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Media Center Master Reference Guide

This is a work in progress, please be patient.

Introduction

Media Center Master is a powerful, multipurpose, front-end interface that automates the organizing of video files, meta-data files, and image files for a media collection. It supports several Media Center applications and products, XBMC, Popcorn Hour, Windows Media Center, Media Browser... At it's core is a meta fetcher, the most important feature of the "Free License" version, which handles the processing of video related text and image files. Additional features of the "Premium License" version allows the use of a BitTorrent Client, “uTorrent,” for downloading TV Series Episodes and/or Movies in the background.

The only requirement necessary for an installation of Media Center Master is the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 with Service Pack 1 be pre-installed.

For most users, downloading and installing Media Center Master is a straightforward task. Although, Media Center Master installs with a set of default options, there are however several options left for the user to configure, depending on the set-up used.

The installation guides are written with an intent the user has an interest in creating a media collection from scratch, has some knowledge and experience with BitTorrents. The Main focus of the installation guides is to complete a successful test run by:

• Preparing for,
• Installing, and
• Configuring

• An instance of Media Center Master integrated with
• An instance of uTorrent

• To automatically;

• Create a TV Series folder from user input,
• Create season folder/s,
• Download, rename, and move

• Current episodes, related text, and image files to

• Corresponding folders,

• Located on the system hard drive of a computer.

In order to reduce errors associated with a configuration set-up for all users of Media Center Master, the installation guides will not include instructions on how to set configurations for downloading Movies, Trailers, or Actors/Cast/Crew Members Thumbnails..., nor will there be any information about preparing and/or adding an existing media collection to Media Center Master. There will be no instructions given for networking/interfacing a media collection with any Media Center programs or products (e.g., Windows Media Center, MediaPortal, MediaBrowser, Popcorn Hour, or XBMC). These issues and items require individual user customized settings. Information about these settings can be found in other sections of this reference guide.

All of the installation guides are written for a beginning user of Media Center Master using a Premium License Version. Users wishing the use these guides with a Free Version may also use them, as limited by the license restrictions. These guides are also written as a fundamental building block by condensing and simplifying the actual processing actions of Media Center Master's operations. As a user gets deeper into the installation guides, more of the technical processing are revealed, and the user becomes better prepared for other sections of this reference guide.

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Installing Media Center Master

The intended purpose of this section is for it to be used as a complete manual for a first time installation of Media Center Master with limiting functions. Starting with the "Installation Notes" and finishing with a successful first run test. These guides should also be used by new users to familiarize themselves with the basic functions.

Installation Notes - read, before installing

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The key to installing Media Center Master with no errors, the first time, is: preparing for installation considerations, and learning some basic knowledge of what it does and how it works.

1. A first time installation of Media Center Master comes with a 10 day free trial of a Premium License.
   • For new users this is a bonus, and requires additional set-up.
   • There are, however, some users who wish to install/reinstall just for the basic features of the "Free License" version.
   • The focus of these guide will target the "Premium License" version, which includes setting for the basic features.

2. Media Center Master can be configured for manual or automated use. There are numerous possibilities for either one, depending on the user's needs and preferences.
   • The settings used in these guides are configured for a quick automated test run for a specific end result.

3. Media Center Master and uTorrent, both, require separate dedicated Folder Structures for file storage to operate correctly.
   • Configuring and understanding the basic principles of the two (2) Folder Structures ahead of time
     • Will make the installations, and set-ups of
       • Media Center Master and uTorrent go a lot smoother.
   • This information will, also, assist a user in preparing an existing media collection to be added in later.

4. Media Center Master uses uTorrent’s Web User Interface (WebUI) to integrate the two programs together.
   • Settings in both programs are required for a communication link allowing Media Center Master to:

   • Hand off .torrent files to uTorrent for proper downloading of the desired TV Series Episodes/Movies, and
   • Monitor the progress of downloads to clear and remove torrents from uTorrent.

5. Automation requires a transparent relationship between Media Center Master and uTorrent to seamlessly work without interruptions.
   • Changes to the settings in both programs are necessary to disable pop up windows requiring user acknowledgements.

6. Media Center Master requires the Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 with SP1 update.
   • If this is already installed, there is no additional requirements.
   • If it is not installed, download links and some guidance with the installation is provided.

7. Media Center Master is designed to work with:
   • A variety of Media Center Applications/Application Add-ins
     • Media Browser, My Movies, Windows Media Center, XBMC
   • A variety of computer and/or network Set-ups
     • Single computers
     • Multiple networked computers
     • Single or multiple networked computers with Network Attached Storage (NAT) Drives
     • Server Networks
   • A variety of Home Theater Products
     • Netgear, Popcorn Hour, Networked Media Tank
   • Any combination of the above.

Because of Media Center Master's flexibility to work with so many configurations with/without outside applications, and/or products, manually or automatically:

• The key element to a successful first time run is
  • A configuration for a simple set-up on one computer using only the system hard drive.

Only after a successful first run is it suggested to start making changes by moving folder locations, adding existing collections, include additional features, applications, network configurations, outside products...

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Preliminary Installation Guides

The intended purpose of this subsection is for it to be used as part of a complete manual for a first time installation of Media Center Master with limiting functions. Starting with the "Installation Notes" and finishing with a successful first run test.

Screen shot examples are taken from a Windows XP Operating System. Where major differences between operating systems occur; examples from a Windows 7 Operating System are, also, included.

