Any interest in this potential guide?

[TorontoSage]

I haven't found this customization or any discussion about its potential, hence this post.

Before I installed SageTV recently I always used to go to my customized program guide in Zap2it.com, which is where SageTV gets its program data.

I find myself still going to my Zap2it page on the web because I like to be able to view the program names and descriptions right underneath. It makes it way easier to scan across the screen and down the channel list for programs I might want to record. With SageTV's guide I find myself having to use the remote or keyboad and move across and down and back across the screen all of the time to see the descriptions.

If the program descriptions were in the same box as the program name I would be able to just use the page down key to view the next group of stations. I realize that fewer programs would be able to be viewed because the height of the channel bar would have to be taller, but this would also allow more screen real estate to be used because the description area being used at the bottom of he screen would no longer be required.

Does anyone have any comments about whether this is possible to program or even desireable?

[GKusnick]

Possible to program: Yes, of course. Pretty much any screen layout you can dream up is possible, if you're willing to spend the Studio time coding it.

Desirable: Obviously this is subjective, but personally I prefer not to have too much info crammed into each grid cell. A web browser on a desktop monitor is one thing; a TV across the room at 720p is quite another. Clean and simple is best for that. And when I am sitting at my desktop machine running SageTV Client, it's pretty trivial to just wave the mouse across the grid to see descriptions in the detail panel. No clicking is needed.

But hey, don't let me stop you from creating this customization if you really want it.

[wado1971]

Originally Posted by TorontoSage

With SageTV's guide I find myself having to use the remote or keyboad and move across and down and back across the screen all of the time to see the descriptions.

First, I like the idea and think it would be a nice alternative. Second, I think in general the program guide could use some optional viewing layouts to satisfy various user preferences.

In my case, I found the placement of the description field (on top) to be too distracting to the eye with all that text flipping around. So, I just released an import which changes the layout to my liking. It was relatively simple to create -- http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39995

[TorontoSage]

Yes I did see that when I did a search before I started this post to see if my proposed guide had already been done by someone.

I tried to install it but no luck. Could you maybe include installation instructions with the download? I looked at other installation instructions for other STVi's, as I assume they must be the be same, but no luck.

Also, when you install it do you have the option of not having both modifications or do you have to include one with the other?

[wado1971]

Originally Posted by TorontoSage

I tried to install it but no luck. Could you maybe include installation instructions with the download?

Looks like this import is also set to 'disabled' when it's originally imported - check your config options to ensure it's "on". I'll update my first post to include more detailed instructions.

Originally Posted by TorontoSage

Also, when you install it do you have the option of not having both modifications or do you have to include one with the other?

That import gives you both mods but are on/off independently. If your going to give studio a shot, it might be a good template to use (although it obviously has some issues at the present time )

[TorontoSage]

Originally Posted by wado1971

Looks like this import is also set to 'disabled' when it's originally imported - check your config options to ensure it's "on". I'll update my first post to include more detailed instructions.

That import gives you both mods but are on/off independently. If your going to give studio a shot, it might be a good template to use (although it obviously has some issues at the present time )

I've only been using SageTV for a couple weeks. I am not sure how you turn things 'on'. All of the other installation instructions just ask you to import them. Where are the configuration options to set STVi's on? (I have gotten the other STVi's I've chosen successfully installed, btw)

[wado1971]

Originally Posted by TorontoSage

I have gotten the other STVi's I've chosen successfully installed, btw

Ya - sorry about that, the install had issues, but I just posted a new version which should work much better. Reply over in that thread if you have any more problems with the import.
rob