Profiles: Difference between revisions

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* Unique keymapping for each user
* Unique keymapping for each user
* Unique network settings
* Unique network settings
* The ability to add scripts both globally or on a per-profile basis
* The ability to add add-ons both globally or on a per-profile basis
All options stored in the [[userdata folder]] can be customized per profile, allowing for an amazing amount of flexibility.<section end=intro />
All options stored in the [[userdata folder]] can be customized per profile, allowing for an amazing amount of flexibility.<section end=intro />



Revision as of 19:52, 29 May 2012

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XBMC supports multiple user profiles, much the same as setting up individual users on your home computer. These individual profiles allow you to customize the environment for multiple users, allowing for such functionality as:

  • Customized view settings such as skins for each user
  • The ability to lock folders, such as network shares on a per-user basis
  • Separate Media Libraries for each user
  • Unique RSS feeds for each user
  • Unique keymapping for each user
  • Unique network settings
  • The ability to add add-ons both globally or on a per-profile basis

All options stored in the userdata folder can be customized per profile, allowing for an amazing amount of flexibility.

Note: There are many references to the Master Code below. See Settings/System#Master lock for more information.

Profile Settings

Selecting Profiles from the main settings window will bring you to the screen pictured to the left. In this screen you have the following options:

Login Screen
Enables/Disables the login screen
Add Profile
Add a new profile
Default User / any available profile name
Select the given profile. In order to edit a profile, just select it. To load another profile, open the context menu by pressing the white button and choose Load profile.



Note that at the bottom of the screen, the currently selected profile is displayed.

Profile1.jpg

Adding a Profile

In order to add a profile, simply choose Add Profile... .

Profile2.jpg

First, you will be prompted to enter a name for your profile. Enter the name for your profile. Then, it will prompt you for your profile directory. This is where your personalized settings will be stored. Choose New Folder and add a folder with the same name as your profile (this is the default). Then select the new directory and choose OK.

You should then see a screen much like the one to the left. The following options are available:

Profile Name
Change the name of your profile
Profile Picture
Allows you to associate a picture with your profile
Profile Directory
Allows you to choose the folder in which your individual settings are stored
Lock Preferences
Allows you to lock many of your preferences. This is detailed below.
Media Info
Allows you to have separate information saved for your media, i.e. IMdB, AllMusic, etc. The options are
      • Separate - Profiles have separate media info with full control
      • Shares with Default - Shares media info with the default user with full control
      • Shares with Default (Read Only) - Shares media info with the default user, and is locked by the master code
      • Separate (Locked) - Profile has separate media info, but you can only change it by enabling master mode.
Media Sources
Allows you to have separate media sources for the profiles. The options are
      • Separate - Profiles have separate media sources with full control
      • Shares with Default - Shares media sources with the default user with full control
      • Shares with Default (Read Only) - Shares media sources with the default user, and is locked by the master code
      • Separate (Locked) - Profiles have separate media sources, but you can only change them by enabling master mode.

The Profile Lock Preferences

Profile Lock
Allows you to set a password for the profile. Locking a profile is essentially the same as setting a password on your computer; it disallows other users from using your profile, modifying your settings or viewing your media shares if they are configured separately from other users. The options are:
      • Numeric Password - Enter a Numeric Password using the On Screen Keyboard
      • Gamepad Button Combo - Enter a series of buttons using the Gamepad
      • Full-Text Password - Enter a plain-text password using the On Screen Keyboard
Lock Music Section
Lock Video Section
Lock Pictures Section
Lock Programs and Scripts Section
Lock File Manager
Lock Settings
Restricts access for the selected profile to the selected sections when selected

Profile3.jpg

Configuring Scripts for Profiles

You have the ability to choose to display scripts on a per-profile basis, as well as globally. This functionality allows you to block other users from using scripts that contain objectionable material.

In order to use this functionality, simply place the scripts that you would like available to all users in the XBMC/Scripts folder. All per-user scripts should be placed in a /Scripts folder within the profile's data folder.

NOTE: The global scripts folder is internally mapped as drive Q:, while the profile scripts folder for the currently loaded script is internally mapped as drive P:.

Switching Profiles

Either you you choose a profile from the login screen (if enabled above).
Or you call up the context menu while in Profile Settings and select "Load Profile".

Manually editing profiles

Profile data is stored in the master userdata folder in an XML file called profiles.xml. While this file is human-readable, it is recommended that the user does not touch it unless they're prepared for the consequences.