import to SageTV Recordings?

[jelwood]

I'm evaluating moving from MCE to SageTV and as such I'm VERY new to Sage, so I'm sure my question has been addressed before, but I can't find the posts.

I'm trying to move my MCE recordings to Sage. I've re-muxed them so they are in the mpg container (instead of the .dvr-ms container). However, I can't find a nice feature to import those shows into the Sage database (I would really like them to be in SageTV Recordings not Videos). I saw the post about using SageWebServer, however, I was curious if there is any other options?

The second part to my question is: can you import Xvid/MP3 shows in the AVI container into SageTV Recordings, or are AVI shows only supported in Videos?

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by jelwood

The second part to my question is: can you import Xvid/MP3 shows in the AVI container into SageTV Recordings, or are AVI shows only supported in Videos?

SageTV Recordings can be any format that sage can play (.AVI, .MPG, .MKV), the trick is the filename has to match the information in the show database (wiz.bin). I believe this is what the import features of the web interface are for, adding the info to the database. All video's in the sage media directoies that AREN'T i the database, are shown in imported videos. if they ARE in the database, they are shown in Sage Recordings. This is because Sage Recordings requires a lot mor info than what is in the file, namely, ShowID, Title, Episode Name, Description, Watched status, etc.

Unfortunately, I can't help with the actual importing, as I've been running sage only, but i'm sure it's possible.

[jelwood]

For anyone else trying to do this, the easiest way I found to import the video is to go ahead and let SageTV import them into Videos. Then use SageWebServer to modify the metadeta on the shows and move them into SageTV Recordings. It seems to work really well and is very easy to use (this process is easier than using the SageWebServer XML import feature).

[FZ1]

Originally Posted by jelwood

the easiest way I found to import the video is to go ahead and let SageTV import them into Videos. Then use SageWebServer to modify the metadeta on the shows and move them into SageTV Recordings.

Would you mind posting a link to the thread that details how to do this the "easy way"? I've got the recordings in Imported Videos and use Nielm's webserver, but have only been able to find the XML import option.

Thanks!

[nielm]

In Webserver:

Media Library -> Search Imported Vids -> (no search string) -> Search.

In results list, pick a vid
In detailed info at the bottom, Edit Show Info.

If you can get the metadata out of MCE in any way (and I would be very interested to know how if you could -- there is already a BTV importer!), and can convert it into my SageXML format, you can bulk import from the XML...

[jelwood]

Originally Posted by nielm

If you can get the metadata out of MCE in any way (and I would be very interested to know how if you could -- there is already a BTV importer!), and can convert it into my SageXML format, you can bulk import from the XML...

I'm using the "Edit DVR-MS Metadata" utility to manually copy the metadata out of the dvr-ms files. There is a whole class built so developers can have access into the dvr-ms metadata (this is the class that the "Edit DVR-MS Metadata" utility uses). Below is a link to the utility and a tutorial on how to use the class.

http://blogs.msdn.com/toub/archive/2...12/416874.aspx

It would be incredible if someone built a utility that reads the dvr-ms files and creates the appropriate XML. If you need a tester (or sample dvr-ms files) please let me know, I'd be happy to help.

[FZ1]

Thanks guys!

I'm not moving from MCE, Sage "lost" some of my recordings after doing a fresh install. Since my wiz.bin should still contain some info for the shows (it was restored from a good backup), do you guys know a way to view the contents of wiz.bin? That could help me piece together the detailed info for my recordings that were "lost".

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by FZ1

I'm not moving from MCE, Sage "lost" some of my recordings after doing a fresh install. Since my wiz.bin should still contain some info for the shows (it was restored from a good backup), do you guys know a way to view the contents of wiz.bin? That could help me piece together the detailed info for my recordings that were "lost".

If you are using the same wiz.bin & a recent version of SageTV, then the file info should be there already & it should have been able to match the recordings to their details, unless the file ID numbers don't match. If it is a new wiz.bin or an older version of SageTV (prior to v6.2), then info about the old recordings doesn't exist in the database.

- Andy

[FZ1]

Originally Posted by Opus4

If you are using the same wiz.bin & a recent version of SageTV, then the file info should be there already & it should have been able to match the recordings to their details, unless the file ID numbers don't match.

The wiz.bin was backed up from my 6.3.5 install, and placed into my fresh 6.3.6 install. Support recommended I add something to sage.properties that might rename my vid files so wiz.bin would pick them up again (from the FAQ), but I was worried it could mess up my file names since I don't really understand how it decides which files to "fix". Does anyone know how that really works?

