Options to filter out repeat shows in series

[fluffykeith]

I'm gradually getting set up with this stuff.

When setting a series recording is there any filtering on repeats?
For example some of our channels show the same programs 2 or 3 times in the coarse of a day and I only want to record 1 of each episode rather than 3. Is that possible ? or maybe it does it already?

cheers

Keith

[sub]

There is logic for doing this in the US/Canada, but not in the UK. In the UK GB-PVR cant tell if two shows are the same.

You can probably do a timeslot season recording though.

[fluffykeith]

I guess it can be done two ways. Either a repeat indication that is in the xml - not ideal as its often the case to wnat to watch the repeat if the first is missed.

The other way is to use the title and episode title, I know it will only work for series that have varying episode titles but that would still be useful. Just to filter off the episodes with the same episode title.

For example I just set the season for walking with dinosaus and there are only about 5 episodes and I got 26 pending !!

I know you must be busy and want to prioritize additions - I guess it is possible for a plugin to scan through the pending list for duplicate shows. I've yet to play with plugins (want a stable system first!) but I assume the plugin capability allows this.

As an asside do plugin register for event messages, for example if a plugin wants to be informed of music play starting or something. This is similar to Meedio and I would think other systems.

cheers

Keith

[sub]

Sorry, we've long since established that you cant rely on title, sub-title or description to identify repeats, so I wont be adding any logic around this. A huge percentage of channels around the world just use generic descriptions for a lot of shows. (news shows are the perfect example, but also often sitcoms and current affairs shows)

As an asside do plugin register for event messages, for example if a plugin wants to be informed of music play starting or something. This is similar to Meedio and I would think other systems.

Yes, plugins can receive notification that playback of something has started.

[martint123]

Yes, the US / Canada seem to be lucky to have a unique ID Tag for each show. I'm not sure if it is the broadcasters or the listing writes who generate this, but without it, for us in the rest of the world, duplicate elimination has to be manual after the event.
The Radio Times can't even keep a consistent show name over a series.

[zehd]

FluffyKeith, Where do you get your listings from? I'm working on an XMLTV Enhancer that is currenty working with birtles/Radio Times that give a "Not a Repeat" indicator.

I have also thought of something, where the Enhancer could auto generate a unique key for each show...

sub, do you think that would work?

[sub]

I have also thought of something, where the Enhancer could auto generate a unigue key for each show...

sub, do you think that would work?

I dont think there is enough info available in most xmltv files to generate a unique key for each show. A large number of shows usually just end up with generic desciptions.

If you do add it to the xmltv file though, then GB-PVR will take your word for it and try to use it.

[fluffykeith]

I agree, sub, there is not the info for generic named shows, for example, Top Gear is just named top gear for new and old episodes.

However for the case of named episodes, for example, Friends, here we have episodes named for example "Friends - The one with Ross and Monica cousin" created from <title> and <sub-title>.
They also have the <previously-shown/> xml flag.

I think that the record dialog could have two settings one for ignoring episides that are previously shown and one for ignoring episodes that have the same title,sub-title.
Obviously if a user selects these one some generic show then they only get one recording but that is easy to detect and maybe have some indication of how many shows are being recorded.

cheers

Keith

[sub]

We've looked at this in length in the past. Its not reliable enough to look at <title> and <sub-title>. These often are just generic descriptions used over and over. Most countries do not have <previously-shown/> in their xmltv files either.

I think that the record dialog could have two settings one for ignoring episides that are previously shown and one for ignoring episodes that have the same title,sub-title.
Obviously if a user selects these one some generic show then they only get one recording but that is easy to detect and maybe have some indication of how many shows are being recorded.

Sorry, I'd rather not do this. I think it would be too user unfriendly, and would lead to too many people complaining that it wasnt working correctly.

[zehd]

sub I get where your coming from. I will try to create an auto number or something and make certain shows all have unique IDs.

What if I make the unique_identifier = the programme start time? That seems pretty specific.