Profler2MP, FileStack patch & MyMovies Assistant for DVD Profiler & MP

[cyberfix]

Note 1: Any posts that mention "configuration.exe" should be read as "Profiler2MP.exe" instead. As it is a separate executable now instead of replacing your configuration.exe file.
Note 2: This is to help those that want to use the built-in "My Videos" program without having to use any of the other excellent add-ons such as MyDVD or MesFilms, etc. I just want to use the core program features without having to need an add-on. Patched "Profiler2MP.exe" will allow importing of DVD Profiler XML file with cover art. Also, the movie path will be imported if it is available in the DVD Profiler notes section and surrounded by quotes. MyMovies Assistant can assist in adding movie paths to your DVD Profiler XML file in case you do not already have them there. These files should work with MP v0.2.3.0 and newer unless they change the file stacking dialog or database structure for movies. The "FileStackPatch" allows you to see the movie name when selecting from multiple parts/movies like in South Park Season 1. Read below for more details...

Updates 12-24-07:
-Did not realize that I introduced a bug that was not importing images properly. Fixed.
-Converted the program to a standalone executable called Profiler2MP.exe and it must be located in the MP folder to run. This should allow one version to work for a long time unless lots of changes are made to MP. It is still based off of the configuration program.
-Fixed a naming issue for image names with movies that had a single quote that I thought was fixed in the first version
-Added support for moview review rating (stars) for DVD Profiler v3.x exports. They have to be set in DVD Profiler manually at this time. By default they seem to all be set to nothing. It is on the main movie info screen.

Updates 10-14-2007:
Added better handling of DVD Folder structure import. Will now search for the IFO file to add to the files list.
Modified the FileStacking code to handle DVD Season Sets such as South Park, etc. It will now show the name of the selected Disc. Only supporting the newer SVNs for now as they seem to be stable for me.

Updates 10-03-2007:
Added an updated configuration.exe (now called Profler2MP) because of recent changes in the snapshot updates broke the old version I was using. NOTE: not relevant anymore since it is standalone application and not a patched replacement.

Profler2MP.exe will allow you to import old 2.x or newer 3.x DVD Profiler XML files. It will show a status bar of the import process and will import the images.

Updated 09-13-2007:
You can just use this Profler2MP.exe to import images from DVD Profiler. MyMovies Assistant is only useful if you need to add directory information to the DVD Profiler XML file for importing purposes. MMA can match paths to movies even if they are missing a word such as "THE", etc. It has a fairly descent matching algorithm and lets you manually change ones that it could not match. Plus you can run it against several directories (one at a time). It will modify the XML file to have path information for the Profler2MP.exe to read in. Once again, only if you need that part of the feature. Otherwise, just use the new Profler2MP.exe and let me know what you think.

Changelog - I noticed the original configuration.exe (now Profler2MP) is dealing with the old DVD Profiler XML files. My last version only dealt with new DVD Profiler XML files. This version will try to determaine the DVD Profiler version and import the XML file. It has an option to import the images from DVD Profiler. So it should work with v2.5.x or v3.x.x profiles.

It has a small patch for issues with naming image files to match the movie (Changes '' to a single ') until I can track down the source of this problem.

--Original Message--
Profler2MP & My Movies Assistant Utility:
Profler2MP: Unzip and copy Profler2MP.exe to your MP folder. This will allow you to revert back to it, if you run into issues.

I am not sure how everyone else is importing their movies into MP. I prefer to have everything cataloged in DVD Profiler since I have been using it for several years. I am a new user to MP and I noticed the MP Configuration seems broken when working with the DVD Profiler import feature. It will not grab actors, credits and sometimes genres. Then once it finishes the import, it seems to hang after changing the movie title in the EDIT box.

I am an old user of MyMovies2 on MCE and liked the ability of importing movie paths based on the Notes field. The program MyMovies Assistant will match directories to names and update the DVD Profiler XML file. The Profler2MP.exe will add all movies in those paths and also copy the images/thumbnails from DVD Profiler.

MyMovies Assistant Introduction: Unzip the file and you will see an executable file with a HELP folder. The program has a lame attempt at an help file for those that are interested.

This program is designed to work with DVD Profiler XML files. It will modify the XML file for use with MyMovies2 media center plug-in or to be imported by the Media Portal Profler2MP.exe program. MyMovies Assistant will alter your DVD Profiler XML file by automatically adding the movie paths and disc descriptions.

