New XMLTV Import Tool

[KFH]

Hi. I am using your very useful program to create a list of channels on my STB; there is on epg available for my area. I am using the following in the xml file:

<tv>
<channel id="1somechannel.com">
<display-name lang="en">1 some channel</display-name>
</channel>
<channel id="2somechannel.com">
<display-name lang="en">2 some channel</display-name>
</channel>
....
</tv>

I see in your program that it sets the CallSign and Number also. Can I make this a part of the xml file?

Thanks.
Khurram.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by KFH

I see in your program that it sets the CallSign and Number also. Can I make this a part of the xml file?

No, not with the current version (this may change with version 3.x).

[rtengvad]

Hi Stephane

I saw yesterday that in my recordings was listed "The Terminator". I was puzzled because I've not asked Sage to record that movie. So I opened the file and it was another movie Hidalgo that I indeed recorded a few months back (March 25). The show info for Hidalgo has been updated with show info for The Terminator that was on the day before (March 24).

Sage has told me that my epg import tool has updated the info because the show ids are the same:

"They're IDs are the same and the EPG update process occurred between those 2 entries in the log. So the XMLTV importer called AddShow w/ the same external ID for Terminator that the DB was already using for Hidalgo (which caused it to match that object and then update its info to be that from the new show)."

Why is that happening now after several months? And any ideas how can I avoid it in the future?

Thanks Rasmus

[StephaneM]

Hello,

Originally Posted by rtengvad

I saw yesterday that in my recordings was listed "The Terminator". I was puzzled because I've not asked Sage to record that movie. So I opened the file and it was another movie Hidalgo that I indeed recorded a few months back (March 25). The show info for Hidalgo has been updated with show info for The Terminator that was on the day before (March 24).

Yes this can happen. Assigned EPGID are being held in the lookup.xml file. The EPGID will expire after a year to keep the lookup.xml relatively small.

The EPGID only expires if it was unused for a year (for instance the EPGID may have been created three years ago but episodes was actively airing for two years keeping alive the EPGID, then airing was stopped for more than a year and the EPGID expired).

When EPGID expires, they are reused if you ran out of "brand new" EPGID. EPGID are like this : AAXXXXXXYYYY, AA = is prefix for Series, Movies, Show, XXXXXX = is the series number, YYYY = is the ep. number. When XXXXXX is 999999, you have to start out with 000001 again.

Though in your case this should not have happened (the movie was recorded in March so the EPGID should not have expired). What version of the Importer are your running? Have you updated the Importer recently?

Regards,
Stéphane.

[rtengvad]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

Though in your case this should not have happened (the movie was recorded in March so the EPGID should not have expired). What version of the Importer are your running? Have you updated the Importer recently?

I've used the latest ver 2.8 since you released it. The current version hasn't been touched since I did a rebuild of the server in January.

Thanks
Rasmus

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by rtengvad

I've used the latest ver 2.8 since you released it. The current version hasn't been touched since I did a rebuild of the server in January.

I can't know for sure what happened. If you want you can bakcup the lookup.xml file prior each update. Then if it happens again you'll send me the lookup.xml backup and your current XMLTV file as well as the name and EPGID of the show that has been updated.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[rtengvad]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

I can't know for sure what happened. If you want you can bakcup the lookup.xml file prior each update. Then if it happens again you'll send me the lookup.xml backup and your current XMLTV file as well as the name and EPGID of the show that has been updated.

I've seen it a couple of times before and I just assumed that Sage had recorded somthing by mistake. But know I think its this. Ill see if I can create som kind of automated procedure to backup the lookup file every day.

Thanks
Rasmus

[ehanekla]

Hi,

I am using your great XMLTV importer. There's one question for which I could not find an answer in the forums: My XMLTV data uses the additional <icon src=.../> tag to provide an image for some shows. But in the guide I only get some images from IMDB. Is this icon tag supported by your importer? Is it somehow possible to use the image url from the icon tag for the guide instead of the imdb image?

An answer would be greatly appreciated.

Eyk

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by ehanekla

Is this icon tag supported by your importer? Is it somehow possible to use the image url from the icon tag for the guide instead of the imdb image?

No images are not supported. There is some API regarding series or tv editorial, but honestly I don't know how to use them (all info point toward getting information about series or tv shows, but nothing about adding them...), and if it is even possible to use them when importing guide data...

Regards,
Stéphane.

[Whitey]

Stephane, I am using your XMLTV importer along with the digiguide importer posted on these forums for the UK channels. I have read that digiguide provides information for programs that are in HD so is it possible for these HD programs to be different colour in my sage epg? Or at least mention it in the program description? This would be useful for Channel 4HD which only shows a few hours a day a HD programs (the rest is upscaled SD)

Thanks

Whitey

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by Whitey

is it possible for these HD programs to be different colour in my sage epg? Or at least mention it in the program description?

