[Dobbin]

Hi.

I am a fairly new user of XBMC and it seems absolutely brilliant.
I also find it fairly frustrating trying to understand the way everything works and seems dirfferent with different skins.
I must admit I get a bit lost sometimes!
I am trying to customise the start menu on the Confluence skin and I seem to be a bit stuck!

My menu structure is

HOME CINEMA-
- MOVIES
- 2D MOVIES
- Movie1
- Movie2
- Movie3
- 3D MOVIES
- Movie4
- Movie5
- TV
- TV Series 1
- TV Series 2
- MUSIC
- PICTURES

I have created the following 2 xml files to create the smart playlist

1. 2dmovies.xsp

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?>
<smartplaylist type="movies">
<name>2D Movies</name>
<match>one</match>
<rule field="path" operator="contains">2D MOVIES</rule>
</smartplaylist>

2. 3dmovies.xsp

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?>
<smartplaylist type="movies">
<name>3D Movies</name>
<match>one</match>
<rule field="path" operator="contains">3D MOVIES</rule>
</smartplaylist>



and put it in the folder



<User>/Application Data\XBMC\userdata\playlists\video




I added the following entry into the home.xml file in the Confluence skin folder.

<item id="18">
<label>2D Movies</label>
<onclick>ActivateWindow(10025,"special://profile/playlists/video/2dmovies.xsp", return)</onclick>
<icon>special://skin/backgrounds/city-landscape.jpg</icon>
</item>
<item id="19">
<label>3D Movies</label>
<onclick>ActivateWindow(10025,"special://profile/playlists/video/3dmovies.xsp", return)</onclick>
<icon>special://skin/backgrounds/city-landscape.jpg</icon>
</item>

The menu items "2D Movies" and "3D Movies" now appear on the home menu bar but when I select either of them the list is empty.

Is there something I've missed?

[mad-max]

What happens if you open the playlist via Videos--->Database--->Playlists?

[Dobbin]

What happens if you open the playlist via Videos--->Database--->Playlists?

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

It's the same blank.

I have been researching the problem and I think the cause might be that I am working offline.

I am playing around with XBMC trying various skins and options so I have been installing/uninstalling XBMC at various times.
However I have not got an Internet connection.
As I am working offline I presume the XBMC database is not getting populated as I obviously always get the error message
"Unable to connect to remote server".

If I look at it in FILE mode I can see all my folders and files.

Is this the problem?
If Yes then is there any way to refresh the database offline?

[mad-max]

If you did not populate your database, then it's obvious...
Smartplaylists are only working with a library...

If your offline you can try to create local NFO Files like this:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Imp...ary#Movies

mad-max

[Dobbin]

Hi

Thanks I'll give that a try.

I'm home now so I have Internet access.
I have built the library and the menu seems to work as I expected.
I will be working again offline in the future.

Which Folder/Files do I need to take with me to ensure that I have my library portable so I can play around with the settings?
Which is the database file(s) and associated file(s)?

Thanks

Peter