Summary
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NEW: [GEN] Streaming Library for Media Players Edition
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MODIFIED: [SLM/MTM] Rebuild of Core Stream Link/File Manager Functionality
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MODIFIED: [GEN] Sorting Options and Controls
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[GEN/SLM/PLM/MTM] Other Updates
NEW: [GEN] Streaming Library for Media Players Edition
There is a new Edition of Streaming Library Manager that joins the existing "for Channels DVR" and "Solo Edition" options. In this "for Media Players" one, much of the existing functionality that is built-in for Channels DVR is ported over, allowing users of media player servers that accept Stream Links and/or Stream Files to be able to get the generated necessary files. This means that programs like Infuse can now fully take advantage of Stream Link/File Manager without any workarounds!
Complete details are available here:
This closes out #81.
MODIFIED: [SLM/MTM] Rebuild of Core Stream Link/File Manager Functionality
Stream Link/File Manger has been 85% rewritten from the ground up in an effort to simplify interactions, make maintenance easier and cleaner, introduce new capabilities, improve performance, and future proof against planned and unplanned functionality. These changes include, but are not limited to:
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A single, clean location called 'Manage Program' has been created for adding and editing all programs, including videos. This completely deprecates 'Add Programs', 'Modify Programs', and 'Manage Videos'. Details can be found here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Bookmarking-and-Managing-Programs
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Searching has clearer messaging and unlimited filter functionality. Details here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Searching-for-Movies,-TV-Shows,-Videos,-and-Channels
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'New & Updated' is now a range of dates instead of just a single day. Details here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Search-New-&-Updated
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Instead of manually searching using either of the two methods above, you can now have a 'Feed' run on a regular schedule that will build up the results until you are ready for review. Further, you can have results be automatically bookmarked/hidden using the 'Auto-Mapping' functionality. Complete details here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Feed-and-Auto%E2%80%90Mapping
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Bookmarking/Hiding can now be accomplished in one step in an expanded search/feed results area. You no longer have to go through the two screen process, although that option is still available by selecting one the of 'edit' choices. Further, there are massive amounts of 'quick actions' you can do while executing, such as setting watched/unwatched status, assigning labels, importing metadata, and more! Further information can be found here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Selecting-from-Search-Results
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When adding a manual program, all necessary selections happen on the first screen. Learn more here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Adding-Manual-Movies,-Shows,-and-Videos#general-manual-considerations
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YouTube Playlists that are imported into SLM can be kept in sync as new videos are added, as if they were new episodes. This is discussed here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Adding-Manual-Movies,-Shows,-and-Videos#importing-playlists
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When modifying a program, especially a TV Show, there is no longer a checkbox for seasons and all episodes or anything similar. Instead, there is a box for 'Global' controls that can push modifications down to individual items using either direct selection (i.e., 'All Season 02', 'Everything through Season 06') or with filter functionality. As part of this, only 100 detail items are loaded at a clip, meaning that this much faster and shows with thousands of episodes are no longer a performance or crash issue! More about this can be found here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Modify-Programs#global-controls
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Movies and TV Shows can now have metadata imported, both from JustWatch and video providers like YouTube, depending upon your source. This is especially useful when Channels DVR cannot find a match or the match is missing pertinent information like the duration. Additionally, automation tries to correct imported metadata on a regular basis if certain conditions are met. And as part of all these changes, fixed the summary field so it now remembers carriage returns upon save. Much of this can be reviewed here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Bookmarked-Programs-%E2%80%90-Advanced-Selections-and-Overrides
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Ability for new TV Show episodes to automatically have metadata imported. This is covered in part here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Bookmarked-Programs-%E2%80%90-Bookmark-Actions
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Video order on the webpage is reflective of the value set by users and generally matches to what would be seen in Channels DVR (there are some disagreements of exactness like how to order items that have the same release date or ignoring articles with alphabetical sorting). See this for additional details: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Manage-Videos
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'Check Availability' has been replaced with 'Examine', which means the user can see the original search results data for a program, including its description. More information here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Examine-Programs
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Users can choose to add 'TV Show Titles' and/or 'Episode Titles' to Stream Link/File file names. Details here: https://github.com/babsonnexus/stream-link-manager-for-channels/wiki/Usage-%E2%80%90-SLM-%E2%80%90-Settings:-File-Name-Options-for-Stream-Links-and-Files
And these are just the big ticket items! There are so many small adjustments and changes that are just too numerous to list. Suffice to say, the entire experience has changed and will be much easier for new users, but still familiar to long-term ones.
All of this closes out #77, #82, #84, #85, and #87. Also, along with everything else in this release, Milestone3 has been completed!
MODIFIED: [GEN] Sorting Options and Controls
Sorting had several issues that needed to be addressed. First and foremost, users now have complete control over which articles (i.e., 'the', 'a', 'an') are ignored at the beginning of a text phrase. Complete details are available here:
Further, additional updates were made so that numbers in the initial word spot are treated as their values in full. That means that numbers will now appear in correct order first before letters, excluding articles.
This resolves #79.
Other Updates
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FIXED: [MTM] Some reports could crash with data issues. This has been fixed and closes out #83.
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FIXED: [PLM] Station check could destroy child to parent mapping in certain conditions. This has been fixed. Additionally, some website may engage in a human check, thus making them inaccessible for PLM. A warning will now be given to users and recommendation for workarounds. These items resolve #89.
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MODIFIED: [GEN] 'About' area has fixed credits and a new tip image.
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MODIFIED: [GEN] The sanitize function for making sure file names are safe for all OSes is now using a more comprehensive whitelist instead of a limited blacklist. WARNING: This may cause some directories and/or videos to be recreated with new names that are acceptable in this function, but they will be created anew during the regular processing. You may have to rematch in Channels DVR in some special situations. Characters that were previously allowed but now are not include, but is not limited to the following: ; ’ – ► ◄ “ as well as ... . Due note that this only affects file names, not program, episode, or video titles from the overrides.
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FIXED: [MTM/SLM] Pushing metadata to Channels DVR was not taking into account situations where it would not be necessary, resulting in errors in the logs and unnecessary processing.
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MODIFIED: [GEN/SLM/PLM/MTM] Many, many, many other small backend code adjustments for performance improvements, readability, logging, and future proofing.
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MODIFIED: [GEN] Documentation updates to support all of the above. This resolves #86.