Extra File Types

[jrockow]

Can someone explain what the extra file types are for in my recording directory?

For example, I have as many as 3 files for a single recording of FamilyFeud-389548-0.ts.
There is an MPEG-2, Properties and XML version with the same filename.

Also, must I manually clean up these extra versions?

Thanx!

[Thomas Wischgol]

The property file contains the meta data for a recording. Usually, there is only one .ts file per recording (or .mpg for analog recordings). But when the recording gets interrupted (for example due to loss of signal) Sage splits up the recording into separate files. There is usually no need to clean any of these up as Sage will remove them in most cases.

[jrockow]

Thanx for your response.

I understand about the multiple MPG files, but the other files have me a bit confused.

Are these (PROP and XML) files created for every recording?
It didn't look like it to me. (I could be wrong)

In my instance, the PROP file only contains 1 line denoting the User_Category of the recording.
The XML file seems to contain the meta data.

I know I have to periodically delete these files from time to time, after the MPG has been watched and deleted.

[Tomahawk51]

I'll defer to someone more knowledgeable on what the files are, but:

If you use the Comskip plugin, there is a feature to purge files related to the recording (e.g. *.xml). The feature (presumably) is meant to clean up the files related to Comskip, but works to clean up anything else you define.

Just an FYI. I asked for that feature when the new plugin was just coming out, and love that it is there.

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by jrockow

Thanx for your response.

I understand about the multiple MPG files, but the other files have me a bit confused.

Are these (PROP and XML) files created for every recording?
It didn't look like it to me. (I could be wrong)

In my instance, the PROP file only contains 1 line denoting the User_Category of the recording.
The XML file seems to contain the meta data.

I know I have to periodically delete these files from time to time, after the MPG has been watched and deleted.

Anytime you add usercategory to a file it will create a properties file .... this is under your control obviously someone added a user category to those recordings.

As far as the XML files for each recording once again you chose at one time to create them. Check for this setting in your sagetv.properties file .. load_at_startup_runnable_classes=net.sf.sageplugins.sagexmlinfo.RecordingXmlGenerator

[jrockow]

Thanx for your explanation.

If I understand, the PROP file will always be created if I choose a user_category; I can't stop that.

The XML file is automatically being created due to the statement you pointed out in the Sage.properties file.
I didn't knowingly add that line. If I remove the statement, will it affect the show info I normally see thru the usual Sage interface?

Finally, are these files supposed to be automatically deleted when I delete the show after watching?

[jrockow]

Is the PROP file only created the first time a favorite is recorded?
I just looked and found out a favorite was recorded last night without a PROP file, but it was still listed in the proper user_category.

[wayner]

There are other places where the .properties files are created - I think there is a setting in BMT. They are useful to move your media to another Sage server as it can read the metadata out of these files.

There is/was a file cleaner that Slugger wrote that would occasionally purge files like this - I think you need SJQ to use that.

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by jrockow

Thanx for your explanation.

If I understand, the PROP file will always be created if I choose a user_category; I can't stop that.

The XML file is automatically being created due to the statement you pointed out in the Sage.properties file.
I didn't knowingly add that line. If I remove the statement, will it affect the show info I normally see thru the usual Sage interface?

Finally, are these files supposed to be automatically deleted when I delete the show after watching?

No it will not ...just remove everything after the = sign

load_at_startup_runnable_classes=

[Fuzzy]

When a file is recorded (by sage), the metadata known at that time is stored in the media file itself (.mpg or .ts). Any changes to that metadata at a later time is written into a .properties file. This is so that if the sage database loses this information, it will read it back in from the file, and then read in the .properties file.

the .xml file is likely from a different plugin you have writing out that metadata.