How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for Media Center Master

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This guide is written with the intent of the "Folder Structure" to be created on the system hard drive (C:\).

Media Center Master can be configured for automation in one of three ways to, download video files, and/or fetch meta-data:

1. TV Series Episodes and Movies,
2. TV Series Episodes, only, or
3. Movies, only.

In either case Media Center Master will need a Separate Folder for TV Series, and/or one for Movies.

Example:

My Videos

TV Series Archive

Movies Archive

The additional information listed below is for a basic understanding of how Media Center Master works with this folder structure, and for easing through the transition of; the installation and initial set-up, to the actual use of Media Center Master.

After installation and set-up, a user will add a TV Series manually through Media Center Master. The user defined TV Series Named Folder (Covert Affairs is used in the example, below) will be created. At the same time Media Center Master will acquire other files; backdrop.jpg⁽¹⁾, banner.jpg⁽²⁾, folder.jpg⁽³⁾, and series.xml⁽⁴⁾, associated with the TV Series from an online meta-data source and add them to this folder.

Example:

My Videos

TV Series Archive

Covert Affairs

backdrop.jpg

banner.jpg

folder.jpg

series.xml

Movies Archive

Through the integration feature Media Center Master will notice a completed download file. Media Center Master will run the file through a cleaning process to remove tags, stop-words (e.g. - the, and, a), replace punctuation with spaces... to obtain a usable TV Series Name, possible beginning year date, season and episode numbers. Upon finding a site with a match, an episode title is added to the new file name. A completed torrent file name looking like:

• Covert Affairs S02E01 720p HDTV x264-IMMERSE.avi

will be renamed to:

• Covert Affairs-S02E01-Begin the Begin.avi

and be ready for moving into the TV Series Archive.

A numbered “Season” Folder will be added to the TV Series folder when a new TV Series Episode (Covert Affairs-S02E01-Begin the Begin.avi is use in the example, below) is moved from uTorret's "Completed Downloads" folder into the TV Series Archive Folder. A folder.jpg file will be included if found for the season. If there is no TV Series Episodes for particular season, no “Season” Folder will be created.

Example:

My Videos

TV Series Archive

Covert Affairs

Season 2

Covert Affairs-S02E01-Begin the Begin.avi

folder.jpg

backdrop.jpg

banner.jpg

folder.jpg

series.xml

Movies Archive

The processing/parsing will continue and fetch meta-data relating to the episode and take a snap shot image from the video file. These files will be stored in a hidden folder named: "metadata."

Example:

My Videos

TV Series Archive

Covert Affairs

metadata

4105011.jpg

Covert Affairs-S02E01-Begin the Begin.xml

Season 2

Covert Affairs-S02E01-Begin the Begin.avi

folder.jpg

backdrop.jpg

banner.jpg

folder.jpg

series.xml

Movies Archive

⁽¹⁾ - fanart, snapshot taken from a video, or commercial image taken of main charactor/s - file is used as a full screen background layer image.
⁽²⁾ - wide, narrow image relating to the Series, depicting main charactor/s - file is used several different ways to represent the Series in a layout, usually on top of a backdrop image.
⁽³⁾ - poster, or DVD cover relating to the Series, depicting main charactor/s - file is used several different ways to represent the Series in a layout, usually on top of a backdrop image.
⁽⁴⁾ - meta-data file containing all text relating to the Series, such as, but not just limited to: actors names, content rating, first aired date, genre, overview, run time... - file is used for: automation processing for Media Center Master, processing for Media Center programs and products, and displaying information about the Series on screen, usually on top of a backdrop, in the forms of list and icons.

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How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for uTorrent

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This guide is written with the intent of the "Folder Structure" to be created on the system hard drive (C:\).

The Folder Structure for uTorrent is where the .torrent files, and the actual TV Series Episode files to be downloaded will be processed. There are three (3) folders that are needed for the uTorrent program.

Example:

My Downloads

uTorrent

torrent files

New Downloads

Completed Downloads

The additional information listed below is for a basic understanding of how uTorrent works with this folder structure, and for easing through the transition of; the installation and initial set-up, to the actual use of Media Center Master with uTorrent.

The “uTorrent” folder is created to group the three (3) required folders together. The “torrent files” Folder is for a .torrent file used for downloading a TV Series episode. Putting it simple, it is a control file uTorrent needs to gather all the pieces of a file to reassemble it back together. After the .torrent file has been read, it will be deleted. The “New Downloads” folder is where uTorrent will store New TV Series Episode files while they are being downloaded. After a download is complete, uTorrent will move the completed download to the “Completed Downloads” folder. It is at this location where Media Center Master will pick it up and process the completed TV Series Episode for archiving.

The folders created here are just temporary storage areas. They are used just for the processing of downloads. After processing is complete there is no data left in these folders. They should be empty when there is no download activity.

How to Install uTorrent

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***** Disclaimer -- read this before using Torrent Downloader *****

For users who have a current instance of uTorrent installed, and intends to use the Preliminary Installation Guides with the existing uTorrent Program, there will not be any trouble shooting information for errors in these guides, should they occur. The instance of uTorrent for Media Center Master is for automation, it is therefore suggested that the user uninstall uTorrent, through the Control Panel, remembering to tick the optional check box to, also, remove the user settings during the uninstall process, then reinstall uTorrent using the Preliminary Installation Guides. If the option, in the example below, is missed during an uninstall, simply reinstall uTorrent, then uninstall it again. There is no need to reboot the system.

