Updating Guide Issues and Interface comments

[Jakesty]

I've got a couple of problems, and not sure how to sync/fix them. I've set up MC2XML. I'm using Win 7 64bit

1. To set up the guide, each channel must be done individually. The bulk map import does nothing. It says it will take several minutes, but finishes in about 10 seconds give or take.
2. If I set up the Channels individually, the guide is only showing about 4 days guide data. I configured MCE thinking that might be it, but no. Then I updated the xmltv file manually from MC2XML.exe and Update EPG button. MCE problem or Sync with NPVR problem?

Because I'm still very new to NEXTPVR, I have a few questions. Sorry for my ignorance, but I'm trying to get up to speed
1. can I change the interface in the guide or upcoming recordings, what's new, etc. How many rows or columns to display, font size?
2. Because I've done some minor recordings, how is that displayed in the guide for a previously recorded show, compared to an old show needing to be recorded or a new show? Can the guide show that it is one of these types of shows from my desired recording queue? Does it show anything on the guide due to conflicts?
3. The Display shows info I don't need in the upcoming recordings left pane which is on two lines, so by limiting that I could then see more per screen. For example: the channel it is recording on is of less concern (aka WBBM) and is already displayed on the next screen if I select it. In fact as I scroll down the list, the name of the show is on the left and in the right pane too. I'd just get rid of the extra one on the right. When I look at the upcoming recordings it shows the date with the year ad nauseum. We know what year it is. Maybe just the title of the show and time? As in my mocked up example?
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4. Something I do find very valuable is the original air date. Maybe something for the right pane at the bottom?
5. I would speculate that when a person is in What's New, that 95% of the time they want to find the show and play it. Is there a way to do that without opening, arrowing down to play and hitting play? If not, can't the first choice be PLAY instead of CLOSE? I don't know all of the short cut keys yet if I'm missing something here sorry.
6. When I look at Recurring Recordings, I see the title of the recording, But with "Record All Channels All Times" set, all I see is "Recurring All Channels". When I update it, it's letting modify the Time, but in fact it's set to record any time. So that is confusing. If I modify that time, will it make a difference?
7. Can the recurring recordings list be sorted? By Alpha?
8. How is priority assigned when there is a conflict? How can I adjust?

I've got a few (a lot) more ideas Sub. I hope you're up for this type of input as I only want to help make it better, and eventually replace my other PVR system. I'm sure you put in tons of work on this system and it shows, and you really have made some outstanding progress. Seems like you have a passion for this (Home theatre, PVR, etc) as I do too. In my previous life I designed the interface for my companies $100mm/month B2B and B2C website.

Thanks, Jake

[pBS]

Guide part: setting up each separately is correct, and only 4 days shows in listings because mc2xml is having problems, only showing 4 days of data right now [MS having problems with mce as well, where mc2xml gets it's data also] i expect it to be fixed by them soon...[has happened before] Schedules direct is showing no problems tho..
thread i mention problem: http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post435054

other questions:
1. yes you can change layout by editing the skin...steep learning curve but mostly trial and error works for me..[make backup]
2. add -a to mc2xml cmdline to mark new shows with a '*' after title so you can see what's a first-run program. youcan then schedule only new shows by selecting the shows with a "*" for record, NPVR will store them all together.
3. Also changable by editing skin..
4. there are several 'epg enhancers' available on wiki or mine here http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...post434477
that can add original air date,etc. to description, plus lots of other data so it shows up in listings and guide..
5. select show and hit 'play' button on remote.. first choice is close so accidental multiple key hits won't do a play,deleting previous resume point..
6. i consider that a bug that needs to be fixed..
7. and 8. recurring recordings list is sorted by priority, can be changed with ff/rw i believe...a bit fuzzy on that part myself..
when conflict, higher priority gets recorded...

Anyone please correct me if i'm wrong on any of this..[wouldn't be first time..lol]

hope that helps...

[Jakesty]

pBS, thanks for all of the input. Very helpful. Bummer about MCE, but I'm only testing, so it really doesn't impact me much yet.

I've been editing the Recordings XML to get closer to what I was looking for and have made some good progress. I have to figure out how to parse the @period field or find out what the field is made up of if it was concatenated with other fields.
I also need to find the file(s) with all of the defined variables so I know what is possible to display on the screen. Any help?

Is there an area here where people/developers have updated their screens? I looked at the developers forum and didn't see any references.

I really didn't know all of this was possible with XML. Do you have a simple editor, GUI like or can recommend one? Might help a bit.

thanks, Jake

[sub]

You probably could achieve single line per recording, like you've mocked up (though probably not that date format), by editing the skin files, but be aware that the same skin file layout is used by all the recording views, so it'd be a you'd be changing all the views.

There is no edit for editing skins. It's pretty much just editing xml to show available variables. You cant really parse the @period using the skin files, since it doesnt really have functions like this. In the past I've added additional skin variables that skin developers have wanted though, so I can definitely add additional fields or different formats for the next release if you are able tell me exactly what it's you'd need.

pBS is correct that the recurring view is a bit different, and the order shown represent the priority of the shows.

[Jakesty]

Sub, I found @shortperiod in the TV Guide section, which apparently isn't available in the Recordings section. Where are the variables stored so that I can go through some of them? For now I'm just learning with the Recordings section but can see I'd like to tweak wherever I can. I'm excited to play with this some more.

thanks, Jake

[sub]

Unfortunately, there is no list for you to look through. The majority of them are shown in the skin files though, since I've only really added code for those that I've needed.

I've added @shortPeriod to the Recordings screen in the next release.

[Jakesty]

Thank you Sub. That will get closer to working, an @day and @month would be helpful too. If you wanted the @year, sure, but I'll just use the previous two to put together the mm/dd format for display.

I have to imagine others have updated their screens, but there's no section for something like that for them to upload? Sounds like something good to be added to the Forums, updated screens, sounds, backgrounds, etc. What do you think?

[sub]

I have to imagine others have updated their screens, but there's no section for something like that for them to upload? Sounds like something good to be added to the Forums, updated screens, sounds, backgrounds, etc. What do you think?

Its not a common activity, so doesn't really justify it's own subforum. Up until now, they've uploaded their alternative skins to the wiki http://www.nextpvr.com/nwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Skin.Skin, and usually asked any skin related questions in the developers subforum.

[mvallevand]

There's a forum for third party plugins utilities and skins. You can upload your skin with install instructions but it is important to keep up with sub's chances from version to version. I've updated Default myself to add cover art to all the the screens so I'd like to see what you've done.

Martin

[Jakesty]

Thanks Sub and Mvallevand. That gets me started in the right direction. I'm sure anything I develop can't hold a candle to some of the guys around here.

As I make updates I ask why can't I do this or that and with the forum that Sub mentioned they have added some of these ideas. I just need more examples and time with the XML code I'd think, but I have a somewhat cleaned up interface that is not so different from what the last release provided. So I doubt anyone will be all that impressed. I have no problems sharing though, that's why we're all here.

Here's what I have so far. I think it's a bit easier to read. I hope to get a shortened date field as this will look nice. Something as simple as "4:00 PM 4/16" right justified would work for me. I don't normally need to know on this screen how long the recording lasts, just when it started and the mm/dd.

Notice the one recording for POKEMON shows colons? Is this something that formatting messed up somehow?
Not a big issue, but not what is in the file name. --> Pokémon Black & White_20120417_07000730

Also note the failed recording. It gave me a chance to set up the fields, but isn't there a way to launch a second tuner if the first fails? This would be an outstanding feature.

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