How to import old Library recording information after re-installation?

[ehlfg]

I finally updated my Sage system from Windows 2000 to Windows XP, but in the process I wiped the library by mistake. Is there any way for me to recover from backups?

Initially, I just tried to update the OS in place. That didn't work out, so I just erased the disk and did a clean install. All of my data files (including my recorded SageTV shows) are on a NAS, so I mistakenly didn't think that would cause a problem outside of having to re-install applications.

That worked out, but I forgot that the SageTV information was stored on the SageTV system. So I lost all metadata about my previously recorded files.

Time passed, and more shows were recorded on the new system. I then realized that I had made a complete backup of my system prior to the re-installation and that the original SageTV metadata is probably still in the backup.

After some forum searches, it looks like I could have recovered all my SageTV information from the old Library if I had acted right after the re-install. But I didn't, so I now have quite of bit of recording information for shows I recorded afterwards.

Is there any way that I can merge the recording information from my old Library into the current one?

Thanks!

[GKusnick]

The web server plugin has options for exporting and importing metadata. So it might be possible to do something like this:

1. Shut down Sage.
2. Back up your current installation.
3. Restore the wiz.bin from your old installation.
4. Restart Sage.
5. Export metadata for all recordings.
6. Shut down Sage.
7. Restore your current wiz.bin.
8. Restart Sage.
9. Import the exported metadata.

Note that I'm writing this off the top of my head and haven't actually tried it. But it seems like something along these lines ought to be possible.

[nielm]

Gregs got it, but I would do it the other way around (thus keeping your old wiz.bin's watched histroy and favorites):

Using my webserver, with the 'new' post-reinstall wiz.bin export the sage recordings as XML, and any new favorites.

Shutdown sage server, Restore original wiz.bin, restart Sage.
Using my webserver, import the exported XML files. This should merge the 2 wiz.bins..

Trigger EPG update. (you may also need to update a property for EPG opdates to work correctly with an old wiz.bin)

[ehlfg]

I would never have thought to look at the web server plugin for this sort of thing... Thanks--I'll give it a try.

[ehlfg]

Worked great -- I've got all my old shows back again! Many, many thanks!

[nielm]

Thats good news -- although I wrote it for that sort of use, that's the first time anyone has confirmed that it works!