Overview

How to setup and customize Import settings for different batch import operations for AMC catalog types (including catalogs created in MyFilms using AMC Updater).

Introduction

To import movies MyFilms uses AMC Updater (AMCU) a standalone application which extends the features of the Ant Movie Catalog (AMC) - the default catalog format used by MyFilms. AMC Updater can be used without having MediaPortal or My Films installed - e.g. on a central server, or while MediaPortal is loaded.

AMC Updater is integrated into MyFilms in the following ways:

• AMCU settings are preset based on the options you select when creating a config using the Setup Wizard. 
• MyFilms automatically creates a separate AMCU settings file (and desktop shortcut) for each config you create in MyFilms Setup
• changes you make in MyFilms Setup are automatically synced to AMCU Settings
• AMCU Settings also apply when you import movies within MyFilms using Global Updates > Import/Update all movies from the main menu.

This page provides an overview of Import settings you can customize. To learn more about setting up specific features which can be enabled during import see the Setup Guides, and the FAQ to Import DVD or Blu-ray disc. 

AMCU Settings

When you create a config in MyFilms using the Setup Wizard default settings are preset based on the options you select.

In most cases no further setup is required. Just press the Begin import button on the Import Tab in AMCU*.*

However, you can customize settings in MyFilms Setup, including basic import settings on the Import tab. Any changes you make in MyFilms Setup will be automatically synced to AMCU Settings when you save your config.

You can also change any settings in AMC Updater and use them temporarily for an Import. They will not be saved permanently unless you select Save from the File Menu. Or you may save as many custom settings as you wish, and load them in AMCU whenever you wish to reuse them.

For more information about AMCU Settings see AMC Updater.  

The following sections summarize the main settings to verify or customize. Although the number of options and combinations is daunting at first, once you have customized them for your setup you rarely need to change them again.Tool tips are available for almost all settings to help you.

Note: The same settings and custom options apply to:

• global or batch updates you perform on the Update Movies Tab
• single movie updates using the Update Movie option on the View Movies tab.

Options

Go to the Options Tab to verify or customize:

• paths for your catalog and artwork folders 
• media file types and trailer identification strings (see Trailers Setup for more details)
• media scan options for DVDs, Blu-rays rips and subtitles
• grabber override options for country(ies) for AKA titles and certifications, # persons, actors roles, # AKA titles

Scan Path and File Detection Settings

Go to the Scan Path and Filters tab to verify or customize:

• path to movie folders (i.e. scan path)
• multi-part file detection - based on how you name your multi-part movie files
• Title clean up (to generate nice titles from your movie file names)
• Edition detection rules - to automatically identify Editions - See Editions Setup for more info
• Exclusion rules - to automatically exclude movies from import via search expressions

Database Field Settings

Go to the Database Fields Tab to: 

• check or uncheck the fields you wish to import
• use the Quick Select options to select groups of fields
• use Title Handling options to:
  • automatically group movie collections using the Group identifier and mapping options
  • automatically detect Editions and select how you wish to display Edition names (see Editions Setup for details)
• Select options for offline media:
  • Media Label - try to read disc label
  • Disable Use Internet Data for Languages - to extract language from disc audio streams
• Select Cover Handling and storage options:
  • add a prefix for storing covers in sub folder of you catalog folder
  • add a suffix to avoid duplicate images for movies with same names (and prevent overwriting existing cover)
  • Select folder.jpg in movie folder for covers
  • Select Create a movie thumbnail for videos that may not have covers on the internet, such as home movies or documentaries.
• Select Fanart Handling and storage options to:
  • limit the number of fanart images downloaded and/or select the minimum and maximum resolution
  • use the currently selected grabber script for fanart - e.g. NFO grabber instead of TMDb which is the default source
  • download person images (not info) for the number of persons you select in Grabber override options on the Options Tab whenever you download fanart.

Import Settings

  Tip (recommended)
To run the import mostly unattended, import your movies in two steps:

1. Select Auto match only for Import Behaviour to import all the movies that can be auto-matched
2. Select Manual Match (always ask) for Import Behaviour to then match the movies that could not be auto-matched.

The main settings for Importing your movies are set on the Import Movies Tab. Often these are the only settings you need to customize:

• *Import Behaviour in AMC Update*r:
  • 'Silent' or unattended modes
    • Auto match only
    • Auto match & media only if no match
  • 'Interactive' Modes
    • Auto match & ask if no match (default)
    • Manual Match (always ask)
• Import Behavior in My Films:
  •  Import if no auto match - disable if you wish to only import movies that can be auto-matched
• Grabber script and options - you may choose a different grabber script and options to import some movies

If you select a 'Interactive' Import Behaviour , the dialog window for Manual Matching will display whenever a movie cannot be auto-matched.

Internet Lookup or not

There several ways to control internet lookups depending on the level of control you wish:

On the Import Movies Tab:

• Prohibit Internet lookup - to completely disable internet lookup including titles, this option is more useful for Global Updates
• Title Handling (+ Internet lookup or not) - to replace your titles with the internet title (based on the grabber/website you uses) or keep the title based on your folder/file names.

On the  Database Fields Tab to prohibit internet lookup select only the fields that do not require it:

• Quick Select > Only Internet Data Select None - imports titles based on your Title Handling options (+Internet lookup or not)
• Quick Select > Only Media Data Select All - imports languages from your files

Note: In both cases AMCU will warn you if you have selected options that require internet lookup (e.g. Internet lookup for Titles, or languages)

What's Next?

Once you have customized your Import Settings the way you want, you can

• create a New Catalog in MyFilms
• Import New Films within MyFilms or using a scheduled task
• use the Update Movies tab to improve the quality and consistency of your data (since it uses the same settings as Import)

Related

• Setup Guides