VideoConduit - Standalone App to Import Lost TV Recordings into NPVR

[27InchSony]

Backstory
I moved some of my 300-400 media files (TV episodes) to a different drive and NPVR dutifully removed them from its database. I didn't catch it in time so all the various methods of fixing the problem didn't work. I played with VidImport.exe but don't recall why I wasn't satisfied with the results. Thus was born VideoConduit.

What does VideoConduit do?
VideoConduit (VC) scans a directory for media files, parses episode information from the filenames by configurable settings (Season/Episode details, or by Air Date details), obtains episode details from http://thetvdb.com, and creates scheduled_recording records in the NPVR DB (and/or creates a normal import .XML file too).

Version 2 Release Notes (May 2020)

1. TVDB changed their API. Leveraged an updated 3rd party library which changed the innards of the app.
   
2. Added a show picker dialog.
   
3. Version 1.x will no longer function due to TVDB API changes.
   

Notes/Usage Tips

• Backup your NPVR DB before starting to be safe.
  
• Adjust the .config if needed. The path to the NPVR DB (NPVRSQLiteConnectionString) must be correct.
  
• You can adjust the REGEXs that parse  filenames as long as you keep the named capture groupings intact. Out of the box it handles media file names like using:
  • CSI Crime Scene Investigation_20131120_22002300.mkv (RegEx_FileNameAirDateInfoMatcher[i] matches the colored text)[/i]
    
  • The.Blacklist..S03E18.Mr..Solomon.Conclusion.mkv (RegEx_FileNameEpisodeInfoMatcher matches the colored text)
    
• If you modify the REGEXs in the .config file, note they are encoded for storage in the XML file so that the < and > signs are encoded.
  
• The air date matcher must match the exact original air date of the show or the immediate prior day.
  
• VC scans one directory at a time. Scan a single show directory at a time. I have no plans to scan multiple shows recursively.
  
• The app will display a show picker dialog to help in selecting the right series when matching on the folder name.
  
• If the picker doesn't work, you can add #.seriesid file to your folder where # is the exact integer of thetvdb.com series id. If the folder contains this, it will not attempt to match on folder name. For instance, in the screenshot below, to match on the show "Arrows on the Bowstring" add an empty file to the show directory named: 336201.seriesid
  
• Includes a API key to the TheTVDB.com in setting TheTVDBAPIKey. You can get your own for free (at time of post) if it goes defunct.
  
• Need the .Net Framework 4.7.
  
• Tested on US English environment.
  

   

Download
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AjgJ9hmr0mAGhtkMz1RIh1ZtQvpjTQ
SHA256: DB025E9B350EBDD82A05E3927FB8654B61ED90A814624B9A431A164844BDD439
I have to use this OneDrive link because the forum isn't handling the upload.

[p37307]

This worked good for me. Thanks for sharing.

I did get an error so I didn't know if it would work or not. It did import most of the files except the file in the error

I think the error was the " ' "in the file name. s01e13.Wood's.Thirtieth.Reunion.avi

That episode did not get imported.

The error was:

Code:

Unknown problem: SQL logic error or missing database
near "s": syntax error System.Data.SQLite    at System.Data.SQLite.SQLite3.Prepare(SQLiteConnection cnn, String strSql, SQLiteStatement previous, UInt32 timeoutMS, String& strRemain)
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteCommand.BuildNextCommand()
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteCommand.GetStatement(Int32 index)
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteDataReader.NextResult()
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteDataReader..ctor(SQLiteCommand cmd, CommandBehavior behave)
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteCommand.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior behavior)
   at System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteCommand.ExecuteScalar(CommandBehavior behavior)
   at VideoConduit.Core.DoesFileExistInNPVRDBAlready(String fullFilePath)
   at VideoConduit.Core.Go(String fileDirectoryToProcess)
   at VideoConduit.Form1.btnGo_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)9/27/2016 4:08:17 AM    File: K:\Serviio\TV\Classic Sitcoms\Evening Shade\s01e13.Wood's.Thirtieth.Reunion.avi

[27InchSony]

I just updated the original post with a new version. It cures the problem caused by my laziness by properly using a parameterized query when checking to see if the file exists in the DB.

[p37307]

I just updated the original post with a new version. It cures the problem caused by my laziness by properly using a parameterized query when checking to see if the file exists in the DB.

Thank you. I really find this program useful. I am running 2 independent Nextpvr setups sharing Network Storage, I can merge both databases until I figure out how to setup 2 separate boxes with tuners and 1 NPVR server with client.

[drbenjamin]

This program is superb - thank you so much! I have recordings going back to 2008 (longtime GBPVR/NPVR user). Over the years I've migrated several times, and this summer lost my whole setup. Thanks to you I now have a complete database, with episode information to boot! Really appreciate it -

Cheers

Dennis

[p37307]

Still loving the App.

I tried to import some movies I recorded through NPVR to no luck. I assume because they are not in TVDB.

I was wondering if you plan on making a "MovieConduit" to search IMDB or one of the other movie db's for recorded movies?

Really like the simplicity of this app though.

[27InchSony]

Great idea, but no plans at this point. Sorry!

[afeldspar]

Great app! Just used it to restore the majority of entries lost by a crash.

Two series gave me particular problems, and I had an idea for a minimally invasive fix.

The series were "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and the series NextPVR records as "The Librarians", which TheTVDB knows as "The Librarians (2014)". The problem with the latter is obvious, and was solved by renaming the folder to "The Librarians (2014)". The other one was trickier; Windows doesn't allow folder names to end in a period, so there's no way to have the recordings in a folder that matches the name TheTVDB knows.

What if the app asked to be pointed to a directory, but would accept as input a shortcut to a directory, with the title of the shortcut being the TheTVDB series ID for the series? For instance, if the app is pointed to a shortcut called "281709" pointing to the folder for "The Librarians", it knows that it's dealing with the series "The Librarians (2014)" even if that's not what the folder says.

[27InchSony]

I just released v1.0.2. If you name the folder based on the thetvdb.com integer series id, VC will use the number to lookup the show. A shortcut to the folder will NOT work because windows resolved the shortcut to the real folder. Your real folder must be named the series id. Kinda think everything else still works, but I didn't do a whole lotta testing.

[jksmurf]

Thank you, don't know how I missed it before, but what a great idea!