This does not mean: "uTorrent can not also be used for manual downloads of TV Series/Movies and other items, at the same time with Media Center Master." It is a suggestion that the automation process should come as a priority over manual downloading. If a user intends to use this instance of uTorrent for Media Center Master along with manual downloads of TV Series/Movies, other items, the user should make additional changes after Media Center Master is installed, set-up, configured, and has completed a first run of Media Center Master with satisfactory results.

uTorrent v1.8 - v3.0.0 have been tested and working correctly with this guide. Downloads for these versions may be found at either of these sites:
uTorrent Site                    Old Apps Site
uTorrent v2.2.1 is used for examples in this guide.

These guides are written with the intent of uTorrent to be installed on the system hard drive (C:\) in the same computer Media Center Master is installed on.

The set-ups and installations of the different versions of uTorrent, as a whole, are much the same in each version. All of the default ticks, options, can be used with Media Center Master. There are however two possible exceptions, depending on which version is chosen for installation. The user should make an informed choice regarding extra downloads of files/software to the system by accidentally missing the options (shown below), by systematically clicking on "Next."

During the uTorrent install watch for the following two (2) options:

1st Option - uTorrent’s Featured Spotlight Release Download, shown below. After choosing, click next.

2nd Option - uTorrent’s Browser Bar Optional Installations, shown below. Make appropriate choices, then click Install.

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How to Customize uTorrent for Media Center Master

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***** Disclaimer -- read this before using Torrent Downloader *****

For users who have a current instance of uTorrent installed, and intends to use the Preliminary Installation Guides with the existing uTorrent Program, there will not be any trouble shooting information for errors in these guides, should they occur. The instance of uTorrent for Media Center Master is for automation, it is therefore suggested that the user uninstall uTorrent, through the Control Panel, remembering to tick the optional check box to, also, remove the user settings during the uninstall process, then reinstall uTorrent using the Preliminary Installation Guides. If the option, in the example below, is missed during an uninstall, simply reinstall uTorrent, then uninstall it again. There is no need to reboot the system.

This does not mean: "uTorrent can not also be used for manual downloads of TV Series/Movies and other items, at the same time with Media Center Master." It is a suggestion that the automation process should come as a priority over manual downloading. If a user intends to use this instance of uTorrent for Media Center Master along with manual downloads of TV Series/Movies, other items, the user should make additional changes after Media Center Master is installed, set-up, configured, and has completed a first run of Media Center Master with satisfactory results.

The customized settings shown will not provide any “tweaks” - change the download/upload speeds, caps, queuing, scheduling …

Open the preferences window thru the "Options" menu.

Specifying Locations to the uTorrent Folder Structure

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Step 1 - Click on “Directories” in the left menu,

• Tick the check box for “Put new downloads in:,” then
• Click the browse button “…”

Step 2 - Browse to your Dedicated Folder Structure you created for uTorrent.

• Click on the “New Downloads Folder”, then
• Click the “OK” Button.

Step 3 - Tick the check box for “Move completed downloads to:,” then

• Click the browse button “…”

Step 4 - Browse to your Dedicated Folder Structure you created for uTorrent.

• Click on the “Completed Downloads Folder”, then
• Click the “OK” Button.

Step 5 - There are two (2) boxes to tick here,

• “Automatically load .torrent from:,” and
• “Delete loaded .torrents,” then
• Click the browse button “…”

Step 6 - Browse to your Dedicated Folder Structure you created for uTorrent.

• Click on the “torrent Files Folder”, then
• Click the “OK” Button.

Settings for Transparent Effect

These settings, provide the transparent effect that allows uTorrent to seamlessly work with Media Center Master.

Disabling Pop-up Windows

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By disabling these options, the torrent will start downloading automatically and no pop-up windows will appear requiring user acknowledgements.

Click on “UI Settings” in the left menu,

• Make sure all three (3) tick boxes are unchecked under “When Adding Torrents.”

Disable Seeding of Completed Downloads

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This step will only stop torrents from seeding after a download has completed, and will not affect the torrent download speed.

A completed download can not be renamed and moved into the TV Series Archive by Media Center Master, if it is in use by uTorrent for seeding.

Click on “Queueing” in the left menu.

• Change the “Minimum ratio (%) value to

• "0" (do not enter quotes).

• Tick the check box for “When utorrent reaches the Seeding Goal”, then

• Change the value to

• "0" (do not enter quotes).

How to Enable the Web User Interface of uTorrent

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***** Disclaimer -- read this before using Torrent Downloader *****

The username will remain visible, if it is forgotten.
The password will be hidden at the time of typing it in, and will remain hidden.
Be sure to write the password down and save it in a safe location.
This password will be required to configure Media Center Master in another guide.

Step 1 - Click on “Web UI” in the left menu.

• Tick the check box for “Enable Web UI,”

• Enter a Username and
• Password

Step 2 - Click on “Web UI” in the left menu.

• Scroll down to the bottom of the list on the right side and
• Click on “webui.token_auth,”

• Tick the radio button for “False,” then

• Click the “OK” Button to complete the custom settings for uTorrent.

You must exit the uTorrent Program to save your settings.

Step 3 - Close out the uTorrent Application Window.

• Click on red “X” at the top right of your screen,
• Exit the uTorrent Program

• Right click on the uTorrent Icon

• Bottom right of your screen, then

• Click on “exit” in the pop-up menu.

