Video versions

Video library

Management

Video versions

Introduction

Video Version is a new Kodi feature introduced in v21. It allows users to keep multiple versions of the same movie in the library.

Do you have the DVD, Bluray, 3D and 4K version of a movie? Do you have the Theatrical Release, Director's Cut, Extended version or any other type of version of a movie? Do you dislike the same movie being repeatedly listed in the library?

All these different formats and versions can be scanned into the library, then attached to a parent title in the library. Think of it as Movie Sets for the same movie.

This feature works on the movie library and may be expanded to TV shows and episodes in a later release of Kodi.

Understanding Versions

Kodi uses a parent/child method for video versions. i.e. one movie is selected as the parent movie, which is the default movie, and other versions are added to this parent movie.

Using Blade Runner (1982) as an example, to make the original US Theatrical Release as the default movie, it would be selected as the movie to which all other versions are added to using the Manual method detailed below.

 -Blade Runner (1982) - US Theatrical Cut [dvd]          (parent movie; default movie)
    |- Blade Runner (1982) - Directors Cut [dvd]           (child version)
    |- Blade Runner (1982) - Intl Theatrical Cut [dvd]     (child version)
    |- Blade Runner (1982) - The Final Cut [bluray]        (child version)
    |- Blade Runner (1982) - The Final Cut [dvd]           (child version)

As this is a Library feature, the above has no effect on how the files are stored on your hard drives. Your movies can continue to be in their own folder, on different drives or in a single folder.

Versions are matched as follows:

1. The scanner first checks for duplicate TMDB or IMDB UniqueID
2. If no ID is matched, then the scanner checks for a duplicate Title.

To increase the accuracy of the scan, especially when using nfo files, ensure:

1. TMDB and IMDB ID's are included, correct and they are the same for all the versions
2. The value in the <title> tag is clean and that all the versions of the movie use the same title. i.e. Use <title>Blade Runner</title> instead of naming the version like <title>Blade Runner - US Theatrical Release</title>

Settings

There are three settings that control the behaviour of Video Versions.

Settings level:

Basic

Description:

Settings ► Media ► Library ► Video Library ► Ignore different video versions on scan Disabled - When an Update Library is run and the scanner discovers a movie that may be a duplicate of another movie already scanned into the library, the Update Library will pause with a pop-up requesting confirmation on how to treat the duplicate. Enabled - (default) When an Update Library is run, there are no interruptions to the scan and the various versions will be scanned or scraped into the library without a video version being created. Use the Manual method described below to create a Video Version after scanning has ended.

Settings level:	Standard
Description:	Settings ► Media ► Videos ► All ► Select default video version Disabled - (default) When selecting a video version movie to play, a pop-up will provide the option to select which version to play Enabled - Plays the default parent video. Other versions can be accessed from Context menu ► Choose version

Settings level:	Standard
Description:	Settings ► Media ► Videos ► All ► Show videos with multiple versions as a folder Disabled - (default) When selecting a video version movie what happens after selection will be determined by the previous setting Select default video version Enabled - Selecting a video with multiple versions will always open another screen listing the versions. Similar to opening a Movie Set.

Creating a Version

There are two methods to creating a Video Version. The Manual method allows control of which movie becomes the parent/default movie while the Library Update method allows no control for selecting which movie becomes parent/default.

Manual

When using the Manual method, ensure:

• The setting Ignore different video versions on scan is Enabled, and
• All movies and versions are already scanned/scraped into the library.

To create a Video Version, follow these steps.

1. Highlight the movie that will become the parent/default and call up the Context Menu
2. Select Manage ► Manage versions
3. The pop-up box will display details of the parent movie. It defaults to "Standard Edition" but this can be changed using the Rename button
4. To add another version, select Add version
5. From the pop-up box, scroll to select the next movie to be added as a version and press Enter or equivelant keypress
6. From the next pop-up, select the version format. If a pre-defined name is not listed, add a new name using the New version... button
7. The new version will be added
8. To add additional versions, repeat these steps.

Library Update

When using the Manual method, ensure:

• The setting Ignore different video versions on scan is Disabled

To create a Video Version, follow these steps.

1. Run the Update Library function, or navigate to your Source and from the context menu select Scan for new content
2. When a movie is scanned that is a duplicate of a movie already in your library the Different movie version found dialogue will notify you
3. Select Yes to add as a version or No to ignore and continue scanning
4. When Yes is selected, the Add as a version to pop-up will offer the matching parent movie
5. After selecting the parent movie, from the Choose version pop-up, select what type of version this movie is. If a pre-defined name is not listed, add a new name using the New version... button
6. The Update Library scanner will continue with the scan until it finds another duplicate movie.

Managing Versions

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