Troubleshooting & FAQ
MacOS and all other operating systems are fully supported using the four Docker paths and the Python path. There are even specific directions in the Python path for creating your own application on that OS. However, without physical copies of machines with those operating systems running, I cannot create a stand-alone application for that particular environment. Installing Docker Desktop is free and fairly easy. After that, it is basically a copy & paste job from the details in this repo.
Unlike Windows, Linux comes in many, many flavors. While I have attempted to capture most major situations, there isn't a good way to deal with all of them. There are just too many variables and I cannot provide support for all possible configurations. It is highly recommended to install Docker Desktop to create the necessary standardization. Otherwise, follow the Python path for a self-deployment.
[GEN] After an install/upgrade, the program won't start. Looking at the logs, it appears to be in an infinite loop trying to connect to justwatch.com.
This is a safety check in all versions of Streaming Library Manager to make sure it doesn't delete everything in case there is an issue. If you see this behavior it means that either you are having an internet issue, JustWatch is down, or JustWatch is refusing your connection. Some potential resolutions include:
- Trying again later.
- Making sure there are no filtering mechanisms like a VPN or router-level blocker involved in the connection to JustWatch. JustWatch may see connections from things like a VPN as an attack and block them.
- Rebooting your router.
- Releasing your internet service provider's assigned IP address and then rebooting your router to get a new one (as the old one may be refused by JustWatch).
First, make sure you have selected the correct country code and saved. If that is already done, please make a request for the missing service by filling out this form. Note that JustWatch is responsible for the availability of Streaming Services and SLM is just a downstream consumer.
[SLM] What is the difference between Streaming Services with similar names (i.e., Apple TV vs. Apple TV Plus or Amazon Video vs. Amazon Prime Video)? Should I select both, or is it redundant?
JustWatch is responsible for the list of Streaming Services and their definitions, as such there is no specific guidance from the perspective of this program. However, it is most likely a question of content. For instance, "Apple TV" is Apple's generic name for all streaming content available for purchase and/or rent, just as "Amazon Video" is for Amazon. Each have exclusive content available for paying subscribers, hence "Apple TV Plus" and "Amazon Prime Video". Notably, in these highlighted examples, if you make your settings to have either the basic tier or the subscription tier as the top priority, the Stream Links that are generated will be exactly the same, therefore they will launch the same apps on your device. Due to this, if you have access to the subscription tier, then it may be redundant to have both. Nevertheless, that might not be the case for these or other services with multiple tiers and/or separate apps.
For example, say your Streaming Services were this:
Then, if you add About Schmidt, it will end up with an Amazon link:
But if you do this:
You will end up with Apple links:
Yet, if you do this:
You end up with no Stream Link:
It is all a function of what services you have selected and the data on JustWatch. As such, it is up to you to manage your services and find the best combination that works for your particular use case.
While new Streaming Services are brought online and shut down on a regular basis, they also sometimes just change names. Any name change will result in the "old name" being removed and the "new name" being added. If this happens to you, all you need to do is return to the Settings area, add the "new name", and prioritize it. The next time you generate your Stream Links, any missing Movies and Shows that were removed will be recreated. Remember, there is a difference between "bookmarking" a Movie or Show and having Stream Links for it.
JustWatch is the provider for all of the information. If there are any issues, please let them know by filling out this form or emailing them at feedback@justwatch.com. It is unlikely that they will make an update in a timely manner as they are also dependent upon upstream data, so please take advantage of the manual and override capabilities built into the program, or using mapping if possible.
SLM is completely dependent upon Movie and Show data from the JustWatch website, which in turn is a consumer of other upstream data. There may be a gap in any of those steps along the way, especially for non-domestic content and independent studios. Sometimes, though, you may even be able to see the content on JustWatch but are unable to find it in this program. There appears to be a small gap of time (usually one or two days) for some content to be completely discoverable by the tools that this program uses.
[SLM] I'm able to bookmark a Movie or Show and I know it's on a streaming service I've selected, but a Stream Link still won't generate
Go to the JustWatch website and search for it on there. A Movie or Show might be available, but still be missing links to the appropriate streaming service. If it is brand new, it might also take a day or two until they update their data, which is what SLM uses. Should the links be missing on JustWatch, submit a request by filling out this form or sending an e-mail to feedback@justwatch.com. If you can confirm JustWatch has a working link on there and it still won't show up in this program, please submit an issue request with as much detail as possible. There may be an edge case for how that particular Movie or Show is stored on JustWatch that this software has not accounted for.
[SLM] I generated my Stream Links when I bookmarked my Movie/Show, but it didn't show up in Channels
Generating the Stream Link(s) is not enough; you need to update personal media from within Channels so that it appears inside that interface. There are several ways to deal with this. First and foremost, within this software, under Automation in MTM, is a button that will do all the necessary steps:
However, it is worth noting that there is a setting in Channels for how often it scans for personal media:
As such, you could just wait for that to run if you have it set for a particular interval.
