[plugin] XMLTV Importer

[avidav]

Hi Stephane,
Sorry for the previous message - now I (finally!) got it:
XMLTV Source is just a name (like a profile name); XMLTV File is the real data file. For each profile (=Source) you can configure a different data file.
Thanks for all your help and for a great program.
Avidav

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by avidav

I'm missing something here, and I apologize for being thick. There are two fields in the configuration screen, one called XMLTV Source, the other XMLTV File.

On the main interface you click on the "+" button. This open the XMLTV source dialog. In this dialog you have to provide a name for the source (what you want, for instance UK Source or BE Source). Then a field called XMLTV File, here you can either type the full path to your XMLTV file or browse your disk by clicking the folder icon next to the field.

If you already have added your two sources (that is you are seeing them in the drop down list in the main interface), just select the source you want to edit in the drop down list and click on the "Edit" button. This will open the XMLTV source dialog and you also have the XMLTV file field where you can type or select the path for your XMLTV file.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[avidav]

Hi Stephane,
Another question, unrelated to the previous message:
I noticed that the first step in the import process, loading the lookup tables, takes now significantly longer time than it used to.
Is there a way to "reset" the lookup table and restore the short loading time?
Thanks,
Avidav

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by avidav

loading the lookup tables, takes now significantly longer time than it used to.Is there a way to "reset" the lookup table and restore the short loading time?

The lookup table is designed to grow and clean itself up (every year). It contains all the EPGID computed by the Importer. This is the lookup table that ensure that programs and series will keep the same IDs between imports.

Without the lookup table, the EPGID will change after each import and as such it will be very difficult to create recording jobs in BTV (BTV record shows based on IDs).

So you can delete the lookup.xml file if you want, but you'll have to recreate all your recording jobs (not the manual recording jobs though).

If the loading time is too long, the you should add memory to your PC. Because it's not the load that is taking time, but the RAM needed to keep the lookup table in memory will make your computer use its page file (this is also true for all other Importer steps) and it make the Importer take much longer to do its job.

My lookup table is 25 MB and it only takes a couple of seconds to load it (I have 2 GB RAM).

Regards,
Stéphane.

[thess]

If you use the XMLTV importer with labs.zap2it.com/DD for the US, you may want to check out this thread:

http://forums.snapstream.com/vb/show...010#post247010

Or this one over at zap2it(must be logged in):

http://bb.labs.zap2it.com/viewtopic.php?t=1202

Episode data problems are occurring with a lot of shows.

[miniGranis]

Anyone else having trouble installing the new XMLTV Importer version 5.4 ?
I get some error at the end of the installer saying that xxx.exe was corrupt or similar. (Cant remember the exact wording right now)
I have tried to DL several times but the install always fails.

[StephaneM]

Hello,

Originally Posted by miniGranis

Anyone else having trouble installing the new XMLTV Importer version 5.4 ? I get some error at the end of the installer saying that xxx.exe was corrupt or similar.

Simply uninstall the previous version before installing version 5.4 and all will be fine (because previous version is .Net 1.1 and the new one is 2.0, the installer of 5.4 cannot uninstall previous versions).

Regards,
Stéphane.

[miniGranis]

Thanks, will try that !!

[steve909]

It's now three in the morning and I'm giving up with this. Can you please suggest what I'm doing wrong?

I am using BTV 4.6.1 xmltv 5.5.4 (I think- the latest version) and BTV importer 5.4. My system is fairly modern, P4 3.2 1Gb 400Gb sata. Its a pretty clean install of windows xp pro.

I have Net Framework 1.1 (BTV won't run without it) and Net Framework 2.0 installed. I have IIS installed.

I have configured xmltv and downloaded an xml file into C:\xmltv\radiotimesepg.xml

No matter what I do, the importer fails at (and this flashes up too quickly to know the exact words) the stage where the progress bars are going across with:
Import FAILED. the column catagory not (no more space for message)
The BTV log says data load into database tables failed error 17.

