Question about My Videos views and more (1 Viewer)

[MacMini]

Just got a Dual Mac Mini (booting to XP MCE 2005 through Boot Camp) and dumped my big MCE box. The thing works really great I also actually like Media Portal (using the latest release) better than MCE (it's actually more stable))

But here are a couple of questions:

1. I use a couple of Firewire drives where I have ripped all my DVDs (to Video_ts). I pointed Media Portal to the first firewire drive, then placed an alias of the second drive in the first one (MP would not let me select both at the same time.) The problem is, now when I go to list view, right on top of the list there is an entry "t ..." and if a click on it, it takes me to the tree listing the attached drives. How can I get rid of this "t ..." entry? It can be confusing to others who use MP.

2. I tried the automatic DVD art feature, but it ran through my library really fast, then it said that it found 103 items, but didn't get any cover art. I am doing something wrong? (I had used My Movies in MCE on the same folders, but I don't think it does anything to them.) I do plan to try running DVD Profiler and see if I can import the cover art from there.

3. Is there a way to create a menu item for My Movies? I would like to keep my DVD rips in My Movies and my home videos in My Videos.

4. Is there a way to get Non-Linear Stretch in MP? Basically it is a mode where 4x3 video material is stretched to fill 16x9 monitor, but the center of the image is not stretched, while the sides are.

5. Last one. I am using a MX-850 universal remote programmed for MCE. Most of it works correctly, but MCE had a setting where I could assign the "Channel" buttons to skip chapters when watching a DVD. Is there a setting where I can do this here. Also, how can I program the equivalent to the Green Button to start Media Portal? (Is there a CCF file that maps all these somewhere?)

Thanks!

 

[NLS]

Good buy.

And those are not a couple of questions.

When you say you pointed MP to your firewire drive, I take it you talk about adding an entry to "Movie Folders" right?

I am not sure aliases work ok from within MP (or from within MANY programs for that matter), it is no Amiga here (the Best Computer Ever By Far).

From within "Movie Folders" you should probably add both firewire drives separately and this in fact is where you add the "menu item" you talk about. Except if I don't read you correctly.

I am not sure there is such stretch mode in MP. Maybe you should try some external filter?

I am not aware of MX-850. Is it an MCE remote? If it is, there is a related tab in "remote" in configuration that also allows for mapping. Else I would use something else in between, like Girder of HIP (the second I hear works better with the Green button).

 

[NLS]

just found out about your remote - wow... VERY expensive for a remote

anyway, it is not an MCE dedicated control so I presume it comes with its own software, where you can program it as you like right?

this is what you should use

 

[MacMini]

... When you say you pointed MP to your firewire drive, I take it you talk about adding an entry to "Movie Folders" right?....

Thanks NLS!

I tried placing aliases of the Firewire drives into the My Videos folder in My Documents, but that didn't work. What worked for me was placing an alias of the Firewire drive #2 into Firewire drive #1, then in MP Setup (Videos) adding Firewire #1 and checking its box. After doing this, all of the movies (Video_ts folders) on both drives show up together, nicely alphabetized. Except I still see on the very top, above the list of movies that "t ..." entry, but I figured it is not a a big deal, since I usually browse by large icon.

I also figured out that I can change the mapping of the remote control keys in MP Set up too, and added an entry for the Channels up/down buttons to skip chapters while a DVD is playing.

The one thing I can't figure out though, is how to start MP with the remote when I am viewing the desktop. MCE has a "Green Button" on its remote, which starts MCe when pressed. I hope that there is a regedit entry where I can replace the call to MCE with a call to MP. Anyone done that?

 

[NLS]

So in the remote's "native" configuration software there is not setting for that button right?

I think it will be a registry entry then (they cannot be more stupid).

Good luck.

See if this helps:

http://www.byremote.com.au/HIP/

 

[Jetboy]

The one thing I can't figure out though, is how to start MP with the remote when I am viewing the desktop. MCE has a "Green Button" on its remote, which starts MCe when pressed. I hope that there is a regedit entry where I can replace the call to MCE with a call to MP. Anyone done that?

Here is a thread that will probably help you. I don't have an MCE remote so I haven't read through it all but you'll probably find what you came for.

 

[MacMini]

Thanks. Here is a thread that also gives an answer:

https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/viewtopic.php?t=15505&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

And here is a direct link to the file (by Smirnuff):

https://www.team-mediaportal.com/component/option,com_remository/Itemid,0/func,fileinfo/id,77/

I'll try it tonight.

Now, three more things to get it good:

1. How can I get rid of the "t ..." entry (which becomes a "level up" icon in Icon View and sits in front of the movie entries? I don't see the purpose of it and it gives the movie library screen a somewhat DOS look.

2. What about a My Movies type plug in, to separate actual DVD rips from the rest? Is there such a thing that I have missed, or some other solution to separate different types of video stored?

3. So there really is no Non-Linear Stretch feature in MP? It's available on stand-alone players like WinDVD and even MCE has it now (although badly implemented, since it cuts into the top and bottom of the image ; more like a Zoom, really.) It is really useful for people with 16x9 monitors when watching 4x3 material.