Locally backdrops

hi,

I just updated my firmware from 2.04.13 to 2.07.17 because I heard it will play locally backdrops. Well, it’s not working!

I’m trying to play them from a usb drive not the internal hdd and I followed the instructions of the code:

replaced the link of the backdrop by the name of the image which is included with the same folder of the movie.

any ideas?

Ok, first, just to let you know you should post things concerning the UI, backdrops, etc. in the Themes forum.  You’ll get a better faster response there.

Anyway, open one of you xmls with notepad, then post the info here.  Also give the name of the backdrop as it’s saved.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
  21 Grams   R   2003-09-05   124   8.2   (Trailer) 21 Grams.mp4   Crime   Drama   Indie   Thriller   Focus Features   A freak accident brings together a critically ill mathematician, a grieving mother and a born-again ex-con.   A freak accident brings together a critically ill mathematician, a grieving mother and a born-again ex-con.

******** NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES********
  Alejandro González Iñárritu
 
    Sean Penn
    Paul Rivers
 
 
    Naomi Watts
    Cristina Peck
 
 
    Benicio Del Toro
    Jack Jordan
 
 
    Danny Huston
    Michael
 
 
    Carly Nahon
    Cathy
 
 
    Claire Pakis
    Laura
 
 
    Eddie Marsan
    Reverend John
 
 
    Melissa Leo
    Marianne Jordan
 
 
    Charlotte Gainsbourg
    Mary Rivers
 
 
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/ae5/4bc907fd017a3c57fe002ae5/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/09d/4dcd37de7b9aa151ff00609d/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/a74/4d1b626f5e73d66598000a74/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/aea/4bc907fd017a3c57fe002aea/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/5f0/4c07d515017a3c33d90005f0/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/013/4bcb8d72017a3c753d000013/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/126/4c9dfd505e73d6704b000126/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/c49/4d0d2f065e73d6370e000c49/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/5e7/4c07d3fe017a3c33d90005e7/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/615/4da47b967b9aa15c83000615/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/5e1/4c07d324017a3c33d90005e1/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/d65/4dda4c657b9aa150e500ad65/21-grams-cover.jpg
  21-grams-poster.jpg
  21-grams-poster.jpg2
  21-grams-poster.jpg3
  21-grams-poster.jpg4
  21-grams-poster.jpg5
  21-grams-poster.jpg7
  21-grams-poster.jpg8
  21-grams-poster.jpg9
  21-grams-poster.jpg10
  21-grams-poster.jpg11
  21-grams-poster.jpg12
  21-grams-poster.jpg13
  21-grams-poster.jpg7
  21 Grams-2003 (720p).mkv
  N/A

the names of the backdrops are the same as the ones within the . I downloaded like 20 images using the links that I got online for the database, then i copied the name of the image and paste instead of the links.

did the same also for youtube trailer

Ok, first delete these lines:

  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/ae5/4bc907fd017a3c57fe002ae5/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/09d/4dcd37de7b9aa151ff00609d/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/a74/4d1b626f5e73d66598000a74/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/aea/4bc907fd017a3c57fe002aea/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/5f0/4c07d515017a3c33d90005f0/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/013/4bcb8d72017a3c753d000013/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/126/4c9dfd505e73d6704b000126/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/c49/4d0d2f065e73d6370e000c49/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/5e7/4c07d3fe017a3c33d90005e7/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/615/4da47b967b9aa15c83000615/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/5e1/4c07d324017a3c33d90005e1/21-grams-cover.jpg
  http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/d65/4dda4c657b9aa150e500ad65/21-grams-cover.jpg

They aren’t needed because the HUB does not use these for the thumbnails.

Then another thing is that you can’t have numbers behind the .jpg.  You’re backdrops have to be named like this:

  21-grams-poster.jpg
  21-grams-poster1.jpg
  21-grams-poster2.jpg
  21-grams-poster3.jpg
  21-grams-poster4.jpg
  21-grams-poster5.jpg
  21-grams-poster6.jpg
  21-grams-poster7.jpg
  21-grams-poster8.jpg
  21-grams-poster9.jpg
  21-grams-poster10.jpg
  21-grams-poster11.jpg
  21-grams-poster12.jpg

Then after you have done that, you will probably need to unplug the power cord from the HUB, then plug it back in.  Allow it to re-compile and then see if your backdrops display.

If not then you may need to try and clear your media library.  Press “Setup” on the remote, then select “System”, then select “Media library”, then select “Clear Media Library”.  After it gets through re-compiling the media library, then navigate to your movie and see if you backdrops show up.

You may also want to read THIS as how to create custom backdrops (Moviesheets).

1 Like

the numbers after the extension were a mistake, I entered them manually after pasting the name :slight_smile:

now I did all what u suggested, deleting the thumbnails, turning the power off and on from the outlet, clearing the media library, but still not working.

There is something also, I added a line before on xml file when I used to have the 2.04.13 firmware

***** not suitable for youn audiences****** just to see if it shows and it was showing fine on the old firmware. Now, I can’t even see the line, so i think the problem is not the backdrops code because I can’t even see that line that I added on the text.

