[RELEASE] Stream Link Manager for Channels

[scottuf]

That would be good, though it's not a dealbreaker. I was responding to the poll about other features to be added to the search and this is what I came up with.

[babsonnexus]

@Fofer

I hope you’re able to incorporate that because it would be super useful

@scottuf

That would be good

Still a WIP, but let's say I have Streaming Services with a preference of this:

And then I add this movie that is available on Netflix and Hoopla:

I now have a Special Action selection:

If I just generate my Stream Link while leaving on Special Action == None, I end up with the Netflix link:

But if I modify that to be Prefer: Hoopla and regenerate my Stream Link, I instead end up with the Hoopla link:

I'll be expanding this to Show episodes next, and make sure when adding the program you can automatically push the Special Action to all episodes or all episodes of a season, just like the Watched / Unwatched status.

What's that? Oh, yes, I did secretly use this opportunity to incorporate STRM file support!

Import Content from Streaming URLs with Stream Files

[NeilSingerman]

Hello, I running Docker on my Macintosh what is the docker instruction to get Stream Link Manager for Channels?

Thanks

[cyoungers]

Thank you @babsonnexus for creating this tool. Other than trying out one or two STRM links in the past to see if it worked, I never used this Channels feature. Seemed like too much work. Well SLM changes everything. I wanted to get into the testing but did not have the time to devote to following the development. Now that it's released I got it working. Excellent documentation! Congrats!

Now to load up some links...

[Fofer]

As a fellow Mac user I can recommend a path that has proven to be VERY convenient and efficient, and that is first installing Portainer and then OliveTin. Because OliveTin includes an easy installer for Stream Link Manager and so much more.

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

I've been working on a Channels DVR specific version of the OliveTin project. The idea is to make this a central interface for the various scripts people have developed, and miscellaneous tricks that require Python, cURL, jq or whatever. I'll build and maintain the container, including whatever dependencies are required for your favorite script or command line magic for Channels DVR. Here are some screenshots of a few things I have running so far, just to give you an idea of what's possible. I'…

[NeilSingerman]

Thanks

[babsonnexus]

@NeilSingerman

what is the [...] instruction to get Stream Link Manager for Channels?

All instructions are fully detailed on the GitHub repo as covered in the first post:

@babsonnexus

Read more and follow the installation / upgrade / usage instructions here:

GitHub - babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels: Effortlessly manage all your streaming Movies and TV Shows in one place with this custom add-on for Channels DVR

Watch the video here:

[Fofer]

@babsonnexus

Still a WIP, but let's say I have Streaming Services with a preference of this:

This looks fantastic. Thoughtful and efficient. Bravo

@babsonnexus

What's that? Oh, yes, I did secretly use this opportunity to incorporate STRM file support!

Holy mackerel! That's a slam dunk! I'll be creating a lot more now. Thanks to SLM! The possibilities seem endless

Oh, and another completely-unrelated tip to anyone following along: the Internet Archive is a great resource.

[NeilSingerman]

I am getting this error when I try to log in again after I restarted my computer, Docker is running no issues.

Access to localhost was denied

You don't have authorization to view this page.

HTTP ERROR 403

[babsonnexus]

Going to need a lot more info. Please provide the following:

1. What setup did you use? I know you were using Docker, but which path did you take? Please screenshot your setup, including environmental variables. Did you change the port or use the default one? Is something else running on the same port that was not up before you rebooted?

2. Are you on the same machine as the Docker host? localhost only works on that machine. What happens if you use the IP Address or machine name? What happens if you open the link from with the Docker Container?

3. Take a screenshot of the Docker Container, or perhaps all of the Containers. Is there a conflict there? Is it showing that it is up and running?

4. If the Container is up and running, go to the Logs and give me what it is in there? Did it actually start, or did it fail for some reason? If JustWatch was not reachable for any reason when you started the Container, it would refuse to start to protect itself from accidentally deleting everything. Have you tried restarting the Container? Does that make an impact?

