Does Channels regularly scan directories and scan for and purge deleted files. I know there is a manual way to do this, which works most of the time. But can Channels do this automatically. If it doesn’t then I recommend this as a feature request. I didn’t see anything about this during my community search, so sorry if this is discussed elsewhere.
Channels does not do this automatically, because it assumes it has control over the directories you define as its DVR storage. If you delete files outside of Channels, it does not have knowledge of this unless told to specifically look and re-assess its directories. (And if you have a large number of recordings, this can take some time.)
Therefore, the best option is to manage your DVR and its files through the DVR software.
I sure hope they don't implement this.
I have a hard enough time dealing with the deletion of local content and their Trash (recycle bin) features, neither of which I want.
Think what would happen if Channels did this automatically and for some reason it could no longer see your imported local content and deleted/removed it. Then when it found them on disk, it deleted them.
That's OK Hun. Channels just deleted our entire Library of ripped Movies and recordings we've been saving for years. What's the problem? No I can't un-delete them, they're gone.
For recordings that Channels made, I have no problem with it controlling those, but don't touch my content Channels didn't record. If someone wants Channels to delete them, make it OPTIONAL for them.
Please, no way.
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You miss understood. I am not suggesting that Channels delete any files automatically. That would suck. I mean, that Channels should checks to see if the files still even exsist, and if not, remove any references to files that no longer exists. I in no way want it deleting files.
I should have said purge “references” to files.
Did you spend any time trying to import and match them.
If they allow editing of metadata or allow importing of subs/trailers/posters/etc. did you spend time importing them.
Like you have a NFS/SMB/etc. share and changed your password and it can't see them, or for any other reason it can't see your imported content which might be on an external USB drive that powered down, etc. Then all your work importing that is in vain.
I just hate the idea of Channels messing with my imported content. Right now it's all on Read-Only SMB mounts to avoid those issues. I would prefer it treats my imported content as being on a DVD/Blu-Ray that can't be deleted/modified.
I believe the OP is referring to recordings the DVR made via jobs/passes, not imported content. I don't believe imported/local content was mentioned at all until you brought it up.
I don't see what the difference is?
The devs have said they'll treat all media the same no matter if it was recorded or imported.They want Channels to be your Library of content, so if it's in the Library, it doesn't matter to them where it came from.
That's where I beg to differ.
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We plan to add an automatic process eventually.
It will put files into a special area of the trash which must be cleared manually. It will also be smart enough to notice when the entire drive is missing to avoid mass-trash.
In the mean time the only alternative is the manual process.
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Would like to know more about this feature. Hopefully means in the Trash indefinitely until removed?
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I think what I’m asking is being way misunderstood. I fear my OP is lost. I am talking about maintaining an accurate record of the movies and shows. I am not talking about channels deleting or moving or renaming or doing anything to any files. I just want channels to be aware when a file no longer exists.
Maybe an alternate explanation. I user have a bag of red and white jellybeans. I show it to you channels. You channels knows there are red and white jellybeans in the bag. Then I user eat all the red jellybeans. I would like you channels to stops telling me there are red jellybeans in the bag.
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When you delete a movie or show imported or otherwise, Channels DVR removes/hides the item from the UI and places the file in the "Trash". Based on the time you selected for items to remain in the trash, it will remain there but otherwise will not show up in the UI. Once the time you selected for remaining in the trash expires, the file is remove from the file system. If you manually "empty" the trash, the file is also removed from the file system.
If you delete it from Channels, it will remember you deleted it.
If you delete it from outside of Channels, how do you think it will remember something it never knew about?
Channel is not removing the file. I am. Using whatever software I want. Not channels. Maybe that is the confusion. Not deleting using channels.
It can scan the directory periodically, which was my OP in the first place.
You're correct. How would Channels know you deleted it?
Don't do that. Use Channels as intended.
I marked this as solved from the first response I got which is basically what you all eventually got to. To let the DVR maintain the files. I should have made it clear I use other software to maintain my files. But I do appreciate your time on this.
Sonarr and Radarr are used for my file maintenance tasks, Plex for server, and Channels for DVR (because it is hands down the best Live/DVR out there). I do let channels take care of it’s own recordings by itself. I was hoping I could also have channels look at the rest of my library and know not to record stuff I already have.
IF you want Channels to control your whole Video Library you can do this by Importing your content not recorded by Channels into Channels.
But then you have to realize that you just told Channels to control all your content.
For me, it's not up to that task yet.
In your situation, the best approach is to schedule a cronjob (or whichever service best fits your OS/use case) to PUT /dvr/pruner/deleted on a regular (daily?) basis.
(As a side note, being clear/specific in your posts can help alleviate much confusion. Knowing your workflow from the beginning would have made this much easier to address.)
I would rather ask about reverse meaning channels remove reference from database when file on disk is not found.
When I cut commercials I prefer to watch lot of content with Infuse, and when I delete track from infuse it is deleted from disk. I don’t mind having marked show as watched in channels because I do this in Trakt.