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This is a very simple script to demonstrate the 'series link' concept. Run it every day as a cron job and never miss your favourite series again! Just create a timer for the first programme in a series and the script will automatically record the rest for you.
Configuration parameters at the start of the file must be set to match your vdr
settings. The 'padding' values must match those used when you manually set timers (eg when using vdradmin).
If you set the 'VPS' config parameter to '1', and also set 'UseVps = 1' and 'VpsFallack=1' in VDR's setup.conf, new timers will be created to use the EIT Running Status to set start and end times. An accurate Running Status is a requirement of the Freeview Plus specification. However if the programme starts earlier than (scheduled time - VpsMargin) the beginning will be missed.
The script detects split events, eg a film with a news summary in the middle, and ensures that if a timer is set for one part, all parts of the programme are recorded (as separate timers). The script also checks for timer clashes, though it doesn't try to resolve the clash, and also warns if the title of an event in the EPG has changed since the timer was set (so perhaps a different programme is being broadcast).
The script creates a file "links.data" in the vdr directory when run. This file contains series CRIDs of all of the timers which have been set, and the item CRIDs of the individual programmes which have had recordings scheduled. A timestamp against each entry gives the date of the last timer set, so that old series can be automatically purged.
Points to remember:
- Not all channels on UK Freeview have CRIDs in the EPG (at present just the BBC, ITV, C4 and C5 stables plus Sky 3 and Virgin 1). Some radio channels have item CRIDs but none have series CRIDs.
- Different programme providers have different ideas of what constitutes a 'series'.
- The timer creation process is very simplistic; it doesn't check for timer clashes, and selects the first physical entry in the EPG (which may not be the prime broadcast of the programme).
- A series link is created for every timer whether you want one or not.
- If you run this script overnight, a timer set one day which fires on the same day will not create a series link (because the timer no longer exists).
- This script has not been tested with multiple tuner cards or with mixed DVB-T and DVB-S setups.
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