[mythtv] Proposed alternate behaviour for show delete

[James Armstrong]

>>
>> This proposed alternate behaviour requires minor changes to a number of
>> different segments, so I thought I would propose it here before 
>> attempting
>> any coding on it.
>>
>> As you may not know, autoexpire is not just a boolean, it is a number.
>> Programs with a higher autoexpire number expire before anything with a
>> lower number.  Programs with 0 never autoexpire.   AFAIK, tvwish is
>> the only program making use of this, to allow imported suggestions to
>> effectively only take spare space (a value of 2 is sufficient as the 
>> default
>> is 1.)
>>
>> Anyway, the proposed change is as follows:
>>
>> If autoexpire is enabled:
>>
>>     Have Delete, instead of deleting the program, simply add 1000 or 
>> similar
>>     large number to autoexpire.
>>
>>     Modify the query for current recordings to not present any entry with
>>     autoexpire >= 1000.  Clients including mythweb will not see them.
>>     Alternately train clients to ignore them or show them optionally.
>>     (harder)
>>
>>     Modify the "deleted programs" to show them, but to put a special
>>     highlight on these entries, and possibly display them at the end of
>>     the list.   Also, it should now show 3 disk space totals -- space 
>> used
>>     by visible programs, space "Ready for deletion" and actual free disk
>>     space from DF.    Total "free" (actual plus ready for deletion) might
>>     be shown.   Mythweb would need to be modified to show this.
>>     (This might, unfortunately need a protocol modification to show all
>>     the different numbers)
>>
>>     In deleted programs, Delete on an "already deleted" show really 
>> deletes
>>     it, no undo possible.
>>
>>     In deleted programs, undelete is offered for already deleted 
>> programs.
>>
>>     Above two items also available in mythweb.
>>
>> Alternate suggestion (with more UI)
>>     Put both "Delete" and "Recycle" on the delete menu, with Recycle 
>> grayed
>>     out if autoexpire is not enabled.   Frankly I think this is needless
>>     complication, and besides, it means a frontend change while changing
>>     the meaning of delete is just a backend change.
>>
>>
>> Result: Delete can be undone, at least until the space is actually
>> needed
Tivo has something similar. Recorded shows that are not marked as 'Keep 
until delete' will automatically expire after a time period. It is not 
based on how many recordings of each show there is, it is based on how 
old it is. When a show is first recorded it has a Green happy face next 
to the recording in the list. It will hang around for so many days then 
it will be marked with a Yellow icon indicating it will expire soon. It 
will not be deleted to make room for other shows until it hits the Red / 
expired point. That way new recordings have time to be watched and will 
be marked for deletion when it needs to be. It will only be deleted to 
make room for new higher priority recordings when there is no space 
left. Tivo has a 'TVWish' type feature where it records shows it thinks 
you would like to watch based on your history of recordings / thumbs up 
marks on shows. These shows will only be recorded when nothing else is 
on and will be deleted when needed to make space for new shows.

- James