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How to Check Your System for the Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 with SP1 Update

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Step 1 - The easiest way to find out if the Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 with SP1 update is required:

• Use ASoft’s .NET Version Detector.

• The download link is located at the bottom of their page.

• Some key features of the ASoft .NET Version Detector are:

• It is a lightweight tool.

• Non-installing - no need to remove it through the control panel.
• Just delete the file, if saved, for clean-up.

• With a Zip Utility installed, it is not necessary to save the file.

• Just open the file link, and double click the "dotnet.exe" file in the Zip Utility Application, when it pops up.

Step 2 - Look for the ".NET FW 3.5 SP1" in the list at the bottom of the detector application's "blue" window.

• If the ".NET FW 3.5 SP1" is in the list, continue to the next guide, "How to Install Media Center Master.
• If the ".NET FW 3.5 SP1" is not in the list, locate and click the green download button to the left of Microsoft .Net 3.5 Service Pack 1.

• Follow the link and instructions to download and install the Microsoft .Net 3.5 Framework with Service Pack 1.

Step 3 - To verify it installed correctly:

• Bookmark this page, so you may return to it after rebooting.

• Reboot the system.

• Return to this page.

• Repeat Steps 1 and 2.

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How to Install Media Center Master

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Installation Notes - read before installing.

Screen shot examples are taken from a Windows XP Operating System. Where major differences between operating systems occur; screen shots from a Windows 7 Operating System are, also, included.

For users who have installed Media Center Master previously, and are having problems. It is suggested to completely remove Media Center Master, using the uninstaller, delete the hidden user files/folders, and delete the registry entries. Then reinstall, starting with the "Installation Notes, read before installing."

These guides are written with the intent of Media Center Master to be installed on the system hard drive (C:\) in the same computer uTorrent is installed on.

Step 1 - The installer for Media Center Master can be obtained through the Downloads Section link located on the top of the Media Center Master website.

• The most current version will be listed as the third listing under the Topics Heading.
• Click the Version listed to be redirected to the Downloading page.

Step 2 - Click on the installer you wish to download, and save it to a location on your computer.

Step 3 - After it has completed downloading, navigate to the downloaded file,

• Click on the setup.exe file to begin installing Media Center Master.

Step 4 - After it has completed, make sure the check box for "Start Media Center Master" is checked, then

• Click the "Finish" Button to start Media Center Master.

Step 5 - During the first run of Media Center Master, the program will "Auto-Update" several files.

Step 6 - After the "Auto-Update" finishes, Media Center Master will open along the first run "Broadcast Announcement."

Step 7 - After reading the announcement, close it out, leaving Media Center Master open.

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How to Customize Media Center Master for First Run

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Installation Notes - read before installing.

The intended purpose of this subsection is for it to be used as part of a complete manual for a first time installation of Media Center Master with limiting functions. Starting with the "Installation Notes" and finishing with a successful first run test.

Screen shot examples are taken from a Windows XP Operating System. Where major differences between operating systems occur; screen shots from a Windows 7 Operating System are, also, included.

The changes shown in this guide will optimize Media Center Master for the first time run, and complete the integrating of Media Center Master with uTorrent.

For users who have installed Media Center Master previously, and are having problems. It is suggested to completely remove Media Center Master, using the uninstaller, delete the hidden user files/folders, and delete the registry entries. Then reinstall, starting with the "Installation Notes, read before installing."

Open "Media Center Master - Settings & Preferences" window through the "Application" menu.

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Configuring the General Tab Settings

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• These changes to the time frames for automation will prevent Media Center Master from running automated processes during the configuration set-up.
• At the end of this guide, some of the time frames will be changed to configure and start the first run test.

In the "General" tab settings, tick the "pull down menu" buttons (∨), scroll down to, and select "15 days" on all of the time frames for automation.

• "auto-scan folders every,"
• "auto-scan episodes every,"
• "download new movies every,"
• "download new TV episode every,"
• "run download parser every,"
• "run new media list (HTML) every,"
• "use uTorrent integration every."

Configuring the Downloader Tab Settings

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• Not enabling "Allow torrents with archived files" option, removes any possible issues related to archived files (Beta testing at the time of this writing, not recommended for new users).
• Enabling the remaining four (4) "Allow torrents with ..." options,

• Not selecting a preferred video standard option,

• Not selecting a country bias, and

• Using all of the torrent sources:

• Allows Media Center Master to fetch any .torrent file for a TV episode that otherwise would be missed.

• Back dating the calender for one (1) month;

• Takes into consideration, Holidays, Special Showings of..., Special News/Current Event, and/or other minor breaks in a TV Series Season

The above configuration will ensure the downloading of a minimum of two (2) up to a maximum of five (5) TV Series Episodes during the first run test.

Step 1a - In the "Downloader" tab settings, do the following:

• Tick the check box for "Enable TV downloads,"
• Tick the check box for "Allow torrents with .WMV/>ASF,"
• Tick the check box for "Allow torrents with .MPG/MPEG,"
• Tick the check box for "Allow torrents with .FLV,"
• Tick the "pull down menu button" (∨) for "Skip TV episode before:" to get the pop-up calender,
• Tick the "back button" (<) on the calender to set the date back one month,

• This step configures the location of where Media Center Master will save a fetched .torrent file for uTorrent to read and set controls for a TV Series Episode download.

• After it is read, it is deleted by uTorrent.

• The second location, if left blank, will be configured by Media Center Master.

