BackupSettings for Tv Server and Media Portal

BackupSettings V1.2.0.11 released on 02.Feb.2012

- No more manual typing of user settings after a clean reinstall of TV Server and Media Portal
- The plugin will export all TV Server user settings into a .xml file, which can be imported after a clean install
- This includes the settings of cards, TV channels, radio channels, tv groups, radio groups, schedules, recordings, EPG data, general settings, recording settings and plugin settings.
- It also creates a backup of your Media Portal user settings, plugins, skins, input device mappings, thumbs and the database.
- the plugin can be used with or without Tv server installation

Requirements:
MediaPortal/TV Server 1.0.1 or 1.0.2 or 1.1 or 1.2
Windows XP SP3 , Vista SP2 or Windows 7 (32bit or 64 bit)

Standard installation paths

Installation for all users:
- Start the MediaPortal Extension Installer (MPEI) which can be found in your MediaPortal program directory and install BackupSettings
- In the BackupSettings Installer window click "Install" (make sure you read the manual)
- After the installation exit the installer, finish, and enable the plugin in the TV server configuration if you have TV server installed (default for most users) or in the MediaPortal -> Other Plugins section if you have a Client only installation

For Users with a TV Server only Installation: The MPEI installer will unzip all files in the
%PROGRAMDATA%\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Installer\BackupSettings folder. If
you have a computer with a TV server only installation you can copy this folder to the TV
server and install it there.

Known Issues:

- installer bug if you are using non default installation paths for MediaPortal (will be fixed in the next version)

- if you export into an existing old backup folder you will get an exception error. In that case just repeat the export once again (will be fixed in the next version)


- for users of MP1.0.x the mpi installer is no more supported. Please use the BackupSettingsVx.x.x.x.Release.zip and unzip it. Then start install.exe
-In case of any installation issues please download from the forum thread BackupSettingsVx.x.x.x.Release.zip and unzip it. After unzipping start install.exe. Do not start install.exe outside the zipped folder.

Quick Usage:
Select a foldername for the backup directory
Check TV Server if you want to backup / restore the TV server user settings
Check Media Portal if you want to backup / restore Media Portal user settings
Hit the "Export button" to backup your current settings. The data structure of the backup directory will be explained in the manual
Hit the "Import" button to restore all your current settings from a previously saved backup folder
Before you upgrade to a new MediaPortal Version make sure you did an export with the latest BackupSettings plugin version

Tip Upgrading to 1.2
If you upgrade to 1.2 none of your backed up plugins or skins will work. That´s why
BackupSettings will not copy any of your plugins or skins between a 1.1 and a 1.2 version
· If you downgrade from 1.2 to 1.1 you must do a complete uninstall of the MediaPortal
Tvserver first before installing 1.1 or your system. You must choose during uninstalling the
option “Full Media Portal Product Cleanup”. Otherwise your BackupSettings import will
cause an exception error.

Tip: Upgrading from version 1.00 or 1.02 to 1.1
Step1:
Download the latest BackupSettings plugin version in this post BackupSettingsVx.x.x.x.Release.zip, unzip it
and make a complete backup of your data by using the default options.
Step 2:
Install MediaPortal 1.1 by doing a clean install (no upgrade).
Step 3:
Open the new Media Portal Extension installer in your MediaPortal program directory
and download the latest online list. Select BackupSettings and install it.
Step 4:
Now do an import of your previous backup folder.
Step 5:
Reinstall your plugins and skins from the internet to make sure they are compatible with
MP1.1 or MP1.2. There were major program changes and many old plugins and skins will not
work with MP 1.1 or MP1.2. Also your music data base needs to be recreated again. In the Tv
Server configuration go to “Recording Settings” -> “Database Import” and click “Import
selected files”. In the Mediaportal configuration go to Music->Music Database and
remove the checkbox “Only update new”. Then click “Update database”. Other
databases may need to be regenerated as well.Other data bases may have changed, too.
Old Tv server plugins will not be copied over by BackupSettings, because they will not
work for sure. This is the tough part, but most developers have specified on their home
page if the plugin is compatible with version 1.1.

● Tip: The client backup/restore on the Media Portal setting tab should no more be used as I
plan to delete it in one of the next versions unlessl I am getting postings not do so. This part
has become legacy and a much better way of backup/restore is to install the Media Portal
plugin on your client computer. Just run the normal install process and the installer will pick
the Media Portal client plugin for you if no TV server has been installed on the computer.

