View Full Version : Exclude certain files when importing to library?
jimtreats
2008-10-02, 21:44
Hi folks,
I discovered that XBMC was available for mac last night (how long has that been the case?) and was excited to test it on my macbook pro and be met by generally a very nice feeling media frontend.
I'm going to install it on the mac mini under the tv later tonight but wanted to ask if there was a way to reduce a slight headache that i have with my media files.
Up until now i've been using frontrow to playback my files, namely ones that itunes/quicktime don't natively support so i've been using perian to load the files (mkvs etc) into quicktime, waiting for it to finish caching the file and then saving the file as a reference file. This mov file can then be added to itunes and used within frontrow.
Frustratingly now I have the problem that when importing the media directory I get duplicates of the tv shows and films I have. Its less of a problem with the tv shows as although the total count is double the size you can only see individual episodes. The movies however show up twice, one for the original file, one for the reference file. The latter can't be ran as its a .mov file that only works via quicktime using perian.
Anyways i wondered if there was a way i could filter out say *.mov from all the files i import for tv and movies. I can remove the files from the library but whenever i refresh the folder to look for new media it just re-adds the duplicates back in again.
Hope its possible. Great to have this software on a machine that has the power for the modern HD formats.
Cheers
Hi and welcome to the forums.
Yes, it should be possible to do what you want using the <excludefromscan> (http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=AdvancedSettings.xml#.3Cexcludefromscan.3E) advanced setting.
You will need to create a file ~/Library/Application Support/XBMC/userdata/advancedsettings.xml and put something like this in it (totally untested):
<advancedsettings>
<excludefromscan>
<regexp>[.]mov$</regexp>
</excludefromscan>
</advancedsettings>
EDIT: Another option, if all your movs are in one folder is to specifically exclude that folder from the scan which you can do from the GUI.
jimtreats
2008-10-02, 22:16
Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a go in a moment. Sadly to keep the mov/mkv's portable they have to live in the same directory. If i totally adopt XBMC (which i most likely will do) then i will be able to remove the mkvs to another folder. But in the transition i'd like to be able to fall back to frontrow if i need to.
I've got remote buddy and am presuming i'll be able to use that to launch xbmc with the mac remote!?
I'm having some trouble at the moment with installing it on the mac mini. I just tried installing it as the htpc user which doesn't have the required permissions. So I had to authenticate which i did do, but then the installer failed to do something with User i think. I then switched to the user who has permissions and tried installing and that also failed. I've rebooted and am going to try again. Hopefully thats not fatal. I'll start another thread on that if it is a problem.
If i get it working i'll give your recommendation a try.
I'm a bit confused. According to the info I added
<video>
<excludefromscan>
<regexp>[Ee][Xx][Tt][Rr][Aa][Ss]*.*</regexp>
</excludefromscan>
</video>
which didn't match or was ignored.
Should I change video to advancedsettings?
The file needs to be enclosed with <advancedsettings> tags
http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=Advancedsettings.xml#Layout
Btw what version are you using?
This was added to SVN after the 8.10 stable release.
I don't know. This stuff really doesn't seem to be working:
I now have this file <complete file):
<advancedsettings>
<video>
<excludefromscan>
<regexp>[Ee][Xx][Tt][Rr][Aa][Ss]*.*</regexp>
</excludefromscan>
</video>
</advancedsettings>
as advancedsettings.xml.
I restarted XBMC. I have gathered all movie info via XBMC companion. I see a bunch of blank entries in the library list all for extras.
What am I doing wrong?
Are you saying I need to use a later build? I will try that.
If you actually told me what version or build you are using I could recommend something.
I was using Atlantis (release). I then picked the 'Experimental' version from Sourceforge. But no luck with that one, either.
Suggestions?
jmarshall
2009-01-23, 02:37
What is this "experimental version"?
Do a full debuglog, paste it to pastebin and link to it from here.
That will tell us:
1. What version you are using.
2. Whether the advancedsettings.xml file is being read.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Experimental version is the title at Sourceforge. No idea what that means.
Now I used 16953. This stuff stacks differently which confused me initially and showed less Extras but they were stacked.
I do not know how to get the debug log. Can you advise?
With pastebin, do you mean pastebin.com?
jmarshall
2009-01-23, 05:53
See my sig. And yes, pastebin.com or any other paste site.
There are now at least four links like this in the thread:
For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first (http://xbmc.org/wiki/index.php?title=HOW-TO_Submit_a_Proper_Bug_Report).
Experimental version is the title at Sourceforge. No idea what that means.
Now I used 16953. This stuff stacks differently which confused me initially and showed less Extras but they were stacked.