This program may not be of use to others, but I have found that it saves a lot of time and frustration. I have my movies on multiple networked drives. The directory layout is similar to this:

D:
 16 Blocks
 Braveheart
 Robin Hood
 South Park Season 1
     Episode 101 - Cartman Gets an Anal Probe
     Episode 102 - Volcano 
     Episode 103 - Weight Gain 4000
     ....
     Episode 113 - Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut
 Titantic
 Zorro
     Zorro
     Zorro - Extras

 E:\
   Dukes of Hazzard
   Dead Poet's Society
   Superman
   Young Guns

For those of you that have used MyMovies plug-in for media center, you know that you have to enter the movie locations in DVD Profiler into the "Notes" section for each movie. If it has multiple directories (like South Park), you have to add 1 disc for each title and then enter all of the directories. (E.g. [ONLINELOCATION1="d:\The Descent - Unrated"])

The other option is to let the program scan your hard drive and try to match and download the movie information. This has always been hit or miss, especially if you have any artsy or foreign films. I would much rather have all of the details pulled from DVD Profiler since it has nice images and the correct information sitting there.

This program will allow you to take the DVD Profiler exported XML file and automatically update the directory information. This means you will not longer have to go manually add the information to the Notes section of DVD Profiler. It will automatically add it to the XML file along with creating Disc Titles for the multiple directory movies like TV series. This modified XML file can then be imported into MyMovies or using the modified version of the configuration.exe files for Media Portal. In Media Portal, it will add all video files from each directory of the movie. This is placed in the central database of Media Portal so that the default movie plug-in will have access to it.

If you want, give it a try and let me know if there are any ideas or bugs.

Thanks,
cyberfix

[mzemina]

OK - I am going to try out what you have provided. I also have used DVDProfiler version 2.4 (free, not the latest version since I would have to purchase it due to my DVD library size >50). I have tried to switch over to the Ant DVD catalog, but the conversion was very lame and Ant doesn't have half of the fields that are in DVDProfiler.

So with your MyMovies Assistant - can I drop using DVDProfiler to add new movies to my collection?

[cyberfix]

Originally Posted by mzemina

OK - I am going to try out what you have provided. I also have used DVDProfiler version 2.4 (free, not the latest version since I would have to purchase it due to my DVD library size >50). I have tried to switch over to the Ant DVD catalog, but the conversion was very lame and Ant doesn't have half of the fields that are in DVDProfiler.

So with your MyMovies Assistant - can I drop using DVDProfiler to add new movies to my collection?

I registered with DVD Profiler several years back, so I did not have the ads and could use the hires cover scans. I thought that with version 2.4 it lost access to new movies being added to their movie database? I know in the MMA (MyMovies Assistant), I added support for either the old or new DVD Profiler XML format.

You will still need to use DVD Profiler to enter your movies. I do this because it is a great program and allows me to print out reports very easily. It would be very difficult to try an replace all of the functionality that DVD Profiler has to offer. The MMA program will just let you add Disc Name and movie path location to the DVD Profiler XML file. I grew tired of always adding several Discs for series sets and then having to construct the [ONLINELOCATION] information to use it with MyMovies MCE plugin, so this makes that part of it easy. If you already have all of that defined in DVD Profiler, then you really do not need to run MMA. In order for the new MP configuration.exe to pick up the directory information, it should be in the NOTES section of DVD Profiler and 1 per a line enlcosed with quotes such as:

"D:\Movies\Symon"
"D:\Movies\SP\Ep 1"
"D:\Movies\SP\Ep 2"

MMA proides a way to automate a lot of this part of the process. Now, I just enter the DVD Profiler movies. Once I am done, I export the XML Profile, run MMA on the profile against all my movie directories to make sure they are all mapped. Then I let MP configuration.exe import that information for me.

I hope this explains the uses clear enough.

You may run into this issue in the new version of the MP configuration.exe as it is based off the current DVD Profiler XML format. The main fields that would be affected would be (actors, genres, credits). Also, the images may be in a different location, so that may not work as well. Please let me know, which if any of those 4 items do not work. If they do not work, I will see about adding dual support to the configuration.exe.

Thanks,
cyberfix

[cyberfix]

Originally Posted by mzemina

OK - I am going to try out what you have provided. I also have used DVDProfiler version 2.4 (free, not the latest version since I would have to purchase it due to my DVD library size >50).

The new version will of configuration.exe will work with DVD Profiler v2.5.x, so hopefully it will work with v2.4.x, but I do not have that version. I had an old v2.5 profile laying around and the newer v3.x profiler. They both import just fine.

I would be curious to know if this configuration.exe speeds up refreshes between movie picks for you too.

Thanks,
cyberfix

[yatesd]

Hi,



This sounds exactly what I have been looking for if I understand correctly.

