OliveTin for Channels: An Interface for Misc Channels DVR Scripts & Tricks

[bnhf]

@skipt I'm wondering if accessing the CDVR log file via a Samba share might be a workaround to this issue.

To do this, you'd first need to set up the directory containing the log file as a network share. I share mine as //media-server6/ChannelsDVR:

Next, create a volume in Portainer pointing to this share. This would look something like this, though you'd need to add username and password:

Then stop your OliveTin Portainer stack and bind this newly created volume instead of your current directory binding. To do this you'd need uncomment some of the lines in the second volumes: section like so:

volumes: # use this section if you've setup a docker volume named channels-dvr, with CIFS or NFS, to bind to /mnt/dvr inside the container. Set ${HOST_DIR} to channels-dvr (HOST_DIR=channels_dvr) in that example.
  #channels-dvr:
    #external: true
  channels-dvr-logs:
    external: true

and then change the value of LOGS_SHARE like so:

LOGS_SHARE=channels-dvr-logs

I have some confidence this approach will work, as the tail -f WSL2 bug appears to be confined to synchronization of files between WSL2 and the host Windows filesystem.

[skipt]

I will try this so I can learn something and be compatible with your current code. But I plan to take my time for fear of taking 2 steps backward.

In the meantime the following from a console gives a real-time display of log changes filtered for the last 10 [TVE] log messages:

watch "wget -q -O - http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:8089/log | egrep \\\\[TVE | tail"

Pretty cool.

[skipt]

When I edit the second volumes:section, is that done in portainer or in docker--and which file is it?

[bnhf]

@skipt

When I edit the second volumes:section, is that done in portainer or in docker--and which file is it?

It's done in your Portainer OliveTin stack -- just like any other changes to your OliveTin environment. Stop the stack, make the changes, click Update the stack. Just like you'd do if you're updating OliveTin to the latest version.

[skipt]

Stop the stack, make the changes, click *Update the stack* .

After the above I get error

failed to deploy a stack: time="2024-08-21T21:37:40Z" level=warning msg="The \"DOMAIN\" variable is not set. Defaulting to a blank string." time="2024-08-21T21:37:40Z" level=warning msg="The \"DOMAIN\" variable is not set. Defaulting to a blank string." validating /data/compose/2/docker-compose.yml: services.channels-dvr-logs Additional property external is not allowed

Admittedly I did not select the option to re-pull, because it's been several days since I worked on this and I thought I should stick with the same image/container I had been using. If I should select the re-pull option please let me know.

Also, when editing the stack in portainer to bind the newly created volume, I don't see a save button for the edits. I never saw any indication that the edits were saved.

[jsfullam]

I have been working on slimming down the number of channels which appear in my ChannelsDVR guide by blocking them from each source.

I found the Olive tin action of "Create Channels List in csv format" very helpful in determining all of the channels I receive from several sources. I imported into a spreadsheet to help facilitate the weeding out process.

Now that I have blocked many/most of the channels from each source, it would be nice to have an action which would create an abbreviated, filtered channels list leaving out the blocked channels.

In addition, it would be nice also include an action which creates an even shorter filtered list of only "favorited" channels.

Perhaps there is already a way to accomplish what I hope to do.

[mjitkop]

@jsfullam

Perhaps there is already a way to accomplish what I hope to do.

Yes. Look at channel collections.

Channel Collections

[jsfullam]

Thank you!

That's exactly what I have as my final goal...to create channel collections of several categories. Classic Movies, Classic TV shows, Western Movies, Local Channels, Weather, News, etc...

What I'm hoping to find is an intermediate step for creating a list of all of my non-blocked and/or favorited channels. I intend to print the list and highlight, in different colors, which channels to include in each channel collection. (I'm kinda' an old analog type of guy who is used to stuff being on paper.)

This afternoon, I just went through the spreadsheet which I created from the all-encompassing .csv channel list, and hid all of the rows for blocked channels. It was tedious. But, I managed to get it done. Next, I pull out my trusty highlighter set...

[mjitkop]

Cool. I'm glad channel collections will bring some joy to your life. If you take a look at all the great features that Channels DVR has to offer, you will be amazed.

By the way, I'm also glad that you found the OliveTin action "Create Channels List in csv format" useful. Guess who wrote the script that generates this CSV file?

Python script: channel list -> CSV file to easily see where channels are available

I wanted to have a clear overview of channel overlaps between the different sources so I wrote a python script that generates a CSV file with the information. If you open the CSV file with a spreadsheet program, you can format the display nicely and add filters. For example: [image] 7 channels are available in 4 different sources: [image] 60 channels are available in 3 sources (showing the first 10): [image]

@bnhf had the great idea (and the skills!) to create OliveTin, which made it possible to integrate into a single tool scripts from users who have created them over the years.

@jsfullam

What I'm hoping to find is an intermediate step for creating a list of all of my non-blocked and/or favorited channels. [...]
This afternoon, I just went through the spreadsheet which I created from the all-encompassing .csv channel list, and hid all of the rows for blocked channels. It was tedious.

Sorry about that.

I'm working on a Chrome extension project now in my spare time that will provide, among other features, this feature to generate this CSV file.
Now that you mentioned your wish to be able to filter blocked/unblocked/favorited channels, this is a great idea to add as an option in the script. I will look into it.
Don't get too excited though because I don't know when I will have enough time to work on it. So I can't provide an ETA.

