and replace with genres?

Yes, but only if the bottom checkbox in the image is unchecked.

[HTPC4ME]

I would have never managed to write that up. thanks a lot. Works great!

is it possible to setup the auto import to only chose to tag media type as a movie, or as a short? (in one of my other libraries, i only use movie, or short, but upon every import jriver fills in media sub type with whatever it wants (tv show, other, clip etc)

im sure you don't mind me leading myself back on subject (as mentioned in the past, i'd be more then happy to paypal you for your time spent with me here.) i really wish jriver offered payed support, i honestly don't think i'll ever have the time to learn all this code, expression, field stuff. and honestly, i don't care to. i'd much rather pay and have instances that i post fixed immediately by someone who knows their stuff, then me wracking my brain on my families (how ironic) entertainment system/media player.(this is not a bash to the software itself, but my lack of knowledge, and time, and patience for things like this) after all let's be honest i would have never been able to accomplish that, and ive already spent hours trying on my own, and with your help. had i had the ability to do live paid chat/phone/remote support. someone like you could have hammered this out in 3 minutes, at a jriver per instance rate. To me and my family it would be worth every penny.

If you have Firstname Lastname, then I'd go about this by using an expression that catches most cases (by taking just the last word as the last name), and also using a new field name, such as NameLastFirst, and fill in values for the exceptions.

I've had  alook at http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=69678.10 and i'll have to try this another day with a fresh head. I'll post my progress.
Thanks MrC.

[MrC]

is it possible to setup the auto import to only chose to tag media type as a movie, or as a short? (in one of my other libraries, i only use movie, or short, but upon every import jriver fills in media sub type with whatever it wants (tv show, other, clip etc)

Yes.  Just set the Media Sub Type in Auto-Import rules, like above, setting the Media Sub Type.  Its even one of the 3 default selectors available.  Make sure to uncheck the box so that MC will fill in already-set tags.

[HTPC4ME]

is it possible to setup the auto import to only chose to tag media type as a movie, or as a short? (in one of my other libraries, i only use movie, or short, but upon every import jriver fills in media sub type with whatever it wants (tv show, other, clip etc)

so i get this right and dont keep wasting your time...

for all video folders watched chose edit, then next to apply these tags chose add, then chose default Media Sub Type: Movie, And then Choose Add again, and chose custom, then field would be Media subtype, (Here is where im lost) when i select value there is no option for short. am i in wrong location again?

Make sure to uncheck the box so that MC will fill in already-set tags.

is skip for files that already have a value in this field the box you are talking about?
Thanks again

[JimH]

Hey mr. xtacbyme,
You've received a lot of answers to your questions and I think you're expert enough now to give back a little of your knowledge when others need help.  Just a thought.

[HTPC4ME]

feel free to look through my posts, i do when i can. also I'm one of the very few who offer to pay for support here and even mention it in my posts. in fact when users like MrC spend this much time with me i feel guilty about it!

i have just a thought as well...

how bout offering a paid support section in your forums...
list people who will take money for remote support, there specialties, (similiar to a quickbooks adviser/JRiver adviser) and you will never have hear from me again =) i honestly do not like writing this much.
I'd prefer to pay for support, give someone my PC ID and password, remote in and have them setup this stuff, and move on, and do other things that i actually enjoy doing, like spending time with my family amongst many other things like figuring out our shipping software, or website. gathering new clients,  etc.

Not everyone here has the same learning curve nor really cares to learn it. after all we're talking about expressions, and views, that once setup should never have to be worried about again. I do printing, thats what i care about learning inside and out thats what puts food on our table. i do not and if possible would prefer not to have to set a single thing up with this software. Also i know how important people's media can be and really do not want to answer a post i'm not 100% confident with in fear of screwing up there hard work they have done.

This is entertainment software, I don't find my time here trying to get this setup to our liking, entertaining to say the least. i also don't feel good having to ask these questions, getting answers that i just cannot understand, and asking others to elaborate, and wasting their time or yours.

Some get little butterflies when they successfully accomplish something of their liking, or to help others. i do not get that feeling with these expressions, rules, etc. .. it makes me want to pull my hair out and probley why i have a notepad with over 36 bullets of items related to jriver that i'm still struggling with from remote control setup not fully functional, to standard views, theater view questions, date acquired on disk, to other features dating back to version 9.

i'm not trying to sound rude here but I'm doing my best.
I''ll take a break with the support questions again for awhile.

[JimH]

I meant to encourage you to share the knowledge you do have.  I'm sorry if you were offended.  You're an advanced user.  You could help others.