[NeilSingerman]

Thanks for your response I deleted the first docker and did a second one. I am up and running

[babsonnexus]

A very large update in v2024.09.25.1141 has been released as stable. Here are the highlights:

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@scottuf

I had been watching on P+ so I'd want links to come from that to continue what I'm watching, but if my sources were in a different order, I'd see that SLM is trying to pull the stream link from Netflix. This would let me know that I need to adjust something.

@Fofer

The benefits of how it follows our prioritized subscribed streaming services and keeps the Stream Links always updated is a killer feature. However, it kind of interferes a bit with the other use of Stream Links, which is my primary use case thus far, that is, linking my library of purchased content. In my example, I want these titles always launching in the store I bought them or the store where I redeemed a code. Personally I don't care if a purchased title also happens to be on Max this month, I want to link to my purchased version, with all the extras, opening in AppleTV+, all the time.

This has been addressed with the introduction of Special Actions!

* NEW: 'Special Actions` added to bookmark statuses, 'Add Programs', and 'Modify Programs'
* NEW: 'Special Actions' allows the user to select a 'preferred' Streaming Service for a particular Movie or Episode(s)
* NEW: Future proof to be able to add new functions to CSV files, if necessary

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@Naonak

Is there a way to schedule a refresh of all metadata for imported strm files?

@babsonnexus

I pulled this out of code I'm using for Stream Link Manager for Channels (still in beta development). If I'm feeling froggy at some point in the distant future, I might add .strm file support.

I was feeling froggy and Stream Link Manager for Channels now supports Stream Files (STRM)!

Import Content from Streaming URLs with Stream Files

This includes the reprocess function that refreshes metadata.

* NEW: STRM (Stream File) support
* NEW: 'Special Actions' allows the user to make a STRM (Stream File) link instead of a Stream Link
* MODIFIED: Reprocess function now takes STRMs (Stream Files) into account

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@babsonnexus

I was experimenting with adding images to search results

@babsonnexus

Given the real estate and to keep things uncluttered, I believe only one additional data point should be added, so which would you like to see?

@Fofer

Yes, in that case, it does change my vote, over to IMDB.

And IMDB was the winner! You can now see that below the description of the program. More so, the box art is now visible, too, for all searched content!

* ADDED: 'Add Programs' area now shows posters and IMDB Score for 'Search' and 'New & Updated'
* MODIFIED: When adding a Movie, can now select Watched/Unwatched status at time of creation

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Minor housekeeping:

* MODIFIED: In 'Modify Programs', last selected program now remains after "Finish / Cancel"
* MODIFIED: Many layouts adjustments for 'Add Programs' and 'Modify Programs' to accommodate all of the above

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@NeilSingerman

I am getting this error when I try to log in again after I restarted my computer

@babsonnexus

If JustWatch was not reachable for any reason when you started the Container, it would refuse to start to protect itself from accidentally deleting everything. Have you tried restarting the Container?

@NeilSingerman

Thanks for your response I deleted the first docker and did a second one. I am up and running

Just in case, I have made a modification. If your internet is slow to come up during a reboot, SLM will loop testing for the JustWatch website until it is able to connect. This actually eliminated the last thing that could cause an intentional exit and dealing with certain timers. Hopefully should make things even more stable in the future, especially for new users.

* MODIFIED: Initialization process now loops on testing engine url (justwatch.com) instead of exiting
* DEPRECATED: 'pytimedinput' is no longer used and has been removed

[Fofer]

Absolutely, positively, outstanding achievement. I’m floored. Congrats again! I feel like more CDVR users should know about SLM. It’s quickly obvious how fantastically useful of a tool it is, and your thorough documentation and consideration of every detail throughout, have been really remarkable.

Here’s something I experienced too that I thought would be helpful to share now that we have such manual override control. Using “The Sopranos” as an example I found that the MAX deeplinks, that worked fine on my Mac, didn’t work on tvOS. There, they’d just take me to the show’s landing page in the MAX app, as the FAQ said might happen in some instances.

