How do I set up zap2it EPG?

[ferrels]

SD uses the Gracenote data, there probably was something wrong with your setup.

In any case that is a summary of what is being discussed here https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?tid=66253 and here https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?tid=66102 all these threads are saying the same thing.  Since there already is a PR on the JEF Github it might be simpler just to download the edited file from the PR

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jef/za...zap2xml.pl -O

Martin

Nothing wrong with my setup.  All was working great until a handful of channels about 1 year ago were off by one hour in the guide when data was being pulled from ScheudlesDirect.  I live in AZ where we don't have DST time and we don't follow Mountain Time either so the data coming from the SchedulesDirect server had errors.  Since switching directly to the gracenote server those problems disappeared so there's an issue with ScheudlesDirect.

If you had actually read my post you would see that I AM referencing the zap2xml.pl on the JEF Github repo.  Why would I point people elsewhere?  I merely added the instructions for Windows users to create their own updated EXE so that people can run the EXE locally instead of jumping thru all the hoops to run a docker file and provided a link to those instructions.

[mvallevand]

Because that link is from the JEF website too and assuming the PR https://github.com/jef/zap2xml/pull/26/files is accepted it will be the new source.

The same information being regurgitated all over the place is making it hard for users that want to save a couple of dollars a month.

Martin

[ferrels]

Because that link is from the JEF website too and assuming the PR https://github.com/jef/zap2xml/pull/26/files is accepted it will be the new source.

The same information being regurgitated all over the place is making it hard for users that want to save a couple of dollars a month.

Martin

Yes, I know where that link is from because I'm the guy who posted it, and I'm the guy who created the zap2xml compilation instructions and posted them at:  https://github.com/jef/zap2xml/issues/27

I posted those instructions exactly for those people who WANT to save a couple bucks each month so I don't see what point you're trying to make.  So how am I making it hard for people to save money when I'm providing them a way to get free guide data using zap2xml instead of paying a sub for SchedulesDirect. And until the PR gets approved, the instructions I posted are valid.

[mvallevand]

That link I gave was from the PR by hackwin not your link (unless you use two userids) I am just trying to make it easier for users not fight with you. Why download and edit when your can just download.

Martin

[ferrels]

That link I gave was from the PR by hackwin not your link (unless you use two userids)  I am just trying to make it easier for users not fight with you.  Why download and edit when your can just download.

Martin

Because you still need to compile the zap2xml.pl file into an zap2xml.exe fille and the average NOOB doesn't know which .pl file to download and will mostly likely just grab the first one they see, which is the one under the sources folder and not the one in the PR.  I honestly don't care what source people pull their guide data from.  I was just tired of the issues that I was having when I used the SchedulesDirect data and thought that if others were having issues and we're tired of paying an annual subscription for buggy data that they might want to give zap2xml a try since it's also free of charge and giving me better results than a service I've been paying money for.  Definitely dropping my SchedulesDirect sub when it comes up for renewal in Sept. now that there's a better and free alternative.

[mattman1968]

This all worked for me.  Thanks!  the zap2xml.exe no longer works on archive.org, but I had that in my backup, so I'm all good to go.  Thank you!  I'd be happy to share the .exe if anyone wants to host it so it isn't lost forever

Zap2It has gone offline but the entire site has been moved to https://tvlistings.gracenote.com/ including your old Zap2It credentials.  To obtain current xml guide data you will need to compile or find an updated zap2xml.exe file that talks to the gracenote server instead of one that looks for the old Zap2It server.  Compiling a new EXE using PERL isn't that difficult.  I've created a guide for Windows users to build their own updated zap2xml EXE here:  https://github.com/jef/zap2xml/issues/27

I followed your guide to create my own zap2xml.exe. Everything seems to have worked, however, when running my bat file, I get 3 failed attempts to login and then the exe closes without downloading anything, obviously. The only things I can think of are that:

1. I used the portable version of Perl rather than installing the MSI.
2. The link to gracenote (provided in your post above) now results in "Page not found".

If I use the -z switch to use TV Guide.com, the program runs fine, logs into the account, but then downloads nothing and outputs an empty xml file.

Any thoughts? This is not dire for me as I am using the HDHR epg I posted about here, but I am curious and like to tinker.

Thanks

[mvallevand]

Did you try my suggestion to get the file https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.ph...#pid601762? He shit on it but it is the safest way and no editing is required.

[mattman1968]

Yes. I tried editing the file, as well as downloading the one you provided.

[ferrels]

This all worked for me.  Thanks!  the zap2xml.exe no longer works on archive.org, but I had that in my backup, so I'm all good to go.  Thank you!  I'd be happy to share the .exe if anyone wants to host it so it isn't lost forever

Zap2It has gone offline but the entire site has been moved to https://tvlistings.gracenote.com/ including your old Zap2It credentials.  To obtain current xml guide data you will need to compile or find an updated zap2xml.exe file that talks to the gracenote server instead of one that looks for the old Zap2It server.  Compiling a new EXE using PERL isn't that difficult.  I've created a guide for Windows users to build their own updated zap2xml EXE here:  https://github.com/jef/zap2xml/issues/27

I followed your guide to create my own zap2xml.exe. Everything seems to have worked, however, when running my bat file, I get 3 failed attempts to login and then the exe closes without downloading anything, obviously. The only things I can think of are that:

1. I used the portable version of Perl rather than installing the MSI.
2. The link to gracenote (provided in your post above) now results in "Page not found".

If I use the -z switch to use TV Guide.com, the program runs fine, logs into the account, but then downloads nothing and outputs an empty xml file.

Any thoughts? This is not dire for me as I am using the HDHR epg I posted about here, but I am curious and like to tinker.

Thanks

Use this link for gracenote and double-check that your old Zap2It credentials work there:  https://tvlistings.gracenote.com/grid-af...ml?aid=lat
If you can't log in using your old Zap2It credentials, just create a new account and be sure to click the "Change Provider" button in the top left to select the zip code/location of your broadcasters and make sure to select "Antenna" as well. This will set your Channel Lineup for subsequent logins. I haven't tried the -z switch at all so I can't help you there.  

Also make sure that on the target system you've installed PERL and also ran cpan and installed PAC as per the instructions here: https://github.com/jef/zap2xml/issues/27


I found that just transferring the EXE from the machine where it was compiled to the target machine doesn't always work because apparently the EXE has dependencies on some DLLs that PERL installs.

[ferrels]

Yes. I tried editing the file, as well as downloading the one you provided.

I just updated my previous post as the forum software kept inserting emojis into it for some reason.  Got that cleaned up and changed a couple items to make things clearer.