xmltv filter to remove unwanted shows from tv listings

[gEd]

I could really use a filter to remove shows that I am totally uninterested in from the xmltv file that I download.

The idea is a could create a file called unwantedshows.txt containing (but not limited to)

Big Brother
Emmerdale
.

then run xmlfilter data.xml > newdata.xml

The filter would do and exact match on the <title> field.

Over time, I would only end up with shows that I am interested in appearing in the EPG, which would be marvelous!

I guess it would also be possible to write some sql to delete these shows from the database but I am not sure how you could do this safely.

Any ideas anyone?

[bgowland]

LOL I like it.

...create a file called unwantedshows.txt...

At the moment though (post Christmas Season) it'd probably be easier to have a file called wantedshows.txt - it would be smaller .

I guess it would also be possible to write some sql to delete these shows from the database...

It wouldn't be necessary to delete from the DB as they wouldn't be imported in the first place. You'd only have to do an Empty EPG before processing your XMLTV file, then importing.

The problem I see is that you'd end up with lots of gaps with the GB-PVR background showing through. You could always just replace the title of the programme in the XMLTV file to 'Unwanted'. You could also add an 'Unwanted' genre to the XMLTV file and then colour code that genre - an easy visual guide to help skip past the dross.

Cheers,
Brian

[K.S.]

At the moment though (post Christmas Season) it'd probably be easier to have a file called wantedshows.txt - it would be smaller

sure, but you would allways check your logs to see if EPG update really worked, cause it's allways empty

[gEd]

By running SQL I meant as an alternative method of removing unwanted shows. Ideally it would be better to remove the shows (from data.xml) before loading the epg rather than deleting them (from the db) afterwards.

The genre idea is a good one but I think I would just be happy to have emptiness where the deleted shows were. It would be less of a distraction.

[martint123]

I like it!.

You could write the filter to run within XMLTVgui as a 'postprocessor'. If you were worried about gaps you could just substitute 'carp' in it's place.

[Ton]

Hmmm, I wrote something some time ago that can filter XMLTV files.... It's called "EPGFilter" and allows you to edit / delete XMLTV entries based on regular expressions here http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?t=11894 ....

[gEd]

Thanks Ton. EPGfilter sounds very close to what I am looking for but can it run an expression against the <title> field only, rather than all fields in the show i.e. not on the sub-title or description fields?

[SWK]

Here's some xmltv code I've used in the past to strip out TBAs :

xmltv tv_grep --not --title "^To Be Announced$" --and --not --category "^TBA$" <input.xml >output.xml

[gEd]

cheers - I'll go and have a play

in unix i might do this:

for i in `cat shows_to_avoid.txt`
do
xmltv tv_grep --not --title "$i" <input.xml >>output.xml
done

[edit]: that works perfectly - cheers.
Could someone help with with the windows equivalent to the above script please!
yet more batch files.....:-)

[Carlito]

you could try something like this

FOR /F %%A IN (shows_to_avoid.txt) DO xmltv tv_grep --not --title "%%A" <input.xml >output.xml

haven't tested it but it should be close