VRD/TiVo freebie utility needs hosting

[dlflannery]

I'm writing a program that will monitor .tivo files in a transfer folder and automatically perform QSF and/or Ad Detective Scans on new transfers. It will use the VRD COM silent operation interface of course.

The basic program operation will be automatic. The user interface will be used for configuration (transfer and output folders, selection of VRD operations), for pausing/restarting operation, and for monitoring progress.

This is motivated for my own use but I plan to make it available free to anyone.

DanR or PhD:
Is there the possibility of hosting the download of this program on the VRD FTP site?

Thanks:)

Edit: And of course if such a program already exists, please let me know!

[phd]

Sure. It's not a problem.

I created a folder on the upload FTP named "VRD Add-Ons"

You can add the file there.

[dlflannery]

Sure. It's not a problem.

I created a folder on the upload FTP named "VRD Add-Ons"

You can add the file there.
Thanks Pat,

It may be a week or two before I have it ready to "release". I'll post or PM at that time to arrange any necessary details.

[phd]

OK. It is easy enough to upload there.

Just follow the standard upload instructions and place in the folder.
http://www.videoredo.net/msgBoard/showthread.php?t=84

PM me if you have a problem uploading (you shouldn't.)

[dlflannery]

OK. It is easy enough to upload there.

Just follow the standard upload instructions and place in the folder.
http://www.videoredo.net/msgBoard/showthread.php?t=84

PM me if you have a problem uploading (you shouldn't.)
Pat,

Did you catch my PM sent last night? I'm holding off posting about my new program until I verify it's OK to use the specified link for hosting it, even though I think you already approved it in earlier posts. Is there a problem?

Thanks,
Dave

[phd]

Hi Dave,

I got your PM yesterday.

I forwarded it to one of the engineers who has a Tivo just to confirm functionality. I'm awaiting his reply.

[Dan203]

I gave it a try and ran into a couple of issues....

1) There is no way to clear the status of a file. So for example I ran the program in it's default QSF only mode on the one TiVo file I had in my TiVo directory. I then deleted the output file and tried to run it in full Ad-Scan mode with automatic cutting to see how it would do. However it kept erroring out looking for the QSF file it had previously produced, and there was no way for me to change the status of the file back to NEW. At the very least, in this situation, if the QSF file is missing then it shouldn't abort it should simply create a new one.

2) If you intended people to run this program all the time for monitoring then you need to make it minimize to the system tray or run as a service. No one is going to want a persistent program running and taking up space on their taskbar.

3) You should offer a way to actually launch VRD from the program so that people can adjust the Ad-Scan variables.

Other then that, based on my minor testing, it seems to work well.

Dan

[dlflannery]

I gave it a try and ran into a couple of issues....

1) There is no way to clear the status of a file. So for example I ran the program in it's default QSF only mode on the one TiVo file I had in my TiVo directory. I then deleted the output file and tried to run it in full Ad-Scan mode with automatic cutting to see how it would do. However it kept erroring out looking for the QSF file it had previously produced, and there was no way for me to change the status of the file back to NEW. At the very least, in this situation, if the QSF file is missing then it shouldn't abort it should simply create a new one.

2) If you intended people to run this program all the time for monitoring then you need to make it minimize to the system tray or run as a service. No one is going to want a persistent program running and taking up space on their taskbar.

3) You should offer a way to actually launch VRD from the program so that people can adjust the Ad-Scan variables.

Other then that, based on my minor testing, it seems to work well.

Dan
Dan, (The same Dan203 of TiVoCommunity fame I'm guessing),

I agree with all your comments except:

A) There is a way to reset the status of a file to NEW, described in the "THINGS TO KNOW" section of the TVAP-Readme.txt file:

9. You can force re-processing of a file labeled "COMPLETED" in the status box:

- Check "Block Processing" to prevent premature start of an undesired process combo.

- Then uncheck (if checked) and re-check the processing options you want. Notice the file status changes to "NEW" at this point.

- If desired change the default settings for VOB output and auto-ad-scan as desired.

- Then uncheck "Block Processing" (and click "Start Processing" if not already active).

B) Although preferable to minimize to the system tray or run as a service, I think saying NO ONE will want to run it as is may be too strong.

I will put these items on my ToDo list along with the many bugs I'm sure other users will find!

Regarding setting Ad-Scan parameters, I have no experience doing that. If one runs VRD manually (outside TVAP) and sets the parameters, will those parameters be used for Ad Scans launched through the COM interface (by TVAP)?

Thanks for the testing and comments!

Dave

[Dan203]

Yes, I am the same Dan203 from the TCF. :)

Hmmm... I missed that in the "things to know" section, but I tried various things to reset the status, including checking and unchecking the Block Processing box and it did not reset. However the status was not "Complete" it was "QSF", so perhaps that was the issue?

Dan

[dlflannery]

Yes, I am the same Dan203 from the TCF. :)

Hmmm... I missed that in the "things to know" section, but I tried various things to reset the status, including checking and unchecking the Block Processing box and it did not reset. However the status was not "Complete" it was "QSF", so perhaps that was the issue?

Dan
I was pretty sure it was you, since I knew from the TCM that you now work for VRD -- plus Dan203 isn't exactly a common user name!

I will look into this issue some more -- maybe a specific "Reset Status" checkbox ?

Still wondering about my question about setting AdScan parameters -- do you know?

Dave

[dlflannery]

@Dan203,

I added a "Reset" button to provide a clear cut way to start over.