• By default, this will be the same location as listed in the "Save T.V. torrents files to:" field.

• This location will not be visible until the "Setting and Preferences" window is saved, closed, and reopened.

• The remaining options on this tab do not relate to TV Series, only, to Movies.

Step 1b - "Downloader" tab settings, continued

• Tick the "browse button" (…) for "Save T.V. torrent files to:," once to close the calender, and again to open the "Browse for Folder" window,
• Browse to the uTorrent Folder Structure, created in the "How to set up a Folder Structure for uTorrent" guide,
• Click on the "torrent Files" folder to select, then click "OK."

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Configuring the Download Parser Tab Settings

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• This step configures the location where Media Center Master will monitor to look for completed downloads.
• Enables the detection process for renaming, meta-data fetching, and for moving into the TV Series Archive.
• Disabling the pop-up move window is the last configuration setting; for the transparent effect, allowing Media Center Master and uTorrent to seamlessly work together.

In the "Download Parser" tab settings, do the following:

• Tick all, four (4), of the check boxes associated with "Automatically detect new video files here and process them",
• Tick the check box for "Use pop-up move window for auto-move" to remove the check mark,
• Tick the "browse button" (…) for "Completed downloads scanned from this folder (watch folder):" to open the "Browse for Folder" window,
• Browse to the uTorrent Folder Structure, created in the "How to set up a Folder Structure for uTorrent" guide,
• Click on the "Completed Downloads" folder to select, then click "OK."

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Configuring the uTorrent Tab Settings

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***** Disclaimer -- read this before using Torrent Downloader *****

Step 1 - Leave Media Center Master with the "Setting & Preferences" window open, and do the following:

• Open the uTorrent Program through the "Start" button, then "All Programs."
• Right click the uTorrent icon, bottom right of screen, click on "Hide/Show uTorrent" to open uTorrent window.

Step 2 - Open the "Preferences" window thru the Options Menu.

Step 3 - With the "Preferences" window open do the following:

• Click on "Connection" in the list on the left,
• Select and copy the port location listed for "Port used for incoming connections:"

Step 4a - Tick one of the two "Task Bar" buttons for Media Center Master, located at the bottom of your screen, to; Switch back to Media Center Master - "Setting & Preferences" window, leaving uTorrent with the "Preferences" window open, and do the following:

• Change views to the "uTorrent" tab settings,
• Paste the port location from uTorrent into the area for "port:,"
• Enter "localhost" (without quotes) in the area for "WebUI I.P. or hostname:,"
• Tick the check box for "Turn on uTorrent integration features,"
• Tick the check box for "Automatically clear seeding and finished torrents"

Step 4b - Switch back to uTorrent with the "Preferences" window open, leaving Media Center Master - "Setting & Preferences" window open, then choose option #1, or option #2.

1. For uTorrent v3.0.0 users, continue to Step 4c.
2. For uTorrent v1.8 through v2.0 users, select "Web UI" in the list to the left, and continue with the step listed here;

• Select and copy the "Username:,"
• If you remember you password, continue to Step 5,
• If you lost, or forgot your password, re-enter the password, write it down, tick "Apply" to enter it into uTorrents user settings file, then continue to Step 5.

Do not attempt to select and copy your password, as you will lose your username.
Do not try to switch between the two programs to copy and paste the username, and then copy and paste the password.
Both programs will block the password out after it is entered, and a copy/paste will not work.

Step 4c - For uTorrent v3.0.0 users, expand the "Advanced" listing in the list to the left, select "Web UI", then do the following:

• Select and copy the "Username:,"
• If you remember you password, continue to Step 5,
• If you lost, or forgot your password, re-enter the password, write it down, tick "Apply" to enter it into uTorrents user settings file, then continue to Step 5.

Do not attempt to select and copy your password, as you will lose your username.
Do not try to switch between the two programs to copy and paste the username, and then copy and paste the password.
Both programs will block the password out after it is entered, and a copy/paste will not work.

Step 5 - Switch back to Media Center Master - "Setting & Preferences" window, leaving uTorrent with the "Preferences" window open, and do the following:

• Paste the Username into "username:" area,
• Type the Password into the "password: area, then
• Click the "Save" button to close the "Setting & Preferences" window

Step 6 - Exit Media Center Master through the "Application" menu, to save changes to the registry.

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How to Set Media Center Master to Start After a Boot-up

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Step 1a - Navigate to the Media Center Master "shortcut", found through Start>All Programs>Media Center Master

• Right Click and hold the mouse button to drag, and

Step 1b - Drop a copy of the "shortcut" in the "Startup" folder.

• If the "Start" menu disappears before pasting, continue holding the right mouse button and hoover over the "Start" button until the menu pops up, while still holding the right mouse button move up to "All Programs" until the menu

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How to Set Scan Folder

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Step 1 - Reboot the system, after Media Center Master has completed updating, and verifying license,

• Open the "Set scan folders..." window through the "Application" menu.

Step 2 - Tick the "Add new..." button to open the "Browse For Folder" window,

• Navigate to the Folder Structure created in the "How to set up a Folder Structure for Media Center Master" guide,
• Select the "TV Shows Archive" folder, then click the "OK" button,
• Close the "Scan Folder List" window by clicking on "Done," top left.

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How to Add a New TV Series

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The main goal of this section is for the user to choose a TV Series which is popular to the viewing general public, thereby providing a reasonable number of torrents for downloading during the test run.