After tinkering around with different deeplink formats and not getting anywhere, I instead set the series to use AppleTV as its preferred service, because it’s indexed there as a MAX show. And deeplinks on tvOS work perfectly with the TV app. Now, when I select a “Sopranos” episode in Channels, it opens the TV app first, to the detail page for that episode, with just one extra click to play the correct episode directly in MAX, on any device, Mac, iPhone, iPad or AppleTV. Excellent!

I’ve consolidated my ~1500 purchased movie titles and have now added dozens of TV shows too. SLM has been a game-changer for my library, now truly consolidated, finally, in CDVR.

These new features are perfect. Thank you!

[daldana7296]

Not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I could use some ideas. The streamlinks created through this great plugin are working fine on my Shield and PC, but I get a "Connection Lost" error message and "Recording Corrupted" when I try to play through an Android phone. Any thoughts?

[cyberskier]

@Fofer

Absolutely, positively, outstanding achievement. I’m floored. Congrats again! I feel like more CDVR users should know about SLM

Maybe more than just at CDVR users. I was at lunch today with a couple friends, and we were talking about what is on our “to watch list”. I pulled up a Personal Section in Channels that had several shows I want to watch from different streaming services. They were blown away when I explained how it worked, as one of them had just been lamenting that he can’t see in one place all the shows he wants to watch.

[Fofer]

Exactly! I brought it up at a dinner party this weekend too, lol.

There’s always been sites like ReelGood and JustWatch to keep track of our queues. Or “Up Next” on tvOS, for almost everything, except Netflix of course. Now finally with CDVR + SLM we have a single platform that can aggregate our shows and movie collection in a very personalized way. And it’s not just for tracking the shows but it’s also a launchpad to organize and view them, that actually works. My friends were impressed. Suffice it to say that conversation will likely be bringing in new CDVR users soon.

SLM got me really appreciating the stream link format! I’m pretty sure Kodi supports them too. Not Plex though.

[babsonnexus]

@daldana7296

Not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I could use some ideas. The streamlinks created through this great plugin are working fine on my Shield and PC, but I get a "Connection Lost" error message and "Recording Corrupted" when I try to play through an Android phone. Any thoughts?

I don't think it's you. I'm also having a weird one on Android Mobile where the Stream Links are opening in a browser instead of opening the apps. @anizocani, @maddox, @tmm1, @eric, submitted diagnostics: f6900b08-7d96-45b6-8f74-8cff00a43dad

[babsonnexus]

@Fofer

I’m pretty sure Kodsi supports them too. Not Plex though.

I know Kodi supports Stream Files, but I haven't been able to confirm if they could actually support Stream Links. Maybe someone who has it could let me know and what would be necessary to support their setup. I don't even want to bother dusting off my Lifetime Plexpass to try integrating anything into that dumpster fire.

[babsonnexus]

@Fofer

I feel like more CDVR users should know about SLM.

@cyberskier

Maybe more than just at CDVR users.

@Fofer

Now finally with CDVR + SLM we have a single platform that can aggregate our shows and movie collection in a very personalized way.

I believe I'll make a small demo video, like less than 8 minutes, demonstrating the functionality as a general concept. You know, just adding a Movie, adding a show, doing some of the overrides, showing what happens in Channels... just kind of bare usage stuff. Then, I was also thinking about doing a write-up on Medium and Vocal, more narrative focused about the journey of trying to find and create a unified media solution that just works.

In the meantime, @maddox, how about the next "Channels Update" email highlights some of the community projects like this one, Project One-Click, EPlusTV, Pluto/Plex/Tubi, etc.... I know there is the Community Contributed Projects area on the main webpage, but I don't know how many users (existing or new) ever visit that page or saw the Mastodon post. Looks like the page could use a bit of an update, too, with a lot of great recent additions!