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[sraymond]

From the help file:

MPL Playlist

An MPL Playlist will contain all the fields stored in the Media Center database, including custom fields. It’s XML based so you can edit information in any text editor.

Note: This is a good way to keep backup copies of your Playlists. In this way, if you ever have to move all your files to a new computer or a different drive, and for some reason you can’t move the files from within Media Center, you can simply globally change the drive letter in the file to your new drive, play the MPL file and save it again in your library.

But I don't understand how the "import" of the MPL works.  Playing an MPL does what?  How do I "save it again" in the library?

The reason I bring this up is the thread http://www.musicex.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=MediaCenter;action=display;num=1065319541;start=3#3 got me to thinking if there was an easier way to fix changed drive lettes other than "find/replace".  And then I got to thinking this might be a nice way to "import" the 10,000 pieces of artwork that I need to fill tags to automatically.

Scott-

[sraymond]

Bump.

[sraymond]

Bump.

[graham131]

Bump.

My wife has a big bump!!!!  2 days overdue now and still no sign!

[sraymond]

Bump.

(what's that, now?  three bumps and a big bump?)

There has been some discussion about this functionality added as part of a plugin done by Scott. (see thread http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?board=5;action=display;threadid=16570).

JRiver:  Can you please explain the help section I mentioned?  Is it possible to play an MPL (as a way to import it)?

Scott-

[JimH]

Scott,
Not sure what you're asking or if we can help.  A playlist is a list of tracks, not the tracks themselves.  You can import this list into MC.

You'll have to experiment to see what you can do with it.

Sorry not to give a better answer.  Maybe someone who uses playlists a lot can help.

Jim

[sraymond]

Scott,
Not sure what you're asking or if we can help.  A playlist is a list of tracks, not the tracks themselves.  You can import this list into MC.

You'll have to experiment to see what you can do with it.

Sorry not to give a better answer.  Maybe someone who uses playlists a lot can help.

Jim

Thanks for the response, Jim...  I appreciated it.  I was asking about the help section (quoted in my first message of this thread) that implies you can import an MPL into MC - but I couldn't figure out how it's done.  I tried "playing" the MPL (as the help section said), but it didn't work.   I get the message "Please select file(s) to play."

I understand that the MPL does not contain the media files themselves - rather just the metadata (MC fields) that describes them.

Scott-

[JimH]

... implies you can import an MPL into MC - but I couldn't figure out how it's done.  

It's one of the file types under the Import option (advanced).  Check the "Media Playlist" type.

[sraymond]

... implies you can import an MPL into MC - but I couldn't figure out how it's done.  

It's one of the file types under the Import option (advanced).  Check the "Media Playlist" type.

Importing the MPL via the "Import Media" function simply creates a database entry for the MPL file (File Type:MPL and Media Type:Data).  I still can't "play" the MPL.

The help file reads:

...you can simply globally change the drive letter in the file to your new drive, play the MPL file and save it again in your library.

which tells me that if I make a change in the MPL (say, change the drive letter), there is a way to reflect that change to the MPL in the library.

Perhaps I'm being particularly dense here?

Scott-

[Nikolay]

Scott,

MPL is a Media Center's playlist file. You can import it by selecting it as one of the import formats in Import Media window (Tools->Import Media, then click on Advanced button), or you can drug and drop an MPL file into Media Library.

The difference between MPL and other playlist formats is that MPL contains the majority of track information (e.g. Name, Artist, Album, Track Number, Custom Fields). Also, if you import MPL file, MC will use information stored inside MPL instead of file's tag information; thus, MC can retrieve information about media files which do not support tagging.

Regards,
Nikolay

[sraymond]

Scott,

MPL is a Media Center's playlist file. You can import it by selecting it as one of the import formats in Import Media window (Tools->Import Media, then click on Advanced button), or you can drug and drop an MPL file into Media Library.

The difference between MPL and other playlist formats is that MPL contains the majority of track information (e.g. Name, Artist, Album, Track Number, Custom Fields). Also, if you import MPL file, MC will use information stored inside MPL instead of file's tag information; thus, MC can retrieve information about media files which do not support tagging.

