EPG update without GB-PVR restart?

[zvm]

Hello,
I am new GB-PVR user from Croatia and I am interested if it is possible to update EPG, actually to see updated EPG with Tv Guide without restarting GB-PVR.

I created proper xml file (I am using XMLTV plugin) and GB-PVR is able to read it and reproduce it through TV Guide. But, when I change my xml (i.e. changes in program, new days added etc.), I need to restart GB-PVR to see changes.

Here is what I do (short script):

"C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\gbpvr.exe" -OnlyEmptyEPG
"C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\gbpvr.exe" -OnlyUpdateEPG
"C:\Program Files\devnz\gbpvr\gbpvr.exe"

Everything is fine if GB-PVR is down (not running) when I run the script. But, if GB-PVR is running, I am not able to see new EPG until I restart GB-PVR. After restart everything is OK.
Is it possible to update EPG with GB PVR running? Or is it possible to shutdown GB-PVR from command line (actually, on the beginning of my script)?

I also noticed that in case of program changes it is necessary to empty EPG. Otherwise you get overlapping between the old and the new program, i.e. both are visible, one over another. That is not such a problem, since EmptyEPG solves it, but is there the other way around?

Any kind of help is appreciated. Thanks!

[sub]

If you go to the System screen and select the 'Update EPG' button, then it'll update the EPG in the background, and the changes will be reflected in the TV Guide as soon as it is complete.

Assuming you have the 'complete EPG reload' option selected, then it'll also empty the EPG first as part of this process.

[tommyv]

Hi, I'm from Croatia as well, could you please tell me what sources for EPG are you using?

Thanks

[zvm]

Hi, I'm from Croatia as well, could you please tell me what sources for EPG are you using?

Thanks

Hi,
I am using phazer. (http://www.phazer.info/). That is the only one you can use for EPG purpose, as far as I know. If you need any other information, you are welcome.

[zvm]

If you go to the System screen and select the 'Update EPG' button, then it'll update the EPG in the background, and the changes will be reflected in the TV Guide as soon as it is complete.

Assuming you have the 'complete EPG reload' option selected, then it'll also empty the EPG first as part of this process.

To Sub:

We didn't understand each other very well. I'll try to explain what would be the assumed situation and what I exactly wanna achieve.
I am aware of options you described, but those are not solution to my problem. First of all, both are manual user actions, I wanna do it automatically, without user intervention. Moreover, 'Update EPG' on System Screen doesn't do the job without application restart - at least in my case, while 'complete EPG reload' option in config tool assumes that application is NOT started.

So, assumed situation would be following: I am on a 2-week vacation and I want to record favorite show while I am away. That show runs every weekday, but at different time. Moreover, it is very likely that TV station will change their program schedule while I am away, so I need to get it updated every day.
To record favorite program I need to leave the application (GB-PVR) running all the time, right? (or at least at times when show runs). Furthermore, I need to update EPG on daily basis.
I can download EPG through Windows Scheduled Tasks using wget or similar tool and save it to proper location (defined in XMLTV plugin setting). So, every day I will have a new xml file.
But, new file will not be read from GB-PVR TV Guide unless I stop application and start it over. It is like session thing: you need new session to get new parameters.
I tested today many situations and possible actions (as well as two you mentioned) and it never work the way I want without application restart. And that I don't know how to do automatically (or from command line). I can start application ('gbpvr.exe'), but I don't know how to stop it.
Is it possible to stop the application programatically (from command line, through some batch or similar)? Is it possible to solve this in a different way?
And finally, is it possible that something is wrong with my system and/or installation!? Since restart is inevitable to accept changes...
Sorry for a long post, but I tried to explain it as good as I can.

[sub]

Moreover, 'Update EPG' on System Screen doesn't do the job without application restart - at least in my case

When you initiate the EPG update from the System screen, at the end of the process it tells the TV Guide to reload itself, so it should work.

while 'complete EPG reload' option in config tool assumes that application is NOT started.

No it doesnt. It just tells the system whether the EPG should emptied prior to an EPG update.

So, assumed situation would be following: I am on a 2-week vacation and I want to record favorite show while I am away. That show runs every weekday, but at different time. Moreover, it is very likely that TV station will change their program schedule while I am away, so I need to get it updated every day.

