XMLTV handling of <icon /> entry with URL with "=" in it: guide update failing

[drlava]

The Rovi guide source is adding some cool features, one is icons for each show with links to the icons embedded in the xmltv listing. This is one example:

Code:

    <programme start="20150811173000 -0700" stop="20150811180000 -0700" channel="I2.1.28461099.microsoft.com">
        <title lang="en">ABC World News With David Muir</title>
        <desc lang="en">A roundup of the day's events.</desc>
        <category lang="en">News</category>
        <category lang="en">newscast</category>
        <icon src="http://images-eds.xboxlive.com/image?url=cOC861nTwwD6fdaNNqSphYhIoPdt3SpAXZveWYNx1owpaSbQgknD7_eWMyj6k.qSdbWmptcbCdLzif8iGNMjoLpUNMZDRWHu8k3dadXB6AT4rWMxAZl0FSKHs6.V_AeLUgKrQe6va3UznEVJ0c_V4DqtpIrhhZHe8C11_4dcsxE-&w=267&h=150" />
        <episode-num system="ms_progid">1.254203045120030</episode-num>
        <video>
            <aspect>16:9</aspect>
            <quality>HDTV</quality>
        </video>
        <new />
    </programme>

One problem: npvr fails to load this xml file with an error:

Code:

<version><component name="NextPVR" version="3.4.8" display="NextPVR 3.4.8"><url>http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?56583-3-4-8-available-(25th-April)</url></component></version>
2015-08-13 22:25:06.778    [INFO][3]    current online version: 3.4.8
2015-08-13 22:25:06.778    [INFO][3]    last notified version: 3.4.8
2015-08-13 22:25:14.407    [DEBUG][1]    Unexpected error loading channels from xmltv file: System.Xml.XmlException: '=' is an unexpected token. The expected token is ';'. Line 497, position 229.
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(Exception e)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(String res, String[] args)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ThrowUnexpectedToken(String expectedToken1, String expectedToken2)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ThrowUnexpectedToken(Int32 pos, String expectedToken1, String expectedToken2)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.HandleEntityReference(Boolean isInAttributeValue, EntityExpandType expandType, Int32& charRefEndPos)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseAttributeValueSlow(Int32 curPos, Char quoteChar, NodeData attr)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseAttributes()
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseElement()
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseElementContent()
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Read()
   at System.Xml.XmlLoader.LoadNode(Boolean skipOverWhitespace)
   at System.Xml.XmlLoader.LoadDocSequence(XmlDocument parentDoc)
   at System.Xml.XmlLoader.Load(XmlDocument doc, XmlReader reader, Boolean preserveWhitespace)
   at System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(XmlReader reader)
   at System.Xml.XmlDocument.Load(String filename)

Yes, it would be possible to pre-parse the xml file before npvr tries to load it to remove all of the = signs, but that would ruin the chance of USING these icons in the future. can this be fixed? thank you!

Attached is the xml file, I had to do a multipart zip with 7-zip due to the zip file size limitations.

[sub]

Yes, it would be possible to pre-parse the xml file before npvr tries to load it to remove all of the = signs, but that would ruin the chance of USING these icons in the future. can this be fixed?

Sorry, I can't force these Microsoft components load invalid XML. You'd need to fix the xml. According to the error message, it looks like mc2xml is supposed to escape these icon urls before writing them out to the xmltv files.

[drlava]

ok, it looks like the & characters at the end are causing problems, will take care of this on my end and post any solution. thank you again

[sub]

You'll see the same errors if you try to open the xml file in Internet Explorer. ie, it's the Microsoft xml components rejecting it, rather than NextPVR.

You should try talking to the mc2xml guys, to see if they can resolve the issue, rather than having to come up with your own pre-parsing logic to try and work around the problem.

[drlava]

yep, email already sent to him, will see.

By the way, I have to compliment you. Ever since updating my OS to win7 32 bit and updating NPVR, operation has been flawless. I'm using this in a HTPC in combination with rasp pi B+ and OSMC as clients and couldn't be more pleased. One thing I noticed with the OSMC clients is that they accept control input directly from the stock TV remote, despite not having an IR receiver or any configuration on my part. The TV must somehow (HDMI-CEC) be sending remote control signals over HDMI down to the pi, which OSMC interperets. Remote buttons play, pause, ffwd, rev, all four arrow keys, enter, and escape all work. slick!


EDIT: mc2xml author updated the 'donator' version, and it's working now.

[sub]

Great!