TV Episode Download improvements

[Sypher]

Hi,

Since TV series are getting a bigger part of attention in Sabnzbd, I would like to request some additions to this.
It would be nice if Sabnzbd could track which episodes have been downloaded already.

For instance, If a user downloads [an episode] in 720p quality, it should record that it downloaded [that episode].
If for some reason a same file comes available (WebDL), which still matches the 720p filter, it shoudln't dowload the file agin seeing it already has downloaded it.

I would really like to see this feature, because sometimes duplicate downloads occur due to WebDL.
Filtering on WebDL isn't really an option either, since some releases are only WebDL and thus you would be missing out on some releases.

What do you guys think? Is this do-able?

Another way (probably easier) is to make the RSS system adaptable so it calls a script which decides whether it should be downloaded or not.
This way, a user can build a script that can keep track of the user's episodes.

[Eejit]

Wht would this be needed to be incorporated within SAB?
There are a few add-on's that are simular to this already. Episode Butler & Media Rover to name but two.

[inpheaux]

What the hell is WebDL and why are you convinced that some releases "only" show on it? Scene releases of everything go to usenet. Usenet should be enough for everyone.

If WebDL is some other peer-to-peer thing, we won't be integrating it, and this is better handled by some third party app.

[Sypher]

Wht would this be needed to be incorporated within SAB?
There are a few add-on's that are simular to this already. Episode Butler & Media Rover to name but two.

Why would I want to use a third party app if my favorite could do it ?
Also, I'm using Linux so that limits my options.

EpisodeButler apparently supports linux but I dont have (nor want) a premium newzbin account.
MediaRover doesn't seem to be doing stuff I want.

What the hell is WebDL and why are you convinced that some releases "only" show on it? Scene releases of everything go to usenet. Usenet should be enough for everyone.

If WebDL is some other peer-to-peer thing, we won't be integrating it, and this is better handled by some third party app.

WebDL is "just" a release type.
Its usually a release (720p) without any overlays of the network (logo's and other annoying crap). So its still usenet & sabnzbd related.

For instance:
"Normal" release: [series.episode].HDTV.XviD-2HD
"720p" release: [series.episode].720p.HDTV.x264-IMMERSE
"webdl" release: [series.episode].720p.WEB-DL.H264.DD51.myTV

The point is: When [an episode] has been downloaded, it shouldn't be downloaded again even if the release type is different (like for instance WebDL)

[shypike]

There will be a pre-queue user script in release 0.6.0

[Sypher]

There will be a pre-queue user script in release 0.6.0

Cool! For now I'll have to figure out a proper workaround.

Is there a way to read the "downloaded through RSS" files? The .sab files in the cache directory don't seem to contain this info.

[shypike]

Stay away from these files.
The format may change over releases and they are not
suitable for access by multiple programs (Windows would prevent this).

[Sypher]

Stay away from these files.
The format may change over releases and they are not
suitable for access by multiple programs (Windows would prevent this).

I understand, but I was looking for a way to figure out which files were downloaded using RSS.

[inpheaux]

WebDL is "just" a release type.
Its usually a release (720p) without any overlays of the network (logo's and other annoying crap). So its still usenet & sabnzbd related.

[...]

The point is: When [an episode] has been downloaded, it shouldn't be downloaded again even if the release type is different (like for instance WebDL)

Still sounds like something that should be (and is) handled by a third party app. I'm pretty sure you can do what you want with mediarover. If you can't, ask in their thread for help.

[Sypher]

Still sounds like something that should be (and is) handled by a third party app. I'm pretty sure you can do what you want with mediarover. If you can't, ask in their thread for help.

But there is no need for a third party app if Sabnzbd had a (basic) implementation of this.
I usually try to minimize the amount of dependencies needed to run something. Especially since you never know what will happen to them.

Mediarover is - as fer as I can see - "just" a sorting & cataloging app. It does things I don't need, use nor want.
I don't need cataloging nor renaming.
Especially because I let Sabnzbd place it into a \series\showname\Season x\ directory without touching the filename itself.
I don't do renaming of the episode since it isn't useful in my setup, which is fully automated.

The only thing I need is that it stops downloading the same episode again even though the RSS rule matches.
I cannot add a ignore rule for WebDL because some releases are only WebDL, or because normal caps could be posted later.

Normally I did a daily manual "Force Download", but since I'm all for automating things I've decided to enable the automatic RSS downloading feature.
Apart from the multiple (and unnecessary) downloads I've had the past week, its working extremely good.

[JohnSCS]

Sypher,

For all of the TV Series that ONLY come in WebDL, place these above the Reject WebDL filter. For example

Code: Select all

Accept - showname*720*WebDL (the show that comes only in WebDL format)
Reject - WebDL (reject all WebDL formats from here down)
Accept - Showname2*720 (show that comes in just 720)

While this is very crude, it will work most of the time. You may miss an episode occasionally, but it should help reduce multiple downloads of the same episode.

[ZeroGhost]

well. yes and no..

some series, sometimes use Web-DL so you dont ALWAYS want to block it..

however.. today i downloaded 3 series episodes (auto download via RSS) and only 1 of them was a new episode. the other 2 were later posted Web-DL rips. and thus useless downloads. so if something can keep track of WHAT you have downloaded instead of the precise name, what would help so that you dont have to block off web-dl entirely (since sometimes eps only come by that route) and so that you wouldnt download stuff twice.

@ inpheaux
why would it have to be a 3rd party app (IF!) Sabnzb could have it itself?
its always gonna be better when its incorporated into the main program and not a plugin. plugins also have a lot of downsides.. can make the main program unstable, use more system resources, its something separate that you have to update manually as well.

[switch]

Such features incorporated into the main program could place the program into a grey area of legality which we would prefer not to pursue.

[Sypher]

Such features incorporated into the main program could place the program into a grey area of legality which we would prefer not to pursue.

I understand you don't want SABnzbd to fall in to a grey area (neither do I) but nevertheless I have to disagree with your statement.
This will not change the legality at all.

This only filters out duplicate downloads (stops them before they start). Since there is already a "TV show parser", this is a great addition for it.
It saves time, diskspace, makes the queue cleaner and the user wastes less bandwidth on files they'll delete right after they've been discovered/detected.

This isn't a request to add WebDL functionality but for an "Duplicate Episode Filter" (unless its an REPACK|PROPER|DIRFIX), somewhat like the duplicate NZB feature & RSS cache

[wally007]

I have to side with sab's developers on this.

I think this is area where plugins should come in.

By the way , Media Rover does pretty much same thing except that WebDL stuff that i heard here for the first time. Once it downloads the episode, it WILL NOT queue that episode again.

Media Rover rules and can be configured to do pretty much everything or just one thing. Once it gets preferred quality setting Kierse talked about few days ago in Media Rover thread it'll be perfect.