Keeping custom metadata for imports via AddShow()

[Opus4]

As of v6.3.9, re-imported files with an "MF" prefix for the external ID can have their metadata overwritten via the re-import process. Imports with other external ID prefixes will preserve their metadata.

I'm not sure how the metadata customizations currently work, so some updates may or may not be needed, depending on how they are currently coded...

For any customization that sets the metadata for an import: be sure to use a prefix other than "MF" for the external ID of the metadata being customized when AddShow() is called.

And, when using AddShow() to update the info for an existing import, be sure to create a new external ID instead of reusing the existing "MF" prefixed ID. I believe you would then have to use SetMediaFileShow() to connect the new show data to the existing media file.

(This does not apply to recordings, since they are not imports and don't use "MF" as part of the ID anyway.)

- Andy

[stanger89]

Right now, AFAIK, they all just retain the current, Sage-assigned External ID, which presumably starts with MF

BTW, I didn't know how to link a media file to a show until now

[JREkiwi]

But if the metadata changes are saved in a .properties file that data will be reimported?

John

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Right now, AFAIK, they all just retain the current, Sage-assigned External ID, which presumably starts with MF

Yeah, it sounds like some customizations will need to be changed to use a different prefix -- this was the way to distinguish between media whose metadata is handled by the core vs. media whose metadata is handled by a customization.

Saved online videos are handled this way, btw, because their metadata was downloaded with the feed and can't easily be reproduced if the file were to be freshly imported.

Originally Posted by JREkiwi

But if the metadata changes are saved in a .properties file that data will be reimported?

Yes -- that would be metadata that is maintained by the core, since it is the one reading in the data & assigning it to the media file.

The .my files should use a non-MF prefix, since the core won't reassign that data for reimports/reindexing... maybe "MY"?

- Andy

[JREkiwi]

Originally Posted by Opus4

The .my files should use a non-MF prefix, since the core won't reassign that data for reimports/reindexing... maybe "MY"?

The .my files generally aren't storing data in wiz.bin. They are just read and displayed. My import includes importing the .my file metadata into wiz.bin, but it also creates a .properties file with that metadata in it.

John

[stanger89]

Here's a question, how would Sage, on re-import know to link a media file with a "customized" Show?

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by stanger89

how would Sage, on re-import know to link a media file with a "customized" Show?

If the external ID didn't start with "MF", then the file essentially wouldn't be reimported, so its metadata wouldn't get reset.

If you wanted to move the file to a new location, you would have to use the new advanced_video_file_recovery property so that SageTV could match the filename to its old db entry. Otherwise, as a 'new' file in a new location, it wouldn't get reunited with its custom metadata.

- Andy

[stanger89]

Andy,

Know if Sage will clear out custom-added Shows without mediafiles on it's own? My parser is really not very fast and really doesn't like getting used more than once I'm pondering just sticking the whole DVD Profiler database in the Sage database, and then later you can just SearchByText or something and just do SetMediaFileShow....

[Opus4]

Metadata for imported media which has no file associated with it will be removed from the database during cleanup.

You might be able to use the wizard/disable_maintenance=true property setting to temporarily keep the info in the database, but you do not want to run with that setting on all the time because the database would just continue to grow, since it would no longer get rid of old EPG listings & other things.

Recorded TV show info can be kept, however.

- Andy

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Metadata for imported media which has no file associated with it will be removed from the database during cleanup.

That's what I thought...