I-xmltv: TV Guide customization & Zap2It EPG utility.

[Jim_]

You are very welcome, and thank you.
But stay tuned... I have a new update I'll post in a few minutes that replaces Day-1 "Paid Programming" listings with Zap2It subscription status, messages and lineup change warnings.

With that, here are some things that would be cool to see, and the info is already there, it's just a matter of how to access it:

-I'd like a switch option so I can display the episode number only if available in the "onscreen" numbering system. the other system is just too cryptic and clutters up the screen.

Believe it or not, The default switch setting "/oe" does use the "onscreen Episode ID". But sometimes it can be cryptic and long, but with most shows it matches the actual episode number the closest. If "/oe" is not used, the 4-number Zap2It episode number is used.
There may be some onscreen formatting that could be done to the episode numbers, but finding information on "how" or "why" is next to impossible!

- It would be extremely cool to have a "Roll Credits" selection in GBPVRs TVGuide to see all of the info like actors, guest stars, and directors in a rolling pop-up window. This would probably be difficult but could be a long term goal if you were bored

The GBPVR description field has a 128 character limit if my memory is correct, so I cant help you there. No matter how bored I am.
But, ZapTools maintains a separate database and (I believe) doesn’t have this limit, but only if you are viewing descriptions in the Enhance Web Admin.
UncleJohnsBand can fill you in on its use if I'm wrong, or you could ask him in one of the EWA threads.

- A way to format the air date (probably difficult, but I wouldn't know) like mm/dd/yyyy or however your country does it.

I agree it would be nice to have it that way, but with the 128chr description field limit it would require more space.
It's not much work at all to change it, there are just good and bad things about either style.

One question, what did I mess up to cause the first air date to show up twice for some shows, (mostly older shows that are off the air)
here is my command line for TV

Code:

SET TVSwitches=/dd/() /pi/* /tp/-6

That's a good question, I'll check it out.
<edit> I just tried your switch setting and had the same results. I'll see if I can get it fixed, and find out why it happened. thanks!
<second edit> It happens if /dd is used without also using /sx.
<third edit> It was a quick fix, I patched v06.6.5b in post #1. It shoud work properly now, give it a try and let me know.
TIA

Thanks again, very cool, and totally usable just as-is with no changes

Your very welcome, and thank you for feedback on the instructions!

[Jim_]

Updated version has been posted in post #1 of this thread.
I-xmltv v06.6.6b

<Important>
v06.6.5b was in post #1 for just a few hours this morning, it has been updated to v06.6.6b
If you downloaded v06.6.5b this morning, please delete it and use the updated version v06.6.6b.
There wasn't anything wrong with v06.6.5b, but I decided to disabled debug logging to disk in v06.6.6b, and that shoud reduce memory requirements.

I'll leave the previous version in post #1 also. But all my initial tests indicate that the newer version is much better, and very stable!
<end notice>

v06.6.6b
The Zap2It status messages will show up "after" GBPVR does its normal, automatic, EPG update. Please be patient.
From the change log:
Feature added: Paid Programming listings (for the first day only in the EPG) have been replaced with Zap2It subscription status, Zap2It messages, and Zap2It warnings. The xmltv Zap2It warnings and messages are also logged to I-xmltv.log. If you wish to disable this feature change "SET Zap2ItStatus=1" to "SET Zap2ItStatus=0" in UpdateEPG.bat.

If you have a Zap2It or xmltv warning(lineup change or soon to expired subscription), a star is placed behind Zap2It in the TV Guide.

Fixed: /dd would show duplicate dates in the description if /sx was not used.

[valkokir]

Excellent, thanks for taking care of those things so fast, I'll check them tonight. Of course I haven't allowed the program to do it's automatic daily update yet so I'm only assuming that will work, but I have faith. I'll keep my eyes peeled for further updates also. Thanks

[Jim_]

Excellent, thanks for taking care of those things so fast, I'll check them tonight. Of course I haven't allowed the program to do it's automatic daily update yet so I'm only assuming that will work, but I have faith. I'll keep my eyes peeled for further updates also. Thanks

Sounds good,
yea, the Zap2It status fields need an actual Data Direct "1.xml" download to get the messages.