Regards,
Nikolay

So the imported MPL doesn't actually change the library?

If I "import" the MPL, I can't play it (by selecting the library entry for it and "playing") - I get a "select select file(s) to play" dialog box.  But I *can* play the MPL by using the "Open Media File" menu item.  Although, playing the MPL in this manner doesn't use the MPL field information - it uses the library information instead (i.e. no override).

Sorry for all the questions...  I really am trying as hard as I can to understand.

Scott-

[Nikolay]

Media Center will update information in Media Library only if the file is not already in the library. If you import new MPL file into a library, and the files which are inside MPL are not already inside the library, Media Center will create new entries in the library by using information about the newly imported file(s) which was gathered from the MPL file.

You have to understand that you can't import MPL files themselves, you can only import files that MPL file references. In other words, if you import an MPL file, you will see media files in the library, but not the MPL file.

The only time "select file(s) to play" message pops up is when MC can't find file(s) to play. Make sure that all the files inside MPL file exist on your hard drive.

Nikolay

[sraymond]

Nikolay,

Thanks for the clear explanation - I think I've got it.  When I removed the track (media file) from the library, importing the MPL worked exactly as you've stated.  I guess my confusion centered on the "update" issue.   I'm not sure how the MPL once ended up in my library

Importing the MPL via the "Import Media" function simply creates a database entry for the MPL file (File Type:MPL and Media Type:Data).  I still can't "play" the MPL.

It isn't happening now - so maybe there's a little bug.  I'll see if I can't find a pattern.

To confirm, there is no way to *update* the media library from an MPL, right?  It is only an *insert* function provided that the file does not already exist in the library.

I'm glad you helped me figure this out - it is, indeed, a way to accomplish my task of

And then I got to thinking this might be a nice way to "import" the 10,000 pieces of artwork that I need to fill tags to automatically.

If I might make a suggestion, it would be beneficial to allow the import to do an "update" as well as an "insert".  I realize this breaks the "import media" use case, so I imagine it's not a simple fix.

Again, thanks for the explanation!

Scott-

[Nikolay]

Glad we could help.

To confirm, there is no way to *update* the media library from an MPL, right?

Correct.

If I might make a suggestion, it would be beneficial to allow the import to do an "update" as well as an "insert".  

May be in the future.

Nikolay

[scott_r]

sraymond:

Am I right in assuming you want to take an MPL, use it's contents to either import or update the files in your database depending on whether or not they already exist in the database, and use the info in the MPL?

If I am right, this is possible. Just not with the current state of MC. I just played around with the automation interface and it seems that I'll be able to write a complement plugin to MC XML Export that does just this and maybe even call it "MC XML Import" to be original

Let me know,

Scott.

[sraymond]

Scott.,

My original question a while ago was with how to import thousands of JPG artwork images - and not have to manually tag each one.  These images are available from a website that has the tags in an HTML document.  I "sucked" down the website (all the images and the HTML that had the metadata) and created an XSLT that created an MPL.  But I couldn't figure out how to get the MPL into MC.  Well, either it was operator error or maybe there's a bug - but I sure didn't understand the process.

I know understand that this is totally possible...  and it also provides a way to backup just parts of a library.

*BUT*...  it's only "insert", not "update", which I think is unfortunate.  So....  yes:

Am I right in assuming you want to take an MPL, use it's contents to either import or update the files in your database depending on whether or not they already exist in the database, and use the info in the MPL?

That is precisely what I'm imagining.

It would bridge the gap (which I think can be very large) between JRiver not including a functionality internal to MC and your desire to do something particular.  Here are just two examples:
1)  The [Date (filename friendly)] field was a great improvement over the previous [Date] field.  But I want to customize it and there is currently no way to do this.  So I'd like to export an MPL, transform this single field, and "update" the library with the MPL.
2)  The "Field Control" plugin.  I think the current functinality is certainly useful, but it's just a matter of time before someone asks for something else.  All this can be done with XSLT and then we won't have to burden (and wait for) a plugin developer to make changes.

So, then...  I eagerly await the unveiling of MCXMLImport!  You're awesome.

Scott-