# Stream Mapparr A Dispatcharr plugin that automatically matches and assigns streams to channels based on intelligent name matching, quality prioritization, and timezone filtering. ## Features * **Intelligent Stream Matching**: Automatically finds and assigns streams to channels using sophisticated name-matching algorithms * **OTA Callsign Matching**: Direct callsign extraction and matching for Over-The-Air broadcast channels * **Multiple Streams Per Channel**: Assigns all matching streams to each channel, sorted by quality * **Quality Prioritization**: Sorts matched streams by quality (4K → FHD → HD → (H) → (F) → (D) → SD → Slow) * **Channel Visibility Management**: Automatically enables/disables channels based on stream assignments and duplicate detection * **Timezone Filtering**: Automatically excludes West/Pacific coast feeds unless explicitly requested * **Networks.json Integration**: FCC broadcast station database for OTA channel validation * **Channels.txt Integration**: Distinguishes between similar channel names (e.g., FX vs FXX vs FX Movie Channel) * **Customizable Ignore Tags**: Filter out unwanted tags during matching * **Profile & Group Filtering**: Target specific channel profiles and groups * **Preview Mode**: Dry-run CSV export to review matches before applying changes * **Comprehensive Logging**: Detailed matching logic and debug information ## Requirements * Active Dispatcharr installation * Admin username and password for API access * **A Channels Profile other than "All"** ([Profile Documentation](https://dispatcharr.github.io/Dispatcharr-Docs/user-guide/#channels_1)) * Multiple streams of the same channel available in your setup * `channels.txt` file (curated channel list) - included * `networks.json` file (FCC broadcast station database) - included for OTA support ## Recommendation It is recommended to use the [Channel Mapparr Plugin](https://github.com/PiratesIRC/Dispatcharr-Channel-Maparr-Plugin) before using this plugin to standardize channel names. Standardized channel names significantly improve matching accuracy. ## 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 ## Settings Reference | Setting | Type | Default | Description | |:--------|:-----|:--------|:------------| | **Dispatcharr URL** | `string` | - | Full URL of your Dispatcharr instance (e.g., `http://192.168.1.10:9191`) | | **Dispatcharr Admin Username** | `string` | - | Username for API authentication | | **Dispatcharr Admin Password** | `password` | - | Password for API authentication | | **Profile Name** | `string` | - | Name of an existing Channel Profile to process (e.g., "Primary", "Sports") | | **Channel Groups** | `string` | - | Comma-separated group names to process, or leave empty for all groups | | **Ignore Tags** | `string` | - | Comma-separated tags to ignore during matching (e.g., `4K, [4K], [Dead]`) | | **Visible Channel Limit** | `number` | 1 | Number of channels per callsign group that will be visible and have streams added | ## Usage Guide ### Step-by-Step Workflow 1. **Configure Settings**    * Enter your Dispatcharr URL, username, and password    * Specify an existing **Profile Name** (cannot be "All")    * Optionally specify **Channel Groups** (leave empty to process all)    * Optionally configure **Ignore Tags** to filter out unwanted tags    * Set **Visible Channel Limit** (default: 1 channel per callsign group)    * Click **Save Settings** 2. **Load and Process Channels**    * Click **Run** on `Load/Process Channels`    * The plugin loads channels from the specified profile and groups    * Fetches all available streams (handles pagination automatically)    * Review the summary showing channel and stream counts 3. **Preview Changes (Dry Run)**    * Click **Run** on `Preview Changes (Dry Run)`    * Exports a CSV to `/data/exports/stream_mapparr_preview_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv`    * Review matched streams for each channel    * Shows which channels will be updated vs skipped    * Identifies channels without matches 4. **Add Streams to Channels**    * Click **Run** on `Add Stream(s) to Channels`    * Adds all matched streams to each channel (sorted by quality)    * Only updates channels within the visible channel limit    * Enables updated channels in the profile    * Triggers M3U refresh to update the GUI    * Exports results to `/data/exports/stream_mapparr_results_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv` 