Make library mode work without scrapers as well - import all files into the database?

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markiz Offline
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Lightbulb  Make library mode work without scrapers as well - import all files into the database? Post: #1
I would like to suggest a new option so that library mode would work without using scraper/nfo files. I believe that both scrapers and .nfo-files should be optional.

If no scraper is selected, and no .nfo file is available. Then a very basic library would be created using the name of the folder (or the name of the file, based on that setting).

I download new movies all the time. I delete movies all the time. Most of my movies are non american (and cannot be found by any of the scrapers). In my situation it is impossible to use the library mode. I just dont have the time to manually create .nfo files for all my movies.

I'm sure that there are a lot of people having the same problem as I do.

Feedback?
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sho Offline
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Post: #2
I think this would be a very valid option for something like home movies (which you could use for movies if you want to).
It should be relatively easy to implement (all the code is already in place for Music Videos).
It's just a matter of convincing a dev it's something he really needs.

If you don't use Music Videos in your library you could play with that (NFO scraper) and see how it goes.

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markiz Offline
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Post: #3
Maby the system doesn't need to be altered at all. Maby the only thing that is needed is a new scraper that "scrapes" info from folders/file names. It could be called "Folder scraper" or "Filename scraper". Or "Default scraper" that looks at the setting "use foldernames when scraping".

I might be wrong here since I'm not a developer, and don't know anything about the inner workings of scrapers.
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spiff Offline
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Post: #4
what's the point of a library without any info? we already have that - it's called file view

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markiz Offline
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Post: #5
The point is that

1) lots of skins (aeon, mediastream) doesn't fully support file view. The new XBMC remote for iPhone doesn't support file view. Using library seems mandatory.
2) there should be a easy way to get started with the library without using scrapers and .nfo files. In my case scrapers doesn't find anything and .nfo takes to much time to created.

With a "default scraper" that use filename/folders I can start out easy - and choose to put more info in some of the .nfo files if I want to. Or I can choose to use a more advanced scraper for some of my movies.

Using a advanced scraper for all of my movies is not a working solution for me. It will only give me invalid data. I want to use a filename/folder scraper first, and then move on to more advanced scrapers/nfo-files later if I feel like it.
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markiz Offline
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Post: #6
Think of this feature as a way for Library newbies to start using the library.
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markiz Offline
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Post: #7
Sorry for tripple posting. But I just wanted to say that I'm not the only one with this problem. This Nfo generator was created for beginners that want to start using the library http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=36167

However. My suggested solution seems more elegant than using a platform dependant software to generate these nfo files.
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spiff Offline
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Post: #8
nothing is elegant about voiding the entire point of a thing. your solution is no solution at all.

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markiz Offline
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Post: #9
Sorry to hear that. What do you believe is the best way for xbmc beginners to start using the library if they are in the same situation like me (1000s of foreign movies)?
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spiff Offline
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Post: #10
where are those movies from? reason i ask if so we can make a scraper to cover them if a suitable backend is available.

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