Update Game Media

[Jabb3rJaw]

I see under the media section forums that new media is created like wheels to replace ones that are lower quality. What’s the best way to update my media so the new images will replace my old media?

[sundogak]

On 10/6/2023 at 6:12 PM, mrmikey73 said:

I see under the media section forums that new media is created like wheels to replace ones that are lower quality. What’s the best way to update my media so the new images will replace my old media?

Depends a bit on how many you are updating since there are a few options.  

1) Via LB Database: If you are wanting to replace via the LB Database media then you can under Tools, Download, Update Metadata and Media. Option and then select only the item you want to update then select the top option. Be careful though that you have only the options you want for media selected since there is no "undo". I would try a few to make sure it is doing what you want before doing a mass update.  LB takes care of putting files and naming properly so typically this is the easiest.  

2) Download Section - Image Packs :  If the person used the relatively newer option in LB to create "image packs" you can download it and then select Tools, Image Packs, Import.   LB takes care (most times) of the naming matching.  I personally rarely use this option.  

3) Manually:  A few images - you can manually update the images by selecting the game, right-click, Edit, Edit Metadata, Images.  You can drag and drop the image into the window and right-click to select the media type. Delete the older image or it will potentially show that one vs the new one.  You can also do this with Video media as well.  LB takes care of naming files in this case.  This to me tends to be easiest if just doing a few and not using the LB DB.  

4) Manually: Many images - you can go to the LB directory  ...\LaunchBox\Images\PLATFORM NAME\IMAGE TYPE  
There you can manually delete the images you don't want and then add the newer ones.  Keep in mind that LB picks up images based on either the ROM name (useful for Arcade/MAME media) or the actual game name in the title.  It uses a bit of fuzzy logic but can get messed up with some names or if image name is too far off from game title you have.  LB ignores anything in brackets or parenthesis to match the title to the image name.  LB also adds a sequence number after image if you do any sort of editing of the game so becomes pacman-01.jpg.  LB ignores the -## portion when matching titles or ROM names.  Depending on how "standard" you have your game titles then this method can work pretty well with most packs in download section but depends a lot on what the uploader used as their naming convention. You will still likely have to manually match a few.  

For Method 2 through 4 if you don't see image initially try selecting the games and hitting the F5 key (forces a refresh).  

Edited October 9, 2023 by sundogak

[Jabb3rJaw]

18 hours ago, sundogak said:

Depends a bit on how many you are updating since there are a few options.  

1) Via LB Database: If you are wanting to replace via the LB Database media then you can under Tools, Download, Update Metadata and Media. Option and then select only the item you want to update then select the top option. Be careful though that you have only the options you want for media selected since there is no "undo". I would try a few to make sure it is doing what you want before doing a mass update.  LB takes care of putting files and naming properly so typically this is the easiest.  

2) Download Section - Image Packs :  If the person used the relatively newer option in LB to create "image packs" you can download it and then select Tools, Image Packs, Import.   LB takes care (most times) of the naming matching.  I personally rarely use this option.  

3) Manually:  A few images - you can manually update the images by selecting the game, right-click, Edit, Edit Metadata, Images.  You can drag and drop the image into the window and right-click to select the media type. Delete the older image or it will potentially show that one vs the new one.  You can also do this with Video media as well.  LB takes care of naming files in this case.  This to me tends to be easiest if just doing a few and not using the LB DB.  

4) Manually: Many images - you can go to the LB directory  ...\LaunchBox\Images\PLATFORM NAME\IMAGE TYPE  
There you can manually delete the images you don't want and then add the newer ones.  Keep in mind that LB picks up images based on either the ROM name (useful for Arcade/MAME media) or the actual game name in the title.  It uses a bit of fuzzy logic but can get messed up with some names or if image name is too far off from game title you have.  LB ignores anything in brackets or parenthesis to match the title to the image name.  LB also adds a sequence number after image if you do any sort of editing of the game so becomes pacman-01.jpg.  LB ignores the -## portion when matching titles or ROM names.  Depending on how "standard" you have your game titles then this method can work pretty well with most packs in download section but depends a lot on what the uploader used as their naming convention. You will still likely have to manually match a few.  

For Method 2 through 4 if you don't see image initially try selecting the games and hitting the F5 key (forces a refresh).  

Thanks Sundogak!! Great explanation! It would be nice if there were options under the update media, like update wheels or update carts… I just see a lot of wheels getting remade and they say added to Launchbox database when done. So to get these new improved wheels I have to update all media sounds like?

[sundogak]

11 minutes ago, mrmikey73 said:

Thanks Sundogak!! Great explanation! It would be nice if there were options under the update media, like update wheels or update carts… I just see a lot of wheels getting remade and they say added to Launchbox database when done. So to get these new improved wheels I have to update all media sounds like?

You can update specific media from the Tools, Download menu.  So for example if just wanted to update clear logos then select games you want to update and only check that media box:

If you check the box on bottom right it will try and remove any dupes (but can be slow if doing a lot of updates).  However, the DB has no way of knowing the quality of the image you have already downloaded vs what is up in the DB.  Anything you select will download and replace existing.  If you have done any major tweaking to your setup, it always pays to be a bit cautious on mass DB image updates if already happy with what you have.  With that clear logo update thread, I typically visit on occasion and scan through and update my setup via #3 above if my image is poorer quality. If you are missing media completely or haven't done any image customizing, then the DB is still the easiest way to go. 

[Jabb3rJaw]

2 minutes ago, sundogak said:

You can update specific media from the Tools, Download menu.  So for example if just wanted to update clear logos then select games you want to update and only check that media box:

If you check the box on bottom right it will try and remove any dupes (but can be slow if doing a lot of updates).  However, the DB has no way of knowing the quality of the image you have already downloaded vs what is up in the DB.  Anything you select will download and replace existing.  If you have done any major tweaking to your setup, it always pays to be a bit cautious on mass DB image updates if already happy with what you have.  With that clear logo update thread, I typically visit on occasion and scan through and update my setup via #3 above if my image is poorer quality. If you are missing media completely or haven't done any image customizing, then the DB is still the easiest way to go. 

Ok thanks again. And for me I haven’t done anything for clear logos for games so sounds like the easy way is update and replace game clear logos every so often. Thanks for the help!