1. How does VideoDrive import my videos in iTunes?

VideoDrive supports several video import methods depending on the type of videos you have. All import options are available under the ‘Import’ tab in the ‘VideoDrive Preferences’ panel. Click the image below to look at a PDF document with all options, or read the text box below.

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2. Where can I watch videos imported with VideoDrive?

As iTunes is the central hub for your digital content, it is easy to watch videos imported in iTunes everywhere you want. With VideoDrive, you have several options to import videos and they affect where you can watch your videos. The options are listed in the following table. Note that some video formats are not readily compatible with iPod, iPod Touch, iPhone and AppleTV. In that case, you have the option to convert them with VideoDrive (see last two columns) or to convert them in iTunes by CTRL-clicking a video in iTunes and choosing to reconvert to a compatible format. (Those reconverted videos will also appear in any Shared iTunes and Shared Front Row libraries.)  Note, that if you have installed additional codecs on AppleTV (referred to as an Enhanced Apple TV), it is possible to sync and stream videos to this device as explained in question 8.

3. What can I do with my videos when adding them to iTunes using VideoDrive?

As listed in the following table, depending on the import method (see question 3) you can manage your videos by putting them in an iTunes category, add metadata (including description, name, release year, genre, etc), add cover art (manual or automatically from the Internet), rename them (optionally by removing unwanted text fragments automatically), add chapters and include subtitles (if provided separately as SRT files and when Perian is installed). Video parts can also be merged (see question 5).

4. Which kind of videos can I import in iTunes using VideoDrive?

The rule of thumb is: “if the videos plays in QuickTime, you can add it to iTunes!”. Therefore, make sure you have the appropriate codecs installed on your Mac. VideoDrive supports mov, mpg, mpeg, mp4, avi, wmv, swf, m2v, flv, wma, mkv and divx video formats. For this, we recommend installing the Perian and Flip4Mac codecs. Note that importing Matroeska files (MKV) takes a longer time as these files are loaded into memory first. If the video cannot be saved due to DRM restrictions, most likely only the option “ Create fixed pointers to your videos” will work. Please, check our compatibility tester to check if your videos can be imported.

5. Can I merge multiple videos with VideoDrive?

Yes. When you check the option “Merge video files belonging to the title” in the Import Preference Pane, videos consisting of multiple files will be merged. A video is considered to have multiple files, if a file with  “cd1”, “Part1” or “part 1” in its name is encountered. In that case all videos in the same subfolder with “cd or “part” in the name will be merged into one entry in iTunes.

6. Can I remove my videos again from iTunes?

Yes, select the videos you want to delete and click delete or backspace on the keyboard. A confirmation window will popup. Click the ‘Remove’ button. A second window will ask if you wan to move the files to trash. You can safely click ‘Move to trash’ as your original video files will NOT be deleted.

7. Can I use VideoDrive to add my DVD’s to iTunes?

No. As iTunes and QuickTime do not support DVD playback, VideoDrive cannot not add DVD’s to iTunes. They would not be playable anyway.

8. I have installed additional codecs on my AppleTV. Can I use VideoDrive to sync my videos without reconverting them?

Yes. Install VideoDrive version 1.6.2 or higher, and use the import option “Copy the video files in a compatible container” and check the option “Force Compatibility with Enhanced Apple TV”. These settings are available on the import tab of VideoDrive Preferences. With these options enabled, iTunes will be able to sync and stream your newly imported videos to AppleTV without the need for reconversion. Note this feature uses undocumented settings of iTunes and it is therefore not guaranteed  this will work for future versions of iTunes. It has been tested with versions 7.6 and 7.7.

9. How do Hot Folders work?

If a videos is added to a hot folder, VideoDrive automatically detects this (even when VideoDrive is not running) and will import the video in iTunes. Hot Folders uses the Folder Actions framework of Mac OS X. You can make any folder a hot folder by going to the ‘Hot Folders’ tab in VideoDrive Preferences and clicking the ‘Select Folders’ button. The frist time, required files will be installed (if you do not have enough privileges, an administrator password will be asked). Next, you will be able to select one or more folders to turn into Hot Folders. Keep in mind that subfolders of Hot Folders are NOT Hot Folders themselves. Note that if VideoDrive is busy (importing other videos) when a new video is added, this video will be added to an import queue (as indicated on the main window).

It is also possible to create Hot Folders in Finder: CTRL-clicking a folder in Finder and go to the “More -> Folder Actions” menu. Attach the ‘add - VideoDrive import video’ script to any folder you want to turn into a Hot Folder. Tiger users should always enable or disable Hot Folders from Finder. However, they should click ‘Select Folders’ in VideoDrive Preferences once to install the required script files as described above.

10. Nothing happens when a video is added to a Hot Folder. What should I do?

Try the following steps: 1) Make sure Folder Actions are enabled in Finder.2) Check if the VideoDrive add action is correctly attached to your hot folders. 3) Make sure no other actions interfere with the VideoDrive action. 4) Check if a simple default script of Mac OS X like 'add - new item -alert' does work properly. If everything should work, but it doesn't, you may try restarting Mac OS X.

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