Suggestions for managing movie versions and extras

[xavier1]

I’ve decided to convert my various BD and UHD ISO files to just MKV files as I’ve found the ISO management a bit hit and miss - the menus often don’t work and so most of the extra features seem unsupported (maybe I’m doing something wrong)?

I’m using Vero4k and Vero4k+. I have a VeroV on order

Using the default skins and plugins, I’m finding managing film versions and extras incredibly laborious and unintuitive.

For example, I have the two-disc version of RoboCop. This has on one disc the Theatrical version and on the other disc, the Director’s cut. There are also maybe 30+ extras all broken down into individual MKV files I have ripped and titled correctly.

My structure (for now, maybe there’s a better way? Please advise!) is:

server/films/ISO_4k/
server/films/MKV_4k/
server/flims/extras/<film-title>/

This gives me for example:

server/films/MKV_4k/RoboCop_Director.mkv
server/films/MKV_4k/RoboCop_Theatrical.mkv
server/films/extras/RoboCop/01-extra1.mkv
server/films/extras/RoboCop/02-extra2.mkv
server/films/extras/RoboCop/03-extra3.mkv
server/films/extras/RoboCop/04-extra4.mkv

Initially, I added the Director’s cut to the library using the usual scan. It detected it, but didn’t detect the theatrical version. I then went to change the information and renamed the default version to “Director’s cut” and then added a new version, pointing to the other MKV file, selecting the “Theatrical Cut” as the version.

Now, I understand there’s a “default”, but can this be changed? It would be really useful to know whether I have multiple versions of a film or not. As it stands, I have to go into the settings, navigate down to the film tile, click on options, go down to “Information” then across to the “Versions” menu at the bottom to then be able to pick the “other” one. That surely is the clunkiest way possible! It would be so much nicer IMO if from the main tile/icon, when you click on it, it asks which version, highlighting the default one. If there aren’t multiple verisons, then it starts playing the only one. Is this possible?

When it comes to the extras, OMG, this is a nightmare: I don’t think you can add a directory and ask it to add all files as individual extras to a movie. I have to add them one by one. Each one takes like 20 clicks with the remote to navigate to the absolute path starting from the root filesystem (I’m using AutoFS to mount in /mnt). Is there a way to bulk add the extras?

I did see a post by @Matt_Hamilton - Extras button in video information page - this might be a better option?

Otherwise, I’m open to other ways, organising my library differently, using a different plugin if that allows an easier, more ergonomic way of viewing multiple movies and extra content.

Thoughts most welcome! before I give up completely trying to index movie extras.

[pkscout]

Your folder structure isn’t really conducive to getting extras handled automatically. See:

https://kodi.wiki/view/Video_extras#Setup

Basically you need a folder for the movie, then the movie file, then within that an extras folder. If you have multiple versions of a movie, each version should be in it’s own folder with it’s own extras folder. If you do all that, then when you scan a movie into your library the extras can be added automatically (but verify the settings mentioned in the link above so it’s doing what you want). You’ll still have to manually link versions of movies, but that is likely a smaller task.

[Kontrarian]

Even with the extras plugin it’s only marginally better than navigating with the file manager.
I rarely carry over extras, but I have for a few Jackie Chan films and I just make an “extras” folder with the movie and navigate to it with the file manager.
Not the most elegant way but there are no folder or file name conventions required, just navigate to the file and select it.

What would be nice, is if there was a “open item directory” option in a context menu or something like that.
You highlight the movie, open up the context menu, choose “open item directory”, and the file manager opens up right to your movie folder where you can have what ever subdirectories you want.
You could do “/Extras/Deleted Scenes”, “Extras/Bloopers”, etc.
Whatever makes the most sense to you.

This shortcut to the source would also be nice for movies you didn’t enjoy and wanted to delete afterwards.
It would be a shortcut right to the file so you can just delete it in the file manager.
Having the option to delete content in the library view is possible but I don’t trust my children with that option so readily available.

[Kontrarian]

@Chillbo, how easy would it be to add something like that to the context menu in the skin?

[xavier1]

Thanks, I hadn’t seen that set of instructions and they seem to work. The only inconvenience is that I have to create a folder for each movie, even if I only have a single movie file and no extras, but that’s not too bad.

I’ll also regroup mutiple versions of the movie in the same folder - I don’t see the benefit of having a different movie directory for each version. That seems to confuse the importer and I don’t see the benefit of splitting the extras for each version of the movie.

[xavier1]

OK, so looks like I have a solution for the extras.
Now if only there was a more ergonomic / intuitive way of managing movie versions.
At the moment, there’s no way of knowing if you have added multiple versions of a movie or not unless you go into the clunky menu and navigate to versions. The “default” setting doesn’t make much sense to me if there’s no indication whether several versions are present.
Is there any improvement someone can think of?

[Kontrarian]

I use NFO files if I’m going to have more than one version in my library remuxed (a common occurrence for me with Jackie Chan movies).

Here’s an example:

<title>Heart of Dragon (Original Hong Kong Cut)</title>
<originaltitle>Heart of Dragon</originaltitle>
<edition>Original Hong Kong Cut</edition>

<title>Heart of Dragon (Extended Japanese Cut)</title>
<originaltitle>Heart of Dragon</originaltitle>
<edition>Extended Japanese Cut</edition>

You can edit the titles in Kodi but using a remote to do such things is very clunky.
I don’t always use NFO files but for titles that I know the scraper will not handle the way I would like it’s a must.
Kodi’s new implementation for versions is pretty lame in my opinion.
Especially when the versions may actually be the same but a different source (like BD v UHD).
I have some movies where I keep both the BD and the UHD because of differences that are significant enough to warrant having both.

[Chillbo]

The context menu is out of my control… It’s populated entirely by Kodi, I’m afraid.

[xavier1]

Turns out the movie versions does work well providing you launch from the “Movies” menu. Then, for a given movie, if you have configured multiple versions, it does actually ask which one to play.

[Kontrarian]

Yeah, but your options are to treat it like a set or have it ask and it uses unified artwork etc.
If that works for you, then go for it.
As far as navigation goes it works.
If you get rid of one version though I found that it’s a pain to undo the other version.
As an example, I have the Canadian Blu-ray of Se7en which is Open Matte and the US BD and US UHD, all of which have unique cover art. When I merged them with Kodi using versions it put them under one listing with one artwork, which was lame.
Then when I tried to undo it it was a mess.
I had to pull all of them out of the library all together and rescan them in.
If you I put all three versions of Se7en in a Movie Set called Se7en I can have general artwork for the set and then individualized artwork for each version and if I don’t like it I can remove the set and it automatically puts the individual movies back in the library.
It’s almost like what’s the point in versions at all if it’s no better than just putting versions in a set?

But I guess if you have two version of the movie, theatrical and director’s cut, and they don’t have different artwork then the versions option Kodi gives where it just looks like one movie but ask which version you want to play when you select it kind of makes make sense.

I haven’t tried versions AND extras together though.

[Kontrarian]

What about the option when you select a movie to show information?
I think that’s how the extras add on does it.

This screen:

Where they added the “Extras” button, could a button be added to open the path?