mc2xml not updating EPG, v1.3.11

[H1600]

Hi All,
Installed v1.3.11 several months ago and using mc2xml for EPG updates in U.S. I can manually run mc2xml.exe to get the latest xmltv.xml file, But GBPVR does not seem to ever run this file. So, every two weeks I have to go and run mc2xml to get the new listings...
Config> Capture Sources> EPG Update set for 5:00AM, with wake, reload, and no duplicate options checked.

Any help appreciated!
Greg

[sub]

I cant definitely see the last few days automated EPG updated happening at 5am, and it completes without any problems, and pulls in a large number of show listings:

2009-02-25 05:01:38.109 INFO [8] Auto-Updating EPG
2009-02-25 05:01:38.109 VERBOSE [8] Loading XMLTV File: C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\Third Party\mc2xml\xmltv.xml
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] About to return final XMLTV channel list. Count = 69
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 2 TBSP : 457 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 3 WGNAMER : 491 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 4 CA4SD : 624 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 5 KSWB : 481 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 6 XETV : 537 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 7 KNSD : 393 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 8 KFMB : 407 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 9 KUSI : 449 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 10 KGTV : 435 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 11 KPBS : 437 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 12 LOOR012 : 84 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 13 XDTV : 537 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 14 HSN : 307 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 15 AZTSAT : 377 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 16 ITVS : 531 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 17 KBNTCA : 367 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 18 TWSDUCS : 414 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 19 HBOP : 230 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 20 CSPAN : 126 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 21 JWLTV : 86 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 23 CSPAN2 : 185 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 25 QVC : 251 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 26 CNN : 256 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 27 TNTP : 281 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 28 HLN : 268 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 29 ESPN : 341 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 30 ESPN2 : 295 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 31 FSW1 : 469 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 32 LIFEP : 484 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 33 NIKP : 649 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 34 USAP : 337 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 35 FAMP : 495 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 36 MTVP : 457 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 37 FNC : 281 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 38 SPIKEP : 436 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 39 TRUTVP : 505 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 40 BRAVOP : 370 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 41 VERSUS : 520 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 42 VH1P : 289 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 43 AMCP : 132 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 44 DSCP : 491 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 45 AETVP : 404 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 46 TWC : 232 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 47 TFPSAT : 294 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 48 EP : 435 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 49 CNBC : 361 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 50 MSNBC : 320 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 51 FOODP : 593 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 52 FXP : 390 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 53 HGTVP : 656 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 54 WEP : 449 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 55 TLCP : 521 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 56 HISTP : 325 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 57 SCIFIP : 336 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 58 CMTVP : 302 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 59 TCM : 159 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 60 HALMRKP : 380 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 61 LMN : 180 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 62 TOONP : 677 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 63 DISNP : 682 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 64 APLP : 362 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 65 TVLANDP : 604 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 66 XHAS : 385 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 67 GOLF : 458 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 68 COMEDYP : 468 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 69 BETP : 395 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 70 TRAVP : 454 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 71 IONSATP : 520 shows
2009-02-25 05:02:17.437 VERBOSE [8] - channel 99 TVGNP : 445 shows

[H1600]

Thanks sub.
I'm going to investigate this more, but the program listings to not appear in the TV guide...

Greg

[BTJustice]

You might need to make a .bat file that Windows can run in order to update the EPG. You add the .bat file as a scheduled task. It doesn't sound like GBPVR is doing anything wrong.

1) Create a folder on your C:\ drive (or a different drive) called mc2xml.

2) Go to http://mc2xml.110mb.com/ and save the mc2xml.exe file to the mc2xml folder you created.

3) Follow the directions on the mc2xml webpage to set up mc2xml for the first time.

4) Open NOTEPAD and enter the following into it. Be sure to change your country and zip if needed as shown on the mc2xml webpage...

mc2xml -c us -g 12345

5) Save the NOTEPAD file as Update.bat in your mc2xml folder.

6) Go to the CONTROL PANEL and double-click on SCHEDULED TASKS.

7) Double-click on ADD SCHEDULED TASK.

8) The SCHEDULED TASK WIZARD will appear. Click NEXT.

9) Click the BROWSE button, go to the mc2xml folder, and select Update.bat.

10) Change the name to EPG Update and dot the circle in front of DAILY. Click NEXT.

11) Select a time for it to run preferably before GBPVR does its EPG update. Click NEXT.

12) Enter your username and password if needed. Click NEXT.

13) Click FINISH.

That's it. You can right-click the EPG Update task you created and left-click on RUN to test to see if it works or not. If it did, you should have a .XML file in your mc2xml folder. Be sure GBPVR looks for that .XML file.

[H1600]

Thanks BTJustice.

