Antennapod: Option to export/import database
It would be handy to have a way to export the AntennaPod database and import it into a custom build for testing, or when moving between the Google Play and F-Droid builds. As it is now I have to manually keep track of downloaded/played episodes.
This is not a high priority thing for me though.
TwoD
All 22 comments
What exactly do you mean "database"? The list of feeds can already be exported as an OPML file. Other data like downloaded files, queue & waiting list can be backed-up with 3rd-party apps. I've used TitaniumBackup & oandbackup successfully so far.
Cathryne
on 16 Mar 2014
I'm talking about the contents of /data/data/de.danoeh.antennapod/databases/Antennapod.db.
I don't need it for backup, but to seamlessly move between builds. F-Droid keeps lagging behind because of minor changes to this repo or the build process - the maintainers simply block releases without notifying the project when that happens - and I often want to try a new release while maintaining the state of the app (given the DB is still compatible, of course).
I can pull the database out by performing a backup, using methods described on http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9997976/android-pulling-sqlite-database-android-device and even if I'm able to "restore" a modified backup to say the debug build of AntennaPod (installed in parallel with the regular release), it's really annoying to have to go through that each time.
I don't know if Titanium or oand support "restoring" just the database to a different app than the backup was made from, but I doubt it.
TwoD
on 16 Mar 2014
Ah, OK, thanks for explaining. My use-case is apparently much simpler.
Cathryne
on 16 Mar 2014
Antennapod does use a lot of data so I've been considering downloading episodes on an Android gadget with Ethernet and moving them via sdcard once a week. If there was a _desktop_ companion, like old-school podcatching, then this (marginal) use-case would be fully satisfied. If Antennapod were able to guess the database based on directory structure then any desktop podcatcher would work.
dalb8
on 7 May 2014
I think having a database export and import functionality is far too complicated and, in general, not worth the effort: I estimate implementation takes at least 10 hours (coding, testing, fixing stuff, pull request, review...). As most likely only a very, very small percentage of users would actually use this feature, I'd like to spend my time on other features...
We have gpodder to keep several devices in sync. You can even have several different configurations by creating multiple accounts (I have a gpodder account for everyday use and one for debugging).
mfietz
on 9 May 2015
The gpodder integretion does not keep episodes in sync at all, only subscriptions. I can't even tell which episodes have been listened to from their website, and other devices are completely unaware of what I've listened to on my phone. The issue to actually implement episode syncing has stalled: #542
Import/Export does not seem to be difficult at all, given there are plenty of code examples:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/18322401/is-it-posible-backup-and-restore-a-database-file-in-android-non-root-devices/18322762#18322762
TwoD
on 9 May 2015
The episodes _are_ synced (rather recent feature), the website can even show which parts of the episode were played and which were not. When AntennaPod on another device is synced with gpodder, it should also sync played episodes.
I'm also not very happy with the way the website presents these informations, but the functionality is there.
If it is that easy - pull requests are always welcome!
mfietz
on 9 May 2015
Really? Can you give me an URL to where that information is visible? If this is indeed possible, I apologize for being harsh about it, but I've found no evidence at all that that would be the case. I even tried the gpodder Android app, but that thing is completely useless. It's simply stuck at a "Subscriptions" page and a "No podcasts" text, without any options to even tell which account to use (I even connected my Google account on gpodder.net, but it still did nothing).
TwoD
on 9 May 2015
When logged in:
Community > User Page > Click the Earth icon
mfietz
on 9 May 2015
That does not list anything for me and the box with my stats is not showing any activity at all.
"TwoD is sharing his favorite podcasts on gpodder.net."
(Blank below that)
Then:
- Total Played: 0 Episodes
- Played Last Month: 0 Episodes
- Member Since: okt 20, 2013, 6:52 e.m.
Clicking the Earth icon next to Subscriptions does show me my subscriptions, but just as links to their individual gpodder.net/podcast/wathever pages...
Adding subscriptions on AntennaPod does make them show up on gpodder, and the other way around, but play state does not appear to sync.
