UltraXMLTV Enhancer Version 2 - Beta

[zehd]

OK

I'll try to follow those instructions as closely as I can.

Do I understand correctly that you want us to have to go through the long initial run (the painfully long one which populates the XML_cache, etc ) each time we try a new version of Ultra? An alternate approach might be for us to keep the cache and probably a couple other files from the first run intact except for specific times when you ask that we go back to a complete reinstallation. Would that be acceptable? Right now, trying out a new version only takes approximately 15 minutes or less for the enahncing of a restored XML file and updating the EPG. Ground Zero installs take a lot longer.

Well first of all, that last long explanation was mostly for TomR, because you and I are done! Hahah

Yes I want you or anyone trying things out to follow those instructions.

I read it through and I beleieve I did say that you could MOVE the cache into place, NOT Copy...

[LewE]

Well first of all, that last long explanation was mostly for TomR, because you and I are done! Hahah

I was planning on re-registering in the forum with another name so I could harrass you some more.

I read it through and I beleieve I did say that you could MOVE the cache into place, NOT Copy...

Thanks for the clarification. When I originally read that I wasn't sure what you meant. I assume that this means that building the XML_Cache is the driving thing that causes the long run time the first time Ultra is run and that the files like _AllShows.txt don't add significantly to the run time if they are missing when Ultra runs.

Now you know why there is the "D" in DFO.

[zehd]

I was planning on re-registering in the forum with another name so I could harrass you some more.


Thanks for the clarification. When I originally read that I wasn't sure what you meant. I assume that this means that building the XML_Cache is the driving thing that causes the long run time the first time Ultra is run and that the files like _AllShows.txt don't add significantly to the run time if they are missing when Ultra runs.

Now you know why there is the "D" in DFO.

Yes, reusing the cache is a good idea while testing, though a problem we can come accross, (and that's something TomR is having, is that the cache is not getting reused and new copies are beeing forced to download. That sucks on a Dialup

One other thing that a person can do, if they are not actually testing the Internet cache thing is is to disable the SeasEp fetch/query. On the Tags tab, select SeasEpNum and then '-' from the towhattag, and save...

That way, Ultra does not try and go online and the record processing is very very very fast...

[zehd]

Released 2.0.3355.23809

OK. I'm sitting still for a bit while you guys catch up. I'm looking for this to stabilize

First the New Show Detection isn't perfect, and will be changeing soon. The Date and the Previously-shown tags are not quite right, so the dates might be screwy in you listings...

The last release should have Fix Channels, Auto Fix-Channels, TimeOffset working correctly, given several different circumstances.

I have tested with and without GB-PVR installed. (Fix Channels will not work (but not error) when run on a computer without GB-PVR)

I have made sure that a fresh install/upgrade should work with all defaults and auto created ini files, if following the quick upgrade instructions

http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Utili...MLTV2#toc3

[zehd]

I think I will be sticking to running UltraXMLTV at work and making use of the highspeed connection there. It usually takes less than 20 minutes.

I have not tried running it from a USB stick yet but at this point just about anything would be better than the 6 hours it would take me at home. I'll try the USB stick approach next week at work.

So here are my ideas with using a stick

I have it working here.
Step one: Make Ultra works on your C drive at work. Copy entire EPG directory to USB Stick.

Step two: Stop using your C Drive at work. Forever!

My Stick is G. So I open Ultra (from the G drive) and click Run Grabber (* see below), and then Enhance with commit, and you will have a new up to date xmltv file on stick.

It's a little slower, and some of the writing is quite slow.

(After I had done a full enhance with my C drive and transferred to the G, I did not need any Fetches at all. Normally 27000 records took about 3.5 min. Running from stick it took about 6 min, just querying the existing xml. Your HUGE xml file will take longer of course...)

From this point, at your office, with the high speed connection, you should be able to update your EPG DATA from stick.

Two very important things to make sure: Your Run.bat with mc2xml and your UpdateEPG.bat at your home PVR.

mc2xml grabber:
if you have it installed like the wiki page, you should be calling mc2xml from a run.bat

AS I READ THIS< I realize that the wiki page describing this technique (using run.bat) was removed $%^*&). And I now know why... I will have to rewrite it....

Well here is how I do it. mc2xml is in G:\EPG\Grabbers\mc2xml

Inside, there is a run.bat

Code:

@echo off

rem normally I add a C: so that the batch file will switch to the C drive, but that would take away from the USB G: drive

cd\
cd ..\EPG\Grabbers\mc2xml

echo.
echo.

mc2xml -D 1.dat -c ca -g T2X1X0 -o xmltv.xml

rem  This syntax will save the xmltv.file two directories up into the 'G:\EPG' folder

echo.
echo.

Echo Copying the new xmltv.xml to EPG directory
echo on

copy xmltv.xml ..\..\[B]xmltv_exe.xml[/B]

(Note: pay attention to the final filename. Is it the same one that GB-PVR uses?)

This batch simply switches to the Grabber folder on the current drive. (If it's called from the G drive, then it would switch to the G:\EPG\Grabbers\mc2xml folder.

