Why does one file get "[*]" appended

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Swiftie
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Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Swiftie » Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:36 pm

The file on my PC is 25032012008.mp4

In Twonky Server, and on my SONY TV, it appears as 25032012008[*]

What does the "[*]" suffix mean, please?

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by phibertron » Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:38 pm

Its a sony/twonky thing

The * from there point of view is a saying that it might not be a compliant file
The sony is saying this, based on the way Twonky is presenting it

I have taken the same file nd streamed it from different dlna servers
some dont make the sony show the *, some do
twonky is one of them

However, I have yet to have a problem with a file showing the *
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10627
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9353
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9408
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9416
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viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9497

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Swiftie » Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:44 pm

Thanks for the answer. I'll ignore the "*".
I didn't reply sooner, as I hadn't subscribed to my own post (now corrected, and fixed in future)

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Twonky_Rick » Tue Apr 17, 2012 5:38 pm

Some more details about this:

As part of the file scanning process, TwonkyServer uses a watchdog app which monitors the time required to scan media files. If a media file cannot be scanned with a given period of time, TwonkyServer assumes it could be a bad file and adds the file to a 'bad files' list. For all files in the bad files list, TwonkyServer has a simple metadata scanner which just uses the filename and date to generate basic metadata. To indicate a file has only basic metadata and may be corrupt, an asterisk is added to title of the file in question. Keep in mind that this asterisk does not always indicate that a file is corrupt. The file could be fine and the device is just too slow to scan the file in the available time.

Increasing the value of the configuration property ‘maxscantimeperfile’ may resolve the problem if indeed scan time is the issue.

- Rick
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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by edrikk » Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:03 pm

Hi Rick,

FYI, every single one of my mp4 files show a "*" on the PS3 when served from Twonky. I don't believe what you are describing (although might be one functionality of Twonky) applies in my case, as all metadata (tags) from all mp4s are correctly read. Each and everyone (as I meticulously tag my files, so I know what tags are present).

I do believe that Twonky is not sending enough/appropriate information to the PS3 (either as a server, or for each file) which leads the PS3 to add the astrisk to the file name.

The same files, when viewed from other clients do NOT have a "*" appended to their 'title'... Meaning it's not the server doing this.

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Swiftie » Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:33 pm

[quote="TMM_Product_Manager"]Increasing the value of the configuration property ‘maxscantimeperfile’ may resolve the problem if indeed scan time is the issue.

- Rick[/quote]
This may very well be the answer for me. My files are on USB 2.0 ports, and the device itself is also relatively slow, and frequently busy. I could well imagine it taking a minute or more to scan some of the larger files.

Is 'maxscantimeperfile' settable via the web-based "Twonky Settings", or should I stop the server and go looking for an *.ini or *.dat file?

Right now it's all a bit hypothetical, as my trial period has expired, and my purchase (last Friday) is still waiting to be processed...

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by phibertron » Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:41 am

The setting would be in the server.ini

But you can view and set settings via the web interface like this

For Example:

This would display the setting for maxscantimeperfile

http://localhost:9000/rpc/get_option?maxscantimeperfile

This would set a value to maxscantimeperfile

http://localhost:9000/rpc/set_option?ma ... eperfile=0
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10627
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9353
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9408
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9416
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9424
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9364
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9497

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by phibertron » Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:59 pm

Im with edrikk on this one
If it was twonky server adding the asterisk, then it would be seen everywhere
and it is not, is just being seen on the ps3
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10627
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9353
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9408
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9416
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9424
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9364
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9497

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Swiftie » Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:08 pm

> http://localhost:9000/rpc/get_option?maxscantimeperfile

This takes me to a page: PROPERTY NOT FOUND!

I'll find the ini file; perhaps there's no value set in there?

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by phibertron » Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:25 pm

Doh

I guess I should have actually tested that on 7.x
It looks like it doesnt exist there, hmmmm

You wont find it in there, if the rpc call doesnt see it, it is not a configurable option
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10627
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9353
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9408
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9416
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9424
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9364
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9497

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Twonky_Rick » Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:31 pm

edrikk wrote:Hi Rick,

FYI, every single one of my mp4 files show a "*" on the PS3 when served from Twonky. I don't believe what you are describing (although might be one functionality of Twonky) applies in my case, as all metadata (tags) from all mp4s are correctly read. Each and everyone (as I meticulously tag my files, so I know what tags are present).

I do believe that Twonky is not sending enough/appropriate information to the PS3 (either as a server, or for each file) which leads the PS3 to add the astrisk to the file name.

The same files, when viewed from other clients do NOT have a "*" appended to their 'title'... Meaning it's not the server doing this.
Thanks for sharing this info.

I'll pass on your comments to our engineers. If they have a suggestion, I'll post it here.

