Virtual Dynamic Sections/Libraries // mod: pin (smart) collections to sidebar

Okay, not sharing myself, due to limited bandwith, but actually have an idea here:

Allow Plex to create "Virtual Sections" that you can use for sharing purpose.....

In details:

You might have some sections named Animation, old B/W TV-Shows, Action Movies etc.....

So I thought, that since this is all database related, it would be great if I could do the following:

Create a Virtual Section, where I could define like the following:

• Include section by name
• Include movie by actor  (Dynamic query look-up)
• Include movie by genre (Dynamic query look-up)
• Include manual movies
• Include medias by custom tags (Dynamic query look-up)

That way, after defining the queries behind the virtual section, the database would pull the relevant stuff when a user browsed it.

And you as the admin, would have full control over what you are sharing and not, instead of now, where you might have to actually have to duplicate your medias into different directories, create sections for them, and doing a scan....

If you like this idea, hit the like button, but regardless:

• Valid comments both for and against this is more than welcome
• Avoid a post like "+1", or I'll cast an old voodoo curse on you

Best Regards

Tommy

EDIT: Turned out that sandymac already req. this, but sadly I didn't saw that before my post. As such, all credits for this idea goes to him, and his origen thread is found here:

http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/78569-rfe-smart-sections/?hl=%2Bsmart+%2Bsection

However, in order to not scatter the votes, and since I can't transfer mine, and this thread is already hotter, and got more votes, I urge you to stay here, in order to avoid scattering of votes.

But as said....sandymac is the man

You will probably tell me off again for complicating your request.. but i will say what i want to say anyway

It is a brilliant idea but we are probably moving into what we would like once playlists come onboard.

With Playlists in place, we can then say we would like to share Playlists. Playlists are really going to be your virtual sections.

Another aspect is would be nice to be able to build complex filters using patterns to supplement any standard GUI interface for creating 'virtual sections' or 'playlists'

And when we do introduce Playlists need to make sure they do not just cover music and video but also nice to create playlists of photos as well / including filters to select or combination of folders.

I have put my Like to your post to get devs to start thinking about such features, What we get in the end and when well - we have no say on and hopefully will be within our lifetime and not the next generations

You will probably tell me off again for complicating your request.. but i will say what i want to say anyway

LOL, Now would I ever do that :rolleyes:

It is a brilliant idea but we are probably moving into what we would like once playlists come onboard.

Sorry, but in my book, a Playlist is something where you pick stuff, and granted, allowing it to be shared is getting closer, but IMHO still not dynamic, which I think is the beauty about this suggestion.

The closest thing I can go to with this, is "Novell's eDirectory's Dynamic Groups"

But anyway, thanks for the feedback, indeed valid, and also for the like...much appreciated

/Tommy

Sorry, but in my book, a Playlist is something where you pick stuff, and granted, allowing it to be shared is getting closer, but IMHO still not dynamic, which I think is the beauty about this suggestion.

Fine - but it does mean that when we get Playlists onboard I will probably put a request in for dynamically created playlists based on specific filter criteria. Like creating a Playlist for all photos using wildcards and allowing for compex filter patterns. 

Fine - but it does mean that when we get Playlists onboard I will probably put a request in for dynamically created playlists based on specific filter criteria. Like creating a Playlist for all photos using wildcards and allowing for compex filter patterns. 

LOL, and please do, and yes....this more or less boils down to wording....

/T

This idea is brilliant! 

ThanX

XBMC calls them smart playlists. Selection criteria based on metadata. In Plex, they might be smart collections. If you could share smart collections, you could implement rudimentary parental controls.

XBMC calls them smart playlists. Selection criteria based on metadata.

Didn't know that, since I don't know XBMC

If you could share smart collections, you could implement rudimentary parental controls.

And even with that, you don't think it's an okay idea?

/T

+1 (couldn't resist)

+1 (couldn't resist)

Well.....speechless here, but at least you pressed the like button as well, so outcome=cool  :D 

/T

And even with that, you don't think it's an okay idea?

/T

It's a great idea, it just may be known under a different name.  

The XBMC implementation allows smart playlist creation through the UI or via XML file.  You can select all content types or just one and you can choose to require all constraints or any and they can be included in each other.

This allows you to create the following types of smart playlists (collections) easily:

• Unwatched children's movies released within the last 2 years
• TV Episodes with Christmas or Santa in the title or description
• Movies rated PG-13 or lower
• Sci-Fi movies before 1965

One of the major advantages of Plex is the ability to retrieve and store metadata in a single database for many clients.  We need the ability to make better use of the metadata to which all of those clients have access.  To make these most functional though these should function as collections and not as sections, because fewer sections have many performance advantages.

It's a great idea, it just may be known under a different name.  

Then please vote for it, by pressing the like button

http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/78569-rfe-smart-sections/?hl=%2Bsmart+%2Bsection

http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/78569-rfe-smart-sections/?hl=%2Bsmart+%2Bsection

Ups, and sorry.....And you where first, but never saw it before now....

Ups, and sorry.....And you where first, but never saw it before now....

And edited my Origen post to show this....Once more...So sorry....Didn't wanted to neither step on you, nor steal your idea

Best Regards

Tommy

I think Dynamic Sections could be really usefull

Yeah, I just wanted to add this to the feature requests and saw it's already posted.  This would be great, not in the least for music users.  Dynamic lists based on filtering, and even playlist based lists. :)

The foundation of this is playlists, so I suggest that everyone who wants smart playlists /also/ votes here: https://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/46288-very-popular-playlist-system/

Nope, it’s not.

Sent from my GT-I9505

Nope, it's not.

Sent from my GT-I9505

Actually, it is.  Smart Playlist functionality is the core of this.