Topics: Download Installation
MetaData Service Release Notes
Build 1.3.6
February 25, 2010
November 4, 2010 - *NEW* Add-on app for this software - xmlMetaData Search
- Locating the MetaData XML files
- Using the Check MetaData Utility
- Auto Refresh
- Changing the Folder List
Locating the MetaData XML files
The MetaData XML files are stored in the special folder ProgramData on the system drive. By default, Windows does not display that folder in Windows Explorer. To display the ProgramData folder:
In Windows Explorer, select Organize >> Folder and Search Options. Under Navigation pane, check Show All Folders.
Select the View tab and select Show hidden files, folders and drives
Click Apply and then OK. Restart Windows Explorer and the MetaData folder will now be available.
Using the Check MetaData Utility
The Check MetaData Utility is a diagnostic program which checks the consistency of the XML metadata files created and maintained by the MetaData Service. In addition to being useful for diagnostic purposes, it is also a good way to verify that the MetaData Service is setup and operating properly.
Start Menu >> All Programs >> Recorded TV Manager >> Check MetaData
PATH: The path to the Folder List.
defaultPATH: The path to the XML metadata files.
Folder Count: The total number of folders defined in the Folder List.
Click the Start button to start the consistency check.
Pass1
Pass1 checks every recorded TV file in each of the folders in the Folder List and verifies the corresponding XML metadata files. Any inconsistencies are noted in the log with an error number and the full path to the associated file.
PASS1 Error Numbers
(-1) Unknown file error.
(-2) Missing xml file. This occurs when a recording is not finished yet. The MetaData Service does not create the metadata XML file until shortly after the recording completes. This can also be caused by a computer being asleep for an extended period. This error will go away on the next Auto Refresh.
(1) This can occur when there are multiple copies of the same file in the Folder List. This should go away over time.
(>1) Metadata XML does not match recorded TV file. Delete the corresponding XML metadata file which will re-generate on the next Auto Refresh.
Pass 2
Pass2 checks each XML metadata file for the existence of the corresponding recorded TV file. If the file has recently been deleted, then it is marked "Missing" in the log. The MetaData service doesn't delete the XML metadata files until the next Auto Refresh following the actual deletion of the recorded TV file. This error will go away over time.
When the MetaData Service starts, and then (approximately) every 60 minutes thereafter, it does the following:
- Refreshes the connections which monitor the recorded TV folders. The MetaData Service uses the system object FileSystemWatcher to watch for new recordings.
- Check each MetaData XML file in the MetaData folder. If the associated recorded TV file has been deleted, then the MetaData XML file is also deleted.
- Check all the folders in the Folder List for recordings without an associated MetaData XML file and creates new ones when necessary.
This is a self-correcting mechanism which maintains a one-to-one correspondence between current recordings and the associated MetaData XML files.
The Folder List is the list of folders that the MetaData service will monitor for recorded TV files. The PATH variable points to the location of the Folder List, which is named folders.xml.
On Windows Home Server networks with Recorded TV Manager Add-in installed, the MetaData Service will automatically locate and use the Folder List (folders.xml) on the Home Server. This Folder List is created and maintained by the Recorded TV Manager Add-in running in the Home Server Console. Changes to the Folder List made through the Home Server Console will not take effect until the MetaData Service is re-started or the system is re-booted.
For stand-alone installations of the MetaData Service (not WHS Add-in) it may be necessary to manually edit the Folder List.
Folder references (Fullpath) must be specified in Universal Naming Convention (UNC) format, for example
\\USER2-PC\Recorded TV
Please refer to the following: