Difference between Add Folder and Scan Folder

[hartlenb]

I want to make sure I understand the difference between Adding or Scanning a folder. Mezzmo help doesm't appear to make much of a distinction between them and describes them as follows:

• The Add Folder dialog is used to add a folder and its sub folders into your Mezzmo library. Mezzmo reads all the files from the folder.
• The Scan Drive/Folder For Files dialog is used to scan drives and folders on your computer or on your network. All media files that match your criteria will be added into your Mezzmo library.

But from reading the forum, I get the sense that scanning is a one-time deal. New files added to the scanned folder will not appear even after playlist maintenance. Adding a folder to the library appears to be dynamic and will allow new files to show up in all other smart and active playlists. Do I have this correct?

[Paul]

Basically the "Add Folder" command will preserve your folder structure as it is on disk and it'll be shown in the same way in Mezzmo and on your device. Yes, if you use the "Add Folder", then those folders are updated automatically once you go in them. The "Scan Folder" only imports the files once and doesn't keep the structure (although there's a flag to turn that on). So, yes, you're correct.

[hartlenb]

What about other smart or active playlists?

• If I only scan a folder will existing smart or active playlists be updated to include files from within the scanned folder?
• If I only scan a folder and then add files to the folder after the scan, will existing smart or active playlists be updated to include files from within the scanned folder?

[Paul]

If I only scan a folder will existing smart or active playlists be updated to include files from within the scanned folder?

Yes.

If I only scan a folder and then add files to the folder after the scan, will existing smart or active playlists be updated to include files from within the scanned folder?

No, not until you re-scan the folder.

[hartlenb]

So here's what I did in trying to run a test case for another support issue...

- I added a on my NAS to my mezzmo library; "Media (on DNS-321)" in the picture. This added the folder "TV Shows\Kids" that had 5 .wtv files in it.
- I then created the active playlist "File Type" under the video library. I checked the various folders that this created and specifically the wtv folder and confirmed all 5 TV shows with the .wtv extension were listed.
- I then copied a new wtv file into the "TV Shows\Kids" folder on the NAS.
- Checked the "File Type" active playlist and the wtv folder and the new file wasn't listed
- Tried to update/maintain the playlists (Right click on Video library --> "Maintain Playlist" & then right click on Library --> "Maintain Playlist"). Neither worked. Still no sign of the added file.
- I then tried shutting down and restarting Mezzmo. No change. Restarted the PC. No change.
- Let it sit overnight, as I have Library maintenance scheduled to run every night. Looked at the playlists again in the morning. No change.
- I then opened the "Media\TV Shows\Kids" folder directly. It showed 6 files (ie the new one was there). After doing this the new file also showed up in the File Type playlist and the wtv folder

So my question is... what do I need to do to have Mezzmo update the playlists automatically?

[Paul]

The playlist's files are updated when you go to it directly (either using Mezzmo GUI or the server on your device) and they should also have been updated during Maintenance. Can you please tell me what options you have ticked/unticket in Maintenance dialog?

[hartlenb]

Here's the nightly maintenance settings


Here's the settings when you right click->Maintain playlist


** reposted the images from a different host **

[Paul]

Thank you for the screenshots. We'll do more testing here to make sure folders that were added using the "Add Folder" command are processed during maintenance properly.

[hartlenb]

Just wondering why the screenshots were deleted? Would you prefer that we don't post images?

[Paul]

We didn't delete the screenshots - looks like the URLs you've posted are now invalid.