Step 1 - Before configuring Media Center Master to add a new TV Series to the collection, it is important for the user to know the correct name and spelling of a current airing TV Series with new episodes being shown weekly. A good place to make sure of this is to visit the EZTVShow List page.

• Begin with changing the "Filter Show List by Status:" to "Airing" with the "pull down menu" button (∨), to get the current airing TV Series.
• Pay close attention to the "Status" of the shows, "Airing: Irregularly" or "Airing:..."
• Pick a TV Series, making sure it is an "Airing:..." series.
• Highlight the complete name with the left mouse button to select it for copy and pasting into Media Center Master.
• Return to Media Center Master

Step 2 - Open the "Add a T.V. series..." window through the "Media" menu.

Step 3 - Click on the single listing, to select and highlight the "Folder to auto-scan" (TV Show Archive folder location), click "Next."

Step 4 - The name for the TV Series used in the this example, Covert Affairs, is used for demonstration purposes, only. The user should not use it for a first run testing.

• Paste the name of the chosen TV Series selected above into the "Search by title:" blank area,
• Click the "Search" button, after a few seconds, the chosen TV Series information should show in the "Selected T.V. series:" area,
• If the TV Series is listed, click the "Next" button then continue to Step 5.
• If the TV Series does not show up, go back to Step 1, pick a different show, and repeat Steps 2 and 3.

Step 5 - Assuming all of the data provided to the internet sites used for this step is up to date, there should be a "Confirm Settings:" listing showing "Status: Continuing" for the selected show.

• The check box for "Keep this series up to date with new episodes" should have a check in it.
• If the check is present, click the "Finish" button to close the "Add a T.V. Series..." window and continue to Step 6.
• If the check is not present, go back to Step 1, pick a different show, and repeat Steps 2 - 4.

Step 6 - There should now be an entry added to the "Media in your collection:"

• At the top, left, the name of the selected show with some date related to it is shown.
• In the middle, right, the log shows the processes of what Media Center Master did, during the adding of the new TV Series.
• At the bottom, right, there is a graphic representation of the data fetched by Media Center Master for the new TV Series.

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How to Start the First Run

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The steps listed below are only intended to be used if; the user followed the Table of Contents, Section 2 - Installing Media Center Master with it's subsections, as a complete guide, without making any addition changes to the configuration settings. Using these steps in any other manner may not reproduce what is shown in the examples.

Step 1 - Open "Media Center Master - Settings & Preferences" window through the "Application" menu.

Step 2 - Create a desktop layout as show below, with Media Center Master, uTorrent and the Explorer windows. Attempt to get the window sizes and locations as close as possible. This will help in the next guide to follow the movements of the folders and files as they are passed from program to program and through the different folder structures. The processes will happen quickly at first and then vary in time as the processing takes place. The specific concerns to look for in sizing and location are:

• Media Center Master should be the far background window with the "Settings and Preferences" window at the top, right, just below the "Title" bar.
• Depending on the locations of the Folder Structures for Media Center Master and uTorrent, the Explorer window should not extend into Media Center Master's "Log" window (white area just above the TV Series name, "Covert Affairs"). It can extend the full height of the screen, from top to bottom. If it is impossible to show both Folder Structure locations, adjust the viewing panes for explorer to be able to see the uTorrent Folder Structure on the left, with the "New Downloads" folder selected, to see the torrent downloads on the right, when they are processed.
• The length of the uTorrent window should be as wide as possible without interfering with the folder view pane in the Explorer window. For the height, again do not let it extend into the "Log" window. Adjust the column width of the "Name" field, if needed, to be able to see the "ETA" field.

Step 3a - In the "General" tab settings, change the following time frames:

• "download new TV episodes every" - from 15 days to 1 minute.
• "run download parser every" - from 15 days to 5 minutes.
• "run uTorrent integration every" - from 15 days to 10 minutes.
• Tick the check box for "Show timestamp in the log window"

At this point, if not already done so, it is suggested to jump to the next guide, "What to Look for During and After the First Run," to read and familiarize yourself with it, before continuing with Step 3b. The guide will go over the important processes to watch for in order to ensure a successful test has been completed. The automation process for the selected TV Series will begin within one (1) minute after clicking on the save button.
After clicking the save button, remember to click the "Task" bar buttons in the following order:

• Open the Explorer window first, then
• Open uTorrent, so uTorrent will be on top of the Explorer window.

Step 3b - In the "General" tab settings... (continue using snap shot, above)

• Click the "Save" button to close the "Settings and Preferences" window, and to begin the first run of Media Center Master.
• Click the "Task" bar buttons to reopen the Explorer and uTorrent windows.

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What to Look for During and After the First Run

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The following screen shots were chosen from a group of several test runs. This selective process was done to get a specific rendering of a test run; in order to follow one (1) of several torrents^(*) through the complete process, and to provide for a short, but informative guide. The screen shots were taken in sequential real time order. Your results will vary depending on several issues, such as: popularity of the TV Series chosen, internet speed, time of day, torrent availability at fetcher sites, torrent swarm ratios...
^(*)The configured sittings used in these guides should download a minimum of two (2) episodes up to a maximum of five (5) episodes.

The steps listed below are only intended to be used if; the user followed the Table of Contents, Section 2 - Installing Media Center Master with it's subsections, as a complete guide, without making any addition changes to the configuration settings. Using these steps in any other manner may not reproduce what is shown in the examples.

