Inspect and download a finished Tvheadend recording deliberately

The useful distinctions

• The finished-recordings view provides recording details and file size.
• Download saves selected finished recordings to local disk.
• Delete removes both selected recording records and associated files.

Identify the event first

A repeated programme title can produce several similar-looking entries. Use the recording’s event details and duration to identify the exact item before downloading or changing retention. A short written check is particularly helpful when the list contains incomplete attempts and completed recordings of the same programme. The selection should reflect the intended recording, not merely the first familiar title in the grid.

Separate copying from removal

The example describes a fictional review copy and makes preservation the immediate goal. Downloading and deleting are different operations with different consequences for the server’s stored media. Check the local result before making a later cleanup decision. This workflow does not use the historical browser VLC-plugin instructions mentioned by the source because those instructions should not be assumed to describe current browser capabilities.

Verify what was preserved

Compare the downloaded file’s identity and usable duration with the selected event. A completed status is useful administrative information, but it is not a detailed quality review of every moment. Keep the source entry while investigating an incomplete or unexpected copy. If the server file is to be retired later, treat that as an explicit retention action with the understanding that deleting the record can also delete its associated media file.

A focused way to proceed

1. Open the finished-recordings list and select the intended event.
2. Inspect its details, title, duration and file size.
3. Choose Download when the goal is a local copy.
4. Verify the resulting local file before considering any separate retention decision.

Worked example · synthetic

Event: Workshop Demonstration
Expected duration: record the selected event’s value
Expected file size: record the selected event’s value
Immediate action: Download a review copy
Retention decision: separate from copying

Read the comparison

A finished event and a downloaded file need identity and duration checks; Delete is a media-removal operation.

When to stop or ask for help

If Download produces an unexpected result, preserve the server record and provide its details and observed error to the administrator.