3 files changed, 36 insertions, 9 deletions
diff --git a/mediagoblin/db/sql/convert.py b/mediagoblin/db/sql/convert.py
index a46d62ea..36d6fc7f 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/db/sql/convert.py
+++ b/mediagoblin/db/sql/convert.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def convert_media_entries(mk_db):
             ('title', 'slug', 'created',
              'description',
              'media_type', 'state', 'license',
-             'fail_error',
+             'fail_error', 'fail_metadata',
              'queued_task_id',))
         copy_reference_attr(entry, new_entry, "uploader")
 
@@ -148,8 +148,7 @@ def convert_media_comments(mk_db):
 def main():
     global_config, app_config = setup_global_and_app_config("mediagoblin.ini")
 
-    sql_conn, sql_db = sql_connect({'sql_engine': 'sqlite:///mediagoblin.db'})
-
+    sql_conn, sql_db = sql_connect(app_config)
     mk_conn, mk_db = mongo_connect(app_config)
 
     Base.metadata.create_all(sql_db.engine)
diff --git a/mediagoblin/db/sql/extratypes.py b/mediagoblin/db/sql/extratypes.py
index 3a594728..8e078f14 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/db/sql/extratypes.py
+++ b/mediagoblin/db/sql/extratypes.py
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 
-from sqlalchemy.types import TypeDecorator, Unicode
+from sqlalchemy.types import TypeDecorator, Unicode, VARCHAR
+import json
 
 
 class PathTupleWithSlashes(TypeDecorator):
@@ -35,3 +36,28 @@ class PathTupleWithSlashes(TypeDecorator):
         if value is not None:
             value = tuple(value.split('/'))
         return value
+
+
+# The following class and only this one class is in very
+# large parts based on example code from sqlalchemy.
+#
+# The original copyright notice and license follows:
+#     Copyright (C) 2005-2011 the SQLAlchemy authors and contributors <see AUTHORS file>
+#
+#     This module is part of SQLAlchemy and is released under
+#     the MIT License: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php
+#
+class JSONEncoded(TypeDecorator):
+    "Represents an immutable structure as a json-encoded string."
+
+    impl = VARCHAR
+
+    def process_bind_param(self, value, dialect):
+        if value is not None:
+            value = json.dumps(value)
+        return value
+
+    def process_result_value(self, value, dialect):
+        if value is not None:
+            value = json.loads(value)
+        return value
diff --git a/mediagoblin/db/sql/models.py b/mediagoblin/db/sql/models.py
index b6377172..699dbf33 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/db/sql/models.py
+++ b/mediagoblin/db/sql/models.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm.collections import attribute_mapped_collection
 from sqlalchemy.sql.expression import desc
 from sqlalchemy.ext.associationproxy import association_proxy
 
-from mediagoblin.db.sql.extratypes import PathTupleWithSlashes
+from mediagoblin.db.sql.extratypes import PathTupleWithSlashes, JSONEncoded
 from mediagoblin.db.sql.base import Base, DictReadAttrProxy
 from mediagoblin.db.mixin import UserMixin, MediaEntryMixin, MediaCommentMixin
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class MediaEntry(Base, MediaEntryMixin):
     license = Column(Unicode)
 
     fail_error = Column(Unicode)
-    fail_metadata = Column(UnicodeText)
+    fail_metadata = Column(JSONEncoded)
 
     queued_media_file = Column(PathTupleWithSlashes)
 
@@ -214,10 +214,12 @@ class MediaTag(Base):
         creator=Tag.find_or_new
         )
 
-    def __init__(self, name, slug):
+    def __init__(self, name=None, slug=None):
         Base.__init__(self)
-        self.name = name
-        self.tag_helper = Tag.find_or_new(slug)
+        if name is not None:
+            self.name = name
+        if slug is not None:
+            self.tag_helper = Tag.find_or_new(slug)
 
     @property
     def dict_view(self):