About Media Recording
In Reading Forest, when you add video credits (Director, Direction, Screenplay, Cast) or music credits (Composer, Conductor, Singer, Performer), the app automatically switches to media mode.
- Video (Director, Direction, Screenplay, Cast, Music): "Pages" becomes "Running Time", entered in H:MM:SS format
- Music (Composer, Conductor, Singer, Performer): "Pages" becomes "Playback Time", entered in M:SS format
Recording a Movie — Casablanca Example
Here we'll use the 1942 classic film "Casablanca" as an example to show how to add a movie to your reading log.
Source: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)
| Title | Casablanca |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 102 min |
| Director | Michael Curtiz |
| Cast | Humphrey Bogart |
| Cast | Ingrid Bergman |
| Screenplay | Julius J. Epstein |
| Production | Warner Bros. |
Step 1: Add a Movie to Your Reading Log
A. Creating a new reading log
- Click [File] → [New]
- An empty reading log is created. The "Reading Log" text shown at the top left is the filename. Click it to rename (e.g., "Movie Log")
- Click [Edit] → [Add Book] (or use the shortcut Alt+N)
- Enter "Casablanca" in the title field and click [OK] to add it
B. Adding to an existing reading log
- Open your reading log
- Click [Edit] → [Add Book] (or use the shortcut Alt+N)
- Enter "Casablanca" in the title field and click [OK] to add it
Step 2: Add Credit Information
Click the "Edit" button in the book information area.
- Click the default credit type "Author" and change it to "Director" from the dropdown, then enter "Michael Curtiz"
- Click the [+] button to add a row, select "Cast", and enter "Humphrey Bogart"
- Add more cast members, screenwriters, or production companies as needed
When you add any of the video credits (Director, Direction, Screenplay, Cast, or Music), Reading Forest automatically recognizes the entry as a video. The "Pages" label changes to "Running Time" and the record input format switches to time-based.
Step 3: Set the Runtime
- Confirm that "Pages" has changed to "Running Time"
- Enter 1:42:00 (1 hour 42 minutes) in the runtime field. You can also enter 102 as plain minutes
- You can also set a poster or still image as the cover
Step 4: Add a Viewing Record
To log when you watched the movie, use the same record-adding process. However, instead of page ranges, you enter time ranges.
- Add a record ([Edit] → [Add Record] or Alt+R)
- Select the date
- Enter the time range (e.g., 0:00:00-1:42:00)
- Write your thoughts or notes in the memo field
Time is entered in hours:minutes:seconds (H:MM:SS) format. The short form H:MM treats seconds as 0.
- Watched the entire film: 0:00:00-1:42:00
- Watched partway: 0:00:00-0:50:00
- Continued from where you left off: 0:50:00-1:42:00
- Short form: 0:00-1:42 (= 0:00:00-1:42:00)
Recording Music
Music albums and individual tracks can also be recorded using the same system. Add credits such as "Composer," "Conductor," "Singer," or "Performer" to automatically switch to music mode.
In music mode, a two-part time value is interpreted as minutes:seconds (M:SS), which differs from the hours:minutes format used for video. Please note:
- 5:30 → 5 minutes 30 seconds (music mode)
- 1:30 → 1 minute 30 seconds (music mode); for video this would be 1 hour 30 minutes
- 1:05:30 → 1 hour 5 minutes 30 seconds (three-part format is the same for both)
Recording by Album
- Enter the album name as the title and add it
- Add "Composer" and/or "Performer" credits. "Pages" will change to "Playback Time"
- Enter the total album length in the playback time field (e.g., 45:00 for a 45-minute album)
- Record your impressions of individual tracks in the memo field
Recording by Track
If you prefer to record each song individually, create a separate entry for each track.
- Enter the song title
- Add "Composer," "Singer," and/or "Performer" credits
- Enter the track length in the playback time field (e.g., 4:33 = 4 minutes 33 seconds)
Record time ranges are also entered in minutes:seconds (M:SS) format.
- Listened to the full album: 0:00-45:00
- Listened to the first three tracks: 0:00-12:30
- Continued from where you left off: 12:30-45:00
The same method works for podcasts and radio programs. Keep all your media consumption organized in one place.
Credit Types Reference
Here is a complete list of credit types available in Reading Forest.
| Type | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Book author | Haruki Murakami |
| Supervisor | Academic supervisor | Textbook supervisors |
| Translator | Translator | Book translators |
| Publisher | Publisher or organization | Penguin Books |
| Director | Film director | Michael Curtiz |
| Direction | TV drama / stage direction | TV drama directors |
| Screenplay | Screenwriter | Julius J. Epstein |
| Cast | Actors / performers | Humphrey Bogart |
| Music | Film / TV score composer | Max Steiner |
| Lyricist | Lyricist | Bernie Taupin |
| Composer | Composer | Beethoven |
| Conductor | Conductor | Herbert von Karajan |
| Singer | Singer / vocalist | Ella Fitzgerald |
| Performer | Performer / ensemble | Vienna Philharmonic |
| Production | Production company | Warner Bros. |
| Custom | For anything not listed above | Enter a custom type name |
Reading Forest switches to media mode based on the credit types you add:
- Video mode (Running Time, H:MM:SS format): Director, Direction, Screenplay, Cast, or Music
- Music mode (Playback Time, M:SS format): Composer, Conductor, Singer, or Performer
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I search for movies by ISBN?
ISBN search is a book-specific feature. Movie and album information must be entered manually.
Q: Can I change an existing book entry to a movie?
Yes. Edit the book information and add any video credit (Director, Direction, Screenplay, Cast, or Music). The app will automatically switch to video mode. For music, add Composer, Conductor, Singer, or Performer.
Q: Can I record TV dramas or anime series?
Yes. Add a "Direction" credit to have it recognized as a drama. You can either create a single entry for the entire series with total runtime, or create individual entries for each episode. Choose whichever approach suits you best.
Q: Why is the time input format different for movies and music?
Movies typically run over an hour, so the short form uses hours:minutes (H:MM). Music tracks are usually just a few minutes long, so the short form uses minutes:seconds (M:SS). The three-part format (H:MM:SS) works the same for both.
Q: What is the difference between the "Music" and "Composer" credit types?
The "Music" credit is for film/TV score composers (the person who writes the soundtrack) and triggers video mode (H:MM format). The "Composer" credit is for composers of standalone music works and triggers music mode (M:SS format).