Configuration
So, here we are, the last big section of the guide. To recap, so far we’ve installed XBMC’s servers, XBMC Media Center, Simplicity skin, and Setup both XBMC and Simplicity.
Now, all that’s left, is adding the content we wish to use and setting up the library and view modes properly.
Adding Content
First off, we need to add the content we’re interested in. The process is much the same for MOVIES, TV SHOWS, and MUSIC. From the Home screen select MOVIES, at the bottom of the screen find the < View Options menu. This indicates you should push the Left Arrow key to access this menu. Do this now.
On the left hand side of the screen a menu with the SIMPLICITY logo should pop-out. This menu is typical and fairly consistent across all media types. Take moment to explore it before moving on and get comfortable accessing it and modifying it.
Once comfortable highlight Library Mode and disable it. When you do this the screen will fade out and then back in with a different view. There should now be an Add source option on the screen.
Selecting Add Source will bring up the Add Video source window. Select Browse and a Browse for new share window will pop-out from the right. If you have any Movie media files browse to their location and hit Enter or select OK. Doing so will then populate the file path in the Add Video source window. If you have other paths for the same content type (currently Movies) repeat this process to add them all. This will combine all the separate locations of the same media type into a single location in XBMC!
Once you’ve added the path(s) to your media files you may also want to edit the Enter a name for this media Source field. Type in whatever you prefer here. It will only be seen if you drop out of Library Mode again.
Once this is done select the OK button. You will then be prompted to Set content. This is done simply by telling XBMC which type of content this directory contains. So select (Movies).
Note that the MovieDB is now selected as a Scraper and you now have a number of Content Scanning Options in the bottom pane. For ease of use Run automated scan should be enabled and the rest likely left as they are (if you have poorly name files but properly named folders you can set Use folder names for lookups).
Once this is all set properly select Settings and under the General tab note the options here. Depending on your display I recommend setting trailers to 1080p (or the highest your display / system can handle) and also enabling Get rating from IMDb.
Once set as desired select the OK button, and then once again select the next OK button to complete the adding of this content. You will likely now be notified of Change Content and asked if you want to refresh info for all items within this path? Select Yes and allow the scan to take place.
Now, repeat the above process by selecting the Add source option and repeating this process for each content type (until you get to the Set content screen the process will be essentially identical!).
For (TV shows) the Scraper will be The TVDB. As we did with (Movies) select Run automated scan and then select Settings. Here you may want to enable Use DVD Order (as this order is most often how the directors of the series wanted the content released instead of how the Networks chose to display it). Also, you may want to enable Prefer Posters to keep Posters as the main preference over fan art and banners for both MOVIES and TV SHOWS.
For MUSIC you will have to drop back to the Home screen and select MUSIC and continue with Add source from there. There is no Set Content or Settings options for Music so this one has no additional options to configure!
Once all your media has been added to your Movies, TV Shows, and Music libraries close and reload XBMC Media center to make sure no new content is found. Once nothing new is found proceed to the next section (next page).
this is great, I had lots of trouble installing xbmcin mint and this did the trick,now I am gonna follow rest of your suggestions, thanks again.
Hey, good to hear Gychang! Best of luck!
i just keep getting
W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc/ppa/ubuntu/dists/natty/main/source/Sources 404 Not Found
W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc/ppa/ubuntu/dists/natty/main/binary-amd64/Packages 404 Not Found
Hey Eddknightuk,
If you’re running Linux Mint 11 or Ubuntu 11.04 that’s why. XBMC has yet to add a PPA repository for Natty Narwhal. You can still use the Maverick Meerkat one though (which is what I’ve been doing without any issues. Simply replace “natty” in both the sources to “maverick”. You will need to got to Sources or Edit Sources and edit the specific entries.
I’m currently stuck on a work computer so can’t give exact instructions. If you get stuck let me know or Google it.
Best of luck!
XBMC is informing me that the Simplicity Add-On cannot be installed as it has broken/missing dependencies, any idea how to fix this?
Hey Catman,
Right off the top of my head I’m not sure. Try another theme like Neon and see if you get the same result. It may just be that Simplicity is broken currently or that something is borked in your XBMC install. As soon as I get my guide updated, I’ll likely be switching from Simplicity to Neon anyway so if that works you may be in for a treat.
Best of luck, and let me know if you have anymore questions!
This guide helped me a lot! I tried installing xbmc on Windows, Fedora, Ubunutu but this guide is definately the clearest! Great work and thank you!
Hey Aegir81,
Glad it worked well for you!
Thanks for the comment!
Excellent detailed instructions on all of your guides! Wish I would have found you sooner. Make all this so much easier to understand. Goodbye torrents!! :)
Hey SAB_Addict,
Thanks for the feedback! I’m glad my guides helped ya out!
Cheers!
Nice guide any plans to do it on Mint 12…????
These instructions don’t work with Mint 12. Adding the PPA does not result in XMBC appearing in the Software Manager..
Hey Johnny,
Nice generalization there. Anyway, since XBMC does not do a great job at maintaing a PPA with the current Ubuntu releases you may need to manually edit the Other Software entry for XBMC to reflect the code name of the highest Ubuntu release that they do support (Maverick currently). If that doesn’t fix your issue the PPA authentication bug may be getting you. In which case the easiest fix is to add the PPA via the Terminal Emulator (sudo add-apt-repository ppa:PPANAMEHERE).
Good luck,
daemox