Step 1 - At 11:01 AM a record of events processed by Media Center Master is shown in the "Log" window with time stamps. According to the "Log", Media Center Master:

• Searched for new and missing episodes for "Covert Affair",
• Found four (4) torrents at the "EZTV.it" site
• Indicates in "red" there was "no results" during the search routine for episode 6 using the primary season/episode format (S02E06).
• Using a different format for season/episode (2x06), a torrent file was found and saved.
• Handed the .torrent files off to uTorrent for saving

• uTorrent processed the .torrent files and started downloading the torrent downloads into the "New Downloads" folder.

Not shown above is the handling of the .torrent files. These files are saved into the utorrent>torrent Files folder for reading and processing by uTorrent. After uTorrent has processed a .torrent file, it is automatically deleted because of the settings done in steps at the beginning of these guides.

Step 2 - Media Center Master continues to log all process:

• In one (1) minute intervals it attempts to keep the series up to date. No other downloads are saved because it has recorded successful downloads in a meta-data file it uses for processing.
• At 11:06 AM, five (5) minutes after starting, it attempts to parse/process new downloads. Again, nothing is done because it does not find any completed downloads in the monitoring folder.

Step 3 - At 11:11 AM, computer time, the first download is completed in uTorrent and moved from the "New Downloads" folder to the "Competed Downloads" folder for processing.

• Notice, Media Center Master does not log the processes of uTorrent.

Step 4 - At 11:11 AM Media Center Master handles several process.

• Ten (10) minutes after starting, it uses the uTorrent integration feature and removes the first completed torrent in uTorrent.
• Second, five (5) minute interval, after starting, it parses/processes the completed download found in the monitoring folder.

• It renames the downloaded file, removing all torrent tags, and uses TV Series Name, a season/episode format, and includes episode title.
• Using the information it obtained in the renaming, it creates the Season 2 folder.
• It moves the renamed file from the uTorrent folder structure to the Season 2 folder.
• It fetches all associated meta-data, a poster, a thumbnail, and stored them in appropriate files and folders.

Step 5 - At 11:17 Media Center Master has completed parsing/processing the remaining three (3) downloads into the proper folders for the TV Series,

Step 6 - At 11:21 AM, second ten (10) minute interval for uTorrent integration processing.

• It is busy keeping TV Series up to date (timing slightly off because of meta-data, poster, and thumbnail downloading, and other internal processing)
• At 11:22 AM, twenty-one (21) minutes after starting, it removes the remaining three (3) completed torrents in uTorrent.

Step 7 - The test run is complete.

• No files left in uTorrent folders.
• New TV Series is up to date.

To test a full automation run from boot up, go back to the "How to Add a New TV Series" guide and select a different show. Exit the program through Application>Exit, then reboot. After rebooting Media Center Master should open, then one (1) minute after building and refreshing the cache start the automated processing.

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Technical Guides to Features

Fetch Meta-Data

How To Fetch Meta Data

If you just want to fetch meta-data for a single title in your media list, simply right-click on the title from Media Center Master and choose "Fetch meta data". This will activate Media Center Master's configured meta fetcher sources to search for and download related meta data (including text, images, etc.) for the selected title.

Depending on a few possible scenarios, the following will happen:

• If there is no existing meta data for the title (or existing data does not contain proper media IDs), then Media Center Master will begin a Fresh Meta-Data Search on this title.
• If there is existing meta data for the title, but the option under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Advanced" -> "Re-use ID's found in existing meta data" is not checked, then Media Center Master will begin a Fresh Meta-Data Search on this title.
• If there is existing meta data for the title and the option under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Advanced" -> "Re-use ID's found in existing meta data" is checked, then Media Center Master will begin an Update Meta-Data Fetch on this title.

Fresh Meta-Data Search

The folder that contains the title you are fetching meta data for is run through a quick process that cleans up the formatting and prepares it for searching. This process removes some stop-words such as 'the' and 'and' as well as replaces punctuation with spaces as appropriate (non-exhaustive list). Doing this provides the fetchers with an appropriate title (and potentially a release year) to search against.

However, if this search:

• the option under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Advanced" -> "Respect the ForcedTitle XML tag in meta data" is checked
• and is a movie title (not T.V. or adult
• and has existing meta data
• and that meta-data contains a ForcedTitle tag
• then the title to search against will be set to the data in the ForcedTitle tag

Next, configured meta-data fetchers (listed in "Application" -> "Manage fetchers and plugins...") are given the the title to search for (as indicated above) and a release year (if one is available from parsing the title's text). The list of potential matches retrieved from the fetcher should be displayed in the log window to the right-hand side of Media Center Master during this time. After they have been retrieved, Media Center Master eliminate any matches that do not pass a title comparison check1. Depending on how the remaining list of results look, Media Center Master will then do the following:

• If there are no results, this fetcher is skipped and the next is used (if more than one is available). If there continues to be no results, the fetch is aborted. Aborted fetches can still produce blank meta data if the option under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Advanced" -> "Create blank meta data if no results were found" is checked.
• If there is exactly one result from the fetcher and the option under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Confirm search results" is not checked, then the most likely title will be selected automatically as the confirmed result.
• If there is exactly one result from the fetcher and the option under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Confirm search results" is checked and the option under under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Confirm search results" -> "Unless there is only one result" is not checked, then a prompt will come up asking you to confirm the most likely result. If it's not the result you want, you can click "No" to cycle to the next.2
• If there is exactly one result from the fetcher and the option under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Confirm search results" is checked and the option under under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Confirm search results" -> "Unless there is only one result" is checked, then the most likely title will be selected automatically as the confirmed result.
• If there are multiple results from the fetcher and the option under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Confirm search results" is not checked, then the most likely title will be selected automatically as the confirmed result.
• If there is exactly one result from the fetcher and the option under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Confirm search results" is checked, then a prompt will come up asking you to confirm the most likely result. If it's not the result you want, you can click "No" to cycle to the next.

