first_run usage

[janoonk]

Hi,

For example on Discovery you have a show called "Gold rush: White water" where same episode is aired multiple times. I want to prevent duplicate recording so i set my recording rule to "Record Series (NEW episodes)".
That didn't work because the column first_run for all EPG_EVENT data is always set to 'Y' and is not updated. I am using the EPG data from DVB-C from my provider.
Since it was not set I thought let's make a config/PostLoadEPG.sh script which runs a complex .sql statement that uses the episode-num in the metadata of the description and checks the start_time for episodes having the same episode-num and then updates the first_run column, this works. But I ran into a problem because every 24 hours all EPG data is deleted from EPG_EVENT table including old events (laying in the past), so my previously and correctly first_run='N' episode is now updated by my SQL query back to first_run='Y' and stays Y until aired.

Can I somehow retain old EPG_EVENT data for some days before being deleted? Or do I need to save a copy of all first_run='N' instances?
I do wonder how this `first_run` can be used reliably when its not set by EPG data directly.

[Bobins]

Obvious question,

Have you ticked the "Avoid duplicates where possible" box on the General Settings page?

Ray.

[janoonk]

Obvious question,

Have you ticked the "Avoid duplicates where possible" box on the General Settings page?

Ray.

yes it's ticked

[mvallevand]

This value is set by the EPG source. If the guide data doesn't include S/E information or provide a unique ID there is no easiy way to avoid duplicates.

If NextPVR is setting the unique id then the setting you need to changes is <DVBAssumeNew>true</DVBAssumeNew> to false. You also need <ShowNewInGuide>true</ShowNewInGuide> as false to control the visible display.

For some guide data NextPVR is able to parse the S/E from the description, I am not sure about your source. The major issue is this might not be reliable for every station of every channel and it up to you to understand this. If you have a reliable way of setting the unique ID or the first run flag run your script in PostLoadEPG which runs before the recordings are created.

If this is important to you maybe try Schedules Direct. It is available in the Nederlands and in many countries as very good unique ID process.

Martin