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

[Mike Perkins]

Michael T. Dean wrote:
> 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.  :)
> 
Since the mythrename.pl script essentially contains two distinct functions, 
selectable by using the --link parameter, perhaps it ought to have been two 
distinct scripts. That way there's no chance of anyone breaking anything except 
by design.

Mike Perkins