Important:
In case of problems please enable the setting "Verbose Debug" and post your TV server log file e.g.
C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal TV Server\log\tv.log
The file size can be large - please be patient during export/import

Version History:
Version 1.2.0.11 released on 08.Feb.2012
• bug fix: was not exporting episode name - please redo an export after the installation

Version 1.2.0.10 released on 29.Jan.2012
• bug fix in SQL query of settings during export from 1.2.0.9
• bug fix with verbose debug setting

Version 1.2.0.9 released on 28.Jan.2012
• severe bugfix for importing settings - you must do an export with this version first!!!
• added easy/expert mode

Version 1.2.0.8 released on 12.Dec.2011
• “C” button will remember last drive letter letter
• fixes for stretching GUI
• fixed invalid + like “PowerScheduler++” for import/export

Version 1.2.0.6 released on 22.Sep.2011
• fixed bug in installer. If you could install 1.2.0.5 there is no reason to upgrade.

Version 1.2.0.5 released on 18.Sep.2011
data are incompatible to previous versions! So you must do an export with this version first before importing!

• added general database query for all settings. So the plugin will now export/import all settings. By that future setting changes and plugin settings will be automatically covered
• between up/down grading from MediaPortal 1.1 to 1.2 the mpei installation directory will no more be restored as it can include incompatible plugins.

Version 1.2.0.4 released on 10.Sep.2011
• fixed bug in installer to be compatible with 1.2
• fixed bug for verbose debug
• plugins and skins will not be copied over between 1.1 and 1.2

version 1.2.0.3 released on 25.Jun.2011
• bug fix for importing plugin settings of TV Movie Clickfinder
• bug fix for installer on folder priorities

Version 1.2.0.0 released on 04.Apr.2011
• added plugin compatibility check for TV server and MediaPortal plugin
• updated .dlls and structures for MP1.2
• fixed bug with nondefault installation paths
• I also added some additional settings for the future TvWishList and other plugins.

Version 1.1.0.1 released on 23.Nov.2010
– added support for iPiMP plugin
– removed 4k limitation for added folder import/export
– updated 4k import/export limitation for TvWishlist
– removing old version of online videos (onlinevideo.dll) after restore
This version is not compatible to the backupdata of older versions! Please create a new backup
first!

Version 1.1.0.0 released on 23.Aug.2010
– bug fix in assembly properties
– autocreation of exportfolder if "C" is being clicked
– removed MediaPortal Client mode (use BackupSettingsMP instead)
– added network provider for CAM settings
– added plugin support for For The Record Recorder/Tuner
- the source code is now published for Microsoft Visual C#2010 project file

Version 1.0.6.0 released on 16.Apr.2010
– supporting MP1.1RC2
– supporting new MPEI2 installer
– bug fixes on progress bar
– supporting WebEPG Tvserver plugin
– updated settings (checked with MP 1.1RC1)
– added extra folder for export/import
– changed skins and languages to "not overwrite" for MP_USER_FOLDER
– bug fixes on restoring data for downgrading version
– added all changes to media Portal plugin BackupSettingsMP

Version 1.0.4.4 released on 09.Feb.2010
- fixed bug in progress bar causing exception and avoided restart of TV server configuration
– added support for TvWishList plugin
– changed directory from TV_PROGRAM to TV_USER for EmailScheduler plugin
– added IPTV channels for import from mvedrina patch

Version 1.0.4.3 released on 20.12.2009
– fixed bug in Installer for unistalling the TV server plugin
– added Win7 64 bit support for autodetection of Program Files (x86)
– colored text in status window for warnings and errors
– MediaPortal Plugin directory search for the MediaPortal plugin
– supported new dll files from SVN1.0.4.24281 for recording and program structure

version 1.0.4.2 released on 10.11.2009
- compatible to latest SVN(tested with 24047) fixing crash during data import
- improving card detection algorithm for changed plug positions
- added progress bar for import/export
- code cleanup of import/export subroutine
- updated MP client version with improved installation routine
Version 1.0.4.0 released on 01.10.2009
- mpi installer is unzipping all files into the Media Portal config directory (%PROGRAMDATA
%) and not into the MediaPortal program directory
– old MediaPortal program directories are being deleted
– fixed autodetection in installer for non English/German XP version in MP1.1beta (thanks to RADPI)
– added CultureInfo.InvariantCulture for DateTime Conversion in export function (thanks to animale81)
– improved robustness of import function for dateTime conversion
– default path C:\MediaPortal Backups used for backup directory

