Tvheadend

Accidentally replied instead of edit

Well, removing unsafe characters from the filename still didn't solve the problem. The latest attempt was listed under the "Removed Recordings" tab with a "File not created" status.

I still suspect it is a file name/permissions issue. I'm recording directly to a hard drive that is attached to the Shield TV. It is formatted in FAT32.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Well, I take back suspecting it is a filename issue. I can record re-runs of NCIS: Los Angeles from a different channel. So it appears to be a problem with the specific channel or something about new episodes (although recording re-runs also fails on that same channel also fail).

Still looking for suggestions.

Thanks.

In the debugging tab enter a filename and set the subsystems to "dvr,subscriptions", post the output here from a failed recording

Will do. My power is out now and it may be a week before I get an opportunity to attempt top record the shows.
Thanks

A couple of things.

I was incorrect (again). Scheduled recordings on "NCIS: Los Angeles" don't work on the other channel either. They get scheduled, start recording, then stop recording. However, I can manually make recordings of the show when it is being broadcast. I did notice that the manual recordings are saved at the top level of my Recordings folder but scheduled recordings are saved in sub-folders. Perhaps there is a conflict with me having a NCIS folder for the non-spinoff NCIS recordings.

I tried to make a log but it didn't work (or I can't find it). I tried to save it in the same folder my recordings are saved in and hit the Apply configuration button. I've attached a screenshot of my debugging configuration settings.

Let me know if I did something wrong.

Thanks

try using /tmp/debug.txt

I put that in but I don't know where to find it on an Android system. Shield TV is very restrictive on where you are allowed to write files. There is a tvhedend_server folder in the Documents folder that seems to have all of the Tvheadend information but I couldn't find the debug file there.

I tried to create a file named debug.txt in a folder that I know Tvheadend has permission to write to (/storage/4867-D829/NVIDIA_SHIELD). But it didn't get created so there must be something I'm doing wrong.

I now think I know what is going on (but could be wrong - again). Tvheadend first starts recording a scheduled recording in the top level folder specified in the Storage path. It then creates a sub-folder with the series name (if it doesn't already exist) and moves the recording to the sub-folder.

In my case, Tvheadend is trying to make a sub-folder called "NCIS: Los Angeles" but the ":" isn't allowed in a folder name. It appears that the remove unsafe filename characters option does not apply to the sub-folder naming. So Tvheadend then stops recording and removes the file.

So my question is: How do I tell Tvheadend to not use the ":" when making the sub-folder?

Thanks

use "windows safe filenames"

OK, thanks.

I did the following:
Disabled "Remove all unsafe characters from filename", enabled "Use Windows-compatible filenames", and saved changes.
Deleted all existing NCIS: LA/New Orleans timers and exited Kodi.
Restarted Tvheadend and Kodi.
Made new NCIS: LA/New Orleans timers.

I won't know if this works for a couple of days.

One thing I don't understand why Tvheadend is making subdirectories with the series name in the first place. I don't have "Make subdirectories per title" enabled.

Thanks again.

Use Windows-compatible filenames didn't work either.

Sterling Rorden wrote:

Use Windows-compatible filenames didn't work either.

without debug this is going to be hard Are you able to create a folder and set permissions so that tvheadend can write the debug file? E.g, /storage/4867-D829/NVIDIA_SHIELD/tmp.

If you are able to run tvheadend from command line, or modify the startup options, you can pass

--debug <options> --trace <options> --logfile /path/to/save.debug"

Note: you'll need to kill the running process and run it again with the same (currently running) options (use ps -ef) then add the debug options on top.

If you do really get stuck, let me know and we can arrange a session over teamviewer

I'm a Windows GUI guy so you'll have to bear with me on the command line stuff.

I created a tmp folder in /storage/4867-D829/NVIDIA_SHIELD (I'm doing this through Windows Explorer). My Recordings and Timeshift folders are in /storage/4867-D829/NVIDIA_SHIELD so I know Tvheadend can access the folder. There aren't many permissions options for these folders. Windows does have the "Read Only (Only applies to files in folder)" radio button enabled and disabling it doesn't stick; but this is the same for the Recordings and Timeshift folders and Tvheadend can write to them. I can copy and delete files from the tmp folder both in Windows and Android.

I set the debugging filename to "/storage/4867-D829/NVIDIA_SHIELD/tmp/debug.txt"
I put "subscription,dvr" in both Debug and Trace subsystems.
I clicked on the "Apply configuration (run-time only)" button. It seems to take it.

Currently there is not a "debug.txt" file in the tmp folder. What will trigger it to be created?

There is a startup run command line option in the Tvheadend port for Android. I'd need to know where to look for the debug file. I know where the tvheadend_server config files are kept. Exactly how would I enter the command line?

I have noticed that there some recordings that Windows doesn't see but Android/Kodi does. One thing I've considered trying is renaming my current "Recordings" sub-directory to "old Recordings" and creating a new "Recordings" sub-directory. But this will probably cause some problems with Kodi finding my current recordings so I thought I'd wait until I've exhausted my other options, especially since it may not help.

Thanks

I found a workaround. There is an option in the show settings (under the Autorecs tab) to specify the directory. I removed the ":" from "NCIS: Los Angeles". Tvheadend then created the directory "NCIS Los Angeles" and successfully recorded the show in the directory. I'll just have to remember this when setting timers for shows with prohibited characters in the name.

Is the "Use Windows-compatible filenames" option only for file naming? If so, how would I specify creating Windows-compatible sub-directories?

Thanks

Sterling Rorden wrote:

I found a workaround. There is an option in the show settings (under the Autorecs tab) to specify the directory. I removed the ":" from "NCIS: Los Angeles". Tvheadend then created the directory "NCIS Los Angeles" and successfully recorded the show in the directory. I'll just have to remember this when setting timers for shows with prohibited characters in the name.

Is the "Use Windows-compatible filenames" option only for file naming? If so, how would I specify creating Windows-compatible sub-directories?

Thanks

Actually I'm not sure "Use Windows-compatible filenames" actually applies to directories, you could open a bug if you want.

Created Issue #5560. I'm surprised I'm the first person to encounter this.

Thanks for your help