Playing VIDEO_TS (with DVD Menus) Instead of Monolithic MPEG-2 Copy

[Wampanoag]

This is a great plugin!

I have only one challenge so far. For some reason, from the default SageTV Videos-->DVD/BD menu, I can play the VIDEO_TS version of my films, including DVD menus, while from SMM, play seems to select the single monolithic MPEG-2 version, without the DVD menus

You see, I have set up MyMovies to rip both VIDEO_TS and MPEG-2 formats (thinking that transcoding the single MPEG-2 file might be easier for for uploads / streaming to my iPad) even though, while sitting in front of the TV, most of the time, I would prefer the VIDEO_TS experience.

Thus, in my Movies share, I have a folder for each title, in that folder it has the Mega-MPEG-2 file as well as a VIDEO_TS subfolder with the individual chapter components. STV seems to find the DVDs just fine. SMM seems to find the single MPEG-2 file and stops there.

I would really prefer to have the option of using the DVD menus to jump to scenes, choose languages, etc. Is there a SMM configuration to make this work? Do I have to move my single MPEG-2 versions to another folder and rebuild the database?

[PLUCKYHD]

Mymovies is folder based not file based. So what it should be doing if I codes it correctly (have never tested your specific case.) is make in a auotplaylist with both the mpeg and the video ts version. When it starts playing a movie it should say playing 1 of 2 does it?

To answer your question the only way I can think to get around your issue is to either

A. Movie the mpegs out.
B. Setup each movie as multi disc with one disc being pointed to the mpeg file and one to the video ts. This would give you a popup option everytime to pick what disc you want but would require allot manually entries.

Cheers

Plucky

[Wampanoag]

Thanks for the rapid reply, Plucky!

Originally Posted by PLUCKYHD

Mymovies is folder based not file based. So what it should be doing if I codes it correctly (have never tested your specific case.) is make in a auotplaylist with both the mpeg and the video ts version. When it starts playing a movie it should say playing 1 of 2 does it?

Sorry. I receive no such pop-up.

Originally Posted by PLUCKYHD

To answer your question the only way I can think to get around your issue is to either

A. Movie the mpegs out.

I thought that this might be an option. If the files are still in STV's library path, but not SMM's library path, SageTV Mobile Web Interface can still serve up the mega-MPEG-2s to my iPad, while the extender's MyMovies menu will serve up the VIDEO_TS version.

However, wouldn't I need to have copies of the .properties file in both locations, for the original Folder and for the moved MPEG-2 files? At least, if i still want to have both the default STV DVD/BD menu and the SMM menu available under Video, just until I have SMM working as I would like. I suspect that SMM uses the MM XML files rather than the .properties files. Would that cause any problems when browsing "All Recordings" via STV / Mobile Web Interface?

Either way, would this require my rebuilding the SMM database? Being folder based, I suspect not.

I will test.

Originally Posted by PLUCKYHD

B. Setup each movie as multi disc with one disc being pointed to the mpeg file and one to the video ts. This would give you a popup option everytime to pick what disc you want but would require allot manually entries.

I suspect that there are some instructions on your excellent wiki for how to do this, right?

Originally Posted by PLUCKYHD

Cheers

Plucky

Cheers!

[PLUCKYHD]

Originally Posted by Wampanoag

Thanks for the rapid reply, Plucky!



Sorry. I receive no such pop-up.

There is no popup unless you setup multi disc otherwise it is automatically making a playlist of both items with no popup.

Originally Posted by Wampanoag

I thought that this might be an option. If the files are still in STV's library path, but not SMM's library path, SageTV Mobile Web Interface can still serve up the mega-MPEG-2s to my iPad, while the extender's MyMovies menu will serve up the VIDEO_TS version.

yeah that is how I would do it.

Originally Posted by Wampanoag

However, wouldn't I need to have copies of the .properties file in both locations, for the original Folder and for the moved MPEG-2 files? At least, if i still want to have both the default STV DVD/BD menu and the SMM menu available under Video, just until I have SMM working as I would like. I suspect that SMM uses the MM XML files rather than the .properties files. Would that cause any problems when browsing "All Recordings" via STV / Mobile Web Interface?

yes copy the properties files and don't add them to the mymovies monitoring. MyMovies reads from a sql database the xml's are only backups.

I don't see how as they aren't recordings.

Originally Posted by Wampanoag

Either way, would this require my rebuilding the SMM database? Being folder based, I suspect not.

I will test.

I suspect that there are some instructions on your excellent wiki for how to do this, right?

Cheers!

Yes rebuild

My wiki and mymovies wiki combined should be enough

[Wampanoag]

Thanks again for the support!

Cool that duplicate .properties files causes no issue. I planned to move the MPEG-2s and associated .properties files to the same share as my RecordedTV out of laziness, and was not sure if STV would not see them as "recordings". I have to do my homework.

I will run the experiment as soon as the kids are asleep and close out this thread with my results.

Thanks again!