NPVR Import recordings commandline option

[psycik]

If you post your npvr.db3, and config.xml, I can check that out.

For the most part, it's really designed to import the new format, but you can make it import the old format by naming your file "recording-dump.xml", which is the name of the old file GBPVR used to generate. This was only really intended to be used for users doing their move from GBPVR to NPVR.

Yes, the the new format is UTC time. The recording OID is optional, and ignored during import. You can make up any channel name if you want (there is no ID). The entire <Event> tag is optional. If you include it though, pretty much all the entries shown within that example <Event> are mandatory, but you can safely set the <OID> to 0 if you want. There is another half dozen or so optional settings not shown in that <Event>

Here's the config and database. Was trying to add the Kardashians episode mentioned above. Of course, you're telling me now that for a pvrx2 format import, it has to have a specific name? Then this might be the problem, as I was trying to import from tvimport.xml.

If I make my import file look like your npvr format one, can I use any filename I like?

Code:

<recording>
    <oid>0</oid>
    <name>Program name</name>
    <channel>Import</channel>
    <filename>\\server\share\filename.avi</filename>
    <status>READY</status>
    <startTime>2011-06-28T07:00:00.0000000Z</startTime>
    <endTime>2011-06-28T07:30:00.0000000Z</endTime>
    <Event>
      <OID></OID>
      <Title>Program name</Title>
      <SubTitle>S0xE0x</SubTitle>
      <Description>Description for episode</Description>
      <ChannelOID>0</ChannelOID>
      <StartTime>2011-06-28T07:00:00.0000000Z</StartTime>
      <EndTime>2011-06-28T07:30:00.0000000Z</EndTime>
    </Event>
  </recording>

So that should work? Notice the <ChannelOID>0</ChannelOID> can this be 0 as well>? This was the channel ID i was referrring to.

[psycik]

Where does the logging on the import process happen? npvr.log or nrecord.log?

I've updated my import program, but it decided that none were worthy of import - even they they were not already recordings (but had been played - so would have had a playbackposition entry).

[sub]

Here's the config and database. Was trying to add the Kardashians episode mentioned above. Of course, you're telling me now that for a pvrx2 format import, it has to have a specific name? Then this might be the problem, as I was trying to import from tvimport.xml.

Yep, thats probably the cause. It'll only import the old format from the "recording-dump.xml" file name that GBPVR created by default.

If I make my import file look like your npvr format one, can I use any filename I like?

Code:

<recording>
    <oid>0</oid>
    <name>Program name</name>
    <channel>Import</channel>
    <filename>\\server\share\filename.avi</filename>
    <status>READY</status>
    <startTime>2011-06-28T07:00:00.0000000Z</startTime>
    <endTime>2011-06-28T07:30:00.0000000Z</endTime>
    <Event>
      <OID></OID>
      <Title>Program name</Title>
      <SubTitle>S0xE0x</SubTitle>
      <Description>Description for episode</Description>
      <ChannelOID>0</ChannelOID>
      <StartTime>2011-06-28T07:00:00.0000000Z</StartTime>
      <EndTime>2011-06-28T07:30:00.0000000Z</EndTime>
    </Event>
  </recording>

So that should work? Notice the <ChannelOID>0</ChannelOID> can this be 0 as well>? This was the channel ID i was referrring to.

Yep, that format should work. The <ChannelOID> in the <Event> is optional and can be left out. It should end up using the higher level <channel> tag for the channel name that is shown.

Sorry there is no logging around the importation at this stage. If your problems persist, I can probably add some logging next when the next release is out.

[psycik]

ok. I'll wait for your next release to be dropped, then will follow it up.

Happy to report however that you are correct, a client can import to the server. Which is useful. Means I can have my import process somewhere other than the server, since I still haven't got the multi RDP working.

[Northpole]

Just wondering if the import option is suppose to work yet? I'm having trouble getting it to work. Here is an example .xml file:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<recording>
    <oid>0</oid>
    <name>Clifford the Big Red Dog</name>
    <channel>Import</channel>
    <filename>F:\Recordings\Clifford the Big Red Dog (2011-08-18) Cleo Comes to Town; False Friends.mpg</filename>
    <status>READY</status>
    <startTime>2011-08-18 12:00:00</startTime>
    <endTime>2011-08-18 12:30:00</endTime>
    <Event>
      <OID></OID>
      <Title>Clifford the Big Red Dog</Title>
      <Subtitle>Cleo Comes to Town; False Friends</Subtitle>
      <Description>Cleo's first days on Birdwell Island; Cleo ignores Clifford and T-Bone. (Original Air Date - 09/11/2000, Episode - 6)</Description>
      <ChannelOID>0</ChannelOID>
      <StartTime>2011-08-18 12:00:00</StartTime>
      <EndTime>2011-08-18 12:30:00</EndTime>
    </Event>
</recording>

I'm not sure what the syntax is but I've tried nextprv.exe -import <blabblah.xml> without any luck.

Thanks.

[sub]

Yes, it should be working. Format:

nextpvr.exe -import c:\path\to\some\recordings.xml

Usual reasons for a recordings to not import are the filename does not exist on disk, or there is an invalid character in the xml file. Unfortunately there isnt really any logging around importation, but I've added some for the next release, which will help make it clear why it's not working for you.

[Northpole]

Ok, I tried renaming the file to something easy like test.mpg but still no luck so I'll wait until the next update. Thanks.

[johnvk]

Hi sub,

-export is working fine, but I invoke this command from a batchfile. The batch stops since nextpvr is displaying a pop-up window how many files are exported. and after that, how many recurring recordings are exported.
Is there a way to suppress the popping up of the windows?

Secondly, which ever the parameter after -export is, npvr exports to c:\users\public\npvr\recording-backup.xml and c:\úsers\public\npvr\recurring-backup.xml
Not a big deal for me, but if you have a chance of fixing it......

Cheers,

John

[sub]

Hi sub,

-export is working fine, but I invoke this command from a batchfile. The batch stops since nextpvr is displaying a pop-up window how many files are exported. and after that, how many recurring recordings are exported.
Is there a way to suppress the popping up of the windows?

Ok, for the next build of nextpvr.exe I'll suppress the message box when run from "-export" command line.

Secondly, which ever the parameter after -export is, npvr exports to c:\users\public\npvr\recording-backup.xml and c:\úsers\public\npvr\recurring-backup.xml
Not a big deal for me, but if you have a chance of fixing it......

That is the expected behaviour. There is no parameters to "-export". It always exports to those two files. You can copy them elsewhere if you need to.

[jksmurf]

I still use Anthony Scott's MpegImport proggy, originally for GBPVR, which is a nice GUI and still works with NPVR <almost automatically>. http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Utility/MpegImport

I say almost because it's a two step import:

1. Run MPGEImport and fill in the params and hit GO. if you use the path C:\Users\Public\NPVR\recording-dump.xml it's easy to import later. Do NOT select IMPORT in MPEGIMPORT as the Proggy Crashes.
2. Then go into NPVR Settings, Recordings, Click Import Recordings and select C:\Users\Public\NPVR\recording-dump.xml. These settings are sticky.

Saves me pfaffing around with scripts and you can add filetypes :-)

What I would REALLY like, is for some kind programmer to fix the import part so it is ALL automatic from MpegImport without the crash.
The source code is on the wiki ...