Everyone:

I changed the date and zap2it format a couple of times late last night in v06.6.5, and posted the final zip about 7AM (central US) this morning.
If anyone downloaded it before 7, grab it again to make sure you have the latest build.

One other change with this release.
I’ve updated the xmltv download link in the zip, and for now at least, recommend using xmltv-0.5.42a
You don’t have to switch over. But it’s the version I’ll be using because it has proven to be very stable with my GBPVR system.

[Jim_]

v06.6.5b has been updated to v06.6.6b in post #1
If you downloaded v06.6.5b this morning, please delete it and use the updated version v06.6.6b.
There was nothing wrong with v06.6.5b but I disabled debug logging in an attempt to reduce memory usage.
There is no need for large debug log files, and this change should work better with v97.x.
I’m leaving the last stable release in post #1 also. It will be removed after this version proves to be stable.
Thanks!

[Jim_]

- A way to format the air date (probably difficult, but I wouldn't know) like mm/dd/yyyy or however your country does it.

I've updated post #1 with the final release (I-xmltv v1.0) that will be placed on the wiki when I get a password. The I-xmltv utility package will be listed in the wiki as TVGuide Supercharger!

v1.0 allows the user to format the date anyway they choose.
This is probably closer to the feature valkokir requested.
This change will also allow RecTracker & RenameRecording users to choose a “filename friendly” date format.
A space = " "
"x" = nothing
The date format you enter behind “/df/” must be 5-charactors in length.
/df/Y-M-D = 2006-06-07 This is the default setting used in UpdateEPG.bat
/df/M/D/Y = 06/07/2006
/df/Y M/D = 2006 06/07
/df/Yxxxx = 2006
/df/YxMxD = 20060607 The same as not using the switch at all.

Changes to the utility will be pretty much non-existent from this point forward. I believe everything has been covered.
If you find a problem that needs addressed, or you see something in the manual that needs changed, feel free to post your suggestions.

PS. I'm removing the old beta's to keep everyone on the latest version. If you need one of the old beta's for some reason, send me a PM.

Jim

[Jim_]

The I-xmltv package has been posted to the wiki.
TVGuide Supercharger

Everyone who helped test the initial betas, thank you!
Please upgrade to the version posted on the wiki. And all future discussion should be regarding the wiki version.

If you're upgrading from a previous beta installation.
Simply extract I-xmltv_v1.0 to the root of your C drive overwriting the I-xmltv folder.
Set the number of EPG days you prefer, your time zone, and move UpdateEPG.bat to your GBPVR folder.

Jim

[volksman]

Hey Jim_!

Just taking a look at this plugin for the first time. Looks like something I would really want. Only problem is this:

I have two profiles setup with Labs to get my entire channel lineup. When using XMLTV plugin I would have to run two jobs to get both lists then merge them somehow. When I use the Zap2It plugin for GB it somehow manages to get both profiles. So I have just recently switched to use the Zap2it Plugin to grab guide data.

I just tried to setup your plugin and went through the first steps and it appears to only use one profile. Do you have any suggestions on how I can get both my profiles downloaded and merged to one file with your plugin?

[Jim_]

I have two profiles setup with Labs to get my entire channel lineup.

Let me check into it a little more and get back to you.
When I originally posted I-xmltv in the developers forum, I noted it was for a single zap2it lineup. But there are ways or merging multiple lineups into a single xmltv file, so there should be a simple(?) workaround.

[Jim_]

I-xmltv v1.1 (build 6/12/06) has been posted to the wiki.
It includes Mulit-Lineup-Addon.zip

Install the addon "Mulit-Lineup-Addon.zip" ONLY if you have multiple lineups in your Zap2It account.

I do not use multiple lineups, so please post your results.