5. **Manage Channel Visibility (Optional)**    * Click **Run** on `Manage Channel Visibility`    * Disables all channels in the profile    * Enables only channels with 0-1 streams (not attached to other channels)    * Enables only the highest priority channel per callsign group    * Useful for cleaning up duplicate channels    * Exports visibility report to `/data/exports/stream_mapparr_visibility_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv` ## Matching Logic ### OTA Channel Matching (Priority Method) For broadcast channels like "CBS - IN South Bend (WSBT) [HD]": 1. **Callsign Extraction**: Parses channel name BEFORE any cleaning to extract callsign    * Pattern: `NETWORK - STATE City (CALLSIGN) [Quality]`    * Example: `CBS - IN South Bend (WSBT) [HD]` → Callsign: `WSBT` 2. **Direct Callsign Matching**: Searches all streams for the exact callsign using word boundaries    * Matches: `US CBS 22 (WSBT) South Bend/Elkhart Area (H)`    * Matches: `CBS: IN SOUTH BEND WSBT`    * Excludes: `WSBTV` (different callsign) 3. **Fallback to Networks.json**: If direct matching fails, validates against FCC database    * Confirms network affiliation    * Validates state and callsign combination    * Searches streams for validated callsign 4. **Quality Sorting**: All matched streams sorted by quality precedence ### Standard Channel Matching For non-OTA channels, the plugin uses a multi-stage process: 1. **Exact Match After Cleaning**: Matches channel names after removing quality tags    * Example: "TBS [FHD]" → "TBS" matches "US: TBS" 2. **Word Boundary Matching**: Ensures complete word matches to avoid false positives    * Example: "FX" matches "US: FX" but NOT "FXX" or "WFXR" 3. **Longer Channel Filtering**: Uses `channels.txt` to distinguish similar names    * Example: "FX" does NOT match "FX Movie Channel" (different channel) 4. **Call Sign Filtering**: Excludes local TV station call signs    * Example: "FX" does NOT match "WBKB FX (WBKBDT4)" (local FOX affiliate) 5. **Timezone Filtering**: Automatically excludes West/Pacific feeds    * Example: "SYFY [HD]" matches "US NBC SYFY (East)" but NOT "US NBC SYFY (West)" ### Channel Grouping and Priority Channels are grouped by callsign (OTA) or cleaned name (regular): * Within each group, channels are sorted by quality tag priority:   * `[4K]` → `[FHD]` → `[HD]` → `[SD]` → `[Unknown]` → `[Slow]` → No tag * Then by channel number (ascending) * Only the highest priority channels (up to Visible Channel Limit) receive streams ### Quality Sorting Matched streams are automatically sorted by quality precedence: * **4K**: `[4K]`, `(4K)`, `4K` * **FHD**: `[FHD]`, `(FHD)`, `FHD` * **HD**: `[HD]`, `(HD)`, `HD`, `(H)` * **SD**: `[SD]`, `(SD)`, `SD` * **Other**: `(F)`, `(D)` * **Slow**: `Slow`, `[Slow]`, `(Slow)` ## Example Transformations ### OTA Channels (Callsign Matching) **Channel**: `CBS - IN South Bend (WSBT) [HD]`   **Matched Streams**: `US CBS 22 (WSBT) South Bend/Elkhart Area (H)`, `US CBS 22 (WSBT) South Bend/Elkhart Area (F)`, `CBS: IN SOUTH BEND WSBT` **Channel**: `CBS - CA Monterey (KION) [FHD]`   **Matched Streams**: `US CBS 46 (KION) Monterey (H)`, `US CBS 46 (KION) Monterey (F)`, `CBS: CA MONTEREY KION`, `US: FOX Monterey (KION)` **Channel**: `CBS - NM Albuquerque (KRQE) [HD]`   **Matched Streams**: `US FOX (KRQE) Albuquerque Santa Fe (H)`, `US CBS 13 (KRQE) Albuquerque Santa Fe (H)`, `US FOX (KRQE) Alburquerque (F)`, `US CBS (KRQE) Albuquerque (F)`, `CBS: NM ALBUQUERQUE KRQE`, `FOX: ALBUQUERQUE NM KRQE`, `US: CBS 13 Albuquerque (KRQE)`, `US: FOX 13 Albuquerque (KRQE)` ### Standard Channels **Channel**: `TBS [FHD]`   **Matched Streams**: `USA: TBS`, `US: TBS`, `US: TBS` **Channel**: `FX (East) [HD]`   **Matched Streams**: `US: FX`, `US: FX`, `US FX (East) (S)`, `US FX (East) (H)`, `US FX (East) (A)`, `US (F2) FX (East)`   **Excluded**: `US: FX Movie Channel`, `(US) (FOX1) WBKB FX (WBKBDT4)` **Channel**: `SYFY [HD]`   **Matched Streams**: `USA SYFY`, `US: SYFY`, `US: SYFY`, `US NBC SYFY (East) (D)`   **Excluded**: `US NBC SYFY (West) (D)` ### Duplicate Channel Handling **Channels in Profile**: * `CBS - AL Birmingham (WIAT) [FHD]` ← Highest priority (enabled, receives streams) * `CBS - AL Birmingham (WIAT) [HD]` ← Lower priority (skipped) * `CBS - AL Birmingham (WIAT) [Slow] [HD]` ← Lower priority (skipped) **Result**: Only the `[FHD]` channel receives streams and is visible ## Action Reference | Action | Description | |:-------|:------------| | **Load/Process Channels** | Load channels from specified profile/groups and fetch all available streams | | **Preview Changes (Dry Run)** | Export CSV showing which streams will be matched to each channel | | **Add Stream(s) to Channels** | Apply matched streams to channels, enabling highest priority channels in each group | | **Manage Channel Visibility** | Disable all channels, then enable only channels with 0-1 streams (excluding duplicates and attached channels) | ## File Locations * **Processing Cache**: `/data/stream_mapparr_processed.json` * **Preview Export**: `/data/exports/stream_mapparr_preview_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv` * **Results Report**: `/data/exports/stream_mapparr_results_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv` * **Visibility Report**: `/data/exports/stream_mapparr_visibility_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.csv` * **Plugin Files**:   * `/data/plugins/stream_mapparr/plugin.py`   * `/data/plugins/stream_mapparr/__init__.py`   * `/data/plugins/stream_mapparr/channels.txt`   * `/data/plugins/stream_mapparr/networks.json` ## CSV Export Format ### Preview CSV | Column | Description | |:-------|:------------| | **channel_id** | Internal Dispatcharr channel ID | | **channel_name** | Channel name | | **channel_number** | Channel number | | **matched_streams_count** | Number of streams matched | | **stream_names** | Pipe-separated list of matched stream names | | **stream_ids** | Comma-separated list of matched stream IDs | | **will_update** | `Yes` if channel will be updated, `No` if skipped | ### Results CSV | Column | Description | |:-------|:------------| | **channel_id** | Internal Dispatcharr channel ID | | **channel_name** | Channel name | | **channel_number** | Channel number | | **matched_streams_count** | Number of streams added | | **stream_names** | Pipe-separated list of added stream names | | **stream_ids** | Comma-separated list of added stream IDs | | **will_update** | `Yes` if channel was updated, `No` if skipped | | **status** | `Updated`, `Skipped (over limit)`, `No matches`, or error details | ### Visibility Report CSV | Column | Description | |:-------|:------------| | **channel_id** | Internal Dispatcharr channel ID | | **channel_name** | Channel name | | **stream_count** | Number of streams attached to channel | | **reason** | Why channel was enabled/disabled | | **enabled** | `Yes` if channel is visible, `No` if hidden | ## Troubleshooting ### Common Issues **"Profile Name must be configured"** * Enter an existing profile name in the settings * Profile name is case-sensitive * Cannot use "All" - must create a separate profile **"None of the specified groups were found"** * Verify group names are spelled correctly (case-sensitive) * Check available groups in the error message * Leave field empty to process all groups **OTA channels not matching streams** * Verify channel name format: `NETWORK - STATE City (CALLSIGN)` * Example: `CBS - IN South Bend (WSBT) [HD]` * Check that callsign exists in stream names * Review logs for "Extracted callsign" and "Found callsign match" messages * Ensure `networks.json` contains the station data (fallback method) **Too many duplicate channels visible** * Run "Manage Channel Visibility" action * Adjust "Visible Channel Limit" setting (default: 1) * Only highest priority channels per callsign group will remain visible **Channels not matching streams** * Run Channel Mapparr first to standardize channel names * Check that streams exist for your channels * Use Preview mode to see matching details in logs * Verify `channels.txt` contains your channel names **Too many false positives** * Add entries to `channels.txt` to distinguish similar names * Use Ignore Tags to filter out quality indicators * Check logs for matching logic details ### Debugging Commands ```bash # Check plugin files docker exec dispatcharr ls -la /data/plugins/stream_mapparr/ # Monitor plugin activity docker logs -f dispatcharr | grep -i stream_mapparr # View processing cache docker exec dispatcharr cat /data/stream_mapparr_processed.json | jq # Check OTA callsign extraction docker logs -f dispatcharr | grep "Extracted callsign" # Check stream matches docker logs -f dispatcharr | grep "Found callsign match"