EPG No Longer Working - zap2xml

[SamM]

I use OTA channels, and have been using zap2xml to update the epg for many years. But it seems like the last time it worked was 12/30/24. Now all my stations show "no listings". I tried updating manually, and zap2xml doesn't update the xmltv.xml file any more.

If no one has a solution for this, can someone please give me a link to an alternate easy to use xml file builder that can be used on a more reliable site like tvguide.com (with detailed instructions)?
Thanks.

I was able to get some detail (finally) after poking around, but I don't know if this will help or not. When I manually ran the batch file, the cmd came back with this message:

D:\EPG>updateepg.bat > epgup.txt
malformed JSON string, neither array, object, number, string or atom, at character offset 0 (before "\x{0}\x{0}\x{0}\x{0}...") at script/zap2xml.pl line 1436.

and I outputted the full text in the attached epgup.txt

So is the problem in zap2xml, or is it in the site zap2it?
Is anyone else having this problem?

[SamM]

I use OTA channels, and have been using zap2xml to update the epg for many years. But it seems like the last time it worked was 12/30/24. Now all my stations show "no listings". I tried updating manually, and zap2xml doesn't update the xmltv.xml file any more.

If no one has a solution for this, can someone please give me a link to an alternate easy to use xml file builder that can be used on a more reliable site like tvguide.com (with detailed instructions)?
Thanks.

I was able to get some detail (finally) after poking around, but I don't know if this will help or not. When I manually ran the batch file, the cmd came back with this message:

D:\EPG>updateepg.bat > epgup.txt
malformed JSON string, neither array, object, number, string or atom, at character offset 0 (before "\x{0}\x{0}\x{0}\x{0}...") at script/zap2xml.pl line 1436.

and I outputted the full text in the attached epgup.txt

So is the problem in zap2xml, or is it in the site zap2it?
Is anyone else having this problem?

After posting, why can't I see my attachment? Ok, then, I'll copy the whole thing here:

D:\EPG>zap2xml -d 17 -F -j -D -I -u [username] -p [password]

zap2xml (2018-12-01)
Command line: D:\EPG\zap2xml.exe -d 17 -F -j -D -I -u [username] -p [password]
Logging in as "[username]" (Thu Jan 16 21:40:11 2025)
Lineup favorites: 48
[1/136] Parsing: cache/1737082800000.js.gz
[D] Parsing: EP045708930022
[D] Parsing: SH038403370000
[D] Parsing: SH017211070000
[D] Parsing: SH018423000000
[D] Parsing: EP012794650015
[D] Parsing: EP010357850041
[D] Parsing: EP005927270039
[D] Parsing: EP000561580008
[D] Parsing: EP001273610070
[D] Parsing: EP004465830028
[D] Parsing: EP003849930166
[D] Parsing: EP003849930167
[D] Parsing: EP008486090134
[D] Parsing: EP008486090135
[D] Parsing: EP001011700080
[D] Parsing: EP001011700081
[D] Parsing: EP021858930051
[D] Parsing: EP018882470051
.......
Most of it cut out because I couldn't save the post. This is all just more of the same.
...
[D] Parsing: SH003248290000
[D] Parsing: SH050211930000
[D] Parsing: SH050211940000
[D] Parsing: SH012810700000
[D] Parsing: SH007537860000

[mvallevand]

Attachments must be zipped and under 2MB but no point in posting them if no one is helping you.

Martin

[Prsa01]

I use OTA channels, and have been using zap2xml to update the epg for many years. But it seems like the last time it worked was 12/30/24. Now all my stations show "no listings". I tried updating manually, and zap2xml doesn't update the xmltv.xml file any more.

If no one has a solution for this, can someone please give me a link to an alternate easy to use xml file builder that can be used on a more reliable site like tvguide.com (with detailed instructions)?
Thanks.

I was able to get some detail (finally) after poking around, but I don't know if this will help or not. When I manually ran the batch file, the cmd came back with this message:

D:\EPG>updateepg.bat > epgup.txt
malformed JSON string, neither array, object, number, string or atom, at character offset 0 (before "\x{0}\x{0}\x{0}\x{0}...") at script/zap2xml.pl line 1436.

and I outputted the full text in the attached epgup.txt

So is the problem in zap2xml, or is it in the site zap2it?
Is anyone else having this problem?

My zap2xml process seems to be working as it always has. I'm running the exe on windows not the perl script. Zap2xml did have the option of using TVGuide vs zap2it. No idea if that option still works. 

