PVR API changes (add-on authors: read this!)

Red_F · 2011-04-02 10:45

Ah nice to see that the API changes are finalising. I'll need to retrieve some of the ideas I jotted down while doing the ForTheRecord development. Are you still open to suggestions? Wink

**opdenkamp** · 2011-04-02 13:28

I'm open to suggestions, but the api won't be changed (much) anymore before binary add-ons are implemented. spiff is looking into that at the moment.

**opdenkamp** · 2011-04-02 14:02

I added one more method on the interface, part of the new channel group transfer part:

Code:

/*!

   * @brief Ask the PVRManager to refresh it's channel groups list.

   * @param addonData A pointer to the add-on.

   */

  static void PVRTriggerChannelGroupsUpdate(void *addonData);

CrashX · 2011-04-04 22:40

@dushmaniac

Are you getting enough information from PVR addon to be able to lookup via scrapers so that you can get full metadata for it for XBMC library ?

For example, mythtv pvr addon provides program id as EP007322830110 ..

**opdenkamp** · 2011-04-05 00:19

that wouldn't fit in any structure on the current interface. what does it represent? it doesn't match anything in the current htsp interface from tvheadend.

could you define "enough information" for me please.

CrashX · 2011-04-05 07:45

dushmaniac Wrote:that wouldn't fit in any structure on the current interface. what does it represent? it doesn't match anything in the current htsp interface from tvheadend.

could you define "enough information" for me please.

For more information about programid ( http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...+programid )

Basically, what I wanted to know do you have enough metadata information to add recordings to the XBMC Library ( fanarts, plot, cast, etc ) ? Can you tell now if the recording is a tv show or movie ?

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=65644

**opdenkamp** · 2011-04-05 14:03

I haven't spend time on getting the recordings into the library. dteirney said on irc he wanted to spend time on that a couple of weeks ago.

we'll probably could use some more metadata on the interface for recordings. most of the metadata that is in there now is vdr specific and will be removed later. just didn't do it yet cause I didn't check whether vdr uses that somewhere.

that programid is something specific to myth. it's not available on any other pvr backend as far as I can see. so I won't add it to the interface in that form.

if dteirney hasn't implemented recordings in the library after the binary add-on interface is implemented, I'll have a look at it myself.

the recording infotag extends from videoinfotag, so if metadata is to be added to the interface, it should be members of those tags.

**opdenkamp** · 2011-04-10 13:37

I forgot to mention something which is important for add-on authors:
the pvrmanager no longer "auto updates" timers, channels, recordings and channel groups. if something changed on the backend and if you think the pvrmanager needs to update it's data, you call a trigger:
TriggerTimerUpdate - when timers need to be updated in xbmc
TriggerRecordingsUpdate - same for recordings
TriggerChannelsUpdate - for channels
TriggerChannelGroupsUpdate - for channel groups

these triggers currently update the data from all connected backends, which will be changed later so only the data from the add-on that calls the trigger will be updated.

as you might expect from something called "trigger": all updates are async.

**opdenkamp** · 2011-04-12 00:03

and yet another change, but minor this time: instant timers (recordings that are started immediately on the channel that is currently playing) will have their start time set to 0/invalid. I'm changing this because a time difference between xbmc and the backend might prevent these instant timers from working correctly.

danips · 2011-04-18 16:16

Hello dushmaniac,
is there any plan for adding triggers to force the update of the EPG info?

I think it would be useful because I am having this problem: if I launch my test addon and I haven't the complete EPG info for the actual day, the first chronological program found is stretched down to the beginning of the timeline. And then I have to wait the "EPG update interval" (15 minutes minimum) in order to be asked again for the EPG info and get a correct timeline.

BTW is this the correct behaviour? I think I remember it was leaving a blank gap if there was no program at he beginning of the timeline in earlier versions.

Red_F Member Posts: 53 Joined: Oct 2010 Reputation: 2 Location: The Netherlands	2011-04-02 10:45 Post: #11 Ah nice to see that the API changes are finalising. I'll need to retrieve some of the ideas I jotted down while doing the ForTheRecord development. Are you still open to suggestions?
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