I do not know how to get the debug log. Can you advise?
With pastebin, do you mean pastebin.com?
Ok, I figured the debug log out. Log coming up shortly.
Ok, I figured the debug log out. Log coming up shortly.
Ok, guys, I got it. I read the debug log.
I fear the instructions on where to placed the advancedsetting.xml are misleading. I placed it into
C:\Program Files\XBMC\userdata
whereas they go into
C:\Documents and Settings\userid\Application Data\XBMC\userdata
This was absolutely not clear to me.
The doc reads:
>>> The "advancedsettings.xml" file, which does not exist by default, may be created by a user in their "\UserData\" folder. <<<
It fails to mention the Application Data folder (of course, a user would look in the installation folder).
Unless he read up as instructed:
http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=The_UserData_Folder
http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=XBMC_for_Windows_specific_FAQ
Well, having found the 'Userdata' folder I did not go hunting for it.
Well, it reads the the advancedsettings.xml but still issues the query and find the series '"Extras".
I doublechecked my regular expression. The movies are called 'Extras.mkv', 'Extras - 1.mkv' and so on.
Regexbuddy thinks it matches but you may use a different parser.
Should I rephrase the expression?
Do you really want help?
Then why don't you listen to what the people that are trying to help you are asking you to do?
The debug log is here:
http://pastebin.com/m54f9f51d
The debug log is here:
http://pastebin.com/m54f9f51d
Please post you advancedsettings.xml as well.
EDIT: Oops, thread is too messy so i missed it on first page. sorry.
use something like this ..
<advancedsettings>
<video>
<excludefromlisting>
<regexp>(Extras)[\.]</regexp>
</excludefromlisting>
</video>
</advancedsettings>
.. and you're done. Note, i've used <excludefromlisting> instead of <excludefromscan> but this will work as well.
This doesn't quite do what I want (the regular expression). I want it to be case insensitive. I used this:
<advancedsettings>
<video>
<excludefromscan>
<regexp>[Ee][Xx][Tt][Rr][Aa][Ss]*.*</regexp>
</excludefromscan>
</video>
</advancedsettings>
This doesn't quite do what I want (the regular expression). I want it to be case insensitive. I used this:
<advancedsettings>
<video>
<excludefromscan>
<regexp>[Ee][Xx][Tt][Rr][Aa][Ss]*.*</regexp>
</excludefromscan>
</video>
</advancedsettings>
matching is done case insensitive .. you've tried before writing here?
if it's just for a better feeling .. '(eXtRAS)[\.]' will work too ;)
I want it to match (see above in thread)
Extras - 1
Extras
Extras - 2
etc.
So I used:
<advancedsettings>
<video>
<excludefromlisting>
<regexp>(Extras).*[\.]*</regexp>
</excludefromlisting>
</video>
</advancedsettings>
and that did the trick. Whew.
Glad to hear it's finally working for you.
Hi,
I have somehow similar struggle. I want to exclude files with pattern from listing and library scan every file that is:
Tried on both(..) but none of them worx.
XBOX, Atlantis, latest TH3C build, MediaStream skin
AppleTV, Atlantis bf1, launcher 2.3, MediaStream skin
I!m sure that advancedsettings.xml is read. E.g. loglevel change has an effect.
Example File to exlude:
Something.2008.720p.avi
<advancedsettings>
<video>
<excludefromscan>
<regexp>[-\._ ](720p)[-\._ ]</regexp>
</excludefromscan>
[<excludefromlisting>
]<regexp>[-\._ ](720p)[-\._ ]</regexp>
</excludefromlisting>
</video>
</advancedsettings>
When I go to Videoes and diretory view I still see the 720p files.
What am I doing wrong?
After removing the misplaced brackets before <excludefromlisting> and <regexp> it's working fine here. Note, you will need a XBMC version > SVN revision 16435 in order to get this to work.
After removing the misplaced brackets before <excludefromlisting> and <regexp> it's working fine here. Note, you will need a XBMC version > SVN revision 16435 in order to get this to work.
Good one!!! :rolleyes:
I've made a type-o while pasting to the forum. :grin::grin::grin::grin:
Yep, I have a version mismatch. On XBOX I have
XBMC SVN 2008-11-13 (13th of November 2008) rev16144 ATLANTIS *FINAL* installed.
Not sure about Apple's XBMC. Will give a try and update XBOX.
Note: this info was missing from the wiki:
http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=XBMC_Online_Manual
Cheers, Sircube
Just updated my XBOX with latest SVN and works. Confirmed!
Excellent support! thanks a lot.