Now i’m thinking maybe i should create the xml again from the network from scratch while using the firmware 2.07.17, than edit it, maybe that would be the reason?

plus, are you able to see the backdrops locally on your device? maybe it’s not supported yet?

Yes, local backdrops do work on mine.  You can see a video of mine here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXuyGiIATMc

And if you can’t see the line that you added to the , then there is a problem with how it is reading, or not reading the xml.

Does the rest of the metadata show up, Actors, Director, the rest of the Overview?

If it is, then there is a problem with the HUB reading your xml data.  Make sure that there isn’t a naming problem, make sure that the xml name is exactly the same as your movie name.

Ok, I did some testing just to make sure that it wasn’t because you had used “Get Content Info” for your movies that was causing it to not display.  But everything turned out all right so that’s not it.

I did figure this out though, you can’t space down (press Enter on the keyboard) to make the line ******** NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES********.

To make it drop down a couple a line you’ll have to use the space bar.  In other words, press and hold the space bar after the actual overview, until it drops down to where you want it.  This may take a few trys to get it to where you want it, but everytime you save the xml you should see the results on the screen instantly.

Also, for the backdrop.  Make sure that you copy the exact name, don’t just type it in.  If you have to right click on the backdrop image that you are going to use, then select “Rename”.  The name will be highlighted then and you can right click and copy it, then paste it in your xml.  After you do that then unplug your power cord from the HUB, then plug it back in.

The message that I wrote appeared after I took off the space between the lines. now the xml that I used is the one that the device generated automatically and it has the same name of the movie. Just to mention that I’m using a hdd connected through USB and not the internal drive of WD, does that make any difference of making the backdrops work?

The backdrops still not working, it could be maybe an “enter” mistake. To be able to find out i have to get the info again online and make the device generate a new xml (I’ll do that on weekend)

is it possible for you to post here the content of an xml just to try it if it works on mine? I’ll just rename the pictures to whatever your xml has for backdrops, also the movie, without editing anything inside the xml, just to spot the problem.

thanks

PS: u mentioned to unplug the power cord from the hub. does it make any difference if i just switch off the surge protector, because that’s what I did.

John_Daristas wrote:

PS: u mentioned to unplug the power cord from the hub. does it make any difference if i just switch off the surge protector, because that’s what I did.

*I* think this is a better way to cut power to the Hub. You won’t be wearing out the power socket on the Hub by repeatedly plugging/unplugging it. Pulling the adapter from the wall is another way to do it too.

BUT my Hub seems to get all the new changes simply by holding the power button on the remote, which completely powers the Hub down and then turning it back on. You might try this method and see if it does work on yours. It would keep you from having to get up and walk over to it to turn off the switch on the surge protector. Seems like, at least on mine, it does exactly the same thing as cutting the power to the Hub.

Hmm.  Maybe you’re talking about something different, Tinwarble, but “New Lines” in my XML seem to display correctly:

<overview>Gen. Cresswell informs Harm and Mac that they are being reassigned. Harm to London and Mac to San Diego.
With their deadline quickly approaching. Harm and Mac must sort out their lives and resolve their feelings for each other.

- This is the Final episode in the series -</overview>

The lines are displayed like that on my Hub…

the power button on the remote has 2 functions: if you press it once, the device goes into sleeping mode but the hdd will still running and available on the network. If you press the power button for 5 sec the device plus the hard disc drive turns off, but I think unplugging the cable is totally different than the 2 options listed above and has different effect on the device, that’s why he asked me to do it.

As far as I know, both the “Hard” shutdown via the remote, and pulling the plug are equivalent in terms of reseting the box…

John,

Try this.  Download my test folder HERE (this is the test folder I use for my theme) and unzip to the root of your HUB drive.  Allow the HUB to compile and the navigate to the test folder and see if the backdrops are showing up.

The download contains dummy movie files as well as the thumbnail (these may appear small depending on your theme), backdrops and xmls that you need.  If the backdrops display, then that will narrow things down to it being a problem with your xmls, then you should be able to compare my xmls with yours.  If they don’t display, then there may be another problem.

thanks Tinwarble for your support, I’ll try it and get back to you.

ok so here what happened!

Downloaded your folder and extract it on the internal drive, it’s working and I can see your theme and the backdrops etc.

I copied the same movie that wasn’t working before from the external drive to the internal drive of the hub, it’s working now, i can see the backdrops etc.

I said OK! it could be that the backdrops just works from the internal drive, I pluged the external usb where the movie was originally not working, it’s working!

I said maybe because it’s the same movie and the xml it’s been launched from the internal drive, so I deleted the movie from the internal plus your folder, but it still working from the external drive…hummm…let’s format it to be sure there is nothing left that the device can read, so I formated the internal HDD just to make sure the device is not reading anyhting from the old folder, it’s still working on the external usb.

I said OK maybe the backdrops are still loaded in the buffer, so i turned off the device, tunred it on…the backdrops are working fine!

let’s try another movie, i edited an xml that i got from the “get content info” (before) and put it on the usb stick, it’s working fine, the backdrops are showing…

I guess we fixed the problem Tinwarble but we didn’t troubleshoot it! any ideas?

