Set series id and possibly other metadata in video directory

[white_haired_uncle]

In my video directory, I use a format like hell_on_wheels/hell_on_wheels_s01_e12.av1 (no caps, no spaces, and certainly no special characters). I've now run into two instances where to get the proper metadata, I have to rename the directory and/or files with caps/spaces, or even parentheses. Kind of annoying to work around, but darn hard to figure out.

I can put a file called (IIRC) folder.jpg in a video directory to force the use of a chosen icon. It would be nice if I could also use a file that specifies the series id for TV shows, or perhaps a similar id for movies/etc since in many cases there are many movies with a given name.

Perhaps a better approach would be to allow the user to edit directory details in the gui like we can for files.

Thanks

[paulh]

It's a while since I've tried it but MythTV supports importing metadata from various file formats containing the metadata. The one I used in the past was the mxml format that is MythTV's own format. The file should be called the same as the video without it's extension but with a mxml extension added IIRC. I know it is documented in the wiki somewhere.

When you scan your video library MythTV will look for the metadata files and use that metadata if present otherwise it will use the external grabber scripts etc. If you already have metadata for a file then you have to force MythTV to reload it. I seem to vaguely remember having to use various menu options to force it to reload but sorry can't remember the full details.


This is a simple example of an mxml file :-

Code: Select all

<!DOCTYPE MythMetadataXML>
<metadata>
    <item>
        <title>The Royle Family Christmas Special</title>
        <subtitle>Barbara's Old Ring</subtitle>
        <description>Barbara's Old Ring: Festive edition of the sitcom. It's Christmas at the Royles', and Barbara has gone overboard with the presents. Meanwhile, Dave reveals his Dragons' Den idea.

Recorded from Christmas GOLD on Monday 21 December 2015 at 09:20 pm.</description>
        <channum>110</channum>
        <chansign>Christmas GOLD</chansign>
        <startts>Mon, 21 December 2015 21:20:00</startts>
        <releasedate>2015-12-21</releasedate>
        <runtime>80</runtime>
        <runtimesecs>4800</runtimesecs>
        <categories>
            <category name="Entertainment" type="genre"/>
        </categories>
    </item>
</metadata>

[pgbennett]

To avoid renaming files and directories, you could create links n the video storage group, with appropriate names, to files outside the storage group.That way your original files can retain their names and locations.

[paulh]

For completeness this is the wiki page describing mxml files
https://www.mythtv.org/wiki/MythTV_Univ ... ata_Format

The other metadata format I was trying to think of we also support is the nfo file format used by KODI among others. The nfo format tends to be associated with pirated content since it's what they often use to send the metadata along with the media but I believe it's a general purpose format that some legit software can use.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.nfo

Of cause you are trading one problem for another. You have the hassle of creating the mxml or nfo files. In my case the mxml files were automatically generated from the metadata produced by my old Sky Box. All I had to do was use a modifiled MythArchive to select some recordings from the Sky STB and Myth would import them into the Videos in MythTV over night along with the metadata etc.

[white_haired_uncle]

Just to be clear, I'm looking for an option to set attributes on a directory, not the files within (though I suspect having some attribute -- inetref? -- inherited by the files might be useful, even though I have an example on my system where I wouldn't want them to be).