This should already be the case: there is an icon for HD programs in the guide.

[Black Sky]

Hi,
Have been using the plugin sucessfully for a while now with RTimes Data and more recently Digiguide. Have come across a problem tonight I can't overcome.

Backed up my SageTV directory tonight, removed the sources then exited as I wanted to set them up again. Ran the SageTV importer Wizard to import a new XMLTV Lineup (new DigiGuide dload with about 50+ channels). Got to the "Edit Line-ups and Channel" dialog box, (dbox with the 3 buttons, Edit Channels, Edit Ratings, Edit Categories). Edit Channels button can see all the channels, added a couple of channels into a second line-up, click Update back to the 3 button box and the "Next" button is greyed out so cannot contine.

HAve tried variouys thinsg such as Uninstalled and reinstalled the importer (clearing all settings/directories), tried re-importing data that previously imported fine, and "Next" button remains stubbornly greyed out. If i don't use the wizard and use the "Import button" on the main screen, the "GuideData" Folder gets created with its 4 XML files. Log File runs thru the steps reading..adding but 0 programs added, 0 airings updated...Went back to an older SageTV backup but still the same problem.....

Jave is latest version, XMLTV files are good, so stuck on what next to try..
Hopefullly I'm overlooking something simple....

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by Black Sky

added a couple of channels into a second line-up, click Update back to the 3 button box and the "Next" button is greyed out so cannot contine.

Then "Next" button will be grayed out when:

* channels.xml file is not well formed (in C:\Document And Settings\All Users\Application Data\LM Gestion\SageTV XMLTV Importer) or doesn't exist
* you have no channel numbers in the channel list (it needs at least one channel number)

Regards,
Stéphane.

[John@TunerUK]

I've been using this importer for a few months now for my sky EPG, and it works so well I'd like to use it for my freeview chanels too.
The only problem is, a lot of the channels that freeview uses, sky also uses. These are set up on my sky lineup and the far right hand box will only let me choose one lineup for each channel. Is there a way to get them to work on my freeview lineup too? Is that what the 'Additional channels' section is for?

I just want to check before I dive in and break something

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by John@TunerUK

The only problem is, a lot of the channels that freeview uses, sky also uses. These are set up on my sky lineup and the far right hand box will only let me choose one lineup for each channel. Is there a way to get them to work on my freeview lineup too? Is that what the 'Additional channels' section is for?

Yes, exactly. You have to create duplicate of your channels for putting them on the 2nd lineup. Be careful when you duplicate to use the same ID (this will be a lot easier with the new version of the Importer, I don't know when it will be ready though).

Regards,
Stéphane.

[zazz]

Hi StephaneM,

I am getting the following error when trying to use your pluggin. I am currently using the EGP2XML pluggin. I seem to be able to import the XML listings but only once then i get this error. Any idea what it might be? The epg xml file is 30Mb+ so I'm not sure how i can get it too you.

Thanks,

Zazz

[StephaneM]

Hello,

Originally Posted by zazz

II seem to be able to import the XML listings but only once then i get this error: "hexadecimal value 0x19, is an invalid character"

Your XMLTV file is not a well formed XML file, and as such cannot be parsed by the Importer. You'll have to:

* contact the grabber author so that it encode the XML properly
* or correct the error yourself (opening the file in Notepad and going to line 61636, character n°92 on this line and remove it or search "&#019;" or "&#19;" without the quotes, this char is : )

Regards,
Stéphane

[johnw]

I have a problem installing the Importer application. Whether I try version 2.6 on dot net v2.0 or version 3.0 on dot net v3.5, I get the same error message which aborts the installation process "Access to the path 'c:\System Volume Information' is denied". I am loading it on a clean install of XP Pro SP3. A search of this and other threads doesn't appear to bring up any similar instances of the problem. Any ideas??

John

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by johnw

I have a problem installing the Importer application. Whether I try version 2.6 on dot net v2.0 or version 3.0 on dot net v3.5, I get the same error message which aborts the installation process "Access to the path 'c:\System Volume Information' is denied".

Have you already installed SageTV and used it at least one time? If I remember correctly you are getting this error because the Importer cannot find the sage.properties anywhere on your PC.

Also be sure to type the correct path for the SageTV install directory when you set up the Importer, usually it is C:\Program Files\SageTV


Regards,
Stéphane.

[Doubletop]

I spent a number of hours last night unsuccessfully trying to install this as it kept hanging.

I see it is downloading what appears to be 197Mb of .net 3.5 which may explain the 'hang'

Now I'm downloading .net 3.5 separately to see if that was the problem.

The full package is here http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...dotnetfx35.exe