Library Settings

Tools > Options > Library & Folders

Auto-Import Folders

Add Folder...

If you want to have Media Center automatically check folders to import into your library, you can change the options in this section. Click Add Folder... to display the Auto-Import Folder dialog box. Here you can specify a number of options.

• In the Search box, enter the folder name to automatically check. You can click the Browse button to find the folder.
• If instead of automatically importing files from this folder you want to make sure the files don't automatically get added to your library, check the Exclude this folder check box.
• Click the Advanced << button for additional options you can specify.
  • Select the file types that you want to either be included or excluded.
  • There are 3 buttons to the right of the file type box.
    • Click the first button to select all file types in the list.
    • Click the second button to unselect all file types in the list.
    • Click the third button to select the default file types in the list.
  • Ignore files previously removed from library - Files you may have removed from your library will be skipped when you perform another search.
  • Ignore special files (folder.jpg, etc.) - You may not want to automatically import certain special files into your library. For example if you are using the folder.jpg concept of cover art for your audio files, you may not want to include these files.

Options

For Auto-Import, there are a number of options that can be specified.

• Run auto-import in background: Check the box if you would like the Auto-import to work in the background while Media Center is running.
• Analyze audio: ???
• Build thumbnails: This will automatically build thumbnails for any of the files imported.
• Update for external changes: This works in conjunction with Fix broken links below, and updates your library accordingly. If a file that is already in the library has been modified outside of Media Center, checking the box will update the library with the changes.
• Fix broken links: for discussion see Fix broken links - What is "Protect Network Files"?
  • No: Change nothing
  • Yes: Automatically removes any files from the database that it finds missing on disk. Be very careful with this setting if any of your disks are removable or network. If the disk is disconnected, that counts as "missing" and the files will be removed.
  • Yes (protect network files): Same as #2, except for that files living on a network (or removable) disk are left alone. This is useful in case the server goes down (or you trip over and unplug your network or USB cord). MC will check to see if the network drive folder can be reached. If it exists and the file is not there, then that file will be removed from the library. This is the default setting.
    Note: It's a "network file" if 1) the filename begins with \\ or 2) Windows reports the drive as anything other than "fixed".

Library Server Conversion

• Play local file if one that matches Library Server file is found: If you have the same file on your local disc as one on the Library Server, MC will play the local file.
  Note: not confirmed yet.

Manage Library Fields

This is where you customize library fields.

Media Center 14

All fields (user and standard) are shown in one list and can be filtered to show only one type or the other.

• Edit: select the field and edit on the right side
• Add New Field: press the button below the list, enter a name and then edit the properties
• Delete Field

Older Versions

There are two sections: Standard Library Fields that come with Media Center and User Library Fields that the user creates. To view details for any field, select it in the list and then click Edit Field. To add a new field, select Add Field... and to delete a field, select it then select Delete Field.

Selecting Edit Field or Add Field opens the Configure Library Field window, with the following options:

Properties

Name

• Name: The internal name of the field (cannot be changed after creation).
• Display: The name as it is displayed on the UI.
• Display (plural): In case of numbers, MC will show this text if count is more than one.
• Flags: Select for which media type the field is available (audio, video, etc.)

Data

• User data:
  • Data Type: You can create various types of data:
    • String
    • Integer
    • Decimal
    • Percentage
    • List (semicolon delimited): Semicolon delimited list of values you can use (example: 1;2;3;4;5 for rating).
  • Edit Type: Specify the editing ability of the field:
    • Standard: A basic string (like artist, genre, etc.).
    • Clear Only: Select this to clear information that Media Center fills in for you.
      For example, if your field tracks the number of times something happens (a file is played, etc), you may want the option to clear the information and start over.
    • Large Value: Long strings, like "Lyrics". This field uses a pop-up window for editing.
    • Cannot be edited: Your field cannot be edited.
    • File name: ???
    • Five stars: You are presented with five stars to click on, just like for rating.
  • Store in file tags (when possible): Store the information in the file tag so that it can be read by other software (if supported) or by Media Center upon import.
• Calculated data: A field "calculated" from other fields. Like "[Artist] - [Album]" for example. You can use any combination of letters and other non-calculated fields. Field names (in brackets) will be replaced by their corresponding value. See also Expression editor.
• Search:
  • Keywords: The keyword that appears in searches. If there are multiple keywords, they must be separated by a semicolon (without spaces).
  • Default search field: Enable this if you want this field searched when you type something like "dylan" rather than "artist=dylan".