Overview

How to create a new movie catalog/db using MyFilms 6.0.0 or later, to import your movies with data and artwork

Summary

1. Create a new catalog using the Setup Wizard
2. Import your movie media files and grab info, covers, fanart etc from your preferred website (or NFO files)

See Import Setup for details on import settings and options.

Create a new catalog

As of V 6.0.0, if you do not have an existing movie catalog, you can use My Films to create a new catalog for you, using the Ant Movie Catalog XML database format:

1. Create a new configuration in My Films using the Setup Wizard
2. When the Setup Wizard asks if you want to use an existing catalog, select 'No'
   
3. At the end of the Setup Wizard, My Films will open to AMC Updater to import films from the movie folder you selected.

Note: When you create a new catalog in MyFilms, it uses the Ant Movie Catalog Extended XML format, which means you can use Ant Movie Catalog to view, update and modify your database if you wish, or even import it to another movie catalog app that supports import from XML.

You catalog will be saved to: 

• ...\MediaPortal\MyFilms\Catalog\[configname].xml

where [configname] is the name you entered for your config in the Setup Wizard.

First time Import

When you create a new catalog or database, you must scan your movies folders and import the data into a database before you can use it in MyFilms.

At the end of the Setup Wizard, My Films will open to AMC Updater to import films from the movie folder(s) you selected:

1. Check the Scan Paths and Filters and Options tabs to make sure they are correct..
2. Check the Database Fields tab and ensure. all database fields are selected. If not, click the Select All button.
3. Click the "Begin Import" button to begin the import.
4. Whenever a movie cannot be automatically matched, the Manual Matching dialog will display to allow you to select the correct match. Matches are 'ranked' and usually the correct match displays first. For hard to match movies, you may edit the movie title and add hints and search again to find the correct match, or even click the related page on IMDb to verify it is the correct movie.
5. Show the log window to see how many movies have been identified for import and the current status, or movies imported.

See the Import Movies tab for more details about the settings and methods.

In most cases the preset, default settings should work for you. However, see the Setup Guides for details about setting up and customizing specific features.

The duration of import per movie depends on the grabber you choose (IMDB-Full grabs the most data so takes the longest) as well as the options you select, such as how many fanart images, person images (if you download them during import), etc.

There are many options you can customize for your imports. However, it requires time and experience to learn how to use all the options and features. See the section AMC Updater for all the gory details! 

What's Next

Once you have created a catalog and imported all your movies, you are ready to learn about Using My Films features.

Related

Tutorials

• Import Moving Pictures DB (Intermediate)