It calls mc2xml, and creates a local xmltv file. It then copies that file into the G:\EPG folder This is to keep it all tidy (All my instructions assume that the new xmltv file is in the C:\EPG folder (or G:\EPG))

Anyway, basically this means that when you click 'Run Grabber' from Ultra (that was launched from the G drive) it will call the local batch, download the new file and copy into the correct location all on G drive, ready for Enhancement...

---
Next part. You edit the UpdateEPG.bat on your C: drive of the Home PVR, that has one line...

Code:

Copy G:\EPG\XMLTV.xml C:\EPG\XMLTV.xml

This assumes:
That on your home PC, your USB drive is G: (change to suit)
That your Capture source on your GB-PVR is set to get listing from C:\EPG\XMLTV.xml - change to suit


Normal Operation:
On your G Drive, in Ultra, you 'Run Grabber', 'Enhance with commit', and bring the key home, put it in your PVR.


Now let's say that you forgot to get new listings from your office and even forgot to bring the drive home. At night, GB-PVR will run the updateEPG as usual and there will be an error, but oh well, there is a local copy of yesterday's data, and GB-PVR will reimport that... (and you're only out one day)

Let's say that you forgot to get the listings at the office but did bring home the key. You can run Ultra from the key, and run the grabber (pretty slow on dial up, right) and then let Ultra update the handful of shows that need new data (really slow, I know) and then 'GB-PVR Update EPG' (from Ultra) which would get it all done...

There should only be a handful of shows. Yes, much more when you have 100,000 records compared my 27,000, but less than 50 for sure (I only get about 8-15 new fetches per day) If you are getting many more, then the cache was not copied correctly)


Whew...

How's that.

[LewE]

Released 2.0.3355.23809

OK. I'm sitting still for a bit while you guys catch up. I'm looking for this to stabilize

Here is what I did:
Moved xml_cache directory to a backup dir.
Deleted everything in Ultra directory.
Moved xml_cache back to Ultra dir
Extracted all the files from the download zip to Ultra dir.
Restored XML file from preprocess version
Start then stop Ultra
Edited the Channel Offset txt file
Picked zehd's Picks
Moved a few around, but not the same as you suggested
Did GO w/Commit Version 23809
Looked at Log. Found nothing unusual
Ran GBPVR Update EPG
Looked at Listings in GBPVR.

The channels did shift. Nothing stood out as obviously wrong in the Listings.

First the New Show Detection isn't perfect, and will be changeing soon. The Date and the Previously-shown tags are not quite right, so the dates might be screwy in you listings...

Do you want us to do any reporting on what we see in this regard or are they just known areas that you are still working on?

The last release should have Fix Channels, Auto Fix-Channels, TimeOffset working correctly, given several different circumstances.

Time Offset worked for me.

If Tom was successful with downloading/running this version, I will have some questions about this area for you but I will hold off for now so you can keep focused on having a stable platform first.

http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Utili...MLTV2#toc3

Thanks for providing the link so we don't have to navigate the wiki to get to the download.


A Question: I assume you put in the Ultra "ad" for programs where there is no episode information, like Infomercials. I miss the Chuck Norris nuggets. How do I get those back?

[zehd]

If Tom was successful with downloading/running this version, I will have some questions about this area for you but I will hold off

What's you question?

A Question: I assume you put in the Ultra "ad" for programs where there is no episode information, like Infomercials. I miss the Chuck Norris nuggets. How do I get those back?

Yes, I only add the ad in Paid Programming...

What's you question?

BTW, A while ago I was first introduced to 'Chuck Norris' jokes. But what do you mean you missed them? When did you ever see them in regard to Paid Programming?

[LewE]

What's you question?

Because I am recording something now, I can't run CONFIG to get some screen prints to include in my question so I will post them in about an hour.

BTW, A while ago I was first introduced to 'Chuck Norris' jokes. But what do you mean you missed them? When did you ever see them in regard to Paid Programming?

I can't say for certain that they showed up in listings for Paid Programming. I just know that they seemed to pop up sometimes when there wans't legitimate program description information. If you don't put them into the listings, does sub?

[LewE]

I went into CONFIG to get some screen prints to help me ask my question about "Fix Channels" and I found some messes.

First, some background. I have two capture cards and I get analog cable on channels 2 through 93.

Below are screen captures of the relevant screens.

The first two jpgs are the middle and end of the channel list for the PVR-350 capture card and the next jpg just shows the end of the channel list for the PVR-150 capture card.

Note that channel 37 is HBO and 38 is HBO2. The third channel I applied a ChannelOffset to was channel 30 KPXN. Note the entries that have been added by Ultra to the end of the channel list and have been assigned "channels" 94 and up (which are non-existent channels. They also show up as being added to the channel list on the Channels Tab in Config.

To be honest, I don't know whether they just appeared after running the most current version of Ultra or an earlier one. Since there are two sets of "duplicate" channels I suspect that this is the result of a couple program runs.

I will upload a snapshot of TV Guide for these channels in a separate message. That message will also contain copies of the Channel.txt files.

P.S. Can you tell me how to clean out this garbage so I can test from a clean slate? Otherwise, I will do what I have in the past with entries that I can't get rid of, I just asdsign them to Channel 0

[LewE]

Since I hit the 5 file upload limit on the first part of this message, here are the parts I couldn't include with that message. Here is the TV Guide showing the phantom channels and also attached are the two channel txt files.