Main Menu link to folder?

[flightman]

Hi,

I just started using SageTV and SageMC. How can I link an item on the main menu to a specific media folder (that is, a shared folder with video files)?

[razrsharpe]

see if this helps (and the rest of that thread too...):
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...3&postcount=21

[flightman]

Thanks. I'm looking at it but I haven't gotten anything to work, yet. I don't understand why I can't seem to find clear documentation for this kind of thing?

There's this example:

    <evalExpression>AddStaticContext("PathFilterExprs", new_java_util_ArrayList())</evalExpression>
    <evalExpression>java_util_List_add(PathFilterExprs, "V:\\Imported-Video\\Restricted")</evalExpression>
    <evalExpression>AddStaticContext("PathFilterExcludes", true)</evalExpression>

And there's this (for "sagetv v6"):

<evalExpression>AddGlobalContext("CurrentVideoBrowserFolder", "Kids/")</evalExpression>

or:

<evalExpression>AddGlobalContext("CurrentVideoBrowserFolder", new_java_io_File("\\\\mediaserver\\media\\Video\\Kids"))</evalExpression>

[flightman]

I should probably add that I want to point to a subfolder of a folder that is in the media library.

Eg:

This folder is in the media library (includes subfolders)

c:\video

and I want to add a direct menu item to

c:\video\movies

[razrsharpe]

Originally Posted by flightman

I should probably add that I want to point to a subfolder of a folder that is in the media library.

Eg:

This folder is in the media library (includes subfolders)

c:\video

and I want to add a direct menu item to

c:\video\movies

unfortunately you can't do that.

Path filter expressions MUST be import folders (and they must match the case exactly). So if you want a menu link to c:\video\movies that needs to be an import folder.

And this is the code you want. If you follow the write up in the post i linked to previously that should get you all the syntax you need.

    <evalExpression>AddStaticContext("PathFilterExprs", new_java_util_ArrayList())</evalExpression>
    <evalExpression>java_util_List_add(PathFilterExprs, "V:\\Imported-Video\\Restricted")</evalExpression>
    <evalExpression>AddStaticContext("PathFilterExcludes", true)</evalExpression>

[flightman]

Originally Posted by razrsharpe

unfortunately you can't do that

Are you sure you can't? Where are these definitions found? I'm still curious about 'CurrentVideoFolder'.

In any case, though, it's not a big deal. I probably won't have more than a couple folders to share, anyway. So, I'll just go ahead and set it up that way.

Thanks!

[razrsharpe]

Originally Posted by flightman

Are you sure you can't?

I'm not 100% sure because I didn't write the filtering code but that is my understanding and my experience with pathfilterexpressions. The two main stumbling blocks for using them seem to be: the folder must be an import folder, and it's case must match the import directory exactly

Where are these definitions found? I'm still curious about 'CurrentVideoFolder'.

I can't seem to find the "official" documentation right now... but do a forum search for "sagemc_menu.xml" you'll find lots of posts. I am not familiar with 'CurrentVideoFolder' and have no idea what it does or what you use it for.

[PLUCKYHD]

Originally Posted by razrsharpe

I'm not 100% sure because I didn't write the filtering code but that is my understanding and my experience with pathfilterexpressions. The two main stumbling blocks for using them seem to be: the folder must be an import folder, and it's case must match the import directory exactly

I can't seem to find the "official" documentation right now... but do a forum search for "sagemc_menu.xml" you'll find lots of posts. I am not familiar with 'CurrentVideoFolder' and have no idea what it does or what you use it for.

It must be in the import folder because pathfilterexpressions relies on import directories ie GetMediaFiles() from the sage api and that will only return files/items that are imported. That is my understanding

As for CurrentFolder that is an attribute you can set in pathfilterexpressions but going straight to the folder would achieve the same results as Razor said.

[flightman]

Thanks for the replies. I just tried adding the path I am using and it still doesn't work, though. I typed it exactly as I see on the TV (after adding it to video folders):

<evalExpression>AddStaticContext("PathFilterExprs", new_java_util_ArrayList())</evalExpression>
<evalExpression>java_util_List_add("PathFilterExprs", "D:\\Videos\\Movies")</evalExpression>
<evalExpression>AddStaticContext("PathFilterExcludes", false)</evalExpression>

PLUCKYHD
That makes sense except that Sage can obviously get to subfolders in an added folder or I wouldn't be able to browse anything. So, I don't see why I should need to add a folder that is already there (essentially). In any case, it's not working, at this point...

[razrsharpe]

that looks right... can you post the full menu snippet for the video library... the line before and after in your sagemc_menu.xml?

one thing to try... (someone else just had this issue a couple days ago)

1. remove all your video import files
2. rescan your library
3. add back your video import directories
4. rescan your library

Sage needs to refresh its library... and the above steps ensures that it happens in a sage friendly way.

[flightman]

Hmm I tried that.. still nothing!

Here is the entry as I have it:

<internalScreenMenuItem icon="hover_dvd.png" screen="Video Library Folder View" title="Movies">
<evalExpression>AddStaticContext("PathFilterExprs", new_java_util_ArrayList())</evalExpression>
<evalExpression>java_util_List_add("PathFilterExprs", "V:\\DVDs")</evalExpression>
<evalExpression>AddStaticContext("PathFilterExcludes", false)</evalExpression>
</internalScreenMenuItem>

That is definitely the right path.

[Fuzzy]

Check to make sure that the path is EXACTLY the same as it shows up in the sage.properties file's "seeker/archive_directory" property.

[razrsharpe]

did you try lowercase 'V'... (grasping at straws)

or switch to using UNC paths... i don't think i ever got local paths to work with the path filter expressions so therefore (and for the whole server/client reasons) i use UNC paths exclusively

[Fuzzy]

not sure, but the : may also need to be excaped.. (V\:\\DVDs) regarldess, razr's suggestion for using UNC paths is really the universally approved way of mapping folders with Sage.