Overview

How to upgrade your database to AMC 4.1.1 with extended fields such as: Writer, Tagline, Certification, Studio, Edition, Audio Channels and many more.

Introduction

As of v 6.0.0, My Films supports the new version of Ant Movie Catalog (AMC) version 4.1.1 with extended fields.

Warning: Download the latest version (31/05/12 or later) to ensure date formats are handled correctly with My Films. 

Grabber scripts have been updated to grab data for the extended fields, however if you use custom grabbers, either recreate them from the new grabbers, or ensure that the new database fields are checked (selected) in AMC Updater on the Database Fields Tab.

To 'grab' data for the new extended fields in AMC4, you should use the IMDB-Full grabber script (preset when using Setup Wizard for AMC4 catalog types)

Note:  If you are using a previous AMCU configuration (i.e. you did not create a new config), you must 're-create' it using the option on the Import tabin Setup to display the extended fields.

The Easy Way

If most, or all your movies are on a hard disk drive, the easiest way to upgrade to AMC 4.1.1. is:

1. Create a new catalog using the Setup Wizard
2. Select catalog type = AMC Xtended (4.1) (default as of v 6.0.0)
3. Rescan and import your data using AMC Updater > Import Movies tab - make sure all the extended fields are 'checked' on the Database fields tab. See Import Setup for more details.
4. For Trailers: run Search and add trailers (all films)' from the Global Updates menu within My Films.

Note: Since cover, person and fanart images likely already exist for most of your movies, the rescan won't take as long as a first scan of all your movies.

 Tip: If you are importing a lot of films, or scanning/importing for a new Config/database, import your films in two batch operations by changing the Import Behaviour for each import:

1. Auto match only -  you can let this run without intervention and AMCU will import only films it can match automatically:
2. Manual Match - simply change the Import Behavior and run import again to manually match all the films that could not be matched automatically when you have time.

Warning - if you previously used a Watched field other than the 'Checked' field and wish to upgrade to AMC4:

1. Change your existing catalog type in Setup (from AMC 3.5.1 to AMC 4)
2. Open your catalog within My Films GUI in MediaPortal to automatically migrate/convert the data to the new Multi-User States format
3. Then you may create a new AMC4 config if you wish to automatically enable all the new features.

This applies particularly if you enabled Enhanced Watch Status in My Films 5.1

Batch Updates (especially for 'offline media')

If you have many offline movies such as on CDs (EEK!), DVDs or BDs (Blu-ray Discs), you don't have to rescan them. You may use the AMCU Update Movies feature to grab and add data to the new extended fields.

Don't worry, AMCU always makes a backup of your AMC XML database before any update operation!

1. Update AMCU settings - to ensure all the extended fields are added to AMCU - using either of the following methods:
   1. R*e-create your AMCU Config settings* using the button on the Import tab in Setup.
      Note: if you have customized AMCU settings you may need to make those changes again 
   2. Create a new config for the same database to get all the new features and fields.
      Note: In this case you need to modify any custom settings (you can keep your old config to check and compare until you are sure you have all your custom settings)
2. Make sure the extended fields you wish to update are checked/selected on the Database Fields tab. You may select ONLY the fields you wish to update and avoid overwriting any manual changes/edits you have made to other fields:
   1. Producer - to change from Writers to producers if  you had used Producers field for Writers (or both) previously
   2. Writer - to populate new Writer field
   3. Tagline - to populate new Tagline field
   4. Description - to remove Tagline from Description field if you had added it there previously
   5. Certification - to populate new Certification field
   6. Studio - to populate new Studio field
   7. Comments - to remove Certification and Desc from Comments if you had added them there before
   8. IMDB_ID - to populate new IMDB-ID field and improve future matching
   9. AudioChannelsCount - to populate new media info filed for movies on HDD
   10. Aspect Ratio - to populate the new database extended field (in previous versions My Films calculated and displayed aspect ratio in Details view based on the resolution.)
       Note: AMCU will calculate aspect ratio based on the resolution field for 'offline' media like DVDs and add that to the new aspect ratio database field in AMC4.
   11. Date - to convert to AMC4 date format
   12. You may also wish to select and update other fields that have become inconsistent over time.
3. Modify grabber options using the Grabber Script Editorif you customized them previously: e.g.:
   1. remove replacement of Producers with Writers
   2. remove addition of Tagline to Description field
   3. remove addition of Certification and Studio to Comments field
   4. Save new custom grabber, and select it for AMC4 config
4. Update Movies in AMC Updater
   1. Select Operation = Update Records
   2. Make sure new grabber is selected under Grabber Script
   3. Test on a few records first (Parameters: Ant Field Number <Num 10 or whatever you wish) OR just cancel after a few records are processed.
   4. If test is successful, repeat with Update all Records.

Trailers

If you added Trailer source info to a field in your AMC3 database (so you can play related movie trailers using My Films) and wish to update your existing database to use the new Source Trailer field, you can do so using AMC Updater Update Movies Tab:

1. Copy data from the field you selected for Trailer source info in Trailer Setup (preset to Borrower in AMC3 catalog types) to the new SourceTrailer extended field:
   
2. Delete the data previously added to the field you selected for Trailer Source (e.g. Borrower):
   

Multi-User States

No conversion is required. If you enabled Enhanced Watched Status in v 5.1 for your AMC3 catalog, the data will automatically be converted to the new Multi-User States field in AMC4 - see Multiple Users. 

What's Next

You are now ready to enjoy the extended fields in AMC 4.1.1 and take advantage of all the new features in My Films 6.0. In particular you may search, sort or view your data using any of the new fields! 

See What's New > Version 6.0. to learn about the new features.

Related

• Ant Movie Catalog