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Release Notes

Recorded TV Manager Windows 7 Media Center Play Next Add-in

November 30, 2010



Media Center Setup

If this software is installed on the Media Center machine before Media Center has been "set up", i.e. run at least once, the software may fail to start.  In that case, close Media Center and then restart it.


Loading

When the software starts, the Loading page is displayed.  At this time, the software is searching all the folders and sub-folders in the Media Center Watched Folders List for recorded TV files (dvr-ms and wtv).

Please note that for large numbers of recorded TV files distributed over a network, it can take upwards of 20 seconds to load the current state of recordings.  This can also be impacted by network congestion and other factors.  Please be patient.

Once the current state is loaded, navigation through the collection is fast and responsive.

Technical Information: The first time the add-in is run each day, the software will search all recorded TV folders and then write a temporary local disk file with the current state of series information.  Following that, the program will use the local disk file rather than searching through the entire collection.  The net effect of this is that the first Loading screen of the day will take longer, but after that the add-in will load very fast.  Note also that if new recordings are added to the collection after the local disk file is created, they will not appear in the series list until the local disk file is refreshed.  The file will be refreshed automatically after 4 hours.  To force a refresh, press the Rewind button on the remote (Ctrl-Shift-B on the keyboard).

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Remote Control and Keyboard Shortcuts 

Skip Forward (Ctrl-F) - Change the currently selected series episode to the next series episode.

Skip Back (Ctrl-B) -  Change the currently selected series episode to the previous series episode.

Use Skip Forward/Skip Back to cycle through and select specific series episodes.

Rewind (Ctrl-Shift-B) - Delete the local series info file and return to the Start menu.

Use Rewind to force a refresh of the temporary series info file.  See Technical Information above. 

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Adding an Item to the Start Menu Strip

When installed, the software adds an item to the Extras Library in Media Center.  To elevate the Play Next item to the Extras bar on the Start menu, select Extras Library, select the Play Next tile and then press the Info button (or right-click the item with the mouse) and then select Add to Start Menu.

Add to Start Menu

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Changing the Media Center Watched Folder List

By default, the Media Center Watched Folder list is just the local Public Recorded TV folder.  For Windows Home Server networks, the list may also include the Recorded TV shared folder on the WHS.

You can add other network shares to the Watched Folder List directly within Media Center using Settings.  See instructions here.

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Compatibility With Other Recorded TV Manager Products

The Play Next software is independent of any other Recorded TV Manager software and can be installed along side Recorded TV Manager Windows 7 Media Center Add-in, Media Center Marathon Add-in and/or Media Center Stitch Add-in.  Note that the Play Next software uses the Media Center Watched Folder List and will not use the Recorded TV Manager Folder List.

Important: Always uninstall this and other add-ins using Control Panel >> Uninstall Programs. In some cases, when multiple Recorded TV Manager add-ins are uninstalled, Media Center registration may not be fully removed.  Use Manage Extras >> Extras Library in Media Center to remove any unwanted add-ins from Extras.

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