Would it make most sense for me to manually add to wiz.bin using the instructions above (or am I not adding to wiz.bin but adding metadata which wiz.bin will pick up), or try using the sage.properties tool, since the data "probably" is still in wiz.bin.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by FZ1

The wiz.bin was backed up from my 6.3.5 install, and placed into my fresh 6.3.6 install. Support recommended I add something to sage.properties that might rename my vid files so wiz.bin would pick them up again (from the FAQ), but I was worried it could mess up my file names since I don't really understand how it decides which files to "fix". Does anyone know how that really works?

Well, first of all: if the filenames need to be renamed to get the IDs synced again, then they have to be seen as recordings for that property setting to have any effect. That's why it has to be done before the files are moved. So...

Would it make most sense for me to manually add to wiz.bin using the instructions above (or am I not adding to wiz.bin but adding metadata which wiz.bin will pick up), or try using the sage.properties tool, since the data "probably" is still in wiz.bin.

Maybe what you could try is to search for the show's info & see what the webserver reports as the AiringID. Then, try exiting SageTV, rename the file to use that ID, & restart SageTV. Maybe it will be seen as the correct recording then.

- Andy

[FZ1]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Maybe what you could try is to search for the show's info & see what the webserver reports as the AiringID. Then, try exiting SageTV, rename the file to use that ID, & restart SageTV.

Well, the webserver reported an Airing ID of 175321, but the filename was House-GuardianAngels-9589189-0. I stopped Sage, changed 9589189 to 175321 in the filename, restarted Sage, forced an EPG update, but it didn't move from Imported Videos.

I noticed that the webserver now reported the new file name in the file's path, but still reported the "Show Name" and "Episode Name" as the old filename. I then changed both of those 9589189's to 175321's, and then it became an archived recording. Then I "unarchived" it using the webserver and now it's a manual recording with a filename of HouseGuardianAngels1753210-HouseGuardianAngels1753210-207596-0.mpg, Show name of HouseGuardianAngels1753210, Episode Name of HouseGuardianAngels1753210, AiringID=207596. I then changed the Show Name to "House" and Episode Name to "Guardian Angels".

Now, it shows under Sage Recordings and in the House folder! But it doesn't show as a favorite recording, and I'm assuming Sage won't auto-delete it, and will record it again.

If I only knew the filename/metadata the wiz.bin was expecting to see, couldn't I use the webserver to make the file match? I'm guessing you just can't view the contents of wiz.bin.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by jelwood

I'm using the "Edit DVR-MS Metadata" utility to manually copy the metadata out of the dvr-ms files. There is a whole class built so developers can have access into the dvr-ms metadata (this is the class that the "Edit DVR-MS Metadata" utility uses). Below is a link to the utility and a tutorial on how to use the class.

http://blogs.msdn.com/toub/archive/2...12/416874.aspx

It would be incredible if someone built a utility that reads the dvr-ms files and creates the appropriate XML. If you need a tester (or sample dvr-ms files) please let me know, I'd be happy to help.

I realize you're likely already well converted into SageTV by now, but thought I'd comment on this. Nielm, the guy who developed the webadmin, dynamic menus and many other amazing add-ons for SageTV helped me and many others converting their data from BeyondTV by adding an import for that data (in xml format) into the webadmin plugin. If you or anyone else with Media Center experience is willing to discuss this with Nielm, I'd bet he could do the same for Media Center folks switching to SageTV. He's been very busy lately, but I know he could do it.

[jelwood]

Originally Posted by Brent

I realize you're likely already well converted into SageTV by now, but thought I'd comment on this. Nielm, the guy who developed the webadmin, dynamic menus and many other amazing add-ons for SageTV helped me and many others converting their data from BeyondTV by adding an import for that data (in xml format) into the webadmin plugin. If you or anyone else with Media Center experience is willing to discuss this with Nielm, I'd bet he could do the same for Media Center folks switching to SageTV. He's been very busy lately, but I know he could do it.

I'm am completely convert to Sage, so this wouldn't help me. However, if there is a desire to import the metadata from a DVR-MS file to make it easier for people switching from WMC to Sage, I would be happy to help Nielm. I have many years of experience working with the DVR-MS container and know a lot about it.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by jelwood

I'm am completely convert to Sage, so this wouldn't help me. However, if there is a desire to import the metadata from a DVR-MS file to make it easier for people switching from WMC to Sage, I would be happy to help Nielm. I have many years of experience working with the DVR-MS container and know a lot about it.

Sound good. I'll mention it to Nielm and see what he might need to get this added. It just makes it nice for those who convert so they don't have to spend a lot of time messing around with importing their old recordings.

Anything we can do to make SageTV better for the community is something I'm for. I felt the same way about BeyondTV (and Beyond Media) when I used those. Reason being, I think a good HTPC platform is one that not only does the many things I want it too (features, power etc), but also one that has a large user base who will in the long run help other users, make new addons etc etc. I've seen your work for Media Center and let me say welcome - we're glad to have you on board