Posted: 24/09/2008 10:32:59 Post subject: Videophile II - User interface
Videophile II - User interface The unofficial guideline for ....
Mainscreen :
The Videophile II mainscreen
Overview :
The Videophile II interface comprises three main areas; the Library Browser, the File Browser and the File Viewer. Through dragging and dropping, these elements interact with one another to provide much of the functionality that the program offers.
The structure of a library is represented as a hierarchical collection of objects that, together, serve to classify the Library’s contents. The following objects are visible in the Library Browser.
Tag Categories
Tags
Links
Views
Special Items
Folders
Most of the preceding items have been defined earlier in this document, the exceptions being the final two listed: See : Videophile II - Terminologie used
The Library Browser Toolbar
Fetch Filter :
The Fetch Filter determines what is displayed in the File Browser and has three possible settings:
File(s) Fetches Files whose tags match those that are dragged and dropped.
Segment(s) in File(s) Fetches Segments that exist within Files whose Tags are dragged and dropped
Segment(s) Fetches Segments whose Tags match those that are dragged and dropped.
Consider this example as a means to illustrate this behaviour:
The file “Man U vs Real Madrid.AVI” is explicitly tagged with both ‘Manchester United’ and ‘Real Madrid’. Within the File, three Segments have been defined: Two are explicitly tagged with ‘Goal’ and the third is explicitly tagged ‘Wayne Rooney’. This means that the File, in addition to the two Tags already mentioned, is also implicitly tagged ‘Goal’ and ‘Wayne Rooney’.
Case1
If we were to drag and drop the Tag ‘Manchester United’ from the Library Browser to the File Browser, here’s what we’d see for each possible setting of the Fetch Filter:
File: The entire match (Because the File is tagged with ‘Manchester United’)
Segments in File: The two goals from the match plus some footage of Wayne Rooney (Because the Segments are contained within a File that is tagged ‘Manchester United’)
Segments: Nothing. (Because none of the Segments are tagged ‘Manchester United’)
Case 2
If, on the other hand, we were to drop the Tag ‘Goal’ onto the File Browser, we’d see this:
File: The entire match (Because the File is implicitly tagged with ‘Goal’ as it contains a Segment with that Tag)
Segments in File: The two goals from the match plus some footage of Wayne Rooney (Because the Segments are contained within a File that is implicitly tagged ‘Goal’)
Segments: The two goals from the match (Because those two Segments are tagged ‘Goal’)
To finalise the illustration an overview of all possible combinations and their results displayed :
"How is this useful?"
Well, you could filter out all goal-less matches! But seriously, ‘Segments in File’ is useful for locating Segments that are not otherwise explicitly tagged.
If this is a little confusing, play around and use your imagination: If you can’t find a use for it, don’t use it! It’s there if you need it, though….
Last edited by tellmewhy on 27/09/2008 08:06:22; edited 2 times in total
The File Browser can display the results of all file searches in either List Mode or Tiled Mode . You can use also the middle mouse click (see also Videphile II - Shortcuts you can use in .... ) to toggle between the two modes.
Making Selections in the File Browser
To select a file in the File Browser, either press the SPACE bar or click on the file whilst holding down the CTRL key. This process has toggle behaviour; to de-select the file, either press the SPACE bar again or repeat the CTRL key-click method. To select or de-select a range of contiguous files, click on the first required file with the CTRL key held down and then click on the last required file with the CTRL key and SHIFT key held down. The files are either selected or de-selected depending on the outcome of the first selection, i.e. if the initial CTRL key-click selects a file, then the subsequent CTRL-SHIFT-click will select the other files. If the initial CTRL key-click de-selects a file, then the subsequent CTRL-SHIFT-click will de-selected the other files.
Using Multiple Selections
All operations that can be performed on a single file, may also be performed in batch on multiple files, when selected, with the exception of processing those files in external applications. Hence, with a multiple selection, all files can be:
tagged or untagged (see Tagging files)
deleted (see Deleting Files)
removed from the Project (see Removing Files)
physically moved to another location (see Moving Files)
selected for Playback
The File Browser Toolbar
Refresh Button
The Refresh button allows you to re-populate the File Browser with the result of your last sequence of drag-and-drop operations from the Library Browser. The Refresh button has a drop-down menu option that facilitates the saving of the current sequence of drag-and-drops as a new View. (For more information, see Creating Views) Allows for the current set of results to be automatically refreshed as files are tagged and untagged.
Tile View Button
All files appear in the File Browser as thumbnails only. This is the default view.
List View Button
Files appear in the File Browser as a list, showing relevant information about the files. It is possible to sort this list by clicking on the column headers; the columns are re-ordered and the row values are merged during the sort in order to improve readability. Sorting may be cancelled by clicking the ‘Un-sort’ icon that appears in the column header above the thumbnails.
