def __db_connect(schemacheck=True):

  # connect
  args = []
  if dbhost: args.append( ('DBHostName', dbhost) )
  if dbname: args.append( ('DBName', dbname) )
  if dbuser: args.append( ('DBUserName', dbuser) )
  if dbpass: args.append( ('DBPassword', dbpass) )
  db = MythDB(args=args)
  log = MythLog(module='RerecordLater', lstr='important')

  # schema version check
  if schemacheck:

    print 'DB SETTINGS: ' + repr(db.settings.NULL.RerecordLaterDBSchemaVer)

    if db.settings.NULL.RerecordLaterDBSchemaVer == None:
      # first time run, auto install
      log.log(
        MythLog.IMPORTANT,
        'RerecordLater database does not exist, creating it.'
      )
      action_install(db)

------------ snip ---------------

# --install handler
def action_install(db=None):
  if not db: db = __db_connect(schemacheck=False)
  db.cursor().execute("""
    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS rerecordlater(
      chanid INT(10) UNSIGNED,
      starttime datetime,
      timeout datetime
    )
  """)
  db.settings.NULL.RerecordLaterDBSchemaVer = schema_version