[SLM] A Stream Link generated and the Movie or Show is available in Channels, but when I click to launch it, I get an error. It works in the web, though. | The Stream Link works on one platform like iPad OS but does not work in another like tvOS.
There are two main potential situations. The most likely one is that the Streaming Service's app itself is written incorrectly and cannot accept "deep links". Without this, options are limited. First, you can request the app developers to update their program, but it is highly unlikely they will do so in a timely manner. In a similar vein, they may have programmed it to accept "deep links", but only in a certain way. If there is a systematic method to do a replacement in the generated link, then it could be added to SLM in the Stream Link Mappings setting. For instance, JustWatch provides a link for Amazon content like watch.amazon.com/detail?gti= and, by default, this program replaces it with www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/. If this is the case, please add a new mapping. Among these mappings, you could even launch the application directly, such as using the intent:// command on Android/Google TV. Should this be your situation, please let the community know about your mapping and, if it is useful for many people, it will be added to the default list that comes with a new installation.
There is also the possibility that the link cleaning and replacement process that this program is doing is overzealous. Please also put in a request for those situations and examples of working Stream Links.
[SLM] Why do some things play the correct movie/episode automatically and why do others go to a generic landing page for that movie/show?
There are two components that relate to this. First is the quality of the links provided by JustWatch. For instance, with Disney+, JustWatch only has links to generic landing pages and does not have individual episode information like it has for Hulu. There is nothing that can be done aside from requesting that JustWatch updates their data.
The second situation is that even though JustWatch provides links to more generic areas, there may be systematic ways to correct them. As an example, JustWatch provides a link to a movie on Netflix that looks like this: http://www.netflix.com/title/81078554. However, if you replace title with watch, it will play automatically. This being a “systematic way” to do a replace, it was included in the Stream Link Mappings settings as highlighted above. If you have more examples that could be accomplished this way, please let the community know. If they are deemed beneficial for other users, they will be added to the default list that comes with a new installation.
There is no "right way" to approach this; PLM is a tool to use as you please, with thousands of possibilities on what you might want to do. While one user might desire to have PLM playlists be the only sources in Channels, others will not choose to go down that path. For instance, there is no great replacement for how Channels handles TVE (unless you have Frndly or use ADBTuner or CC4C for every station), so a user who wants those stations would have to keep that as a source no matter what, just at a lower priority so it is not used by default.
In the end, it's totally up to the end user how far they want to take this. Give it a try, play around, and see what happens. There's no danger in just starting PLM up!
There are too many potential sources to answer that question. Most available m3u playlists can be imported directly, so that is one-for-one. For something like the HDHR, you could do this:
http://hdhomerun.local/lineup.m3u
or...
http://[IP_ADDRESS_OF_HDHR]/lineup.m3u
However, if you do that, you must set your Gracenote ID at the Parent level correctly. Similarly, you could use tools like ADBTuner or Chrome Capture for Channels for getting more "traditional" cable/TVE stations into Channels. PLM will accept playlists for both of those and plenty of other tools discussed elsewhere.
[PLM] None of my m3u/XML links work and I see errors like WARNING: m3u URL not found for '[MY_M3U_OR_XML]'. Skipping...
First, make sure your link is http instead of https as that latter may not be able to be read. Next, there may be an issue with how the program is trying to talk to certain location, especially if that location is in-network and/or you are using Docker; most especially if you are going container-to-container. In either case, the potential solutions are, instead of http://localhost:[PORT], try:
http://[COMPUTER_NAME].local:[PORT]http://[IP_ADDRESS]:[PORT]http://host.docker.internal:[PORT]
Also, you can test these in the Channels URL section of Settings, making sure you get a positive response. Just be sure not to save!
If you see a situation like this...
... the most likely culprit is the file type for the images. The Channels DVR apps require images to be either .png or .jpg, unlike the web which can accept about anything.
[MTM] I set the scheduler for a certain time and it is running hours earlier/later. | The time showing in the logs is wrong.
Follow the directions related to "TIMEZONE" in the installation steps above.
This block is just an indicator to let you know nothing is stuck and that things are still running in the background. For actions that last less than a couple of seconds, not enough time will pass to begin to fill it in. For anything longer, you will see information fill up to the top, but it will all clear out when the process finishes running. However, there are some issues with certain browsers like Safari where it seems incapable of displaying what is happening. Rest assured that although the background process is running as expected, you can always verify in the logs if desired.
For general Streaming Library Manager support, please visit the Channels Community Message Board or open a question under Issues above. Otherwise, for specific extension questions, see:
Image (edited) courtesy of SpaceX, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.