The "original" zap2xml (there are muliple versions out there) hasn't been maintained in years and it is known that almost any change zap2it makes could break it so best to be ready to move to something else eventually. 

Thegreenbutton site has all of the zap2xml options and debug info listed if you search there. also -
https://sourceforge.net/p/epgcollector/d...5e3a54134/

Since you seemed to have a long time working process, I'd start with any changes. Network, router, internet, system, pearl, npvr, etc.

[mvallevand]

I checked my port of zap2xml and it still downloads OK so the web site hasn't changed much so check your options and maybe your cache.

Martin

[Prsa01]

I checked  my port of zap2xml and it still downloads OK so the web site hasn't changed much so check your options and maybe your cache.

Martin

Ah, yes. Should have thought of that too. Anytime you get strange results it's worth deleting the cache and seeing if that makes a difference. Note - It will run longer the first time after doing this.

[SamM]

I use OTA channels, and have been using zap2xml to update the epg for many years. But it seems like the last time it worked was 12/30/24. Now all my stations show "no listings". I tried updating manually, and zap2xml doesn't update the xmltv.xml file any more.

If no one has a solution for this, can someone please give me a link to an alternate easy to use xml file builder that can be used on a more reliable site like tvguide.com (with detailed instructions)?
Thanks.

I was able to get some detail (finally) after poking around, but I don't know if this will help or not. When I manually ran the batch file, the cmd came back with this message:

D:\EPG>updateepg.bat > epgup.txt
malformed JSON string, neither array, object, number, string or atom, at character offset 0 (before "\x{0}\x{0}\x{0}\x{0}...") at script/zap2xml.pl line 1436.

and I outputted the full text in the attached epgup.txt

So is the problem in zap2xml, or is it in the site zap2it?
Is anyone else having this problem?

My zap2xml process seems to be working as it always has. I'm running the exe on windows not the perl script. Zap2xml did have the option of using TVGuide vs zap2it. No idea if that option still works. 

The "original" zap2xml (there are muliple versions out there) hasn't been maintained in years and it is known that almost any change zap2it makes could break it so best to be ready to move to something else eventually. 

Thegreenbutton site has all of the zap2xml options and debug info listed if you search there. also -
https://sourceforge.net/p/epgcollector/d...5e3a54134/

Since you seemed to have a long time working process, I'd start with any changes. Network, router, internet, system, pearl, npvr, etc.

I made no changes between 12/30/24 and 1/2/25. There may have been a Win11 update that broke it, it's all I can think of. Your link is epg collector, not zap2xml. I use the exe, since it's Win. My version is 0.0.0.0, and the version now available is 1.0.0.0. My problem is that I can't try it because it's not a win install.

[SamM]

I checked  my port of zap2xml and it still downloads OK so the web site hasn't changed much so check your options and maybe your cache.

Martin

what cache?

[mvallevand]

Sorry I don't bother supporting zap2xml options (or my zap2epg port for that matter) since I feel sub's Schedules Direct is worth paying for, even if forum support is "free" Hopefully a user can explain this.

Martin

[SamM]

I use OTA channels, and have been using zap2xml to update the epg for many years. But it seems like the last time it worked was 12/30/24. Now all my stations show "no listings". I tried updating manually, and zap2xml doesn't update the xmltv.xml file any more.

If no one has a solution for this, can someone please give me a link to an alternate easy to use xml file builder that can be used on a more reliable site like tvguide.com (with detailed instructions)?
Thanks.

I was able to get some detail (finally) after poking around, but I don't know if this will help or not. When I manually ran the batch file, the cmd came back with this message:

D:\EPG>updateepg.bat > epgup.txt
malformed JSON string, neither array, object, number, string or atom, at character offset 0 (before "\x{0}\x{0}\x{0}\x{0}...") at script/zap2xml.pl line 1436.

and I outputted the full text in the attached epgup.txt

So is the problem in zap2xml, or is it in the site zap2it?
Is anyone else having this problem?

Update: Although it wasn't working the entire month of Jan, it did work on 1/30, which is the last time my scheduler ran it. So it might be fixed by itself. The only thing I can figure is that a Windows update broke it, then another update fixed it. Other than merely running previously installed programs, there has been no changes except Windows updates.

I am still looking for a way to compile the source code into a Windows install executable, so I can update it to the latest version. Can anyone help me?