Switching Views To switch from one view to another, either
middle-click with the mouse anywhere in the File Browser, or
select the appropriate button on the File Browser’s toolbar, or
Select the required view from the ‘[View]’ menu
The currently highlighted file is retained during this switch and hence it is possible to jump quickly from Tile View to List View in order to see more detail about a file.
Playlist Button
Runs the playlist. See ‘Playlists’ section…
Shuffle Button
Sets the Playlist Shuffle function on or off (toggle behaviour)
Current View
Browser HistoryThe term "Browser History" is now used to refer to the Full History of Views created during a VideoPhile II session. (More explanation needed ? see : Videophile II - Terminologie used)
Selection Buttons
To Select All, Select None or Invert the current selections.
File Browser Menus
You activate the File browser menu by right click an item in the list.
Clear Selections
This option in the menu "Unselect" all files that might have been selected. This menu option does the same as the button.
Remove File
This menu option removes the records from the selected files of the database. You will have to do a "refrash" list to see the records are gone. This option, unlike the next one, does not remove the file physicaly. Read more about the difference between here : Videophile II - Difference between "Remove file" and "Delete file"
Delete File
Unlike the "Remove File" option; This option does remove files physicaly Be carefull when using this option.
Analyze with MediaInfo
You sure have read about the support for external applications. Read here : Videophile II - What is .... One of those applicaitons is MediaInfo. MediaInfo displays ditailed file info :
Not much description needed for this area. Self explaining feature. Playback of the opened files happens in this area.
: With this button you open the selected file/clip
: With this button you go to the start of the clip/movie or selection. This button has toggle behaviour.
: With this button you go backwards 1 frame.
: With this button you start/pause the opened clip.
: With this button you can play the clip fast farwards.
: With this button you go forwards 1 frame.
: With this button you go to the end of the clip/movie or selection. This button has toggle behaviour.
: With this button you can add/change the thumbnail stored in the library for the selected clip. The current frame will replace the old thumbnail.
: With this/those button(s) you determine and save the begin point of a segment.
: With this/those button(s) you determine and save the end point of a segment.
: With the slide bar you can quickly navigate forwards and backwards to find a particular segment/frame.
Segment details :
Segments area
Quote:
What are Segment(s) :
A Segment is conceptually the same as a File, the only difference being that a Segment is defined as being only a part of the File and not the entire File. To illustrate this, if we were to play a file we could reasonably expect it to start from the beginning and play til the end. If, however, we were to play a Segment we would only be playing back a part of a File, for example the closing credits of a movie.
Closes the library if you had one open and reinitalise Videophile II. The "Library browser" contains only the default objects (ex : Untagged, Unplayable Items, "Saved views" and other like this. You can begin to add files to the new library (see: Videophile II - Add files to a (new) library fo more details). Note : Closing the existing library, by opening a new one, does not save automaticly the changes you made in the existing library.
Open
Opens an existing library. The default location is "C:\[User_installation_directory]\libraries" example : C:\DATA\Toepassingen\Graphical_applications\Videophile II\Videophile_II_My_installation\Libraries But you can browse to the location where the library realy is stored.
Save As
For new created libraries as well as for existing libraries. This option gives you the opertunity to chose location and name for your library.
Build now the search query. Search for : Type the value you want to find. Look in : Select where to search.
Filenames : Filename contains the searchstring
Titles/Aliases : **
Descriptions : **
**
Most data is automaticly scanned and saved in the database. However the fields "Titles/Aliases" and "Descriptions" are free for you to type in. How to do this ? See Videophile II - File details area. Selecting those options will search in those fields.
Find Duplicate Files
In a large collection, spread over different hard disks, DVD and(or) removable drives it may well be thet you have duplicates. This functions allow you to find them very quick. "How you can do this ? See : Videophile II - Finding duplicate files .... . Once found you can "Remove the record from the library" or you can "Remove the record from the library and delete the file".
Run PLaylist (Ctrl+S)
Random PLayback
Export Selection to CSV file...
This option exports the listed info in csv format. The exported info can be of use for file comparision, problem solving, .... etc
When selected files / segments are represented as "icon / tile". Other info (Only TAG info) is displayed when sliding over the icon with the mouse cursor.
To switch back either :
Use the mouse middle click - toggles between the two views
Select the "[ View ] / List View"
List View
When selected this option, a list is displayed. Besides the thumb nails other file info is dislpayed to.
To switch back either :
Use the short cut key Ctrl+T
Use the mouse middle click - toggles between the two views
Select the "[ View ] / Tile View"
Minimal List Not implemented at the moment
File Inspector F3 When selected, the File Inspector is displayed. This menu option is the same as the short cut key F3.
File Inspector displayed - Option selected
File Inspector hidden - Option deselected
TV Mode Not implemented at the moment
Last edited by tellmewhy on 01/11/2008 18:35:44; edited 5 times in total