[bnhf]

@skipt

services.channels-dvr-logs Additional property external is not allowed

This error would suggest that you didn't create a volume called channels-dvr-logs in Portainer-Volumes that connects to the SMB (Samba) share that I wanted you to set up.

You might want to review this post regarding setting up the share, creating a Portainer volume pointing to it, and then editing your Portainer-Stack to connect it to OliveTin:

OliveTin for Channels: An Interface for Misc Channels DVR Scripts & Tricks

@skipt I'm wondering if accessing the CDVR log file via a Samba share might be a workaround to this issue. To do this, you'd first need to set up the directory containing the log file as a network share. I share mine as //media-server6/ChannelsDVR: [Screenshot 2024-08-15 151444] Next, create a volume in Portainer pointing to this share. This would look something like this, though you'd need to add username and password: [screenshot-htpc6-2024.08.15-15_20_38] Then stop your OliveTin Portai…

[jsfullam]

I agree with you that Channels DVR is a great program with many amazing features. Some, which have been recently added and updated, I still need to study and start using. Channels Collections have been my way of organizing content by category so far.

@mjitkop, I have made use of your "create channels list in csv format" script a few times already. It has served me well. Since my stroke a few years ago, I get easily overwhelmed by too much information. So, it was rewarding to print out all of what amounted to 23 pages, and scratch out about 75% of the channels with pencil. Now, I'm down to 6 pages. (about 400 channels remain in this cut)

OliveTin created by @bnhf is a fantastic compilation of so many tools. It is like my swiss army knife for Channels. Getting Portainer up and running has saved me from losing my mind in dealing with containers. Through OliveTin, I have used the Project One-Click actions to create most of my sources.

This Channels Community, and the official Channels DVR support network, has some brilliant and very helpful folks. While I am not very good with scripts or programming, I hope to offer some help in suggesting and testing new features. I'm a retired engineer looking to entertain and exercise my mind. Feel free to hit me up if you need anything.

[bnhf]

New bnhf/olivetin:latest (aka bnhf/olivetin:2024.08.31) pushed this morning incorporating the latest changes to the Samsung-TVPlus-for-Channels container. Multiple regions and the new playlist URL supported.

Also, beginning with this update to the Docker Compose, I'm adding a comment line to the yaml with the date of the most recent update to the compose itself. This will be reflected across all uses of the compose including the docker-compose for every Channels-related extension thread, OliveTin-for-Channels and Project One-Click.

For example, here's what a typical yaml will look like as a date is added to each (which will happen over time):

version: '3.9'
services:
  # 2024.08.31
  # GitHub home for this project: https://github.com/matthuisman/samsung-tvplus-for-channels
  # Docker Hub home for this project: https://hub.docker.com/r/matthuisman/samsung-tvplus-for-channels
  samsung-tvplus-for-channels:
    image: matthuisman/samsung-tvplus-for-channels:${TAG}
    container_name: samsung-tvplus-for-channels
    ports:
      - ${HOST_PORT}:80 # Use the same port number the container is using, or optionally change it if the port is already in use on your host
    environment:
      - REGIONS=${REGIONS} # Comma separated list of regions to use. us,kr,it,in,gb,fr,es,de,ch,ca,at or all supported.
      - TZ=${TZ} # Add your local timezone in standard linux format. E.G. US/Eastern, US/Central, US/Mountain, US/Pacific, etc
    restart: unless-stopped

  # Default Environment variables can be found below under stderr -- copy and paste into Portainer-Stacks Environment variables section in Advanced mode

[DetroitTV]

How do you add a manual recording with an OTA channel?
I get an error message 'invalid argument' entering channel number as 2.1 or 2-1.

Thanks.

[chDVRuser]

@bnhf will have to change the type for channel in the config.yaml from an int to float or something else that will accept 2.1

      - name: channel
        type: int
        description: The channel number to use for the recording.

[DetroitTV]

Thanks

[bnhf]

@DetroitTV

How do you add a manual recording with an OTA channel?
I get an error message 'invalid argument' entering channel number as 2.1 or 2-1.

Sorry about that. Should be fixed in bnhf/olivetin:latest (aka bnhf/olivetin:2024.09.03).

[DetroitTV]

That works great !
Thanks

[Fofer]

I think this is a good enough tip that it warrants inclusion in OliveTin. A real time-saver for me, at least!

Automatic Channel Collections - INCLUDE sources

This is mostly possible in a round-about way. Under Automatic Channels: Choose sources to exclude: Select all sources except for the one you want to show up in the collection (e.g., Pluto) Enter keywords: Input a single space and press the enter key. It seems to pull in everything under that source with guide data (as I assume just about every program is going to have a single space in it). It’s a pain to maintain, especially if you add/remove sources a lot like I do, but it does work.

Maybe include it as an optional step in Project One-Click?

[hancox]

1. Great idea.
2. I had a "WOOHOO" moment when I saw "completed" state on that post, but it just meant auto-closing after a year. Sigh.

[bnhf]

@Fofer

I think this is a good enough tip that it warrants inclusion in OliveTin. A real time-saver for me, at least!

So the idea here is to be able to create a channel collection that includes the entirety of one or more sources?