Video Library Documentation

[aapezzuto]

I am setting up a HTPC for my twin girls, so that as soon as they are old enough they can have access to all the programming I have approved for them.

This has led me to a lot of video converting, now I am trying to organize it. I have not been able to find any documentation for how to set up files so that the video library can view them. I have managed to find a little information that I will list below, if you have more to add, please post it... if you also need this information, comment about that also!

What I rely want is a way to play a video play list(several videos in a row), how to link videos in a sub folder as if they were in the same folder, and how to make the browser start in a specific folder. Thanks!

• placing an image file with the same name as a video file in the same folder will cause that image to be displayed when you highlight the video in the browser
  
• placing an xml file with the same name as a video will read data from the xml file (Have not been able to find the syntax for the file)
  

[sub]

What I rely want is a way to play a video play list(several videos in a row), how to link videos in a sub folder as if they were in the same folder,

Unfortunately neither of those is possible.

There isnt currently a way in the Video Library to queue multiple files for playback.

You can create a shortcut in a directory to another folder of videos, but it'll show up as a folder, not as videos in the same directory.

how to make the browser start in a specific folder.

If you've only setup one video library directory, then it'll always start in that directory.

placing an xml file with the same name as a video will read data from the xml file (Have not been able to find the syntax for the file)

You can have a xml like:

<Title>
<LocalTitle>Shrek (2001)</LocalTitle>
<ProductionYear>2001</ProductionYear>
<RunningTime>90 min</RunningTime>
<Description>When a green ogre called Shrek discovers his swamp has been 'swamped' with all sorts of fairytale creatures by the scheming Lord Farquaad, Shrek sets out, with a very loud donkey by his side, to 'persuade' Farquaad to give his swamp back.</Description>
<Rating>9.1</Rating>
<Covers>
<Front>folder.jpg</Front>
</Covers>
<Genres>Animated,Comedy,Adventure</Genres>
</Title>

[aapezzuto]

Unfortunately neither of those is possible.

You can have a xml like:

<Title>
<LocalTitle>Shrek (2001)</LocalTitle>
<ProductionYear>2001</ProductionYear>
<RunningTime>90 min</RunningTime>
<Description>When a green ogre called Shrek discovers his swamp has been 'swamped' with all sorts of fairytale creatures by the scheming Lord Farquaad, Shrek sets out, with a very loud donkey by his side, to 'persuade' Farquaad to give his swamp back.</Description>
<Rating>9.1</Rating>
<Covers>
<Front>folder.jpg</Front>
</Covers>
<Genres>Animated,Comedy,Adventure</Genres>
</Title>

with this example will the Front tag overwrite the default of Videoname.jpg as the default image viewed?

are there other xml files that the browser will look at?

[BigMoose]

I've just tried this and it seems to completely ignore the xml file - I have for example. film1.mkv, film1.jpg and film1xml in my Video Library folder - it shows the jpg (I assume cause it's named the same as the video file) but nothing in the xml file at all. When I have a case where the jpg is not called the same as the video file but is referenced in the xml, it doesn't show it. Is there something you have to do to get it to use the xml files? I've cut and paste directly from above to get the xml format... I had a hunt through the config.xml and the wiki and couldn't see anything about video library xml use...

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It also needs to be with a skin that displays this information. What skin are you using?

[BigMoose]

The default/blue one.

[sub]

The blue skin doesnt display this info. Try the slick skin.