[addon] BTV Negociator (July 14 Update)

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by gaines

I took your advice and renamed the .search file to .search.old and started BTVN back up. I then went to the Searches tab and selected Episode then typed in "pilot". When I clicked Add it gave me the error below.

Oh I see, I am missing some error checking for that sub-tab and should probably put the instructions more clearly for it too... Thanks for bringing that up.

For the Episode search, first you need to flag a series (to grab the SeriesID from another list, using the "Add Series/Episode search), then you would use that sub-tab to add something like "Vanished: pilot", which would search for the Episode title "pilot" of the series Vanished...

On the other hand, I suspect that what you really wanted to do was to search for all the Episodes named "pilot" of any new series... For that, you should use the Advanced sub-tab, search for "Pilot", using the extra filtering "Hide movies" and the "Episode" category...

If you had defined other searches, you can edit the BTV-Negociator.search file and remove the "Episode = ..." line(s) to get it to work again.

[gaines]

Originally Posted by Fonceur

Oh I see, I am missing some error checking for that sub-tab and should probably put the instructions more clearly for it too... Thanks for bringing that up.

Ah. Thanks. I figured it was user error somehow since others weren't having the problem. You're correct that I was trying to make it search for all new series pilots (as you mentioned doing earlier in the thread). I just wasn't familiar enough with the interface to realize I was doing it in the wrong place.

I really appreciate your quick and kind responses. It may not be worth your trouble to get me up to speed, but if you ever need any help I'm a software developer myself and would love to lend any assistance I can.

[gaines]

I do have one other question that I couldn't find an answer to in the instructions.

Is it possible to create a search which will only return first run episodes? For instance, with the Pilot episode search I don't really want to record pilots of old shows, only new series pilots. When I enter the Advanced Search as you suggested I get 25 results, most of which are very old reruns.

Note: I did try adding a year restriction (2006) which brought my results down to 12, but they still included a number of reruns of old pilots.

Thanks

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by gaines

Is it possible to create a search which will only return first run episodes?

Not presently... But I will check how to do that, I suspect that their are no specific properties for that and that I would need to compare the first airing to that airing date, making sure it is within a week...

For instance, with the Pilot episode search I don't really want to record pilots of old shows, only new series pilots. When I enter the Advanced Search as you suggested I get 25 results, most of which are very old reruns.

You can ignore those results, this way you won't keep getting them and future runs will have less and less of those old shows...

It may not be worth your trouble to get me up to speed, but if you ever need any help I'm a software developer myself and would love to lend any assistance I can.

Presently, the areas where I could probably use some help would be for XML and database manipulations as well as finding a way to fool BTV into using unsupported recording devices natively (Firewire, QAM, DVB, etc.)... Of course an overhaul of the UI or of the whole application might not be a bad idea either. Send me an email or PM if something in there covers your expertise or if you have some other ideas...

[SyrA]

Here comes my complete log from the BTV Neg problem...
And i use XMLImporter

 
Information om att aktivera JIT-felsökning i stället för den 
här dialogrutan finns i slutet av det här meddelandet.
************** Undantagstext **************
System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException: Index och längd måste referera till en plats inom strängen.
Parameternamn: length
   at System.String.Substring(Int32 startIndex, Int32 length)
   at BTV_Negociator.SuperBag.DurationFromID(String genericID)
   at BTV_Negociator.Negociator.fix0MinRecording(PropertyBagHelper recHelper)
   at BTV_Negociator.Negociator.Fill_ListView(SuperBag myBag)
   at BTV_Negociator.Negociator.Fill_ListView(String Condition)
   at BTV_Negociator.Negociator.Fill_AllListViews()
   at BTV_Negociator.Negociator.autoFill()
   at BTV_Negociator.Negociator.VerifyApply()
   at BTV_Negociator.Negociator.Click_Apply(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

