Category information

[Ericwiz]

Anyone know if zap2it provides category information with it's program listings? I looked in the .mdb under programme and did not see this info but wasn't sure if it's not provided.

I ask because I am thinking about how to possibly build a Categories plug-in. It would be nice to be able to say select "Sci-Fi" and see the upcoming shows in this genre etc...

[sub]

Yes, they do supply the category information. Unfortunately I just throw it away at the moment. Zap2it is just one of three EPG sources I support, do I've really written GB-PVR for the information that is common across them all. If it had just been a simple single field I probably would have stored it anyway, but its actually a show can have many categories which makes things a little more awkward.

[Ericwiz]

Thanks for the quick reply sub.

I was just looking at zap2it and pulled a sample file so I see what you mean. Looks like most shows have 3 genre levels although seems like you can have as many as 6.

I don't know anything about xmltv, other than it seems to be a relative of zap2it, or Bleb. I have to assume they all have genre information at some level so I'll look into it and start playing around with the data.

Is this info something you would consider adding in the future?

This info may be key to a recommendation engine as well but first things first

[sub]

Yes, I hope to add it some time in the future, but its low priority. Bleb doesnt have this genre information. XMLTV usually doesnt have this genre information.

[jorm]

I have a application which pulls the zap2it xml and populates a database with it. I was hoping to make plugins aware of this extra info. But have not had the time to integrate with it yet.

[Ericwiz]

I think I can use vbscript to pull the info but if you already have that part, jorm, mabe we should put our heads together so to speak.

I can't do c# (not very proficient) but I can work with vb.net

What do you have the data going to mbd or sql or

[KingArgyle]

Right now, Jorm, has it going to a MDB.

[Ericwiz]

OK. mdb is good because it's the same as the gbpvr.

So... I looked at xmltv and that seems to list one category, at least sometimes. Bleb doesn't at least not yet...

This could be interesting though. On top of searching by genre this info could be integrated into the guide too. For example, you select a show from the guide, say Stargate SG-1. When the detail screen comes up another button could be added to show similar shows.

Now add historical info like what is recorded to the DB and we get closer to recommendations and auto-recording....

[jorm]

I was hoping to pull the data in so I can do the following things.

Fast find by actor, category.

Record new episodes only.

If you want I can send you the application and code.

[Ericwiz]

I'd like to look at the code. Did you write it in c# or vb?