XL not importing avi/mp4 files from Addonics eSATA Array

[Rizlaw]

XLobby2 refuses to import mp4 or avi files located on four Seagate 500GB SATA drives externally connected to my XP Pro x64 box. I don't think it's the 64bit OS as XL can browse to and see each physical drive and otherwise works OK with music files on hard drives located inside my XP computer.

I modified XL settings as per <Jowaldo's> reply post to another thread about this issue to include "mp4" as an importable file type; "avi" was already listed in the default installation using the installer version of the XL2 download - xlobby2install.exe.

All the the mp4 and avi files are located on 4 SATA drives which are in an externally powered drive case connected to the main computer via an eSATA signal cable which connects to an ADDONICS/Silicon Image PCIx eSATA controller in the main computer.

While the drives are external to the main computer, they are seen as LOCAL drives by the OS (G,H,I and J) and are accessed with all other programs, including Cinemar's MainLobby, DVDLobby and MusicLobby, Zoomplayer 5 and TheaterTEK 2.3 with no difficulty.

XL2, on the other hand, sees the drives, but does not apppear to see the avi and mp4 files on the drives. Additionally, if I copy a few of the mp4 files from the external SATA drives to a SATA drive located "inside" the computer box, XL2 has no trouble importing the mp4s into the movie database.

Either there are other XL settings that need to be made that are not mentioned in the Help Guides posted, or XL2 has a bug with this type of hardware setup.

When I set up XL2 on my other XP Pro (32bit) system and put a few mp4's on it, XL has no trouble importing the mp4's from the SATA drive located "inside" the XP Pro computer.

Perhaps this needs to be looked into by the developer.

[Colby]

You mention avis and mp4. Can you import mp3s or photos from these sata drives? That would tell us if its a communication problem or an import prob. Also, can you make a folder category and access these files on these drives from within XL? Have you tried putting the drives inside the box yet plugged into the eSATA signal cable which connects to an ADDONICS/Silicon Image PCIx eSATA controller?...maybe they like shade. j/k

[Rizlaw]

You mention avis and mp4. Can you import mp3s or photos from these sata drives? That would tell us if its a communication problem or an import prob.

Just put a folder with 50 mp3's on one of the drives (drive G). They could not be imported into XL2 either. I doubt it's a communications problem, since XL2 sees all the external drives; it just doesn't want to import the files on the drives.

Also, can you make a folder category and access these files on these drives from within XL?

No. Created folder on root of G: and put bunch of avi's and mp4's in folder. XL sees and imports the folder, but not the files in the folder.

Seems input from the developer is needed on this one.

[Rizlaw]

OK, so no one seems to have an answer to my problem. Well, after more experimentation I found out there is a way to import my avi's and mp4's into XL2 from my Addonics eSATA drives. However, in the process, I believe I have found a bug in XL2's default skin operation and layout.

This is info for the developer:

1. No way can I import avi's and mp4 video via the "movie" database. However, I can do it via the "Videos" database. In the "Videos" database, I simply added "mp4" to the existing extensions and scanned the Addonics eSATA drives, and all the mp4 and avi videos were scanned and included in the "videos" database (although I have no way to access the info as I point out below).

The problems and the "bug" as I see it now are:

(a) the "movie" database does not seem to recognize "mp4" or "avi" as a valid "movie" file, which makes some sense in that "avi's and "mp4" are more properly considered "media" files. This is unfortunate and confusing since dvd movies can be compressed to play as avi and mp4 video and are, in fact, the same "movies" in a different format.

(b) More importantly, the default experimental "Simplicity" skin does NOT have a menu button and viewing screens or whatever you call them (I'm new to this program) that will display the hundreds of files I just imported under "Videos." In other words, just like there are "MUSIC" and "MOVIE" buttons and associated windows to view the cover art and select the music or movies, there needs to be one for "VIDEOs". It's simply missing. I would have thought that since "Videos" is one of the default databases there would be built in support for videos as well.

If I'm wrong about any of this, my apologies, just point out to me how I get to see and manipulate the avi and mp4 videos just like I can the "movie" files I've imported.

While I'm on this subject, how do you get rid of the "WEBCAM" and "LIGHTING" buttons and associated screens if you don't need or want them?