HOW-TO add and scan media files into XBMC Library

Newsflash! there is now a more PC quick start guide on the wiki, feel free to read it also.
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=XBM...tart_Guide

Please note that this guide assume that you have already configured a network share for you media on your computer (or use a NAS storage device) and that you have added that network share as a media source to XBMC, that is unless you are using locally stored files in which case you only need to add a directory as a media source to XBMC.

Now first off, read the documentation:
- Video Library
- Set Contents
- TV Show documentation
- Movie documentation

If you still have problems, then read it again:
- Video Library
- Set Contents
- TV Show documentation
- Movie documentation

Is your Library still empty even if you have scanned you media into it?:
Check the watched status (on the left pane of the default PMIII skin).

If you still have problems, post a link to a XBMC Log with debug logging enabled while you are scanning
(The above would be salmon pink and blinking if I knew how to do it, yes it's that important)

Some common misconceptions.
1. No, you do not need a season/year folder for TV shows. The only criteria is a separate folder for each TV show.
2. "Folder contains a single Video / TV Show" in scraper options means that the selected source only contains ONE Video / TV Show
3. You only need "Scan Recursively" when your media is more than one folder beneath the point where you set contents, TV shows always use recursive scanning.
4. Movies do not have to be in their own folder, but it doesn't hurt either.

PS! You can always also browse and search the XBMC Online Manual and FAQ for more information, see:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=XBMC_Online_Manual
and
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Frequently_Asked_Questions

Now enjoy XBMC

I tried to find solution for my issue, but not succeded, so I hope these are not too dumb questions.

My videos are sorted in a following way:
Source1: DVD movies
There are separate folders for every movie
Source2: HD movies
There are separate folders for every movie

Question1: The media's are scanned fine into the library, except, if any reason, the movie consist of more files. In this case, all these files appearing in the library, resulting in multiple occurance of the same movie. The "set content" is set on source level, so I cannot set "folder contains single video flag", becuase than none of the folders in that source are scanned. Is there any way to handle this differently? I mean, I would like to have those movies scanned into the libraries with only one occurence.

Question2:
As all the sources scanned into the libraries, I am not able to see any more, that from what source the movie originated. As a result of this, I am not able to check it is DVD or HD movie. IS there any chance to have a sign for this?

Thank you for your help in advance!

Q1: Your filenames probably do not match the XBMC stacking rules:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Stacking

Q2: A lot of things have been discussed (Search the forum for overlay suggestions), but you can see the path from the media info window.
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Video_Librar...ion_Screen
(The manual has outdated screenshots, but it's there in all recent builds).

sho Wrote:2. You only need "Scan Recursively" when your media is more than one folder beneath the point where you set contents, TV shows always use recursive scanning.

I'm still brand new to XBMC (from MythTV), and trying to get my media collections imported into it (so far, I'm very impressed!).

I'm just using the default theme (PM3-HD), and I'm not sure where the "Scan Recursively" option is. I added my "TV Shows" folder, specified the "TV Show" type, told it to scan it (I don't remember exactly what the option was), but none of my shows that are >1 folder deep were scanned.

For example, I have TV\ Shows/Futurama/Season\ 1/01\ Something.avi. It did not detect this at all. I haven't looked at the logs yet, but I assumed that it just didn't do recursive scans. However....when I read your post, it got me interested again. Should I check the logs, or is it something wrong on my end?

As a (kind of) side note: what's the preferred way to keep your media organized? Is there a particular folder structure/naming scheme (ex: Show Name/s00e00 Name.ext) that works best with XBMC? I'm kind of an organization nut for my computer...

EDIT: Sorry.....I'm a bad interweb user....*hangs head in shame* I read the docs on naming standards for TV shows, so ignore that question. I'm still curious about the "automatic recursive scanning" that didn't work for me.

As I tried to explain above, "TV shows always use recursive scanning."
That means you don't get that option for TV shows. Only for other media such as movies.
So by simply renaming your files to something XBMC will pick up you should be able to solve that issue.

sho Wrote:Q1: Your filenames probably do not match the XBMC stacking rules:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Stacking

Thank you! Sorry for missing that. Most probably that would be the solution. I have check it in the evening!

sho Wrote:Q2: A lot of things have been discussed (Search the forum for overlay suggestions), but you can see the path from the media info window.
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Video_Librar...ion_Screen
(The manual has outdated screenshots, but it's there in all recent builds).

Well, true, I remember that one. If this is the only way today, I can live with that. Thank you!

But based on your suggestion to search for overlay, I found the ultimate solution: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...ht=overlay

It would be really overkill to implement something like this to XBMC itself.
(Sorry, I know it is a bit offtopic and a feature request, just wanted to feedback to you)

As a non dev, I cannot answer that, I suggest you take it here:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=30419

sho Wrote:As a non dev, I cannot answer that, I suggest you take it here:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=30419

Yes, in the meantime I found this and read trough as well. Unfortunatelly I cannot decide if it is promising, or not

But anyway, thanks!

sho Wrote:Q1: Your filenames probably do not match the XBMC stacking rules:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Stacking

sho, I have just checked this.
After some testing I realized, that this is not working in case of all media types. I would assume it is applicable to those files, which xbmc can play "together" after each other. What I have tested quickly:
- It is working with AVIs
- Not working in case of ISOs

Might be worth to update the documentation with the file types, which stacking includes and excludes.

So is that means, that there is no solution for ISOs?
Thank you again, for your support!

The problem with image files is that all of them may contain menus. Thus a decision has been made (not by me) not to stack them. I think they are the sole exceptions.
But yes I guess the Wiki should contain that info.

See more here:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=36700