Channel Mapparr

A Dispatcharr plugin that standardizes broadcast (OTA) and premium/cable channel names using network data and curated channel lists. It supports multiple country databases and offers advanced organization features.

Features

• Multi-Country Support: Load channel databases for multiple regions, including US, UK, CA, AU, BR, DE, ES, FR, IN, and MX.
• Category-Based Organization: Automatically move channels into specific groups based on their content category (e.g., News, Sports, Entertainment).
• Customizable OTA Formatting: Use tags like {NETWORK}, {STATE}, {CITY}, {CALLSIGN} to format broadcast channel names.
• Configurable Fuzzy Matching: Adjust the matching sensitivity threshold to fine-tune accuracy for channel name variations.
• Automatic Update Checking: Checks for plugin updates on GitHub and notifies via the settings UI.
• Intelligent Matching Logic: Handles regional indicators, quality tags, and country suffixes while preventing false positives.
• Configurable Ignored Tags: Define a custom list of tags to be removed from channel names before matching.
• Logo Management: Bulk apply default logos to channels without artwork.
• CSV Export: Preview renaming and grouping changes before applying them with detailed dry-run reports.
• Group Filtering: Target specific channel groups for processing or organization.
• Performance Optimization: Features API token caching and WebSocket frontend refreshes for efficient operation.

Requirements

• Active Dispatcharr installation
• Admin username and password for API access
• Internet access (for version checking and initial database loading)

Installation

1. Log in to Dispatcharr's web UI.
2. Navigate to Plugins.
3. Click Import Plugin and upload the plugin zip file.
4. Enable the plugin after installation.

Updating the Plugin

To update Channel Mapparr from a previous version:

1. Remove Old Version

1. Navigate to Plugins in Dispatcharr.
2. Click the trash icon next to the old Channel Mapparr plugin.
3. Confirm deletion.

2. Restart Dispatcharr

1. Log out of Dispatcharr.
2. Restart the Docker container:

   docker restart dispatcharr

3. Install New Version

1. Log back into Dispatcharr.
2. Navigate to Plugins.
3. Click Import Plugin and upload the new plugin zip file.
4. Enable the plugin after installation.

4. Verify Installation

1. Check that the new version number appears in the plugin list.
2. Reconfigure your settings if needed.
3. Run Load/Process Channels to test the update.

Settings Reference

Setting	Type	Default	Description
Dispatcharr URL	string	-	Full URL of your Dispatcharr instance (e.g., http://127.0.0.1:9191).
Dispatcharr Admin Username	string	-	Username for API authentication.
Dispatcharr Admin Password	password	-	Password for API authentication.
Channel Databases	string	US	Comma-separated country codes (e.g., US, UK, CA).
Fuzzy Match Threshold	number	85	Minimum similarity score (0-100) for matching. Higher values require closer matches.
Channel Groups to Process	string	-	Comma-separated group names for renaming operations. Empty = all groups.
Channel Groups for Category Organization	string	-	Comma-separated group names for category sorting. Empty = all groups.
OTA Channel Name Format	string	{NETWORK} - {STATE} {CITY} ({CALLSIGN})	Format template for OTA channels. Available tags: {NETWORK}, {STATE}, {CITY}, {CALLSIGN}.
Ignored Tags	string	[4K], [FHD], ...	Comma-separated list of tags to remove before matching (handles [] and ()).
Suffix for Unknown Channels	string	[Unk]	Suffix to append to unmatched channels.
Default Logo	string	-	Logo display name from Dispatcharr's logo manager to apply to channels without logos.

Usage Guide

Renaming Channels

1. Configure Settings: Set your Dispatcharr credentials, select your Channel Databases (e.g., US, UK), and adjust the Fuzzy Match Threshold if needed.
2. Load and Process: Run Load/Process Channels. This loads the selected databases and attempts to match your current channels.
3. Preview: Run Preview Changes (Dry Run) to generate a CSV report of proposed name changes.
4. Apply: Run Rename Channels to apply the standardized names.

Organizing by Category

1. Configure Groups: Optionally set Channel Groups for Category Organization to limit which channels are moved.
2. Preview: Run Category Groups Dry Run. This exports a CSV showing which channels will be moved and if new groups (e.g., "News", "Sports") need to be created.
3. Apply: Run Organize Channels by Category to move channels into their respective category groups.

Managing Logos and Unknowns

• Apply Default Logos: If you have channels missing artwork, configure a Default Logo name and run this action to fill in the gaps.
• Unknown Channels: Use Add Suffix to Unknown Channels to tag channels that could not be matched against the loaded databases.

Action Reference

Action	Description
Load/Process Channels	Load channels from API and match against selected country databases.
Preview Changes (Dry Run)	Export a CSV showing proposed renames and match sources.
Rename Channels	Apply standardized names to matched channels.
Add Suffix to Unknown Channels	Tag unmatched channels with the configured suffix.
Apply Default Logos	Bulk assign a logo to channels without artwork.
Category Groups Dry Run	Export a CSV showing proposed channel moves based on categories.
Organize Channels by Category	Move channels to groups based on their category (creates groups if needed).
Clear CSV Exports	Delete all CSV export files created by the plugin.

File Locations

• Processing Cache: /data/channel_mapparr_loaded_channels.json
• Version Cache: /data/channel_mapparr_version_check.json
• Exports: /data/exports/ (CSV previews and reports)

CSV Export Format

The plugin generates CSVs for both renaming and categorization previews.

Renaming Preview:

• dbase: Indicates the source of the match (e.g., Broadcast (OTA), Premium/Cable).
• match_method: Details the specific logic used (e.g., Callsign Match, Fuzzy Match - score: 92).

Category Preview:

• New Group: The target group based on the channel's category.
• Group Exists: Indicates if the plugin needs to create a new group via the API.

Performance Notes

• Token Caching: API tokens are cached for 30 minutes to reduce authentication overhead.
• WebSocket Updates: The plugin triggers a WebSocket frontend refresh upon completion, ensuring the UI updates immediately without a full page reload.
• Bulk Operations: Channel updates are performed in bulk to minimize API calls.

Troubleshooting

• "Logo not found": Ensure you are using the logo's display name from the Dispatcharr Logos page, not the filename.
• "No match found": Try lowering the Fuzzy Match Threshold slightly (e.g., to 75 or 80) if channels are being skipped due to minor spelling differences.
• Database Loading Errors: Ensure the Channel Databases setting uses valid 2-letter country codes (e.g., US, UK).
• Update Checks: If the version check fails, ensure your container has internet access to reach GitHub.

License

This plugin integrates with Dispatcharr's plugin system and follows its licensing terms.