Hidden Files: Password Protect to Show/Hide

[Noelix]

Started on: 2006-12-21
last update: 2006-12-21

Summary: Show/Hide Explicit Files by entering in a parental controls password.

Area: Plugin or Core

Description: Let's say you have some hidden files, perhaps some movies or tv shows with language or nudity, that you wouldn't want kids to come across while using MP. Making them "hidden" in windows explorer essentially hides them in MP, regardless of whether or not "show hidden files/folders" is checked or unchecked in the windows explorer settings. I would like it if there was a way to make these hidden files/folders visible in MediaPortal, and be able to require a password to make them visible. A four-digit numerical password seems to be the standard for these things normally, so that would work fine. In addition to this, being able to mark new tv recordings or files "hidden" would be a plus. I'll illustrate with some images below.

So it would need a few things if it were a plugin. Firstly, the password screen, where you configure your settings and enter in your code to set it, change it, or enter it to show hidden files. A button would also be needed to hide the hidden files again. Secondly, it would need to be integrated into MP's context menu (see images provided) and show some kind of icon (I picked a pink keyhole, don't ask me why) to show which files are protected. Please note that in lockdown-mode, the "hidden" file would not even show up in the file structure, so the context menu option would only be able to hide normal files.

With the exception of the actual password, no databasing would be needed to keep track of which files are password-protected and which are not, as you can simply change the "hidden" status on the file from a command line as if you were doing it in windows explorer and right clicking on a file and hitting properties.

As this is my first official feature request / improvement suggestion, please let me know if I should add more details or mockups, or if I even posted this in the right place! Thanks guys, keep up all the great work.

[rtv]

We've discussed that for the re-write of MP already ;-)

[Noelix]

Awesome, keep us posted on it! Thanks rtv.

[BoelShit]

Uhmmm maybe I'm not getting it but isn't there a more easy way to achieve what you want here?

Why not create a folder with a pincode and put the "discrete" content in there?

[Noelix]

Well I'd rather be able to control it from the couch and apply it to recent tv recordings and such as well, instead of moving files around in windows.

[shred444]

rtv: you mention the re-write of MP. Care to give some more details?

[aarond]

Agree, this functionality would be great. However I would rather see it leverage "rating"s on recorded videos and using a parental control system to specify what level of content can be shown.

Then when you record a new show, you would specify it a "R" or "PG" etc, and then based on your current level it would not be shown if not appropriate. Great thing here is that you could set the rating when setting the program to record, and then it would even show in the schedule if the current parental control setting was not "high" enough.