STV: GermSage -- Default STV enabling external players and more (v1.6)

[sleonard]

Showanalyzer does indeed put out VideoRedo project files as an option and so does compskip (at least the version I used to use with Cayer's STV)

[dvd_maniac]

I never used Comskip or ShowAnalyzer myself. I just started using VideoReDo recently. I do not trust any of them to make permanent cuts, but it would be nice to be able to open up a file in VideoReDo and just make minor adjustments. Right now I have to open a video file and start the Ad-Detective, waitfor it to finish and then make adjustments. Not a big deal or real time saver, just convenience.

[gplasky]

None of them make permanent cuts. Get yourself Showanalyzer and Dirmon. Have Showanalyzer generate a VideoRedo Project file. Open the Project file in VideoRedo and now you have the file with all the commercial cuts. Use them as is or lengthen or shorten them. Or get rid of them. When you're done save the file and you now have a show with no commercials.

Gerry

[jhane82]

Do you think you could add support to mount DVD images? I've seen this before in Cayer's (?) STV, however I would rather have the default look of SageTV. Even an STVi module would be perfect.

[Homebuilder]

This looks like a great solution!

I have been waiting to make the move to Sage 4, this is going to be the final push.

Just want to clarify a few things... please excuse the baby steps question, want to be clear.

1. I install sage 4
2. install germsage stv
3. I can then install nielm's imdb, rss, weather etc stv"i"s to work with germsage right?

4. shows I recorded before and have a cayars xml, I can convert to divx, rename both the file and xml, move to video import directory and the info will show in sage?

5. for dvd's I encoded in divx, put in import video folder, I can create a my file in notepad and then save with the extension .my and it will show in sage?

example from first post:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Almost Famous.my"
Code:
title=Almost Famous
released=1999
overview=A movie about sex, drugs, and rock n' roll.
actors=Jane Doe, John Doe, Doe John, Doe JaneThe STV will read what follows the = sign and populate a field on the Detailed Information screen for that particular movie. Simple as that! It's a neat little way of adding some descriptive information to your media library.
The .MY files I am creating for the Television Programs use a different set of variable names - you can look inside of them to see what they are (almost all are prefaced by TV)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

6. is there a variable for including a picture of the dvd? or a picture from the tv show? ( have a jpg on my comuter and have the .my file refer to pic when pulling up show info?)


7. Where do .my files come from? is it a germsage invention? or are they from another program?

Thanks in advance for any info!!

[Homebuilder]

Hi, got a bunch of curb your enthusiasm that I coded into divx. Have them in imported video folder. renamed without the sage episode number.

I first tried to create my own my files. Failed miserably.

I then copied a "my" file from another program and renamed it to the same name as the curb your enthusiasm file name, no good.

What am I doing wrong? ill my fileswork with divx?

I also tried the original xml file from cayars, renames to same as this show, no good.

Please help~!

[Homebuilder]

I got the my file to work as long as I do not put the episodes in sub folders... they have to be in main import folder.... but I really want to organize my series in seperate folders.

Any way to get my files working in sub folders within the import folder?

[dvd_maniac]

Any way to get my files working in sub folders within the import folder?

I have all my Imports in subfolders.
My movie collection is on \\superman\movies, but all the movies are in subfolders \\superman\movies\ActionAndAdventure\Con Air.mp4
My TV series are the same. This STV displays the .my file information just fine for me. The .jpg with the same name also displays fine.

[Homebuilder]

Originally Posted by dvd_maniac

I have all my Imports in subfolders.
My movie collection is on \\superman\movies, but all the movies are in subfolders \\superman\movies\ActionAndAdventure\Con Air.mp4
My TV series are the same. This STV displays the .my file information just fine for me. The .jpg with the same name also displays fine.

Thanks for the info!

Thats encouraging that it does work for someone.. now to figure out what I am doing wrong... what you are doing right.

How does sage see your import folder? is it a network drive? or just a folder?

Do you have just the top folder as your import folder? or do you have each sub folder as a seperate import folder?

Did you cast a magical spell?

Any other ideas?

Oh, and do you know any info on creating my files? I am doing it, but think there has to be some type of guilde...

Thanks again!

[dvd_maniac]

How does sage see your import folder? is it a network drive? or just a folder?

I use UNC path names. But the drives are local. My files work in the main import folder and all subfolders as well. It sees the my files with the following format
title=
released=
overview=

Does the .my files that Greg's STV create work?

I also use DVD Profiler to create a collection.xml file that populates all my movie collection.

[Homebuilder]

Ah Ha!

Figured it out... something so simple, as usual...

I had tried to get xml to work first, but the xml's created by cayars didnt work so I went on to the my files. If there was an xml with the same name as the my file, it would not read the my file. Once I deletedthe xmls, it worked!


