TV Manager Add-in for WHS released (Beta)

[bodogbodog]

Topical add-in for members of this community is a TV Manager WHS add-in written by Brent Friedman author of other WHS add-ins FTP Manager and WHS Mobile.

TV Manager is a new add-in for WHS and Media Center that copies your recordings off your VMC to your WHS for storage and management. It comes in two parts. Part One, is installed on the server for management of the Recordings. Part Two, is the Media Center (Vista only) plug-in that copies new recordings over to the WHS deleting the original. It also allows you to watch the recordings like you normally would via 'recorded tv'.

The Media Center plug-in deploys using the console add-in. After clicking the deploy button, on the client install \\SERVER\Software\TVManager_MC.msi

Features:

• Moves the recordings to your WHS for storage, management, and later viewing.
• Allows you to watch the recordings in Media Center as if they were on that PC's library.
• You can delete recordings via Media Center or the Console.
• You can even watch the recordings in other media programs (that support dvr-ms) via 'C:\Users\Public\Windows Home Server\'
• It is and always will be Freeware

Known Issues (to be fixed in beta 2):

• Does not work with Lifextender if it is set to Automatically detect new recordings.
• Only works on Vista.
• Does not work with Scheduled recordings.
• May stop moving files if Media Center is closed after recording.
• Deleting recordings from Console require a restart of Console for changes to appear.

Download TV Manager: Beta 1

Source

The add-in is in beta (Beta 2 due out within the next 24 hours) - any adventurous souls interested in giving it a go and reporting back?

[bodogbodog]

TV Manager Beta 2 is now available.

This version fixes all the known issues with Beta 1 and adds a few new features.

Changes:
• Works with Windows MCE 05 and Vista version with Media Center support.
• Works with Scheduled recordings as long as a user is logged in.
• You can close Media Center right after recording without file movement being aborted.
• Deleting recordings from Console does not require a Console restart anymore.
• Lifextender works using the workaround.
• The Episode listing on the TV Manager page of the Console now shows the episode description along with a friendlier duration.

Upgrade Instructions from Beta 1:
1. Uninstall the TV Manager add-in via the Console.
2. Uninstall the TV Manager plug-in for Media Center via Control Panel (Programs and Features).
3. Install the new TV Manager build from the download link below.
4. Deploy the new Client application via the TV Manager page in the Console.
5. On the MCE/Vista PC install \\SERVER\Software\TVManager_MC.msi
6. You should see a new Vista Media Center icon in your System Tray. If you don't, run C:\Program Files\CompuGeek Software\TV Manager\TVManager.exe

Known Upgrade Issues:
• After upgrading if the TV Manager page in Console crashes when clicking the "Recorded TV" button. Delete Shows.xml in \\SERVER\Videos\Recorded TV\ and copy the already moved shows to the MCE/Vista PC to the Recorded TV directory. The client application will detect the new files and move them back to the server recreating the Shows.xml in the correct format.

Lifextender Workaround:
1. Change Lifextender to monitor the '\\SERVER\Videos\Recorded TV' instead of 'C:\Users\Public\Recorded TV'

Download TV Manager: Beta 2

[saxnix]

Have you go this working? I tried to load it but when reconnecting to the server console, I get the following,

The Windows Home Server Console cannot open becuase the following file is blocking it: HomeServerConsoleTab.TV_Manager.dll.

Do you want to open the Console without this File?

If you click Yes, the Console may start without a feature that is associated with this file. If you click No, the Console will try to open again, using this file.

If I click No, it loads but the tab is not there. I have tried restarting, reinstalling but with no luck. I would really like to get this going, but am stuck. I am using power pack 1.

[bodogbodog]

Originally Posted by saxnix

Have you go this working? I tried to load it but when reconnecting to the server console, I get the following,

[color="DimGray"]The Windows Home Server Console cannot open becuase the following file is blocking it: HomeServerConsoleTab.TV_Manager.dll

I haven't installed it myself - however I have seen reports of others experiencing the same issue - so I'd suggest it's a bug in beta 2 - you can check out the authors blog here and I am sure he will post a revised version of the beta 2 file