- Rick
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Checkout my blog: http://mostly-tech.com/

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Twonky_Rick » Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:33 pm

Swiftie wrote: Right now it's all a bit hypothetical, as my trial period has expired, and my purchase (last Friday) is still waiting to be processed...
If you were not sent a key by now, please let me know. I was told that 99% percent of the delays were resolved by now.

- Rick
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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Swiftie » Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:49 am

phibertron wrote:You wont find it in there, if the rpc call doesnt see it, it is not a configurable option
Time to start liking the asterisks, by the sound of things. That was always the easy way out. :-)

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by edrikk » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:23 pm

TMM_Product_Manager wrote:
edrikk wrote:Hi Rick,

FYI, every single one of my mp4 files show a "*" on the PS3 when served from Twonky. I don't believe what you are describing (although might be one functionality of Twonky) applies in my case, as all metadata (tags) from all mp4s are correctly read. Each and everyone (as I meticulously tag my files, so I know what tags are present).

I do believe that Twonky is not sending enough/appropriate information to the PS3 (either as a server, or for each file) which leads the PS3 to add the astrisk to the file name.

The same files, when viewed from other clients do NOT have a "*" appended to their 'title'... Meaning it's not the server doing this.
Thanks for sharing this info.

I'll pass on your comments to our engineers. If they have a suggestion, I'll post it here.

- Rick

Thanks Rick,

Please do take a look at this post as well (from about two years ago).
http://www.twonkyforum.com/viewtopic.ph ... 275#p30308
PeeBee wrote:I understand why the PS3 puts the stars there but not why it thinks the file names aren't compatible though.

It does it with every one of mine.

Edit: It's probably not because of the filename its stored as but the filename TMS streams it as such as

O0$1$7I5133.mp3

I bet it doesn't like the $$$$.

Further edit: I've just checked this theory out by streaming the same files from WMP12 on my PC. They all appear on the PS3 without the stars so it is the filename used by TMS that is not DLNA compatible. Probably just something that we will have to live with as the TMS filename structure seems tied in with the whole way that TMS works - the different parts of the filename are like levels that TMS navigates through e.g. O0$1 is Music, O0$1$11 is Album, O0$1$11$177 is AC/DC Live.

PB

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by phibertron » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:42 pm

@edrikk

That it is a great find
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10627
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9353
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9408
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9416
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9424
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9364
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9497

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Twonky_Rick » Wed May 02, 2012 12:54 am

Agreed. Thanks for sharing this. I'm passing it on to the server team now.

- Rick
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phibertron
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Tagging
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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by phibertron » Wed May 02, 2012 8:23 pm

To even further expand in the issue

Every one of my photo's exhibit the same behavior
They are ALL classified as being non-dlna

For Ex:
The same image, 6.0.38 vs 7.0.5
http ://localhost:9000/disk/NON-DLNA/O0$20I270.jpg
http ://localhost:9000/disk/DLNA-PNJPEG_LRG-OP01-FLAGS00f00000/O0$2$20I267.jpg

Which begs two questions

1. What formats and resolutions are dlna compliant?

2. If we have an image that is dlna compliant, why does twonky server think otherwise?

And the case of the PS3 begs a third question

3. what is it about twonky server that is making the PS3 think media is non-dlna compliant?

Note:
As the asterisk is being seen even when a file is deemed dlna compliant from twonky

So in essence its a two part problem

Part one.
If an item is given without a dlna profile, its up to the ps3 to deem content type of a file

Part two.
there is an asterisk being displayed on the ps3 for all content types from twonky server, regardless of being dlna, or non-dlna, linked
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10627
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9353
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9408
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9416
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9424
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9364
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9497

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Twonky_Rick » Wed May 02, 2012 11:52 pm

Comments appended to the support ticket. Questions passed on. If I get a response, I'll let you know.

- Rick
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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Swiftie » Thu May 03, 2012 2:47 pm

Well, as the originator of this thread (IIRC) I have to admit that my [*]s seem to have disappeared.

Neither my PC nor my TV have changed over this period, but instead of connecting my TV via a Wireless Access Point(WAP), I now connect it via a 10m CAT5 cable and a cheap 5-port switch.

So, perhaps in my case it was just transfer speed that was causing the problem.

The 10m cable to the switch is plugged in where the WAP used to plug in, and the WAP now plugs into the switch. But none of the DNLA traffic now runs via the WAP.

Other network facilities in the TV don't seem to have benefitted from the higher network bandwidth, but that's no surprise as they rely on Internet access (via my ADSL) and the ADSL is slower than the WiFi, so the WiFi wasn't the gating factor.

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Re: Why does one file get "[*]" appended

Post by Twonky_Rick » Thu May 03, 2012 10:26 pm

Thanks for passing this on Swiftie. To check on the status of this issue in the future, please ask me about TMCORE-5795. That helps me look this up quickly.

- Rick
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