dvd folder and vobs - controlling display of all vobs in smart lists

[andymoz]

When i browse a folder which has full DVD rips in it (not iso), mezzmo handles nicely and when I browse to the video_ts folder, it only shows the main films vobs (around 1 - 3) titles depending on the film.

However I am trying to build a smart list, which combines a few folders containing 'dvds' from different locations and combines NAS and local folders into a single view.
However, the lists shows 'all' vobs in the DVD rips -- sometimes as many as 30-50 depending on the film.

Am I missing an obvious option to control this / consolidate this list or only show the main feature?

Other minor point.
Also, it would be good for the folder list view if there was away to 'filter' our the video_ts folder and just show the films inside it - less confusing for people and makes the browsing of the folder cleaner ( I am using XBMC as the test client).
(which is why I am trying to build the smart list above - to only show the films).

[Paul]

Hi andymoz,

What are your rules in your smart playlist? Perhaps take a screenshot of the Smart Playlist dialog and we can better advise what is going wrong.

When you browse your folders that you have added into Mezzmo, then Mezzmo lists all files/folders as they exist on your computer/NAS. So you will see folders like "video_ts" since they are sub-folders on disk. If you just want to browse your videos, then you should use the playlists that are pre-installed or that you create yourself - e.g. by genre, actor, year, etc.

[arrbee99]

Hi Andymoz,

Just wondering if you got anywhere with this. Am very new to Mezzmo and want to do (I think) the same thing. At the moment to just see, and play, our ripped DVD's on our Bravia TV via Mezzmo I have to -

select Mezzmo on the TV, then
select video
select video (again)
select folders
select 'DVD's full copy' (in our case)
select the required film
select videoTS
select film again to actually start watching it

is there anyway to get at the required gapless multi-file more directly i.e. create a playlist (or a smart playlist, or active playlist, or a linked playlist) that just lists all the gapless multi-files in one big list for now (no gendres or anything) that the kids can scroll through and pick ?

Thanks very much

[Paul]

You can create a simple smart playlist that lists all your children's DVD videos. Try this:

• In Mezzmo, select the Video playlist in the tree.
• Click Create Playlist -> Smart Playlist...
  
• In the Smart Playlist Properties dialog, enter a name - e.g. Kids Videos!
• Add a rule:
  [File path] [starts with] [D:\Videos\DVD's full copy]
  (where D:\Videos\DVD's full copy is the folder that contains your children's DVD videos)
• Select the Video files radio button
• Click OK to save the playlist.
• You should see the playlist and (hopefully) all your children's DVD videos listed in it. You're done! (You can right-click on the playlist at any time and click Properties to edit it such as adding more rules to refine the smart playlist)

Let us know if you have any problems.

[arrbee99]

Hi Paul,

OK did that, works except the playlist lists all the VOB files, etc that make up the ripped DVD's, not the gapless multi-file(s). Don't think it does vob's AND gapless multi-files, just all those vob's.

Thanks

[Paul]

Sorry about that. Change the rule to:

[File path] [contains] [D:\Videos\DVD's full copy]
(where D:\Videos\DVD's full copy is the folder that contains your children's DVD videos)

and that should also list your gapless multi-files.

If you don't want to display the DVD ripped VOBs, then you can add another rule like:

[Title] [contains][(]

since Mezzmo lists the DVD gapless videos with titles like "<movie title> (Title 1)", "<movie title> (Title 2)", "<movie title> (Title 3)", etc.

[arrbee99]

Hi,

Changing to CONTAINS means it now shows the gapless multi-files AND the DVD vobs, as expected.

Adding the second rule using the bracket just gives a completely empty playlist.

Maybe I did something non standard with naming somewhere - I see that looking under the properties of a gapless multi-file, its name is given as, say Bolt, while the properties for one of the vobs also gives it as Bolt - if that's were it should give any brackets ?

Thanks again

[Paul]

OK - try this. Change the smart playlist to have these two rules

[File path] [contains] [D:\Videos\DVD's full copy]
(where D:\Videos\DVD's full copy is the folder that contains your children's DVD videos)
[File path] [starts with] [#title]

and remove the [Title] [contains] [(] rule that I suggested previously.

[arrbee99]

Excellent, I do believe its a winner (I was literally supposed to type '#title' into the box I presume ? I guess I was seeing as it looks like it works fine).

Will have to fiddle a bit more later, but going to make the dinner now.

Thanks again

[Paul]

Glad it's working. Internally, the file path of gapless multi-files do start with #title, so that can be used in smart playlists for finding your gapless multi-files (i.e. DVD videos or gapless music).