I have always maintained a DVD Profiler list for my DVD's but also created an ANT DB from it so that I could easily import in using the MyFilms. If I can import my DVD profiler in directly then that will save me alot of work and also mean I can remove one additional plugin that seems to be supported less recently.

Can't wait to try this out tonight.

One question I didn't quite understand. I am using the RC2 currently as I have found the recent SVN's a little buggy in that they freeze. Will the new DVD Profiler 3.x importing work with the RC2 configuration update that you provided or do I have to update to the SVN that you mentioned?


Thanks,

Dave

[cyberfix]

Originally Posted by yatesd

Hi,
One question I didn't quite understand. I am using the RC2 currently as I have found the recent SVN's a little buggy in that they freeze. Will the new DVD Profiler 3.x importing work with the RC2 configuration update that you provided or do I have to update to the SVN that you mentioned?

The easiest thing to do is download them both and see which one will run. Start with the "MP Patch for 0.2.3.0 RC2 - Rev. B.zip" one first. I was using that one and with a recent SVN update, it would not open up anymore, so I patched a newer version of the configuration.exe. I think it has something to do with the Music database changes. My recommendation is to only use it to import the DVD Profiler information. Then, rename it and use the original configuration.exe for everything else.

I may make a stand alone version at some point that does not have to be updated everytime MP configuration has drastic changes made to it. It would just do imports only. All editing would still be done through configuration.exe. Until then, I submitted the changes as a patch request, maybe part of them will get implemented into MP.

Here is what I end up doing:
Export newest DVD Profiler list when I am ready to update the MP movie list.
Run MyMovies Assistance to add all directory information to the DVD Profiler Notes section for each movie (not everybody needs this ability, I used to use it for MyMovies in MCE, but still use for the patched configuration.exe)
Run patched configuration.exe, delete old database, import new database.

NOTE: In recent versions, the import seems to go slower. I think this is due to database or SQL changes. The small status bar that will appear at the bottom above the import button is to provide visual feedback on the progress.

Let me know if you run into any issues and I will help out as I can.

Thanks.

[mzemina]

cyberfix - Have you asked the developers to merge this into the SVN? Allthough it may have to wait until after the feature freeze is lifted.

[yatesd]

Okay, I tried it just now and can get everything in as expected which is great. but realised I am missing a couple of things and maybe misunderstood another.

a) I do not seem to get any DVD Covers in MP - is this not possible or do I need to set an option
b) there are no ratings, never noticed really that DVD profiler didn#t have any ratings - is there an option in there to get ratings from somewhere?
c) I have no way to import in the basic titles that I have locally on my HDD and that are stored currently in ANT into DVD profiler. The assistant will only update titles that already exist with the correct path info.


Thanks,

[cyberfix]

Originally Posted by mzemina

cyberfix - Have you asked the developers to merge this into the SVN? Allthough it may have to wait until after the feature freeze is lifted.

I submitted the source code as a patch on the patches site. Plus the source code is included with the file. Hopefully more support will be provided within the core program in future releases.

[cyberfix]

Originally Posted by yatesd

Okay, I tried it just now and can get everything in as expected which is great. but realised I am missing a couple of things and maybe misunderstood another.

a) I do not seem to get any DVD Covers in MP - is this not possible or do I need to set an option
b) there are no ratings, never noticed really that DVD profiler didn#t have any ratings - is there an option in there to get ratings from somewhere?
c) I have no way to import in the basic titles that I have locally on my HDD and that are stored currently in ANT into DVD profiler. The assistant will only update titles that already exist with the correct path info.

a) I am attaching a screen shot that shows the extra options. If you look above the buttons at the bottom there is a checkbox for DVD Profiler Options. It will enable the options for copy images and use sort title. I did this for people that may of had images they did not want overwritten. Select copy images and you should be set.
b) I noticed this feature after using MP. MyMovies in MCE did not show such a thing and as far as I know DVD Profiler does not have this available. I am not sure of a workaround for this. Maybe adding ANT XML support would allow for that.
c) You can not add those to DVD Profiler? If not, I need a better understanding of this item. If you do not have an item in DVD Profiler, it does not have a way to get any information for that item. This might ultimately be addressed by adding ANT support to.

As far as ANT XML support goes, I have never seen or used the program. I do not know what the format is for its XML file.

I am open to other suggestions on items B & C. If there is enough demand for ANT importing, I can look into it. I will need an example of an ANT XML file. I can make no promises, though. It would be great to have all of the support eventually within the core configuration without plugins.

Thanks.