************** Laddade sammansättningar **************
mscorlib
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.2032
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/microsoft.net/fra...2/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
BTV-Negociator
    Sammansättningsversion: 2.0.2445.30241
    Win32-version: 2.0.2445.30241
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Monster_Share/BTVNEG/BTV-Negociator.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.2032
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/syst...dows.forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.2032
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/syst...089/system.dll
----------------------------------------
BeyondTVLibrary
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.2427.13410
    Win32-version: 1.0.2427.13410
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Monster_Share/BTVNEG/BeyondTVLibrary.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.2032
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/syst...em.drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
LaMarvin.Windows.Forms.ColorPicker
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.1.81.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.81.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Monster_Share/BTVNEG/LaMa...olorPicker.DLL
----------------------------------------
CG.FontCombo
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.1889.23263
    Win32-version: 1.0.1889.23263
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Monster_Share/BTVNEG/CG.FontCombo.DLL
----------------------------------------
MultiLineListBox
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.2360.35152
    Win32-version: 1.0.2360.35152
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Monster_Share/BTVNEG/MultiLineListBox.DLL
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.VisualBasic
    Sammansättningsversion: 7.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 7.10.6001.4
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/micr...isualbasic.dll
----------------------------------------
Accessibility
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/acce...essibility.dll
----------------------------------------
System.resources
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/syst....resources.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Web.Services
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.2032
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/syst...b.services.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.2032
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/syst...system.xml.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Web
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.2037
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/syst...system.web.dll
----------------------------------------
lysjpbuy
    Sammansättningsversion: 0.0.0.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.2032
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/syst...089/system.dll
----------------------------------------
mfvb_cmx
    Sammansättningsversion: 0.0.0.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.2032
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/syst...089/system.dll
----------------------------------------
zdweiu8v
    Sammansättningsversion: 0.0.0.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.2032
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/syst...089/system.dll
----------------------------------------
mscorlib.resources
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/msco....resources.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms.resources
    Sammansättningsversion: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32-version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/syst....resources.dll
----------------------------------------
************** JIT-felsökning **************
Om du vill aktivera JIT-felsökning måste config-filen för det 
här tillämpningsprogrammet eller den här datorn (machine.config) ha
värdet jitDebugging angett i avsnittet system.windows.forms.
Tillämpningsprogrammet måste också vara kompilerad med felsökning
aktiverat.
Till exempel:
<configuration>
    <system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>
När JIT-felsökning har aktiverats skickas undantag utan
hantering till den JIT-felsökare som har registrerats på
datorn i stället för att hanteras av den här dialogrutan.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by SyrA

Here comes my complete log from the BTV Neg problem...

Ok thanks, I did solve some similar issues before, but I guess I missed some... Basically it's not finding the lenght of a recording and is trying to find the information elsewhere, but it's looking through manual recordings or such, which it shoudn't.

[SyrA]

Well OK, WHEN you get it to work :-) . I'm the one who should thank YOU!

If I (aka. you) can get BTVNEG to work properly, I have a question that probably has been answerd many times. Im just running it past tihs thread to get confirmation that i have understod/missunderstod things correctly.

What do i want to do?
1. Record more channels than i have HW tuners in BTV server.
2. Record from DVB-T source without quality loos.
3. Have BTV start and stop that recording. (1 GUI)

I thought i was shit out of luck on all of these three things before i stumbled across this old thread (I have used previous versions of this program.)

So my theory, ide', design or whatever you want to call it is:
1. Create a virtual capture device in the expert settings of BTV NEG.
2. Create a lineup for that device, contaning the channels im able to record with an other software/hardware (DVBViewer/DB)
3. Find or create a .exe interface for schedule recordings in DVBViewer.
Havent looked at that part yet.
4. Record like nothing ever happend, even if the DVBViewer software is installed on a seconf machine in my home.

So i only have ONE question....Am I Stupid ? (please elaborate:-)

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by SyrA

Well OK, WHEN you get it to work :-) . I'm the one who should thank YOU!

Hehe, I fixed the problem encountered by gaines first as it was simplier, now I can look into yours.

So my theory, ide', design or whatever you want to call it is:
1. Create a virtual capture device in the expert settings of BTV NEG.
2. Create a lineup for that device, contaning the channels im able to record with an other software/hardware (DVBViewer/DB)
3. Find or create a .exe interface for schedule recordings in DVBViewer.
Havent looked at that part yet.
4. Record like nothing ever happend, even if the DVBViewer software is installed on a seconf machine in my home.

The 1) and 2) work presently. I am not familiar with that DVBViewer, but as long as you can use it to change channels and start/stop a recording from the command line, yes it should be possible to do 3), or you could try using ProgDVB if it works with your DVB card. As for 4), recording on a different machine might be a bit trickier.

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by SyrA

Well OK, WHEN you get it to work

Ok, go try this beta version and let me know if that solved it.

http://forums.snapstream.com/vb/show...881#post211881

[SyrA]

That did the trick....thanks !

If i run BTV NEG on another machine than BTV....Would i not be able to record on that machine then ?

Two more questions:

1. The channel change commandline.. does that pass any parameter to it (CHNR)? Can you get any other parameters from BTV NEG. like:
c:\start.exe -"$channelnumber" -"$endtime" -"$Filename" aso.

2. I found a vbs script that that will let you schedule recordings by commandline. That should suite your application perfectly.
You have allreday collected all the information and tools to be able to pass those parameters to the vbs. Is that something you would consider?
It also supports a number of other applications.

