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--- using_chapters_with_your_samsung_tv [2016/06/18 01:20]
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+++ using_chapters_with_your_samsung_tv [2016/06/18 01:59]
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 ====== Using Chapters With Your Samsung TV ======
-Samsung introduced Media Chaptering in some of their 2010 TV models (C series and above). Unfortunately it's a bit of a mystery which TVs support Chaptering, you will need to check with a local USB video file.
+Samsung introduced Media Chaptering in some of their 2010 TV models (C series and above). Some Samsung TV models support chaptering whereas some do not.
-This means that by pressing the center button on your remote control (or pressing the Tools button and selecting Chapter Search onscreen), you can access chapter points and jump to later parts of your video. For some models, this is far better than using the FF feature which can be quite time consuming. This useful feature has only been available for users of the Samsung's DLNA Server (Samsung Link or PC Share Manager) or local USB media.
-Mezzmo also supports both auto-chaptering and manual chaptering for Samsung TVs.
+A way to test if your TV supports chaptering is to check with a local USB video file.  Pressing the center button on your remote control (or press the Tools button and select Chapter Search onscreen), you should be able to access chapter points and jump to various parts of your video.
+For some Samsung TV models, using chaptering is far better than using the FF/REW features which can be quite time consuming.
+Mezzmo supports both auto-chaptering and manual chaptering for Samsung TVs.
 ===== Auto-chaptering =====
-By default, Mezzmo server will deliver 15 minute chapters to your Samsung TV so that you can quickly navigate to parts of a video.
+By default, Mezzmo server will deliver 15 minute chapters to your Samsung TV so that you can quickly navigate to parts of a video.  The chapters will appear onscreen with the Mezzmo icon as the chapter thumbnail.
+==== Advanced: Customizing Auto-chaptering ====
+You can change the default 15 minute interval and the default Mezzmo artwork displayed as chapter thumbnails.  You need to edit the device profile file that is assigned to your Samsung TV in the Media Devices dialog.  We recommend this for advanced users only.
+  - Using a text editor, edit the device profile .PRF file.
+  - In the <device>...</device> section, add a tag as follows:\\ <code>
+<samsungchaptering duration="15" numchapters="5"></samsungchaptering>
+</code> where **duration** is the number of minutes for each chapter and **numchapters** is the maximum number of chapters.
+  - **Optional:** Add base64 encoded JPEG image inside the <samsungchaptering></samsungchaptering> tag to replace the Mezzmo default chapter thumbnail.
+To make your own custom thumbnails:
+  - Create a JPEG image that you want as a chapter thumbnail. The native resolution of a chapter thumbnail is known to be 110 x 80 pixels (although this may vary with Samsung models).
+  - Base64 encode the contents of the JPEG file and paste the base64 text into the <InlineMedia> tag.
+**Tip:** There are many free online base64 encoders and decoders that you can use.  For example, try http://www.opinionatedgeek.com/DotNet/Tools/Base64Encode/
 ===== Manual chaptering =====
-You can create your own custom chapters (with your own artwork) for a video file using a .MTA file.
+If you would more control over your chapters than what Mezzmo's auto-chaptering delivers to your Samsung TV, then you can create your own custom chapters.  Your chapters can be at any intervals and have different artwork for each chapter point.
-You need to create a .MTA file each video file.  The .MTA file be in the same folder as your video file and have teh same name.
+To do this, you need to create a .MTA file for each video file.  The .MTA file needs to be in the same folder as your video file and have the same file name.
 Example:
@@ Line 24: / Line 44: @@
 ==== Sample .MTA file ====
+The .MTA file below has 8 chapter points split into 15 minute segments and all chapters have a black thumbnail.  You can use this as a template to customize your own .MTA chapter file for your video files.
 <file>
@@ Line 105: / Line 127: @@
 </SEC:SECMeta>
 </file>
-There is a basic .MTA file attached below which you can use, you will need to unzip it first. It contains 8 chapter points split into 15minute segments and all have a black thumbnail. All you need to do is rename the .MTA file and save it in the same folder as your video file.
-The content of .MTA file is not unique to each video, so the same .MTA file can be copied as many times as you like for all your videos. Only the filename needs to be changed.
+===== .MTA file structure =====
-Once the files are saved, you need to run 'Maintain Library' in Mezzmo and they will be added to the database. To save time, you only need to select Video files and also select 'Only update files with missing information'.
+.MTA files are text files with XML formatting.
+You will see each chapter data between the tags:
+<code>
+<ChapterSegment>
+ ...
+</ChapterSegment>
+</code>
+The chapter time stamps are in the <MediaTime> tags. For example:
+<code>
+<MediaTime timePoint="900"/>
+</code>
+The number in quotes is the seconds timeline.  In the above example, a chapter point is set a minute 15. You will then see each chapter point increase by the amount you want for your next chapter point (e.g. by 900 seconds).
+The thumbnail images are in the <InlineMedia> tags. For example:
+<code>
+<InlineMedia>/9j/4AAQSk.........//Z</InlineMedia>
+</code>
+The data inside the tags are JPEG files with base64 encoding.
+To make your own custom chapter thumbnails:
+  - Create a JPEG image that you want as a chapter thumbnail. The native resolution of a chapter thumbnail is known to be 110 x 80 pixels (although this may vary with Samsung models).
+  - Base64 encode the contents of the JPEG file and paste the base64 text into the <InlineMedia>...</InlineMedia> tag.
+**Tip:** There are many free online base64 encoders and decoders that you can use.  For example, try http://www.opinionatedgeek.com/DotNet/Tools/Base64Encode/
-After this is done, you can press the center button on your remote control (or press the Tools button and select Chapter Search onscreen) while playing a video and you will see the 15minute chapter points and also black thumbnails.