TwoD
on 9 May 2015
Sorry, I was mistaken. Episodes will be synced in the upcoming version 1.2.
Seemed a really long time ago, that I implemented that feature - has only been a month.
As I'm mostly running dev versions, I often get confused which features have already been released and which haven't.
mfietz
on 9 May 2015
Oh, that explains it!
No worries about the confusion, I have the same problem with a few projects I manage so I know the feeling. :)
TwoD
on 9 May 2015
If i understood it right antennapod could zip the whole directory with all files and the database in an archive and restore it on the new phone. I think this will be less developing than a proper export, but would work for most "new phone" problems.
HolgerJeromin
on 31 Dec 2015
I'd suggest that we extend export opml for this. The user should be able to choose if she wants to dump the database (either copying the db file or dumping [SQL] it) or create human-readable textfiles. Subscriptions will be written to an OPML file, queue, favorites (tags in general) could be written to a M3U file etc.
mfietz
on 8 Feb 2016
Would this also include the played episodes? So I can backup/restore which episodes I already listened to?
If yes, how can I help adding that feature? Have you already started? Which file types do you prefer? I don't want to start working without knowing that my pull request is going to be accepted ;)
ByteHamster
on 4 Mar 2016
When you described your use cases you ommit one, and by far, one of the most interesting one.
The user which is changing his device. It occurs for every user, every one to four year.
It is actually impossible to reinstall antennapod without losing the subscriptions, and the database of the read episodes.
And in this specific case, it is really annoying if you use to listen more than 10 feeds.
woyczek
on 26 Apr 2016
@woyczek I though I had mentioned that already, but reading back I see you are correct. Thank you! This is indeed a good reasons a full DB export feature would be useful.
The gpodder integration helps quite a bit with not losing subscriptions, but I can see why some users may not want to rely on a third party fort that.
TwoD
on 26 Apr 2016
In my case the gpodder sync did not worked. Sync from the old device worked (saw episodes online), but the new device did not fetched the state.
After a few hours i gave up and entered all 15 podcasts by hand to speedup the change of device. I had luck, that nearly none podcast had unlistened episodes. Thats why i did not file a bug report here
HolgerJeromin
on 26 Apr 2016
i hope this future too.
https://github.com/AntennaPod/AntennaPod/wiki/FAQ
Q: How do I keep my set up when changing to a new device?
OPML export -> not favorite data exported
gpodder.net to sync -> i need local only
If your old device is rooted -> not rooted
all data backup and export . old device to new device.
local only. not rooted device please.
fushihara
on 29 May 2016
Some people would like to see an option to include the downloaded files themselves in the export. (see #2218) Combined with #889, I think, what people are requesting, is 'just' advanced export.
Use cases I've seen so far:
- moving between builds (https://github.com/AntennaPod/AntennaPod/issues/377#issuecomment-37763953)
- moving between phones (https://github.com/AntennaPod/AntennaPod/issues/2321#issue-225948718)
- general back-up
keunes
on 6 May 2017
As I did not manage to transfer my subscriptions including played state to my new phone using gpodder, I wrote a quick-and-dirty import/export functionality. This is really quick-and-dirty, import and export are done in the splash activity to ensure nobody has already opened the database. Whatever, it worked for my use-case. Maybe I will do a proper implementation some day
ByteHamster
on 28 May 2017
Apologies if this was covered, I'm struggling to understand if this is the same issue. I care mainly about not losing my list of played and favorites. I want a backup in case my device gets damaged etc. and one that would thus be usable and retain played and favorites if I had to move to a new device.
If this is covered by this issue, then I give it a +1, it was quite frustrating to lose my record of plays and favorites once before.
wolftune
on 8 Jul 2017
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Most helpful comment
Apologies if this was covered, I'm struggling to understand if this is the same issue. I care mainly about not losing my list of played and favorites. I want a backup in case my device gets damaged etc. and one that would thus be usable and retain played and favorites if I had to move to a new device.
If this is covered by this issue, then I give it a +1, it was quite frustrating to lose my record of plays and favorites once before.