MediaPortal Wiki > MediaPortal 1 > Reference > Folder/File Locations

Folder/File Locations

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1. MediaPortal Files
1. 1.1. Program Files
2. 1.2. Program (Application/User) Data
3. 1.3. Program Data Folder Names
4. 1.4. User Files
5. 1.5. Cache Files
  1. 1. 1.5.1.1. Skin Graphics
    2. 1.5.1.2. Fonts
6. 1.6. Configuration Files
7. 1.7. Log files
  1. 1.7.1. MediaPortal Log files
  2. 1.7.2. TV-Server Log files
2. Temporary files

All your media files, such as music, pictures, videos etc. can be stored in your Windows Documents folder, or anywhere you wish.

You can specify the locations of your media files, see Quick Setup

MediaPortal Files

Several folders are used to store files for MediaPortal and the TV-Server. However, the location of these folders and files can vary depending on the OS you use.

We have used a common method of naming these folders throughout the wiki and folder or file locations are always displayed in a different font.

There are basically two main areas where files are stored, with a separate sub-folder each for MediaPortal and MediaPortal TV-Server:

Program Files \Team MediaPortal
1. \MediaPortal - where the MediaPortal application files are stored (i.e. C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal in Vista or Windows 7)
2. \TV-Server - were the TV-Server application files are stored (i.e. Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\TV-Server in Vista or Windows 7)
Program Data \Team MediaPortal
1. \MediaPortal - where the MediaPortal application files are stored (i.e. C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal in Vista or Windows 7)
2. \TV-Server - were the TV-Server application files are stored (i.e. C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\TV-Server in Vista or Windows 7)

Most of the files you use for MediaPortal are stored in the Program Data folder.

Program Files

By default, the MediaPortal and TV Server applications are stored within a folder Team MediaPortal in your Program Files folder. However, you may have changed this during installation. The most secure way to determine the actual location is by reading the registry key.

Windows XP/Vista/7
- C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\
64-bit OS
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal
Variable
- %ProgramFiles%\Team MediaPortal\
Registry (32-bit):
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MediaPortal\InstallPath
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MediaPortal TV Server\InstallPath
Registry (64-bit):
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MediaPortal\InstallPath
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MediaPortal TV Server\InstallPath

Since the actual location varies based on your OS, the location is referred to as [programfiles]\

Program (Application/User) Data

The easiest way to find your user files is to use the Start Menu Shortcut under Team MediaPortal > MediaPortal > User Files,

Or you may open the Configuration Tool and use the link at the top left of the screen. This link also includes sub links for:

User Files.png

Program Data Folder Names

Folder Name	Program Data\ Folder Location	Files stored
Config	Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\	the main MediaPortal.xml and othe xml config files for all plugins as well
Thumbs	Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\thumbs	all the thumb images which display in MP, such as artist, album, DVD covers, TV Channel logos ,etc.
Logs	Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\logs	Log files such as configuration.log, mediaportal.log error.log, and plugin log files as well
Database	Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\database	SQL (.db3) databases for Pictures, Videos, Music and many extension databases
Skin	Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\skin	xmls and media or image files, usually .png format
Cache	Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\cache	where packed graphics and fonts files are stored for each skin you have installed
TV-Server logs	Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\TV-Server\logs	Log files for the TV-Server, such as error.log, and TV,log EPG,log etc.

Here you can see the Folder Name and locations used to describe the different Folders where your program data is stored.

User Files

Thumbs (Images, pictures, backdrops, etc) - [userdata]\thumbs or Thumbs folder
Log files - [userdata]\logs or Logs folder
Database files - [userdata]\database or Database folder
Skin files (xmls and media or image files, usually .png format) - [userdata]\skin or [userdata]\skin\media sometimes called Skin folder or Skin Media folder

Since the actual location varies based on your OS, the location is referred to as [userdata]\...

Cache Files

The Cache folder is where packed textures - skin graphics and fonts - files are stored. Any changes you make to graphics or fonts or screen resolution, require you to recache graphics and fonts. See Graphics, Packed Graphics and ReCaching

The packed graphics files are located within individual skin folders in the Cache folder:

VIsta/7 = C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Cache
XP = C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Team MediaPortal\Cache

Skin Graphics

The cache folder contains a sub folder for each skin you have installed. The graphics are compressed in packedgfx*.xml files. See Packed Graphics for details.

Fonts

Fonts are loaded as textures in MediaPortal, so there is a fonts subfolder, in each skin folder.

Thus, compressing or packing graphics improves graphics performance in MediaPortal. See also Graphics and Fonts.

Configuration Files

Configuration files for MediaPortal and TV Server are stored in the Team MediaPortal folder

Windows XP
- C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Team MediaPortal\
Windows Vista
- C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\
Variable
- %AllUsersProfile%\Team MediaPortal\

Since the actual location varies based on your OS, the location is referred to as [userdata] or Config folder

Log files

The information contained in these log files will assist in troubleshooting your problems.

When troubleshooting, please change log verbosity to Debug level in Configuration > General settings, or use the Debug-Mode Shortcut in Start Menu Programs > Team MediaPortal > MediaPortal.

MediaPortal Log files

Windows XP
- C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\log\
Windows Vista
- C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\log\
Variable
- %AllUsersProfile%\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\log\

Since the actual location varies based on your OS, the location is referred to as [userdata]\logs or Logs folder

TV-Server Log files

For easy access, a shortcut TV-Server Log-Files has been installed in your TV Server program group.

Windows XP
- C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal TV Server\log\
Windows Vista
- C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal TV Server\log\
Variable
- %AllUsersProfile%\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal TV Server\log\

Since the actual location varies based on your OS, the location is referred to as [userdata]\TV-Server\logs or TV-Server logs folder