Now if I could only grab all the info automatically for each episode from epguides.com...

So, next question...what fields does germsage recognize?

Is there a way to put in epsode numbers and the organize the folder from episode 1 to last episode?


Thanks for your help and encouragement...

[dvd_maniac]

i have mine setup like this
Import folders:
\\superman\movies
\\superman\tv1
\\superman\tv2

now in tv1, which is really D:\tv1, I have subfolders like Lost, 24, CSI etc...
In these subfolders I have folders 1, 2, 3, 4 etc... for each season, then finally I have folders for each video file like 1x01 Pilot, 1x02 Snatch and Grab etc...

example:\\Superman\tv2\TV2\E Ring\1\1x05 Weekend Pass\ERing-WeekendPass.avi
or D:\tv2\TV2\E Ring\1\1x05 Weekend Pass\ERing-WeekendPass.avi

I copy&Paste the episode list from tv.com into a Word Document to keep easy track of what I have. I simply highlight the row and change the font to red when I get that particular episode.
I hope this is what you are asking about...

[mike1961]

I tried installing this for the first time and if I go to the GermSage 1.6 in Detailed setup it is all there and it is definitely installed. However, there is something wrong with the video and how it highlights things. It's hard to explain but there is definitely something wrong. It's like there is no big block cursor when I highlight commands at the menus. Also, I can't see certain arrows like for the guide or the back, etc. Almost as if there is some kind of refresh problem or something. Now, I have not tried this on my test client machine and I'm running this on SageTV and not the client; could that be where my problem is? Is this only designed for the SageTVClient?

Thanks,
Mike

[dvd_maniac]

Nope it is designed for both.
I would recommend you either take a screen print of the problem and post it here or try reinstalling the STV, reboot, reinstall Sage and the STV etc...

The thing I like about Greggerm's STV is that it is MOSTLY the default STV with a couple of add-ons. So there should be very little bugs or incompatibilities with it.

[greggerm]

Looks like Mike has his problem straightened out.

I stepped away from the forums here for a while because I had a STV that was working for me, and I come back and there is a whole new version of Sage out (4.1.x)!

I haven't tested it yet, but perhaps when I get some time I'll see if GS1.6 works with it. I don't see why it wouldn't, but ya' never know. Not being an STVi import module, Sage may add features to menus and my system would be missing it.

Hope all is well with everyone, and a Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it!
-Greg

[Homebuilder]

Yippee! I actually figured out how to rip to vob and play in sagetv.

Now... How do I get the my file info to appear? and the jpg?


I have this structure working...

server\\dvdrips\king arthur\video_ts\vobs

Where do I put the .my file?

Where do I put the jpg, and is it folder.jpg or king arthur.jpg ?
Any help is appreciated!

[greggerm]

Originally Posted by Homebuilder

I have this structure working...
server\\dvdrips\king arthur\video_ts\vobs
Where do I put the .my file?
Where do I put the jpg, and is it folder.jpg or king arthur.jpg ?
Any help is appreciated!

Oooh, that's a good one - I don't have the answer for that. I would guess (guess!) that you'll put the .my file in the same subdirectory as your movie's subdirectory...

\\server\dvdrips\king arthur\video_ts\*.vob
\\server\dvdrips\king arthur.my
\\server\dvdrips\king arthur.jpg

...because I think that SageTV bases itself on the folder containing the VIDEO_TS directory. This could all be hogwash and not work at all, but worth the shot - make the .my file the same name as the directory, and it may be OK.

Now, I cannot guarantee that GermSage will properly read the .my file in this case, as it is designed more for single file backups than it is full DVD rips - I've not tested it at all. But you may find it to work just fine!

Any of our experts have the experience to answer this one?
-Greg

[nyplayer]

greggerm,

I did notice one thing the OSD details etc... when you watch Video the default font is easier to read than the one in your STV. Any chance of changing the font to match the Original STV... or creating an STVI. I am using the latest SageTv.

[greggerm]

Originally Posted by nyplayer

when you watch Video the default font is easier to read than the one in your STV. Any chance of changing the font to match the Original STV... or creating an STVI. I am using the latest SageTv.

I actually changed that to suit my tastes. I find that the slightly smaller text allows you to fit more of the description in, thus making it a more useful block of text.

I can see if I can bring up studio when I get home to let you know what to change, if you are interested in going back to the old way.

-Greg

[markn455]

I am trying to use the collection.xml method to show my ripped video metadata. Nothing shows up.

You mention that the video file name has to be exactly the same as the title in the .xml <title> name. Clearly I am doing something wrong. For example, the movie Be Cool is in the \\infrantnas\media\videos\Be Cool\VIDEO_TS directory. The .vob files are named VTS_01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB, VTS_01_3.VOB, etc.

I am new to this so I ma not clear on teh "best practices" for directory structure, file naming etc. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.