EPG Zap2it

[SamM]

Doesn't zap2it have a commandline to use tvguide.com instead?  I think it is the -z switch.

yes, but it doesn't work, I tried it.

[SamM]

I think zap2it website is back.

I'm surmising that it's because of the DNS name set to the ip address, I don't think it's the actual zap2it site.

[gearsofwoe]

Expanding on Freddo45's post [https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.ph...#pid600031]

The zap2xml program is great for scraping the TV Guide data from the Zap2it website and creating an XMLTV.XML file that can be imported into the TV Guide of NextPVR. Unfortunately, the website address is hard coded into the zap2xml.exe that many people use.

Freddo45's solution is to update the HOSTS file to redirect the zap2xml program calls from the zap2it website to the gracenote website which is functionally the same.

NSlookup identifies these IP addresses for the Gracenote domain
# 54.148.50.239 e.g. https://54.148.50.239/?aid=gapzap
# 44.228.51.40 e.g. https://44.228.51.40/?aid=gapzap
# 44.240.138.57 e.g. https://44.240.138.57/?aid=gapzap
# gn5462-gapzap-prod-webuialb-401831066.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.com.

Add this line to the HOSTS file located at: C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc
54.148.50.239    tvlistings.zap2it.com

Reboot.

EDIT HOSTS FILE
1.  Backup the HOSTS file
    Open a File Explorer
    Navigate to the folder: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc.
    In the View tab enable "File name extensions" and "Hidden files" to see the system files
    Make a copy of the "hosts" file. You need to provide Administrator permission.

2. Open Notepad as Administrator:
    Click the Start button, type "Notepad" in the search bar
    Right-click on the Notepad app in the search results.
    Select "Run as administrator".

3. Open the HOSTS File:
    In Notepad, click "File" and then "Open".
    Navigate to the folder: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc.
    In the "Files of type" dropdown, select "All Files" (or similar) to see the "hosts" file.
    Select the "hosts" file and click "Open".

4. Edit the HOSTS file:
    The "hosts" file contains IP address and domain name mappings.
    Each entry should be on a new line, with the IP address followed by a space and the domain name.
    Add the following to the "hosts" file:
      # Redirect tvlistings.zap2it.com
      # to tvlistings.gracenote.com 
      54.148.50.239 tvlistings.zap2it.com

5. Save the Changes:
    Click "File" and then "Save".
    Make sure the file is saved in the same location as before.

6. Hope Gracenote keeps the site running or it is a DNS fault.

[Prsa01]

For anyone interested - An alternative solution changing the original perl script, along with some pros and cons of each method, is discussed on a thread at Thegreenbutton.tv here:

https://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/vie...0&start=47

[fla]

For anyone interested -  An alternative solution changing the original perl script, along with some pros and cons of each method, is discussed on a thread at Thegreenbutton.tv here:

https://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/vie...0&start=47

A summary please for those not subscribed? I just recompiled and replaced the zap2xml.exe and the overnight EPG update happened as usual (see post #20).

[mvallevand]

The are saying you can install Active Perl and run the modified pl file without using a pre compiled package, basically following the Linux instructions.

Martin

[Prsa01]

Yes, thank you Martin.

A couple of addtnl notes:

At time of testing, if your process uses the program images, either for caching or simply passing the url along, that particular path needed to remain pointing to the original zap2it path to work. Certainly woulg expect that to change at some point.

" Bear in mind with the hosts file method... if the Gracenote IP address ever changes (which would happen if they change hosts/providers/etc) your updates will again fail. Many larger companies/sites also use CDNs to spread the load around to different data centers around the country/world so in some cases IP addresses can change frequently. There can be other dynamic IP address situations. Something to keep in mind since using this method may be simpler upfront but it's more prone to ongoing problems in the future."

[JohnySmith1010]

I've always built my own exe with strawberry perl using the following command:

Code:

pp -M Sub::Util -o zap2xml.exe zap2xml.pl

If someone wants it here's the WinMerge patch and the new exe.

Edit: I can't seem to attach the 5.1 MB zip file even though my quota isn't near full use. Here's the source code. Generate the exe with strawberry perl and the command above.

I think I was able to do this, but with new exe, getting tons of errors.  Failed logging attempts, even though I logged in via web and all did was change the executable.

Use of uninitialized value $Net::HTTPS::SSL_SOCKET_CLASS in string eq at C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\par-616b616d646172\cache-032704d6b3d6182ec21186d0ee62924b54c6dd6a\inc\lib/LWP/Protocol/https.pm line 25.
[Attempt 2] Can't locate object method "new" via package "LWP:rotocol::https::Socket" at C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\par-616b616d646172\cache-032704d6b3d6182ec21186d0ee62924b54c6dd6a\inc\lib/LWP/Protocol/http.pm line 33.

Use of uninitialized value $Net::HTTPS::SSL_SOCKET_CLASS in string eq at C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\par-616b616d646172\cache-032704d6b3d6182ec21186d0ee62924b54c6dd6a\inc\lib/LWP/Protocol/https.pm line 25.
[Attempt 3] Can't locate object method "new" via package "LWP:rotocol::https::Socket" at C:\Users\userr\AppData\Local\Temp\par-616b616d646172\cache-032704d6b3d6182ec21186d0ee62924b54c6dd6a\inc\lib/LWP/Protocol/http.pm line 33.

Failed to login within 3 retries.

[Prsa01]

I've always built my own exe with strawberry perl using the following command:

Code:

pp -M Sub::Util -o zap2xml.exe zap2xml.pl

If someone wants it here's the WinMerge patch and the new exe.

Edit: I can't seem to attach the 5.1 MB zip file even though my quota isn't near full use. Here's the source code. Generate the exe with strawberry perl and the command above.

So, does your process not use the associated program images or did you not run into errors pointing to gracenote for them? When I changed that line from zap2it to gracenote I ran into errors with subsequent processes that make use of the images.

[fla]

So, does your process not use the associated program images or did you not run into errors pointing to gracenote for them? When I changed that line from zap2it to gracenote I ran into errors.

Huh? I do not use -I if that's what you mean. Post your source code if your version supports -I.