Today 3/13/2009 I performed another "test" and same problem occurs. GBPVR logs say that it updates the EPG (mc2xml file) but it does not! - I check the write date of 2/27/2009 on the .xml file to confirm that no update was made.

So I manually ran the mc2xml.exe and got the new EPG file. Then I started PVRX2 > System > Update EPG...but it does not update the TV Guide!

Next I tried updating the EPG from the Config Window then started PVRX2 and this finally showed the EPG in the TV Guide.

I'm not sure what is causing this, but your suggestion of Task Scheduling seems like a good fix. I will try this next.
Regards,
Greg

[HtV]

Do you have an updateepg.bat in your gbpvr-dir? If so, would you post it's content here.

Hans

[sub]

Today 3/13/2009 I performed another "test" and same problem occurs. GBPVR logs say that it updates the EPG (mc2xml file) but it does not! - I check the write date of 2/27/2009 on the .xml file to confirm that no update was made.

You do realise that GB-PVR does not run mc2xml for you? All it does is read the xml file you're supplying.

If you want the app to run something like mc2xml prior to reading the xml file, then you need to create a UpdateEPG.bat file and put whatever commands you need inside.

[dennit]

Today 3/13/2009 I performed another "test" and same problem occurs. GBPVR logs say that it updates the EPG (mc2xml file) but it does not! - I check the write date of 2/27/2009 on the .xml file to confirm that no update was made.

To me, this sounds like there's an error in your UpdateEPG.bat file (or it's missing). That file should run mc2xml and change the date of the output file. The GBPVR logs are likely just telling you that the manually created output file was imported into the gbpvr database, but since it hasn't changed, you see no change.

So I manually ran the mc2xml.exe and got the new EPG file. Then I started PVRX2 > System > Update EPG...but it does not update the TV Guide!

I'm pretty sure you need to restart PVRX2 to see a guide change.

Next I tried updating
the EPG from the Config Window then started PVRX2 and this finally showed the EPG in the TV Guide.

Config restarts the tray icon for PVRX2 (and the Recording Service) when you exit with an OK. You probably just brought in the manually created mc2xml output EPG/XML file.

I'm not sure what is causing this, but your suggestion of Task Scheduling seems like a good fix. I will try this next.

That will fix it, but your real problem is likely to reside in the updateEPG.bat file.

[HarryH3]

Did you scroll down the mc2xml download page far enough to read the following notes? Also, do you have the latest version of mc2xml.exe? It sometimes gets updated when a change in the source causes it to stop working correctly. The latest version is dated Mar 01, 2009.

From the mc2xml page:
* How would I use mc2xml with GBPVR?

1. Create a folder for the EPG data and put the mc2xml.exe binary in that folder (use a GUI file manager or command line)
2. Optionally create an "mc2xml.chl" file listing the channels you want included in your EPG (see above for file format) (make sure that notepad doesn't append a ".txt" to this filename)

o md "C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\EPG"
o copy "C:\mc2xml.exe" "C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\EPG\"
o notepad "C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\EPG\mc2xml.chl"

3. Create a file called "UpdateEPG.bat" in the GBPVR folder and edit it with a text editor (notepad). Add any optional command line parameters to mc2xml that you might want)

C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\UpdateEPG.bat

C:
cd "C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\EPG"
mc2xml

4. Run this .bat file (double click on UpdateEPG.bat) and mc2xml will ask you to input your Postal/Zip code (ie: "10000"), Country Code (ie: "us"), and will allow you to toggle any options (check "-a" and/or "-A" if you want *'s in your listings to indicate new programs).

It will then ask you to select a lineup number. mc2xml will save this selection to mc2xml.dat and create an xmltv.xml file in this folder. (Delete mc2xml.dat if you selected the wrong lineup, and try again)
5. Run GBPVR Config and select the "Capture Source" tab and "Edit" your source
6. Set the "EPG Source" to "XMLTV Plugin", and press the "Settings" button
7. Select the "Browse" button and choose the newly created "xmltv.xml" file from the "C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\EPG" directory and press "OK"
8. You can now press the "Update EPG" button and set the "Auto Update EPG" time. GBPVR will automatically run "UpdateEPG.bat" every time it imports the selected xmltv.xml file to update the EPG.

[jdabling]

Let me jump in here, and make sure I understand as well:

We have to do two separate things: 1. Get mc2xml to run, which will update the xml file. 2. Get gbpvr to go update its database from the update xml file.

So, if I have "Config\Capture Source\Automatic EPG Update" box checked in GBPVR, what exactly is it running? Does it only look for a file named updateEPG.bat, if I have one, in the GBPVR main directory? If this updateEPG.bat file calls out my mc2xml command with the appropriate options, will that then get run nightly, or do I still need a separate windows scheduled task? And, if it does do that, does it somehow know when MC2XML is done updating the XML file before it starts to try and read from that xml file?