STV Import: Remember play position of imported videos

[dflachbart]

Hi,

I added some custom code to my STV to keep track of the play positions in imported video files. If there is any general interest for this I could try to create an import for it and make it available...

It's rather simple (store current time on "stop" in text file, read and seek to stored time on "play") and would be provided 'as-is', without plans to add other functionality. It works for me, and that's all I need, but I thought I just might share it as well ...

Dirk


Update:
======

The work on the import is done, and the file is available for download.

Installation:

- unzip the file to your SageTV\SageTV directory (make sure to extract with folder names)
- restart SageTV
- although Sage won't import into your current STV, it's always a good idea to make a backup
- import videolib_times.stvi

That's all, no configuration required.

Whenever you stop watching a video from the video library, the current play position will get saved into the file VideoLibraryTimes.properties in SageTV\SageTV. Next time you play the video again, it will start from where you left off. Obsolete entries (for removed/deleted videos) in the file will get removed when you refresh your library folder.

The file can be downloaded here

Enjoy,

Dirk

[stanger89]

Sure, why not

[Humanzee]

Does it delete the txt file when you resume watching?

I go through a lot of imported video's, sounds like a good feature to me, I'd use it if you made it available in an stvi.

[Enormous]

I was just wishing for this exact thing last night!

[computer33]

I would also like a copy. Seems like such a small thing but I find it very anoying that Sage does not remember.

[dflachbart]

Originally Posted by Humanzee

Does it delete the txt file when you resume watching?

I go through a lot of imported video's, sounds like a good feature to me, I'd use it if you made it available in an stvi.

Actually, it uses only a single file to store all play times. Entries for deleted files get removed when you refresh your library.

Originally Posted by Enormous

I was just wishing for this exact thing last night!

Ok then, convincing enough ... Will try to get this done by the weekend.

Dirk

[Vlar]

awesome, this is one of those mp features that I missed in sage

[keefmyster]

I would totally be interested in this feature! I watch a lot of imported videos and am always having to remember where I left off.

[Humanzee]

I know you said that you were not going to modify this import to include any other features, but would there be a way to create a seperate play list for each imported video folder? I have several imported videos that are split up into several files, ie disk 1 and disk 2. Could something like your remeber position stvi be adapted to remember a seperate play list too?

Just another idea.

[dflachbart]

Originally Posted by Humanzee

I know you said that you were not going to modify this import to include any other features, but would there be a way to create a seperate play list for each imported video folder? I have several imported videos that are split up into several files, ie disk 1 and disk 2. Could something like your remeber position stvi be adapted to remember a seperate play list too?

Just another idea.

Hmm, let me see if I got this right ... You mean that you have one video which is split into multiple files, which are stored in different directories, correct ? And you want to have the position for part1 remembered seperately from the position in part2 ? I assume you would still need to play each file separately, or is there some 'playlist' feature I am not aware of (I for myself am using only one import folder ...) ?

Do all parts have the same Title in Sage ? I use the title that Sage reports as a key for the play positions in the stored file. If they have the same title, I would need to add the filename/directory to the key, otherwise it should just work...

Dirk

[aperry]

So, what happens when you get to the end? If you want to watch the show again, does it start over from the beginning?

You know, I really wish there were a feature throughout Sage that would have resume/start over options in the pop-up menu instead of just Watch Now. 95% of the time, the way that Sage does it is fine, but if someone else in the house watched the show for 45 minutes, then I either have to set watched so Sage will start over, or bump back 10-30 seconds per bump until I get back to the beginning.

Now that I've got that off my chest, I think the import idea is great (with hopes that SageTV will eventually incorporate this capability into the main product).

[dflachbart]

Originally Posted by aperry

So, what happens when you get to the end? If you want to watch the show again, does it start over from the beginning?