Check the manual for older Version History


I am no more supporting the old .mpi plugin format. users with MP 1.0 need to download the release file, unzip it and run install.exe

The source code of my plugins can be found at huha-mediaportal-plugins
Check for TvWishListVx.x.x.x.Source.zip

great !

Super, this will add some 'joy' to installing and switching between SVN`s.
Thanks.
Ruud.

Hi Huha,
just a first feedback: because I have a TV Server only setup, it the plugin keeps asking me where to find mediaportal.exe (which is not on the system).
Backup works, although I can only conform when I also do a restore
Thanks again.
Ruud.

efla, Ruud,
thanks a lot for your comments. I am very glad to hear that you like it.
Ruud, i just did a bugfix and hope it will work for you. The plugin will now only nag you about the Media Portal directory if the checkbox Media Portal is checked. This will no more be during plugin activation, but when you do an actual import or export operation. So for a TvServer installation without Media Portal you just must never mark the MediaPortal checkbox.

edited:
I removed the old attachement. The latest version of the plugin should be used.

Huha, thanks for your patch. Will test it in a minute. It works!
Just did a reinstall of the sept. 14th SVN because of reported bug in current SVN... so time to test the restore part of your plugin.
Just two minor issues:
1. I do not use the host name but rather my IP address to connect to the server. So a fresh install defaults to host name and restore is not possible because it says that it does not match the host name of the backup, workaround: set tv cards to IP address and then restore.
2. the 'recording settings' -> 'Custom path and file name' are not restored
3. the plugins are not activated and not restored (e.g. conflicts manager, comskip, xmltv) had to do these by hand.

For the rest it works very well: I used to use export (on the channel settings) and then import, but this plugin does so much more!
Thanks,
Ruud.

Ruud,
I will add in the next version a message box, where the user can decide to abort if the server name from TVsettings.xml does not match the actual server name or continue with the import. In the meantime you can edit the file TVsettings.xml in your backupdirectory (do not use the file from the Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal TV Server directory!) with Notepad and change in line 3 the HostName="192.168.xxx.xxx" to HostName="your computername". Then the import should work fine.

I do not understand why the custom paths and file names are not restored.

Also the plugin settings for conflicts manager, comskip, xmltv should get imported. This is independent of having your plugins enabled or disabled. The program will do the export/import for the supported plugins if it finds the corresponding .dll files in the TvServer plugin directory. During debug i found a few issues with importing plugins:
- the conflicts manager plugin can only use AnalyzeMode fast. Whenever i switch to a different mode it will be changed back by the plugin. This should be an issue with conflict manager (version 1.0.0.1).
- the TV Movie EPG import plugin does not reload the channel mappings whenever it gets activated (only during complete initialization of the plugin). That´s why this plugin needs to be disabled manually before data import. If someone has an idea how to do disable and enable plugins automatically by code please let me know.
- the xmltv channel mapping is not supported yet by my plugin. I will work on that in the future.

In order to trace your issues 2. and 3. I would need your exported TVsettings.xml file (Server, cards and plugin sections) and your Tv server tv.log file being generated during the import.

Really useful!
Thanks!

Okay, found a work around that I before importing first set the hostname to IP, then import works.

Okay, will do a test and report back. Currently I have some recordings ahead. Because last two SVN's broke recording and I am using my MP installation in a 'production environment', I am not to mess with this installation for a couple of days, otherwise my uptime KPI will drop and I will suffer severe consequences (at least that is what my wife told me) LOL.

Will get back to you via this thread, thanks for your energy so far
regards,
Ruud.

Requested feedback

Hello Huha,

just upgraded to the latest SVN.... time to put your plugin to the test.
the recording settings not being restores is not true: the restored custom paths are only visible after restarting the tv service setup application.
The plugins are not restored, had to do them manually (not a big issue, but nevertheless...)
requested files are attached.

Thanks again.
Ruud.