I would like the ability to add entries to my library for each of the DVDs I have but haven’t ripped.
I have an online library with some 400 Films & 2500 TV Show episodes but also have a similarly sized, if not larger, collection of DVDs which for obvious reasons of time and space I’d rather not have to rip. It would be extremely useful if I could create fake/placeholder entries for each of these items so that meta-data can be fetched and so the offline entries appear in the main library view.
My gedanken design involved placing an indicator on each media item indicating source-type, and for source-types of “removable” nature ensuring a clear marker (disc icon ?) is overlayed on the meta-data screen. Then if the item is selected for play requesting the media be inserted (either a pop-up or entering a seperate screen, but continuing to display enough meta-data to know what to fetch from the shelves).
A quick scan of the db schema suggests this might be achieved by having extra paths. The path would have an indicator indicating removable, and type (DVD, External Drive Caddy or USB etc).
One useful side-effect of having this sort of extended library is that I can then extract an accurate list of what I have so I know what to buy/ignore when I next go shopping.
This xbmc.org article still applies for Plex and might help:
http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=HOW-TO:_Catalo…a_fake_files%29
I realise that a set of fake files is ***a*** way to get entries to appear, but it doesn't solve the problem of visually differentiating them. In much the same way as the request to [topic="269"]visually identify HD media[/topic] where it was concluded that basing the decision about HD should be taken media file itself, this is an orthogonal feature for a different piece of information.
The problem with the simple set of fake files is that it doesn't give the indication that external media is being refered to, and doesn't offer to wait for the media to be presented. Given the recent survey results indicating a large proportion of users with hi-def media, and, I strongly suspect, a large number of them having blu-ray content in the form of real disks as well, I'm surprised little has been done on this yet. From the other Feature Request it was suggested that an outer-joined table of additional information could easily be added to provide this data to the skins. Could this idea be trialled and also include the external media information ? An additional thought is that the marker files could still be used/required, but could contain the additional data to help populate this side table.
It’s an interesting thought, make an entry grey when the scanner detects that it’s not available anymore…
/me confused :huh:
Was that a reply to something else ? Or have I missed something ? Not that it's not a bad idea, useful if things have been shuffled around or removed "hey, they actually did make a second season, time for sub-directories".
That was directed at you 
Say you add a HDD filled with files to you library then you disconnect that Hard drive. Usually we would either remove the item OR just keep it there as if it existed. But instead what if Plex checked and saw the file was unavailable and greyed the item out, that way you would have a placeholder for offline media and be able to identify if it’s offline or not.
As for the users playing HD content, it’s content that has been made into mkv format, not Bluray (since there is no bluray decoding software for mac).
OK, I see. Yes it would make sense for missing media, stuff that fails fstat(), but doesn’t cover the case when I might have those fake files.
The reasoning for mentioning blu-ray is the same rationale as for DVDs; physical offline media. I was making what I admit is a possibly incorrect but entirely plausible leap from users have a lot of high-res online media with the corresponding and realistic assumption that they have large displays to watch on to the associated, and I feel reasonable, conclusion that they would have some sort of hi-res disk player, typically a PS3. As it stands today I wouldn’t expect many to have a large collection of such media but that condition will change.
It seems a little odd that I can perfectly catalogue the online media acquired from whatever source and yet not do the same for all the offline.
Another possible way to do this would be to flag media files that are smaller than say 5k, and mark them a different way. I have all my dvds that aren’t ripped made with fake .iso files and they work perfectly with library mode, but it would be cool to have a way to identify them quickly as offline movies.
Back in the old days on XBOX, I used to make 0kb avi files and use a tbn file with a picture representing where to find the media
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/5919/burneddisc2hm9.png
Since then, I've upgraded to using [placeholder mp4 files](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5489445966067564320) with a fancier notification.
Still, I agree with sulfuric, it would be nice if I could know **BEFORE** I open the file that its located somewhere else. Maybe some metadata in an NFO in that directory?
Ok, how do you do that? That's pretty cool... :)
Thanks, it was pretty simple. iMovie '08 plus a google image search for "512-dvd.png" and some Ken Burns effect. [Here](http://rapidshare.com/files/153467972/Insert_Disc_Movie.zip.html) is the iMovieProject if you're interested...
- 1 for this suggestion.
There is another good reason for such a feature.
Since the legality of ripping DVDs is debatable, enabling offline libraries enables a broader usage of Plex in a less legally-questionable capacity.
It would be possible, for example, to use Plex to catalogue a library of physical DVDs. After inserting the DVD, Plex would be able to use the title to scrape metadata and generate the excellent library interface complete with synopsis, fan art and so on. The DVD could then be given an incremental index number which could be applied as a label on the DVD cover. When the user selects that DVD from the catalogue, they are presented with a screen showing the index number of the DVD to be retrieved from the user’s physical library. Essentially it would create a connection between a physical DVD library and the Plex library.
Please do not think I am trying to create debate about the legality of ripping DVDs. I am just thinking about situations where people do not even want to flirt with the legal issues but still want access to Plex’s awesome capabilities.
This idea could one day be enhanced with right hardware disk changer that could retrieve the physical media automatically! Ah, it’s fun to dream.
+1 for this also
I know there is a XBMC script for DVDProfiler users, but it’s not compatible with Plex anymore.
I agree! Please keep some sort of support for offline media files on your request list.
A related question: Is there a way to access a video on a CD or DVD without having to manually add it as a source? I have hundreds of discs with offline media files, and that process takes time for every single one and is cumbersome, to say the least.
I love it. This would be so useful for me because I have a laptop, and tons of media on external disks (which I don't always have with me) or archival disks.
Any update on managing offline media?
(Ive got a bunch of DVD’s & Blu-Rays that I’d love to get their metadata into Plex.)
Thanks in advance…
+1.
In my case, I have ripped all my 1080p and 4K Blu-rays, but I also have a small but growing library of iTunes purchased movies (sometimes they have deals I can’t pass up!). I don’t actually want to remove DRM and WATCH them in Plex (and risk mingling these low bitrate copies with the full Blu-ray rips I have), I just want ONE place to browse ALL my media, with pointers to the iTunes app once I decide I want to watch an iTunes movie.
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