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Release Notes
Recorded TV Manager Windows 7 Media Center Search Add-in
Additional Media Center Add-ins and other related software.
December 28, 2010
- Media Center Setup
- Using the On-screen Keyboard
- Searching
- Adding an Item to the Start Menu Strip
- Changing the Media Center Watched Folder List
- Compatibility With Other Recorded TV Manager Products
- Using the MetaData Service
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.
Enter the search string using the keyboard, if one is available. Otherwise, click the Show onscreen keyboard button below the input field. Note that the input field must have the focus (caret flashing) in order for the Show onscreen keyboard button to be available. Use the arrow buttons and the OK/Enter button to select text. Click Done when input is complete.
Use the LAYOUT button on the screen to switch between the onscreen keyboard and the triple tap keyboard. Either one can be used to enter the search string.
While Searching, 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) and then checking the metadata in those files for the requested search string.
Please note that for large numbers of recorded TV files distributed over a network, it can take upwards of 20-30 seconds to search all current recordings. This can also be impacted by network congestion and other factors. Please be patient.
Technical Information: If Recorded TV Manager MetaData Service is installed on the machine, or accessible on the network, then the Search add-in will automatically use the xml metadata files created by the MetaData Service. This will increase search speed significantly down to 3-5 seconds. See here for more information on using the MetaData Service with this add-in.
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 Search item to the Extras bar on the Start menu, select Extras Library, select the Search tile and then press the Info button (or right-click the item with the mouse) and then select Add to Start Menu.
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.
Compatibility With Other Recorded TV Manager Products
This software is independent of any other Recorded TV Manager software, except the MetaData Service, see below.
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.
Recorded TV Manager MetaData Service
The MetaData Service is not required to use this software.
If the MetaData Service is installed on the local computer, or accessible on the network, this software will automatically detect the location of the xml MetaData files. The software will search the xml MetaData files instead of the network directories, resulting in very fast (3-5 secs) search times.
The bottom-left of the screen identifies the metadata source, either "Watched Folder List" or a network path to the xml MetaData files.
To override automatic use of xml MetaData files, edit the registry as follows:
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