Movie Collector Manual
for Windows edition
Welcome to Movie Collector Download and Install Navigating the Main Screen Adding your First Movie How to search your Collection Adding Movies Automatically Adding Movies Manually Barcode Scanning Adding Movie Files Field Defaults Search Settings Importing from text Managing your Wish List Adding a Box Set Importing from Windows/XML Editing Movies List Items and more Editing Multiple Movies Find Cover Image Adding Trailers, Links and Files Editing List Icons Loan Manager Update File Links Customizing Movie Collector Changing the layout Custom Field Names Sorting your Collection Using Folders Custom Views Edit, Merge List Items Activating Connect Sync & Share Synchronize with Connect Linking your movies for Connect CLZ Movies for iPhone/iPod CLZ Movies for Android CLZ Movies HD for iPad Using the Filter screen Collection Statistics Printing a Simple List Browsing your movies on Vista Media Center Print Screen Updating Movie Collector The Collectorz.com movie database Field Reference Data Submission Guidelines The Options Screen Keyboard Shortcuts Creating a Backup Validating Movie Collector Add/Edit Movie Screen
The Options Screen
Movie Collector has many, many options. That's a good thing, because it allows you to keep complete control over your collection. When you just start off archiving your collection, you will most likely agree with the default settings of Movie Collector - nothing wrong with those, actually 
. But, as every collector has his/her specific wishes, a lot of these settings can be customized.
The Options Screen
Open the Options Screen by clicking: Tools > Options.
General Tab
Ask for confirmation[ ] Checking (one of) these boxes will either show/not show a confirmation dialog box when performing the mentioned actions.
[ ] Show names as "Last Name, First Name"
If you want the Artist Name displayed last name first.
[ ] Show Collection Status indicator in list
Show the Collection Status icon next to the title.
[ ] Show Cast sorted on Actor Name.
When checked, Movie Collector will show the Cast, sorted on Actor Name
[ ] Show Counter in Tree Folders
When checked, Movie Collector will show the number of movies per folder next to the Folder name.
[ ] Activate barcode scanner when program starts
Check this box when adding new movies to your collection using a scanner. When not using a scanner, uncheck this box.
[ ] Auto Increment Index
By default, this option is checked. Giving each album a unique Index. The Index value is assigned when you add an item to the database. Removing an item from your database will not make the software use that index value, but you can re-assign them through the menu Tools > Maintenance > Re-Assign Index Fields. There you will need to define a field which sets the order for the re-indexing (commonly title is taken). Re-assigning the index value is a permanent change to the index field, and can not be undone.
Font
Choose your preferred font. When you want to reset Movie Collector to use the original font (which is Tahoma), click the Reset button.
User Template Folder
This is the folder wherein Movie Collector stores your templates and settings. By default, this folder is located in the (My) Documents\Movie Collector folder.
User Files Folders
The folder where your settings and database file(s) are stored. (My) Documents\Movie Collector by default. Unless you're sure what you're doing, don't change this.
Time Format
Choose for Minutes or Hours:Minutes.
Check For Update
Automatically Check for UpdateOn this tab you can tell Movie Collector how often to check for Updates. You can also Check for Update Manually under Help > Check for Update.
Proxy Info
When you access the internet through a Proxy server, check the settings here. You probably want to not touch these settings, though.
Backup
On this tab, you can set the folder on your computer where Movie Collector stores the Backup of your collection. Check the [ ] Automatically backup collection option to create backups automatically. By default, your backup is saved in (My) Documents\Movie Collector\Backup.Images
When Movie Covers are retrieved, they are by default stored in the Images Folder of (My) Documents\Movie Collector. Thumbnails are automatically generated by Movie Collector and stored in the Thumbnails folder.When you change these paths (for example to an external hard disk), you will need to update these links in Movie Collector under: Tools > Maintenance > Update File Links.
[ ] Automatically check/update image file paths (may increase load time)
Unchecked by default, this option should only be checked when sharing the database on a network.
[ ] Multi-threaded Thumbnail Viewer
Checking this option, will preload thumbnails images for faster viewing. This option is turned off by default and can be checked with very large collections, to speed up loading thumbnails.
Image editing program
When on the Covers tab in the Edit Album Screen, you can edit the cover image of an album. When clicking the Edit button, Movie Collector will automatically open the image editing program of your choice. By default, this program is MS Paint.
When droppping a cover image:
[ ] Copy Image to Image Folder, then Link
[ ] Just link to Dropped Image
[ ] Prompt me each time
On the Covers Tab in the Edit Album Screen, you can add a cover image by dragging an image to the cover area. You can drag an image from the internet, or from a folder from your computer. When doing so, you will be prompted to make a choice:
Don't choose Link to dropped file when dropping an image from the internet. If the online source is removed, you will lose the image. Choosing: Copy dropped file to default image folder, then link will do just that: copy it to your Images Folder and link it.
Image Scanner (TWAIN compatible)
If you have an external image scanner (TWAIN compatible), you can select it here. It will enable you to scan and add images to your movies. In the Edit Album Screen on the Images Tab, click Acquire and scan your cover (or other) images.
Scale down scanned images if height exceeds ...
To save disc space and speed up performance, Movie Collector can automatically resize your custom images to not exceed a certain height. By default, this value is set to 500 pixels.
Capitalization
In this tab, you can set Auto Capitalization options for your (future) entries. The options on the Capitalization tab are pretty much self-explanatory, but here are some of the most frequently used options.
Movie Collector allows you to choose how you want to capitalize your entries (ALL CAPS, non caps, First letter only, etc.) - check the options in the screen.
You can also check, add and edit exceptions in the right-hand screen.
Left to right: Add Phrase, Edit Phrase, Delete Phrase, Move Up, Move Down
Please note: The settings for capitalization will be applied to new entries only. Previously entered movies can be capitalized according to the settings, while in Edit Album mode. Just click the Capitalize Album Automatically button:
Title Sort
When sorting Titles, Movie Collector omits articles like 'a', 'the', 'an' ... and many others. This list can be customized. You can add, edit and/or delete articles. How? Just click the list and add or edit, as in a text file (one article per line).
Media Center
Movie Collector provides the option to play your movies with Windows Media Player. A great feature that is easy to use. Link your movies to your database entries and view them in Windows Media Center and launch them directly, without leaving the player!
On this tab in the Options Screen, you can customize the way things will look and how your collection is sorted.
Generate Media Center XML at save
Check this box to have Movie Collector remember your settings for this feature.
Start Page Choose at which page Media Player should start.
Transitions
Pick on of the awesome Transitions, when browsing through your Movie Collection.
Themes
Choose a theme, or add a custom background.
Sort order for MCE Data Use the deafult Use Main Screen Setting option, or set your Custom Settings. Click Edit and select Fields to sort.
Filter MCE Data
Filtering (off by default) will enable you to view just those movies by filtering. You can load an existing filter, or create your own, by selecting Custom setting and clicking the Edit button.
Playing Movies
You can mount movie files to a virtual drive, using Daemon Tools Lite or Virtual Clone Drive. Both programs are freeware. Check which applies.
External Movie Player
Take your pick .