[mythtv-users] Standard way to give real names to recording file names?

[Michael T. Dean]

On 04/25/2008 07:57 AM, Ronald Frazier wrote:
>>  Make sure you specify the --link argument, though.  Otherwise, you're on your
>>  own with the problems that can occur when you actually rename the files.
>>     
> I've seen this mentioned several times. If running it without the
> --link parameter is so bad, shouldn't the default for the script be to
> assume the --link parameter unless something like a --nolink parameter
> is given? Seems like a terrible idea to have a script that gives the
> typically undesirable result by default.

Not everyone believes that running without --link is so bad.  Those who 
run it with a format that will always result in a short enough filename 
(was 127 characters, including extension, now 255 characters--i.e. who 
don't include description or whatever) and who don't use spaces (i.e. 
who specify --underscores) and who don't have non-ASCII characters 
(really non-latin1 characters) in the resultant filenames (and probably 
some other criteria I'm forgetting) don't see the problems.  And, 
really, someone who does change the names is likely to run for a long 
time before noticing any problems.

So, basically, mythrename.pl without the --link argument is a rope you 
can use to hang yourself.  And, to make it even easier, we've even 
affixed that rope to a nice gallows and made a nice hangman's knot on 
the end (by making the user type --link).

However, unlike most nooses (neese?), the mythrename.pl noose has an undo:

mythrename.pl --format "%c_%Y%m%d%H%i%s"

which will put all the filenames back to their original (correct) format.

I just happen to believe that users shouldn't mess with the MythTV files 
directly.  Using links to make a view is much better, anyway.  I have my 
system run mythrename.pl --link 5 times per half hour (could use a user 
job, but it doesn't take that much resources***) to create multiple 
views sorted by start time, title/start time, recording group/title, 
category/title, title/original airdate (see attached wrapper script at 
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/330781#330781 ).  Try 
to do that (make 5 differently-sorted views) by running mythrename.pl 
without the --link argument.

Besides, if we change the way things work after many MythTV releases 
containing mythrename.pl, I'm sure a lot of people would be upset.  :)

Mike

***Now, I'm starting to get motivated to add some single-instance and 
"last-run" support to the wrapper script to make it useful for a user job.
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