It will start from wherever you pressed 'stop' the last time (or not start if you didnt stop the playback at all, since then there is no time saved, and you are at the end of the file)

Originally Posted by aperry

You know, I really wish there were a feature throughout Sage that would have resume/start over options in the pop-up menu instead of just Watch Now. 95% of the time, the way that Sage does it is fine, but if someone else in the house watched the show for 45 minutes, then I either have to set watched so Sage will start over, or bump back 10-30 seconds per bump until I get back to the beginning.

I am using nielm's Multi-function stop import, which has a "Restart Playback" option. I never used it, but I assume if there is a little bit of play time left on your recording you could simply start and stop and select this option to get back to the beginning ...


Dirk

[White94Cobra]

This would be very cool. One of the main reasons that I still use Meedio for watching my ripped movies. Now if I could just get Nero MP4 or AVC files to playback in Sage

[Humanzee]

Originally Posted by flachbar

Hmm, let me see if I got this right ... You mean that you have one video which is split into multiple files, which are stored in different directories, correct ?

No I have one import directory, it contains many files and folders. Some of the imported videos that I have are multi part. I might have a folder called "d:\sageimports\reallylongmovie\" which might contain two or three files reallylongmovie.disk1.mpg and reallylongmovie.disk2.mpg.

When you load up a video to play you have to choose the file for disk 1 or disk 2. I don't think you can select "play all". Anyway you can get around this by creating a play list in the Sage Video Imports menu. The only problem is that there is only one play list for all of the recordings. So if you have many folders with multiple files you have to clear the play list before you can use it with another video. Or make a really long playlist with all your video's but then you'd have to skip through a bunch of them to get to the one you actually want to watch.

I was just hoping that some how there would be a way to create a seperate play list for each sub-folder in your imports directory, instead of just one master play list. Since you are making notes about the playback possition, I thought maybe there would be a way to also make a note about which file to play after the current file ends.

Just brainstorming consepts that might make the imported video area work a little better.

[dflachbart]

Originally Posted by Humanzee

When you load up a video to play you have to choose the file for disk 1 or disk 2. I don't think you can select "play all". Anyway you can get around this by creating a play list in the Sage Video Imports menu. The only problem is that there is only one play list for all of the recordings. So if you have many folders with multiple files you have to clear the play list before you can use it with another video. Or make a really long playlist with all your video's but then you'd have to skip through a bunch of them to get to the one you actually want to watch.

Ahh, ok now I got it. Didn't even know that there is a playlist for imported videos in SageTV ...

Originally Posted by Humanzee

I was just hoping that some how there would be a way to create a seperate play list for each sub-folder in your imports directory, instead of just one master play list. Since you are making notes about the playback possition, I thought maybe there would be a way to also make a note about which file to play after the current file ends.

Just brainstorming consepts that might make the imported video area work a little better.

Well, I guess some of the hooks could be the same, but I thinks that this really calls for a completely separate plugin ... Certainly not high priority for me since I dont use the playlist, but I could do some brainstorming ...

Dirk

[laurenglenn]

Originally Posted by flachbar

It will start from wherever you pressed 'stop' the last time (or not start if you didnt stop the playback at all, since then there is no time saved, and you are at the end of the file)
Dirk

OK, but can you add a feature so that it still writes it if Sage either crashes or when you just start a new file?

Lauren

[Wheemer]

This will be a much needed great addition!

[dflachbart]

Originally Posted by laurenglenn

OK, but can you add a feature so that it still writes it if Sage either crashes

When Sage crashes then its already too late to do anything ... The only way to get close to this is to spawn another thread which will write the current time periodically during playback, but I don't want to add complexity which would only be needed in rare circumstances ...

Originally Posted by laurenglenn

or when you just start a new file?

You mean while you are playing a video, you go back to the video library and start another video without stopping the first one ? I'll have a look if I can catch this ...


Dirk

[dflachbart]

The import is done , I added the zip file and installation instructions to the first post. I have tested it with the stock 4.1 STV, and in combination with nielm's Multi-function stop import.

Hope you like it ,

Dirk

[Halstead]

Will this work for DVD playback?