PS:  not all the information in the xml is showing. For example i’m missing the mpaa, rating, some genre, etc. why? the only one showing are title, genre, runtime, director and actors plus the plot

Well, I’m glad to see that things seem to be working for you.

So first, as for troubleshooting the problem.   That actually can be harder to do than it sounds.  For one thing, I’m not there to physically see what the problem might have been and two, the HUB can just act weird some times and something that might not be working may work later for no reason.

Now, you said that you can see my theme.  Do you mean my theme or do you mean the test folder I linked too?

Having my theme is different from just having my test folder, this HERE is my theme, although the updated version to use local backdrops can be downloaded from HERE.

You can watch my theme in action at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXuyGiIATMc.  The video shows my theme with a slightly differnent main menu which can be added to it.

Also, as for not all the info showing up, it’s because the HUB does not natively display all that data.  The mpaa, IMDb ratings, etc., can not be displayed by the HUB, the reason they show up on my test folder is because they are generated on my backdrops (moviesheets) and to do this you have to use a third party program called Thumbgen.

To do that you can see this HERE.  And you need to be using a theme that has been disigned to use moviesheets.

what i meant by the theme is the test folder that you gave me. I had a look at the video, tutorial etc but still not sure of installing it, I have first to be comfortable with these xml before moving to better options; i saw also some moviesheets with animation online. so, my question after being able to see the backdrops finally is:

From the test folder I saw that you put all the movies, pictures, etc in 1 folder and not each movie alone! I can understand from it that you need to see backdrops + info while scrolling left or right on the movies; mean time I see it not too much organised as data on the hard drive (imagine you want to include a trailer or extra features for some specific movies, they will be all mixed with the main movies if all the data is in 1 folder).

So I’m trying to find a way where i can store each movie alone in a folder with his thumbnail, backdrops, trailer, special features, etc, but by doing that when you scroll on the folders between different movies, there is no info and no backdrops available so it’s kind of boring, you need to go inside of each folder to be able to play/see the info. Is there anyway to fix that in the xml, to see backdrops, trailer, that are stored in a subfolder?

thanks

Ok, so since I know that this is all new to you I’ll try to explain it best as I can.

The first thing you should know is that if you use Thumbgen, there is no reason to use the “Get Content Info” on the HUB.  Thumbgen will generate all the data for you, backdrops (moviesheets), cover art and xmls.  And you will not have to worry about editing the xml either, since if you setup Thumbgen the way I show in my tutorial, it will generate the xml with the local backdrop info in it. 

You can also edit the xml data (such as editing the overview) in Thumbgen before you generate the xml data, this way there is no reason to have to open the xml and manually edit it.

As for having all the movies in one folder.  I don’t have them all in one, but have them seperated in Genre folders.  But because the backdrops and metadata does not display for folders you do have to have to have multiple fies in one folder to get the effect like you saw in my video.  You can’t store each movie in its own folder and still have the effect of having the backdrops and metadata display for each while scrolling.  This is a firmware limitation.

And unless you just have your own trailers that you want to use, you don’t need to have these on your hard drive since you can access the trailers from youtube using the “Options” menu.  As for extra features that you might want to store for each movie, yes this can be a problem, however there are ways around this.

One thing you can do is to just have a seperate folder just for extras.  I find this to be the best way since you have to ask yourself “How many times I’m I going to want to watch the extras?”.   Another way is to add it to the same folder as your movies and just give it an extras name, so that you would have something like this:

Captain America.mkv

Captain America - Making of.mkv

Captain America - Featurettes.mkv

etc.

Then just treat them as seperate movies and give them there own metadata, thumbnails and moviesheet.

Anyway, I hope this helps some.

1 Like

This help alot ! I’m going to try thumbgen tonight because I didn’t know it will create the xml, I thought it’s just an editor to add or delete things,so that’s great!

I like your ideas about the extra features to be alone treated as a single movie with different title and maybe an extra folder just for trailers (I download the trailers from hd-trailers.net better quality than youtube, plus my hub is not going to be connected to the internet)

I hope WD will find a solution to be able to use xml for data in subfolders, plus of course if we can choose what to display from an xml, as far as i see there is the “title, genre, director, running time” that you can’t erase them from the xml to not appears, or maybe if we can at least replace them, for example I prefer to put the “resolution” of the movie instead fo the director. I hope the next firmware will be more flexible for us to be able to edit these little things.

check this website,

http://moviesheets.ca/index.html

they use moviesheet+ with animation, I don’t know if this is old, I’m kind of new to these themes thing :slight_smile:

Yep, all the data is generated through Thumbgen.  Just remember if you change anything in the Movie information section (like changing the overview) to make sure you click on the green check mark below it or the changes want be applied to the xml.

Your link that you posted doesn’t go the page that I think you wanted it to go to.  But just to answer your question, no you can’t use animated moviesheets, those a for a different platform and would not work on the HUB.