How to use Moving Pictures 101 (2 Viewers)

[trunkdog]

Hello all,

A registered newbie here. I have been dabbling with MediaPortal (MP) for a month or so and prefer the app to all else I have tried. It seems there is always a gotcha with any app I look at, whether it be player, cataloguer, rip, mux just the whole ball of wax. This one does everything except play ISO's; that one does everything except....

At any rate, MP seems to head the list as far as total integration, functionality, ease of use, pleasing GUI, etc.

The lone draw back I have is the cataloging / capturing of metadata. I have "toyed" with the scan feature in MP.
Most files are lacking in metadata. It just seems weak. (I am not knocking the app, just my ability to use it correctly). So I happened upon Moving Pictures (MVP). It looks like just the ticket. I did an install, checked the config and set my Movie Details Data Sources to themoviedb,org and IMDB.org. When I return to MP I see no change in the interface. I guess I expected to see metadata galore! Can I manually set my prefs for metadata sources?

So off to the forum to peruse the post. I can find plenty of speak on issues of use, but nothing on MVP101 for terminally clueless noobies like me.

Could SKS give me a primer?

I suppose what I am saying is:

Does MP/MVP have a GUI w/ metadata import on par w/ say, Movie Collector or Open Media Library?
If so, could SKS please tell me how to properly use it?
I expect to see movie art w/ synopsis and backdrop, single clicking a link (image?) to launch the player.
I am currently toggling between VideoLAN and the internal player and prefer VLC.
Right now I see folders with ISO's inside after selecting the folder.

Everything I have been able to achieve to date has either lacked functionality or looked clunky.
And that ain't cool on my pretty 65" DLP

Thank everyone involved for a truly fantastic app with soaring promise!

 

[ryan20021982]

Did you choose your folders containing the videos in the config and let it scan them and dl all the info and covers?

 

[trunkdog]

Ryan,

I appreciate the response. Yes, I selected the source folders and did a scan. I now see part of my problem, I need to use "Layout View"="List" and "Switch View" to anything other than "Shares". I then get scrolling synopsis. Enter Mr. Gotcha! Is the interface written such that you must be in "Shares" view to play the movie? If I am in any other viewing mode I can right+click on a film title and select "Play". Nothing happens. The only way I can get a flick to play is using viewing mode="Shares".
Is this an RTFM issue

Please note I am using VideoLAN as my external player. The behavior is the same with the internal player.

FWIW: If I do a screen capture (MP doesn't like to be interrupted, does she) from SnagIt MP politely and simply disappears, no warning, no WatchDog, no nuttin

Now that I have a vested interest in the app (loss of sleep) I can look forward to being a productive member here

 

[STuNZ]

Sounds alot like you are selecting"My Videos" from within MediaPortal to view your movies rather than "Moving Pictures".

 

[gshipley]

Sounds alot like you are selecting"My Videos" from within MediaPortal to view your movies rather than "Moving Pictures".

Yeah, it sounds like you are not actually in Moving Pictures from the Media Portal Interface. There is a pretty good guide over at AVSForums on how to setup MP and Moving Pictures.

MediaPortal Install Guide - AVS Forum

I don't know if it has the latest version of Moving Pictures though but that is easy to fix.

 

[rekenaar]

FWIW: If I do a screen capture (MP doesn't like to be interrupted, does she) from SnagIt MP politely and simply disappears, no warning, no WatchDog, no nuttin

F11 inside MediaPortal will do the screen capture.

 

[trunkdog]

Thx for the help here

@gshipley: The link was spot on my man!

@ rekenaar: F11 will work for me; but I actually want a "region" snapshot. Guess I'll just F11+Crop.

@ STuNZ: I have tried toggling MVP from "In Home" to "In Plugins" and back; no dice
What is the "MPInstaller" Tab used for
I have "Show My Plugins" selected under Home Config; Moving Pictures shows on the "Menu Setup Panel".

Two things I find odd; No minimize in MP and no "OK or Save" to dismiss the MVP config panel.

Ah Ha I can't get to MVP w/ B3W

Skinz

OK, so now I have MVP in MP w/ B3 skin. I think I'll just leave it be and enjoy a little EC live before I mess w/ skins and break things again

MP ROCKS!

Again, I really appreciate the assistance.
Cheers!

 

[rekenaar]

Hi again

You must also remember that there are 2 menu screens: Home and BasicHome. In MP Configuration under General, you select whether to start with BasicHome or not. The plugin option "Show in Home" is NOT applicable to BasicHome. Therefor, there is no default option to show movingpictures on B3W BasicHome. It can however be accomplished with some xml editing.

Much easier to rather use the normal Home scren or use a skin like StreamedMP where movingpictures is included on BasicHome. And it even comes with a BasicHome menu editor.

 

[trunkdog]

Well I don't really know where to start here...

Toggling off the "Start with Basic Home" allows me to see the Moving Pictures data.
Selecting a movie errors out.

I have loaded and applied StreamedMP (sMP) . Regardless of the skin, B3 or sMP the only way I can get playback of my films is with the "Video" folder. And the weird thing is I must toggle OFF the Daemon Tools. If I try, what I believe to be my best look and feel, sMP w/ Moving Pictures (MVP) I either get "Image Failed to Mount" (Daemon Tools not set in config) or "Virtual Drive Not Ready' due to the fact that VCD failed to mount the image.

RL smackin' me in the face right now, gotta run..

 

[trunkdog]

Of course this leaves me without access to the balance (100+) of my movies as they did import with MVP.
I need to know how to either:
1) Apply manual edits with MP's importer
2) Get the Moving Pictures GUI to mount and play my ISO's (preferred)
3) Get pointed in the right direction

The StreamedMP is awesome!