If this isn't the way you want to head with your application, i understand.
And i'll look into a start / stop function for recordings in DVBViewer.

dabdig.vbe "PLAY" "ChannelName" "ChannelAssignment" "ProgrammeName"
["StartYear" "StartMonth" "StartDay" "StartHour" "StartMinute" "Duration"
["Description" ["CategoryName"]]]

dabdig.vbe "REC" "ChannelName" "ChannelAssignment" "ProgrammeName"
"StartYear" "StartMonth" "StartDay" "StartHour" "StartMinute" "Duration"
["Description" ["CategoryName"]]

where:
- Date/time/duration fields are all NUMERIC and represent local time.
- Square brackets indicate optional parameteres - do not put the brackets on
the command line.

e.g.
"Record" "ARDDasErste" "123" "James Bond 007 - Leben und sterben lassen"
"2006" "1" "14" "20" "10" "155" "(Live and let die) Spielfilm Großbritannien
1973" "Film"

or

"Play" "ARDDasErste" "123" "James Bond 007 - Leben und sterben lassen"
"2006" "1" "14" "20" "10" "155"

or

"Play" "BBC Radio 4" "704"

You can change the dabdig.ini (PLAYOUT & PLAYIN) to pad your recording automatically with minutes before and minutes after. Also now the script sends an dynamic OSD message to the DVBViewer screen. The OSD text is user configurable (eg program name, time, action - the choice is endless)

http://www.spidersweb.freeserve.co.u...m#anchordab004

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by SyrA

That did the trick....thanks !

Good! So next problem...

If i run BTV NEG on another machine than BTV....Would i not be able to record on that machine then?

Yes, though you might need to have the same directory structure for the recording folders, so that if you schedul to record in your default folder on the BTV server, that folder is also present on the PC actually performing the recording. It also makes things like smartchapters and adding the informations (actor, description, etc.) back to the video file more challenging...

1. The channel change commandline.. does that pass any parameter to it (CHNR)?

If you go to the Expert mode tab, External source sub-tab, check the Channel box and you will get two fields. The first for the channel tuning executable and the second are the parameters before the actual channel number filled by BTV-Negociator... If you use a single command to change channels and record, then you would leave the "Channel tuning" field blank and the structure would be:

Executable + Para1 + filename + ChannelPara + Channel# + Para2

As for the script, if all I need is:

dabdig.vbe "REC" "ChannelName" "ChannelAssignment" "ProgrammeName"
"StartYear" "StartMonth" "StartDay" "StartHour" "StartMinute" "Duration"
["Description" ["CategoryName"]]

where:
- Date/time/duration fields are all NUMERIC and represent local time.
- Square brackets indicate optional parameteres - do not put the brackets on
the command line.

then it should be simple enough to send it the parameters it requires. I guess the idea would be to schedul the recordings 30 seconds before the actual start (taking into account the padding). Could you manually test the script and tell me if the recording is named ProgrammeName.mpg (substituting what you actually used), or it uses a different filename?

Personnaly it doesn't make much differences weither you want to use the script or the executable directly...

[richt]

Looking for a (hopefully) easy answer.... I am using Negociator in conjunction with the firewire recording hack. I have it working pretty well but have had to change a few configuration options that apparantly do not get saved if the program is shut down. For both of these changes I have made, if Negociator is stopped and then re-started, the settings go back to their original default values.
Item One - On the external tuner tab - Set Delay to 10 seconds.
Item Two - Change one element in the "parameters 1" dialog -- "mux=ts" is changed to "mux=ps". All other items on the line stay the same.
As it is now, each time I reboot the PC, I have to remember to change these values. I have clicked on "Update Controls" on the External Tuner tab, clicked on "Apply" and "Save Settings" buttons on the Configuration - Parameters tab, but with no change. I have tried versions 2.75, 2.77, & 2.79.
Is there something I am missing?

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by richt

Item One - On the external tuner tab - Set Delay to 10 seconds.
Item Two - Change one element in the "parameters 1" dialog -- "mux=ts" is changed to "mux=ps".

I've tried that in my latest alpha version and all went fine... Did something change the BTV-Negociator-ext.txt file to read-only somehow? As a last ressource, you can always edit that file and check for "Paramaters1 = ..." and "Delay = 10", putting the right value manually.

Is BTV-Negociator automatically started from a shortcut in the Startup folder?

[mikemcd]

I had version 2.84 working perfectly, but now I'm getting an error message after a show has recorded:




It looks like BTV Neg is trying to move the file into my Common directory (which is correct). What have I done wrong?

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by mikemcd

I had version 2.84 working perfectly, but now I'm getting an error message after a show has recorded:
...
It looks like BTV Neg is trying to move the file into my Common directory (which is correct). What have I done wrong?

The error message is saying that you were accessing the file... Were you streaming/playing back the file at that time? If so, you'd want to make sure to disable the post-processing, in particular the "Add information" part. If not, is that path different than where you have been recording before? Are you running a virus scanner that might have had the file locked at the time?