ScheduleHelper questions

[alibert]

Hi,

I have a few questions:

1) When calling 'ScheduleHelper.getInstance().SheduleRecording(...)' and it returns 'null', does it always mean that there is a recording conflict or will it also return 'null' under other circumstances?
In other words: Do I have to check if the recording request will result in a conflict before I actually try to schedule it? Or is it okay to assume that it is conflicting when 'SheduleRecording(...)' returns 'null'?

2) When resolving conflicts - is it true that the pre- and postpaddings aren't taken into consideration? And the 'AllowedBeginningOverlap', is this also used when resolving conflicts or is it only used for back-to-back-recordings on the same channel and capture source?

3) I'm still not sure when to use 'ScheduledRecording.GROUP_NONE' and when 'ScheduledRecording.GROUP_ALLOCATE' - has it something to do with the 'AutoCreateFolders' setting in the config?

4) What is behind the 'captureSource' object of a scheduled recording? And is there another way of guessing the capture source oid of a scheduled recording than doing a database lookup?

Many thanks in advance for any answer,

-alibert

[sub]

1) When calling 'ScheduleHelper.getInstance().SheduleRecording(... )' and it returns 'null', does it always mean that there is a recording conflict or will it also return 'null' under other circumstances?
In other words: Do I have to check if the recording request will result in a conflict before I actually try to schedule it? Or is it okay to assume that it is conflicting when 'SheduleRecording(...)' returns 'null'?

A null result is saying it couldnt schedule the recording. This is most likely because of a conflict. You dont need to check yourself for conflicts.

2) When resolving conflicts - is it true that the pre- and postpaddings aren't taken into consideration? And the 'AllowedBeginningOverlap', is this also used when resolving conflicts or is it only used for back-to-back-recordings on the same channel and capture source?

pre-post padding are ignored from a conflict point of view. They are just something the recording service will apply if it can at recording time.

And the 'AllowedBeginningOverlap', is this also used when resolving conflicts or is it only used for back-to-back-recordings on the same channel and capture source?

When a recording is being scheduled, if no available capture source was found, then it'll check each capture source again, allowing up to 'AllowedBeginningOverlap' minutes to be trimmed off a recording to make it fit. They dont have to be the same channel.

3) I'm still not sure when to use 'ScheduledRecording.GROUP_NONE' and when 'ScheduledRecording.GROUP_ALLOCATE' - has it something to do with the 'AutoCreateFolders' setting in the config?

On off recordings use GROUP_NONE. New season recordings use GROUP_ALLOCATE, signifying a new group id will be assigned, and it will be associated with each episode of this season recording.

4) What is behind the 'captureSource' object of a scheduled recording? And is there another way of guessing the capture source oid of a scheduled recording than doing a database lookup?

There is no publically accessible object there. You'd probably need to look this up in the database.