Sceduling XML TV

[kevin_c]

Hi all,

I have XML TV set to run on startup because I don't have my PVR on all the time. However it runs over GBPVR. Is there a way to get the batch file to run in the background, or to force GBPVR to grab the foreground.

Also, downloadin gthe datafile seems to take a long time. 15-20 minutes. Is that normal. I haven't got many channels.

thanks

[ricklous]

Theres a bunch of command line options on the wiki which you can use to control gbpvrs behaviour. " -topmost" is probably the one you're looking for.

[kevin_c]

Ah, brilliant. Thanks a lot.

Don't know how I missed those command-line options before!

[HtV]

Hi all,
Also, downloadin gthe datafile seems to take a long time. 15-20 minutes. Is that normal. I haven't got many channels.

thanks

XMLTV tends to take a long time, however you might be able to configure some settings.
I've mine setup to load 7 days (the max), once it has done that, I set it to only load the 7th day and the first (today) everyday to have the latest changes in the schedule.
Then it takes about 20 min for me to download 25 channels with info.
So your 15-20 mins don't look so bad.

[birty]

what are you using to download your listings? the radio times data should only take a few seconds per channel to download (unless on dialup but even then no more than 30 secs/channel)

[Jim_]

XMLTV tends to take a long time, however you might be able to configure some settings.
I've mine setup to load 7 days (the max), once it has done that, I set it to only load the 7th day and the first (today) everyday to have the latest changes in the schedule.
Then it takes about 20 min for me to download 25 channels with info.
So your 15-20 mins don't look so bad.

Hi HtV,
I'd very much like to setup my grabber to do this also, and I’d be very grateful for any tips or directions you could share.
I tried it with an older version but didn’t have any luck, so I ended up configuring my updateEPG.bat to grab 13-days every 4-days.
Could you share the batch file you use, or do you have a link that explains (in non-programmer terms) the steps for grabbing and joining the files? If joining of grabbed xml files is even needed?

Thanks!
Jim

[Jim_]

I re-read the post I'd found at Zap2It talking about incremental updates using xmltv, and realized it didn’t work because the author left out a very necessary command.
It seems that every thread I find on xmltv assumes that the reader already knows everything about how it works! I feel like I’m learning the Klingon language or something every time I want to do a simple task with this utility….
Anyway, it works now, & rant over.

This is what I ended up with, and the initial tests indicate that it’s working fine!

Code:

REM UpdateEPG.bat
REM
REM First run configures the grabber with your Zap2It username & password.
REM and downloads 13 days of listings (as set by "DAYS=").
REM
REM Additional runs do incremental downloads (today & tomorrow + Days 12 & 13)
REM
REM Incremental update can be reset (a "next run" complete EPG update) by deleting "XMLTV.xml"
REM Example, if you notice a day is missing in the middle of your guide, delete "XMLTV.xml"
REM and the next automatic epg update will fix the hole.


C:
CD "C:\XMLTV\"

SET GRABBER=tv_grab_na_dd
SET NAME=North-America
SET XMLTVDIR=C:\xmltv\
SET DAYS=13
SET OFFSET=0
SET DESTINATION=.\%NAME%.xml
SET TZ=-0000

SET CMDLINE=%GRABBER% --days %DAYS% --offset %OFFSET% --output "%DESTINATION%"

REM This configures your grabber. It will ask some questions.
IF NOT %GRABBER% == "tv_grab_na" GOTO no_config:
%XMLTVDIR%\xmltv.exe %GRABBER% --configure
GOTO just_grab

:no_config
IF EXIST .\.xmltv\%GRABBER%.conf GOTO JUST_GRAB
%XMLTVDIR%\xmltv.exe %GRABBER% --configure

:just_grab
if exist %XMLTVDIR%\XMLTV.xml goto incremental
%XMLTVDIR%\xmltv.exe %CMDLINE%
CleanXMLTV North-America.xml --output XMLTV.xml
goto end

[COLOR="Red"][B]:incremental
%XMLTVDIR%\xmltv.exe tv_grab_na_dd --offset 0 --days 2 --output 0.xml
%XMLTVDIR%\xmltv.exe tv_grab_na_dd --offset 11 --days 2 --output 1.xml
%XMLTVDIR%\xmltv.exe tv_cat 0.xml 1.xml >incremental.xml [/B][/COLOR]
CleanXMLTV incremental.xml --output XMLTV.xml
goto end


:end

[HtV]

Hi HtV,
Could you share the batch file you use, or do you have a link that explains (in non-programmer terms) the steps for grabbing and joining the files? If joining of grabbed xml files is even needed?

Thanks!
Jim

I don't think that would help you very much becaus I'm using a dutch grabber to grab from the dutch internet-tv-guide.

Do you have a ini-file for your grabber, where you can configure settings.

[Jim_]

Hi HtV,
I've only found a conf file with the grabber I’m using.
I was just grasping at straws, hoping that they were close to the same.
Everything worked out in the end, it just took a little longer to figure out than I’d expected.

Jim

[HtV]

Hi HtV,
Everything worked out in the end, it just took a little longer to figure out than I’d expected.
Jim

Good for you