If there is no way to change the output filename from Channels, is there a way to run a post recording process that will change the filename?
Suggestions?
You can use MCEBuddy to rename and move the files.
But the Channels DB will not recognize the new names. Tested it got a playback error could not find the file renamed it back then it worked.
Correct. You would need to move it away and reimport into Channels from another directory.
But if you do that will Channels consider that as recorded ? Will it still obey the Passes options ?
No. But if OP is only using SageTV maybe it doesn't matter.
I want to use Channels as just the recording engine. SageTV will manage viewing and watched status.
If I rename the file or move it out of the directory, will Channels will consider that the program was never recorded and re-record it again? That defeats the purpose.
I read comments about ensuring the filename convention worked with PLEX. How does it work if the viewing and watched is done with PLEX. How does channels handle that? (Think of me using SageTV in place of PLEX.)
It will not re-record because you moved the file.
Plex recognizes the file names automatically so no moving or extra steps are required.
Your best bet thinking outside the box is to run a script to read the json file and create a properties file for the file. SageTV will read the properties file.... and ignore the file naming convention.
What is a properties file?
It is similar to Json I will post one here ... give me a sec.
Dragnet - S12E07 - Homicide Cigarette Butt - 1094125-0.ts
Dragnet - S12E07 - Homicide Cigarette Butt - 1094125-0.ts.properties
#Generator: CMT Metadata, written on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 2:42 PM
Subtitled=false
Genre=Crime drama
Contestant=
ChannelPremiere=false
RunningTime=1560000
Widescreen=false
Guest=
Choreographer=
ExtendedRatings=
Dolby=false
Composer=
Writer=
Stereo=false
ParentalRating=TVG
EpisodeNumber=7
PropertiesWrittenBy=CMT
Description=The smoking habits of a murder victim help Friday and Gannon nab the suspect.
ExternalID=EP0013450082
SAP=false
HDTV=false
Title=Dragnet
SeasonNumber=12
AltEpisodeNumber=
CC=true
SeriesFinale=false
Live=false
Voice=
Surround=false
Judge=
EpisodeName=Homicide: Cigarette Butt
Director=
SeriesPremiere=false
Anchor=
Guest\ Voice=
3D=false
DD5.1=false
Executive\ Producer=
Guest\ Star=
SeasonPremiere=false
AiringTime=
Musical\ Guest=
New=false
Letterbox=false
Taped=false
Producer=
Misc=
Language=
Dubbed=false
Narrator=
SeasonFinale=false
Rated=
Correspondent=
OriginalAirDate=-5371200000
Host=
Team=
Year=
Premiere=false
AiringDuration=
Actor=Jack Webb;Harry Morgan
1 Like
But have no idea how to write a script that would do that. 
Hopefully @tmm1 can generate one for us. Maybe generate it alongside the JSON for those that want it. That way we can just Import the whole Channels TV and Movies Directories into Sage.
Can you try putting a properties file next to one of the Channels recordings and confirm it works as expected?
Will do
It works I did a test filled out what I could from the JSON .... didn't have the Actors so used what I had lol.
{"Description":"Steve Austin and Jaime probe the downing of a missile launched from somewhere in the United States.","Episode":6,"Genres":["Drama","Action","Adventure"],"IsMovie":false,"IsSports":false,"MetadataGenerator":"Channels DVR","OriginalBroadcastDateTime":"1976-03-03T00:00:00Z","RecordedDateTime":"2020-09-07T14:00:00Z","Season":1,"SeriesPremiereDate":"1976-01-14T00:00:00Z","SubTitle":"The Deadly Missiles","Title":"Bionic Woman"}
Bionic Woman S01E06 1976-03-03 The Deadly Missiles 2020-09-07-0659.mpg.properties
#Generator: CMT Metadata, written on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 2:42 PM
Subtitled=false
Genre="Drama","Action","Adventure"
Contestant=
ChannelPremiere=false
RunningTime=1560000
Widescreen=false
Guest=
Choreographer=
ExtendedRatings=
Dolby=false
Composer=
Writer=
Stereo=false
ParentalRating=TVG
EpisodeNumber=6
PropertiesWrittenBy=CMT
Description=Steve Austin and Jaime probe the downing of a missile launched from somewhere in the United States.
ExternalID=EP0013450082
SAP=false
HDTV=false
Title=Bionic Woman
SeasonNumber=1
AltEpisodeNumber=
CC=true
SeriesFinale=false
Live=false
Voice=
Surround=false
Judge=
EpisodeName=The Deadly Missiles
Director=
SeriesPremiere=false
Anchor=
Guest\ Voice=
3D=false
DD5.1=false
Executive\ Producer=
Guest\ Star=
SeasonPremiere=false
AiringTime=
Musical\ Guest=
New=false
Letterbox=false
Taped=false
Producer=
Misc=
Language=
Dubbed=false
Narrator=
SeasonFinale=false
Rated=
Correspondent=
OriginalAirDate=-1976-03-03T00:00:00Z
Host=
Team=
Year=
Premiere=false
AiringDuration=
Actor=
I believe SageTV looks for the original airdate in EPOCH.
Here is an Empty one any lines that cannot be filled in can be left as is... or removed
Subtitled=false
Genre=
Contestant=
ChannelPremiere=
RunningTime=
Widescreen=
Guest=
Choreographer=
ExtendedRatings=
Dolby=false
Composer=
Writer=
Stereo=false
ParentalRating=
EpisodeNumber=
PropertiesWrittenBy=ChannelsDVR
Description=
ExternalID=
SAP=false
HDTV=false
Title=
SeasonNumber=
AltEpisodeNumber=
CC=true
SeriesFinale=
Live=false
Voice=
Surround=false
Judge=
EpisodeName=
Director=
SeriesPremiere=
Anchor=
Guest\ Voice=
3D=false
DD5.1=false
Executive\ Producer=
Guest\ Star=
SeasonPremiere=
AiringTime=
Musical\ Guest=
New=false
Letterbox=
Taped=false
Producer=
Misc=
Language=
Dubbed=
Narrator=
SeasonFinale=
Rated=
Correspondent=
OriginalAirDate=
Host=
Team=
Year=
Premiere=
AiringDuration=
Actor=
never seen a .properties file before.
I see .nfo files all the time, that has info on the file contents and its specs etc.
I know Emby generates them for every video file i have in my Library.
Maybe channels can do the same.
Sage has always used properties files... does not use NFO files,
@tmm1 the naming convention for properties files is filename.ext.properties I know it is rather odd.