VAP monitor folder

[Zeke_D]

I have recently discovered VAP, and it is totally awesome. I want to use it for a specific function, but I think the functionality I am looking for may not exist yet. It has been my experience that the more information is presented, the better one is helped, so here goes:

I am using NextPVR to record ASTC content. It is saved as a .ts file in a sub directory named after the series (subfolder "Chuck" for episodes of Chuck, etc.) I want to use VAP to convert from .ts to .dvr-ms, and place it into my "RecordedTV" folder. I would like the meta data to be encoded into the .dvr-ms file.

Here are some issues I have run across:
1. VAP does not process video files in sub folders of the monitored directory.
2. Can't figure out how to get the meta data into the dvr-ms.

Any ideas?

[dlflannery]

How important is it for your input files to be in subfolders? Having VAP process subfolders of the Monitor folder is a major mod that may not happen soon, if ever.

VAP will rename output files per metadata, and will locate them in folders per metadata. And it will delete or move input files to a specified folder when done processing them.

VAP automatically inserts metadata into output DRVMS files provided it can obtain the metadata either from the input file or by searching theTVDB.com (for TV series only). Your .ts files don't contain metadata, so VAP needs to get search keys for theTVDB.com by parsing the input file names per a metadata template you define in advanced configuration. VAP needs the Series Name plus any one of the following:
1. Episode Name
2. Original Air Date
3. Season and episode numbers (e.g., S03E02).
Can NextPVR format the file names accordingly?

[Zeke_D]

I discovered an undocumented feature in NextPVR that disallows the sub directories. NextPVR uses an XML file for the guide information, but I am unsure how the metadata is handled. The naming sequence for the NextPVR recordings is: SeriesTitle_recorddate_scheduledtime. For example: The Office_20120202_20002030 so series is "The Office", record date is 2012-02-02, and scheduled time is from 8PM until 8:30PM.

I seem to get an error processing:
http://www.videoredo.net/msgBoard/attachment.php?attachmentid=1116&d=1328299896

[dlflannery]

Unfortunately there isn't enough info in the recorded file name to do theTVDB lookup. The Date is the recording date rather than the original air date (oad) that is needed. Even if the date was the oad, you would need to set up an input file parsing template in Advanced Configuration to pick it out. From the log output it looks like you may have already done that since the date was pulled out. What episode is that? Was 20120202 actually the oad? If so it's possible VAP needs its date parsing code beefed up to properly format that date for theTVDB search.

If your recorded date is always the oad, parsing for theTVDB lookup should work.

I've been Googling NextPVR on file naming and metadata. As you said, it can save metadata in an xml file located with the recording file. This is controlled by an element named "StoreSeparateMetadataXml" in the config.xml file, located in the data folder for NextPVR. This must be set to "true" to save the xml files.

http://www.gbpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Configuration.Advanced#toc96

If you need to set this, be sure to save a copy of the config.xml file before any editing.

If theTVDB lookup utlimately won't work and you will supply me with one or several examples of the xml metadata files I will look into having VAP attempt to read metadata from them when it detects monitored files. There is an example in the NextPVR wiki here:
http://www.gbpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Configuration.VideoMetadata
but this is for a movie file. VAP perhaps could read data for both movies and TV shows but I think the xml elements are different for the two types, so would need to see actual samples of both. The movie data cannot be searched on theTVDB.com but the items provided in the xml file are most likely sufficient in themselves (which may also be true of the TV show case).

[Zeke_D]

I only use NextPVR to record new shows on an ATSC NBC chanel, so all the OAD match the record date. I can get you samples and any other information you might need to get this nailed down. Just let me know what you need. I enabled the same XML in config, but canot see where the file is located. I am also open to switching to ANY free PVR software if you have suggestions that work better with VAP.

[dlflannery]

Try Ver. 0.93 just released. I tested it with a file named as your "The Firm..." file was named. If your file names always have the oad in them, and you are satisfied with only TV Series metadata, you should be all set.

If you are interested in having VAP read metadata from xml files generated by NextPVR, please attach a zip with a couple each of movie and TVShow xml files. I'm not particularly pushing for this unless you really want it or there are other NextPVR users who would use it.

BTW, I'm assuming our input file parsing template is:

{title}_{date}_correct?

[Zeke_D]

Rock on dude! Works exactly as expected. Incidentally, there is an add-in for NextPVR t rename the recordings to {series}_S{season}E{episode}_{name}.ts using theTVDB.com. I was going to install it, and see where it got me, but since you took care of it, I don't need to. Here is the link, in case anyone ese needs it:

http://forums.gbpvr.com/showthread.php?51435-imageGrabLite-1-1

[Zeke_D]

I had replied thanking you and posting a screen cap of VAP working like it is expected to (I tested it with an episode of "The Office" as well) But the forum ate it. I do custom media center builds for clients, and just wanted to make sure I have your permission to distribute he latest version of VAP.

[dlflannery]

I do not attempt to place any restrictions on the use of VAP.

[Anole]

... But the forum ate it. ...
Post restored. See #7, above.

[Zeke_D]

I noticed the input processing does not like it if a period is used (i.e. "the firm.s01e01.piliot.mpg") Not an issue, just an observation. Additionally, thetvdb does provide original air date information, but this date is not transferred into the dvr-ms output. The proper meta information is:

WM/MediaOriginalBroadcastDateTime

and the proper date format is:

2010-11-02T00:00:00Z

The "T00:00:00Z" is GMT the type is "string" of course.

[dlflannery]

Input file name parsing with periods is working for me. I suspect your failure may be due to case sensitivity, e.g., ...S{seasonnum}E{epnum}.. in the template will not match ...s01e01... in the filename. The solution is simple: Use multiple templates, one for each case of 's' and 'e' that can appear in the file names. Note that template matching is done in the order of the template list and stops when the first successful match occurs.

I fixed the WM/MediaOriginalBroadcastDateTime issue you mentioned. Try subbing the VAP executable (not an installer) contained in the attached VAP094T1.zip file.

[Zeke_D]

It did eactly what it was supposed to do. This is gonna be awsome when I rip myCriminal Minds DVDs. Thanks for being super-responsive. Are you gonna integrate this into future builds? I have attached a sample XML file generated by NextPVR

[Zeke_D]

Since you are being so accomodating, how about adding the network affiliation:

WM/MediaNetworkAffiliation

the string is not checked, but it is going to be NBC, TBS, USA, etc.

[dlflannery]

It did eactly what it was supposed to do. This is gonna be awsome when I rip myCriminal Minds DVDs. Thanks for being super-responsive. Are you gonna integrate this into future builds? I have attached a sample XML file generated by NextPVR
Yes, just accumulating several changes before the next release, and thanks for the xml file.

Since you are being so accomodating, how about adding the network affiliation:

WM/MediaNetworkAffiliation

the string is not checked, but it is going to be NBC, TBS, USA, etc.
No problem.

[dlflannery]

The network affiliation is in test executable (not an installer) contained in the attached VAP094T2.zip.

[Zeke_D]

I am out of the country right now, so I will not get a chance to test it until Friday or Saturday. I will definitely check it put when I get home.

[dlflannery]

The changes in test versions 0.94T1 and 0.94T2 are included in Ver. 0.94 just released. Please try that version.

[Zeke_D]

Just letting you know .95 does indeed insert the affiliate correctly.