New folder for Fanart getting created an overriding existing fanart

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I downloaded the latest Blue3 (4:3) files Gamejester provided in the forum.

Since then, I have a new folder created for fanart:

C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\thumbs\Fan Art\fanart\original

When I download fanart it is stored in this folder.

My default folder for fanart is configured in MP-TVSeries configuration 
(About Tab) as C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\thumbs\Fan Art

When I download new fanart for a Series which already has some fanart, 
TVSeries can no longer access the 'old' fanart, and only displays the new 
fanart I have download.

I can't find anywhere in the files Gamejester sent that sets this path, so 
I am stumped!

Thanks
Dadeo

Original issue reported on code.google.com by dcarson...@gmail.com on 14 Jan 2009 at 3:28

[GoogleCodeExporter]

The path is set by the plugin, the online fanart is set to download to:
C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\thumbs\Fan Art\fanart\original

I believe your user fanart will still load from C:\ProgramData\Team
MediaPortal\MediaPortal\thumbs\Fan Art

The Fanart chooser will only show you fanart from online unfortunately, this may
change at a later date.

To access your user fanart, you will obviously need to set your Fanart to 
Random. It
will then choose from your online and user fanart.

I believe that works, but I haven't tested it. For all I know you already have 
random
enabled and it doesnt work. If not, I will take a closer look to see how it 
really
works or see if there is a bug.

Original comment by damien.haynes@gmail.com on 15 Jan 2009 at 2:43

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I do have random enabled but not Series view.  But you are right, it does work 
now.  
I think it only did not work right after I had downloaded.  But I will try to 
replicate this and get back to you. No point you doing useless testing.

Is it possible that the Fanart Chooser is assuming I am choosing the one I have 
downloaded and overriding the Ramdom setting until I reload?  I'll check it.

Why a different folder for the fanart? Sorry, not a terribly important 
question. I'd 
rather you keeping working on a stable release!  It's just that it makes file 
management even more complicated.

Original comment by dcarson...@gmail.com on 15 Jan 2009 at 3:11

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Its just the folder structure that the fanart is stored online. It could be 
changed
but then everyone that has fanart in the new folder will not be happy.

Original comment by damien.haynes@gmail.com on 15 Jan 2009 at 3:27

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Ok here's the results of my tests:

When I download new fanart for a series which already has fanart (in my 
original 
folder), only the new fanart displays.  I did make sure it was on Random, with 
show 
in Series view selected.  Even if I copy my previous fanart to the new folder 
it 
still does not display.  Possibly because it was not downloaded from TVDB? It's 
mostly from Spuck's site.

When I first download fanart, it doesn't display right away.  If I go to 
another 
series and back, then it displays (though this may be the same issue as 86 
which you 
already know about)

Also, I have a lot of fanart in my _cache folder \fanart\original that I 
downloaded 
previously that is no longer in the fanart\original folder. I don't know how I 
could 
have deleted it since I have never gone to that folder before! I'll keep a 
watch on 
it and let you know if I can figure out when this happens and let you know.

I'm not reporting this expecting a quick fix you know. I'm just trying to give 
you 
feedback so you can iron out as many of the bugs as possible while you are 
working 
on this. And I can even live without fanart for awhile!!! Imagine that :)

Original comment by dcarson...@gmail.com on 15 Jan 2009 at 3:52

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Thanks, I will spend more time investigating soon. 

fyi...the _cache folder is used for the thumbnails displays in the Fanart 
Chooser.

Original comment by damien.haynes@gmail.com on 15 Jan 2009 at 3:57

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I thought the Chooser should be using _cache, but it isn't. I have already 
downloaded all the fanart for Dexter for example. It is in the _cache.  But 
only the 
one I just downloaded (again!) shows as Available locally. The others all say 
available for download.  And they have the same filenames.

When you get to tweaking the fine points, it would be nice if the screen said 
FanArt 
Chooser (or did you already fix that when you fixed the black screen, which I 
still 
get with Gamejester's files)

Original comment by dcarson...@gmail.com on 15 Jan 2009 at 4:17

[GoogleCodeExporter]

A few things to mention here:

* The _cache folder isn't a store for Fanart, only thumbnails which are 
displayed in
the Fanart Chooser.

* Fanart from database takes precedence if the fanart is available. The case of 
it
not being available might be that you delete your fanart folder but you dont 
delete
your database as well. If a fanart is picked from the database but doesnt exist 
on
your harddrive or no fanart is found in database then it uses a fanart that you
manually drop into the fanart folder.

Note: The Fanart folder may also contain fanart that you previously had in the
database, but if your database had been cleared it doesnt know that they are 
local
when you open the Fanart Chooser window. I would like to make a change to the 
fanart
chooser so that when it launches it double checks if the file is on your disk 
and set
the state appropriately 'Download' or 'Available' (Shouldnt be too hard) This 
would
be good for people that delete their databases but keep their thumbs folder.

* A skinner can name the Fanart Chooser window as he/she sees fit, for 
Blue3Wide I
have done this.

Anyway, there has been a heap of fanart bugs I fixed lately...hope all the 
problems
with disappearing fanart has gone away.

Any new problems with fanart found after next release should be raised 
seperately.

Original comment by damien.haynes@gmail.com on 28 Jan 2009 at 4:51

• Changed state: Fixed

[GoogleCodeExporter]

* Named the Fanart Chooser window once I got Gamejester's files!  Thanks

* How do I get the Database to recognize my existing fanart (not from TVDB)?  I 
have 
tried re-importing but it does not reindex the fanart from my fanart folder. 

In fact, I even removed all my fanart, deleted the database and started from 
scratch 
(except for MP-TVeries banners!)  When I import my data TVseries puts a default 
fanart in every series (i.e.For Dexter fanart/original/79349-16.jpg) These 
files 
don't exist on my system.  

As a result it DOES NOT EVER detect my original fan art!

I'm happy to wait until the new release (When? :) ) and let you know if it 
fixes 
this.

Original comment by dcarson...@gmail.com on 28 Jan 2009 at 7:27

[GoogleCodeExporter]

* How do I get the Database to recognize my existing fanart (not from TVDB)?  I 
have 
tried re-importing but it does not reindex the fanart from my fanart folder. 

This has never been possible, the database only know about fanart from 
theTVDB.com
You can only get the fanart that you manually dropped into the folder if there 
is
none defined in your database from online. It always chooses online fanart 
first.

The Fanart never auto downloads fanart, I have no idea how you mysteriously have
it....are you sure you dont have Windows Vista with UAC enabled. Maybe your 
fanart
isn't really deleted?

Original comment by damien.haynes@gmail.com on 28 Jan 2009 at 7:41