Import-export library

XBMC offers the capability to import and export data manually into/from the Media Library, as well as importing media info automatically from .nfo files.

Import / Export options
The Import / Export options can be found in Relevant Music / Videos Settings.

Video Library:

Export Video Library

 * Exports the Library database to either one, or multiple XML files. When you initiate an export, XBMC will ask if you want to export to separate or a single file.

Exporting to one single file
When exporting to a single file XBMC will bring up a browser dialog where you select where you want it exported. XBMC will then create a subdirectory with the resulting xml file plus all thumbnails and fanart, watched status will be exported to the xml file.

Exporting to separate files
If you choose to export to separate files you will also be asked if you want to export thumbnails and fanart as well.
 * The resulting XML .nfo file and associated image files will then be exported to the location of the corresponding video files.

They will be automatically used when scraping for information, you do not need to import anything from this menu.

Import Video Library

 * Imports an exported single XML file into the Library database. If the entry does not exist it is appended.
 * If it exists:


 * 1) It removes all current info for that entry from the database.
 * 2) Inserts the info for that entry from the XML file.

If you wish to import a movie, TV show, music video or episode into the library, use the corresponding format in the exported xml file and enclose it with the tags. Examples can be seen below, as .nfo files.}}

Export Music Library

 * Exports the Library database to either one, or multiple XML files. When you initiate an export, XBMC will ask if you want to export to separate or a single file.
 * If you choose to export to separate files you will also be asked if you want to export thumbnails and fanart as well.
 * The resulting XML .nfo files and associated image files will then be exported to the location of the corresponding music files.

Import Music / Video Library

 * Imports a XML file into the Library database. If the entry does not exist it is skipped.
 * If it exists:


 * 1) It removes all current info for that entry from the database.
 * 2) Inserts the info for that entry from the XML file.

Video and music .nfo Files
Nfo files can be used to provide data for a video file in XBMC or influence the search behaviour of scrapers. In particular they are helpful if the information fetched from a web site does not match the video file, or data for that particular file does not exist.

By default at the time of scanning, if the media folder contains a correctly named *.nfo file, then XBMC will load the *.nfo file and attempt to either, in the case of it containing XML data get the meta-data directly from the .nfo file or will parse it for a direct URL to the scraper info page. This allows XBMC to skip its normal lookup and/or search procedures; this is useful if a file's information is not available on any of the scraper sites or if the file-matching criteria fail for the particular file.

Importing library information from "My Movies" media management software
My Movies (www.mymovies.name) is an online database for profiling DVD-Video movies. My Movies saves an XML file and a poster cover image which with this patch will get scanned by XBMC in the same way as XBMC's own XML formatted NFO files are scanned/scraped.

XBMC has the ability to get the import movie library information from "My Movies" via the mymovies.xml files that it generates, these mymovies.xml are checked after the movie.nfo file.

Additional information
Additional information on how to add format-tags for text and labels (Eg. Bold, Italic) can be found under Label Formatting

Watched status
Too keep your watched status when importing the library, add this to your advancedsettings.xml file in the userdata folder:

true