[mythtv-users] Database & Storeage Directory Housekeeper Setup Page

[Harry Coin]

I posted this as a 'developer task' on the ticket page, but it was closed as 'invalid' within moments after being praised as 'interesting'.  I'm not clear what properly might fall under 'developer task.  In hopes of generating useful discussion, here's my best thoughts about changes after using the system for a couple years.


I have run into usability issues that cry out for a page in the mythtv-
setup program that has an 'overall long-term housekeeping' function to
include these specific abilities:

1. List all backends and frontends the database knows about, with the
ability to delete everything to do with retired systems.  Backends come
and go, but their data is forever.  Put in a new frontend or backend that
happens to have the same name as an old one long forgotten or upgrade
(with different guts entirely) and it all goes horribly wrong.

2. Offer the ability to delete all dtv scans, multiplex ids, channel ids
and anything in the channel / video source database not actually
specifically tied to currently listed video sources, input connections and
configured video cards.

3.  A button to automagically re-assign multiplex ids and channel id
numbers so that there is no possible way new scans will create conflicts
with existing data.  Note Mediacom at least in Moline, Ill has channel
numbers reported by VCT including 1000, so the 'add the channel number to
the source-id*1000' thing needs another look.

4. A button to bulk purge all storage group .png and recreate them based
on what's currently in the storage groups-- across backends.  A warning
flag and delete option on video files with a file size too short to
creditably contain the indicated viewing time.

5. A button to list all files in any Myth controlled directory without
known current connection in the database (to include video files whose
filesize is unreasonable given the assumed video length).  A button to
list all entries in the database pointing at files that don't exist/can't
be accessed that only works if all current storage groups and other
directories are accessible.


6. Notice that Schedules Direct has QAM maps for cable dtv, however mythtv
doesn't comprehend that format in the channel scanner.  Asking mythtv
folks to embrace scte65scan (not part of any binary repository) and divine
the user's local vct code in order to get something schedules direct can
match to xml is, you know, asking a great deal given how many cable users
are.  Requiring folk to create a video source, somehow learn its source id
number, feed that to scte65scan's sql output... ah.... these aren't the
'droids you're looking for.  The housekeeping page should include a way to
score the results of a physical scan of what's actually on the cable,
giving the user a drop down box with the contents of various VCT code
possibilities with endorsements for those actually in the schedules direct
QAM map and another for whether it is the schedules-direct xml codes.
Maybe this is more properly a feature for the input connection setup page.

7.  A button that scans all the on-screen help messages in mythtv and
determines whether they have a chance in hell of actually being
displayable in the space of the text box allowed by the current theme, and
if not reducing the size of the font or in the alternative suggesting to
the user they pick another theme.

I hope folk understand this as being intended to be helpful, people who
don't basically like all this alot don't bother to mention problems.


-- 

Changes (by robertm):

  * status:  new =>  closed
  * resolution:   =>  Invalid


Comment:

  Some of these are valid and interesting ideas, but unless they're coupled
  with a patch, there's not much we can do to help here.  We all have lists
  as long as our arms of things we're trying to get done.  If you'd like to
  provide patches for some of these things on their own tickets, we'd be
  happy to review them.  We don't track feature requests in the bug tracker,
  however, so unless you're submitting a patch for one of these we need to
  close this ticket.


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