If a prompt appears asking for confirmation and none of the results are ultimately selected, then the fetch is aborted. Aborted fetches can still produce blank meta data if the option under "Application" -> "Main preferences..." -> "Advanced" -> "Create blank meta data if no results were found" is checked.

The meta data fetch process continues from here as an Update Meta-Data Fetch.

Update Meta-Data Fetch

Using the meta data from the selected fetcher result, a meta-data file is created (if one already existed, it will be overwritten entirely at this point).

Preparing for a Fresh Re-install of Media Center Master

Uninstalling or completely removing Media Center Master is the first step to resolve an issue. The user should be reminded, Media Center Master is dependent on folder locations and an outside source, uTorrent. The second step is to determine if other areas require any attention before re-installing Media Center Master.

Removing Media Center Master for a Fresh Re-Install

Screen shot examples are taken from a Windows XP Operating System. Where major differences between operating systems occur; screen shots from a Windows 7 Operating System are, also, included.

Following all of the guides in this section "will completely remove" Media Center Master from your system, including "all user settings."

Media Center Master Uninstaller

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The uninstaller:

• Will not remove:

• The user's configuration settings made to the Application>Settings and Preferences window and stored in the registry,
• The user's TV Series/Movies download history files, or
• The user's media collection cache file.

The Media Center Master uninstaller can be found through Start>All Programs>Media Center Master>Uninstall Media Center Master.

• For most users the uninstall is straightforward.
• Run the program and click the "Yes" button to begin.
• When it is finish, click the "OK" button.
• Should the uninstaller experience an unexpected error and not complete, jump to:

• "Manually uninstalling Media Center Master" guide.

Manually Uninstalling Media Center Master

The uninstaller:

• Should remove:

• The Media Center Master program files,
• The hidden "bin" folder, and
• The Start>All Programs group entries

This guide, only, needs to be used when a user experiences an unexpected error during an install, uninstall, re-install, or..., and is unable to complete an uninstall, or a fresh, re-install.

Step 1 - Locate the Media Center Master program folder.

• On most Windows Operating Systems, the folder will be found here:

• C:\Program Files\Media Center Master

• For some 64 bit Windows Operating Systems, the folder will be found here:

• C:\Program Files (x86)\Media Center Master

• Left click on the folder to highlight, then select delete from the menu.

Step 2 - Locate the hidden "bin" folder.

• For Windows XP Operating Systems, the folder will be found here:

• C:\Documents and Setting\"user name"⁽¹⁾\%Application Data%⁽²⁾\Peter Souza IV\Media Center Master\bin

• For Windows 7 and Vista Operating Systems, the folder will be found here:

• C:\Users\"users name"\%AppData%⁽¹⁾\Roaming\Peter Souza IV\Media Center Master\bin

• Left click on the folder to highlight, then select delete from the menu.

Step 3 - Locate the Media Center Master Start entry here:

• Start>All Programs>Media Center Master
  • Left click on the entry to highlight, then select delete from the menu.

Step 4 - Close any programs that are open and reboot the system.

⁽¹⁾ - actual user's name, without quotes.
⁽²⁾ - this is a hidden folder.

Changing the Folder Options in Order to View Hidden Files/Folders

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The "Folder Options" window can be found through Start>Control Panel>Folder Options. Click on the "View", scroll down to "Hidden files and folders.

• Tick the radio button for "Show hidden files and folders."
• Tick the check box to remove the check for "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)"
• Click the "OK" button to finish.

Removing Hidden Files/Folders

The location of hidden user folders and files are dependent upon the Windows Operating System used.

Windows XP Users

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See, Section 4.1.2, "Changing the Folder Options in Order to View Hidden Files/Folders" to change settings for viewing hidden folders and files.
Be sure to go back and change the settings to the "Folder Options - View" tab after completing this step.

Delete the "Peter Souza IV" folder located through C:\Documents and Setting\"user name"\Application Data\

Windows 7 and Vista Users

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See, Section 4.1.2, "Changing the Folder Options in Order to View Hidden Files/Folders" to change settings for viewing hidden folders and files.
Be sure to go back and change the settings to the "Folder Options - View" tab after completing this step.

Delete the "Peter Souza IV" folder located through C:\Users\"users name"\AppData\Roaming\

Removing Registry Entries

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Step 1 - Open the Registry Editor through Start>Run, type in "regedit" (without quote marks) and click the "OK" button.

Step 2 - Delete the "Peter Souza IV" entry located through My Computer>HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software

• Reboot the system to save the change in the registry files.

Additional Areas to Check Before Doing a Fresh Re-Install

These are user based actions, and mentioned here, only, for a reminder. No other information is provided.

Depending on the reason/s for the uninstall of Media Center Master, some additional clean-up may be necessary in one or more of the following:

• The Media Collection Archive folders,
• The uTorrent Program,
• The uTorrent Folder Structure.

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Consult the User's Guide for information on using the wiki software.