Why arent you using the automated EPG update? It can be configured to run at any time of the time, and even to wake the machine if you want. If you want to create an xmltv file at the same time, then you can run whatever manuals steps you want in an UpdateEPG.bat file.

If you've got 'complete EPG reload' enabled in the config app, then it'll delete all the existing listings before importing the new ones.

I think you're trying to make this too complicated. Maybe you've been reading old posts? There is no reason you should be having to manually run those commands. It might have been required 2 years ago, but not for a very long time now.

But, new file will not be read from GB-PVR TV Guide unless I stop application and start it over. It is like session thing: you need new session to get new parameters.

The TV Guide is loaded when GB-PVR is first started, cached for fast access. This cache is dumped and the TV Guide reloaded every two hours, or when told to by the System screen as the result of a manually initiated 'Update EPG'.

[tommyv]

Hi,
I am using phazer. (http://www.phazer.info/). That is the only one you can use for EPG purpose, as far as I know. If you need any other informhttp://forums.gbpvr.com/newreply.php?do=postreply&t=23725ation, you are welcome.

Thanks...just wondered if you were using some other source, because phazer data are not always very accurate, have to set pre and post padding to at least 20 min, so i find it almost impossible to set up comskip :mad:

BTW, I've setup a daily EPG update (7:00AM every day, complete EPG reload) directly pointing to www address (http://tv.phazer.info/servisxmltv.php?kanalID=1_2_3_4) instead of local XMLTV file and it works just fine... Oh, and it is a dedicated PC, so it is always on

[psicotron3]

I have a similar setup, but I´m still using version 98.13b.

Every thing works like sub told, except for de "Complete EPG Reload". I just don´t empty the epg before updating.

I´ll update to the new version and if it doens´t work I´ll post my logs, but until then, can sub tell me if there could be some problem if I add the line "gbpvr.exe -onlyemptyepg" to my updateepg.bat?
[EOM]

[sub]

Every thing works like sub told, except for de "Complete EPG Reload". I just don´t empty the epg before updating.

Zip and attach the logs and I'll take a look.

Its worth noting that this "Complete EPG Reload" stuff isnt relevent when you click the 'update epg' button in the config app. It is relevent when it does an automated EPG update (or via Update EPG in System screen).

can sub tell me if there could be some problem if I add the line "gbpvr.exe -onlyemptyepg" to my updateepg.bat?

Dont do that. Using "-onlyemptyepg" just shouldnt be required by anyone.

[zvm]

Well, I may have made it too complicated.
Let's assume following situation: I have File1 as program schedule loaded in GBPVR TV Guide. Then, TV station changes schedule, and I got File2 as new program schedule. (This is simplified situation of what I made with real xmlTV files.)
File 1:
10:00 - 10:20 Show11
10:20 - 10:40 Show12
10:40 - 11:00 Show13

File2:
10:00 - 10:15 Show21
10:15 - 10:30 Show22
10:30 - 10:45 Show23
10:45 - 11:00 Show24

If I have File1 in Tv Guide (and in cache) and load File2, I would get, prior to restart, following in TV Guide:

10:00 - 10:15 Show21
10:15 - 10:30 Show22
10:20 - 10:40 Show12 !!! - old
10:30 - 10:45 Show23
10:40 - 11:00 Show13 !!! - old
10:45 - 11:00 Show24

If Show11 from File1 wasn't scheduled to start at the same time as Show21, it would have been in new TV Guide as well. After I restart Gb_PVR I got only new TV Guide(from File2).
Above situation occurs in any case: with UpdateEPG from System screen, with complete Reload from automated EPG update, with anything... TV Guide shows every show with distinct start time from both files: old and new.

It is true that I didn't wait two hours, I was making these changes every 5-10 minutes. Maybe that has something to do with my problem!? Anyway, I didn't managed to get clean new TV Guide without restarting GB-PVR.

As of automated update... I will use it, but I was trying to simulate situation where program schedule significantly changes, and couldn't set automated EPG update to any minute, only to full hours. It is OK for real life, but not for testing. And I don't have UpdateEPG.bat file in my installation. Probably I made file similar to that. Anyway, I would like to see the original file.

I may have made too complicated situation, not so likely to happened in a real world, but on the other hand it is not completely unreal.

Thanks for prompt reaction and explanations.

Tommyv, thanks for tip on padding times, and especially for option of direct pointing to web address! I didn't know that is possible/allowed. It eliminates need for local XMLTV file.