I've tried uninstalling BTV, uninstalling Net Frameworks and reinstalling BTV, unistalling IIS, reinstalling Net Framework and BTV etc etc

I have got the guide to show, but empty (no guide data of course). The last time of installation I did suddenly have a populated guide, but only via a browser, not via BTV webadmin.

I now have the sitaution where when I type localhost:8129/guide I see:
Server error in '/' application and reports a 404 error.
This says Net Framework 1.1 is installed

When I click on program guide in webadmin it says that the web site declines to display the page.

Please, any advice as to what I should do now? the alternative, tvtv is useless, but getting the xmltv file to import is so frustrating....
ps I tried to download a donator version but it asks for a username and password, but I can't register or create an account to get a username. how do I do this?

pps thats my old system below..

edit: have now managed to import a listing after various reinstall combinations. still had to install both .NET 1.1 and 2.0. I can see the program guide within BTV, even after a reboot, but I can't see the guide from webadmin. I now get a message that the web page has 'moved or is temporarily unavailable'.
I can't see the program guide by tying http://localhost/guide in a browser, I still get the 404 error. Do I have to register the web page in IIS with .NET v2.0 to make it work? (I'm not sure about doing that, but I've read it somewhere). Any advice would be welcome.

2nd edit: I had it working! I imported the listings several times and all was ok until I clicked on 'edit catagories' towards the end of the import. I gather this can filter info to better match catagories/genres? Anyway, it has completely ruined things. The import fails again with message 'data import FAILED: the catagory column...'. I tried to reset the catagories back to default (I had only tried to make a catagory of 'Comedy' so removed it) but still it fails every time again.
I've unistalled BTV Importer, I've configured xmltv again, I've reinstalled BTV Importer, but it still fails every time again. Please don't tell me I have to go through a complete uninstall/reinstall AGAIN....

[StephaneM]

Hello,

Originally Posted by steve909

I had it working! I imported the listings several times and all was ok until I clicked on 'edit catagories' towards the end of the import. I gather this can filter info to better match catagories/genres?

You do not need to reinstall BTV; just add one movie subcategory and the Import will be fine. For some reasons, BTV refuse to import data if there is not at least one movie category.

In the XMLTV Importer, open the category editor and add one subcategory for the "Movie" category (for instance : "Sci Fi"; this subcategory doesn't even have to be present in your actual XMLTV data). Then import your data again and all we be fine.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by steve909

I can see the program guide within BTV, even after a reboot, but I can't see the guide from webadmin. I now get a message that the web page has 'moved or is temporarily unavailable'.

With a default BTV setup there is no program guide in the WebAdmin (the "guide" link redirects to another website : either Snapstream.Net for US and Canadian users or something else).

The Importer automatically change the redirection to be http://localhost/guide, which is the default address of my WebGuide plugin, but it has to be installed first. You'll also need to disable BTV port 80 redirection within the WebAdmin.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by steve909

ps I tried to download a donator version but it asks for a username and password, but I can't register or create an account to get a username. how do I do this?

The donator version is for donators. You cannot create yourself an account, you'll get one if you make a donation.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[steve909]

Ah! Firstly, most important, It seemed I had to have an account before I could donate, thats what I was trying to do, set up an account.
Because of your really quick response, I'll donate tonight.

Secondly, all is working now! I created the sub category and all is well. I now can't understand how I was importing without doing this yesterday, but I won't dwell on it!

One last question- yesterday when I viewed the guide via your viewer plug in if I hovered over a program a pop up box showed the program details etc. Very impressive, but I haven't seen it since. How can I get that feature working again please?

Thank you very much for your quick response- back up like that is as useful as the program. Thanks again.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by steve909

I created the sub category and all is well. I now can't understand how I was importing without doing this yesterday, but I won't dwell on it!

Because you didn't have used the categories editor when you imported the first time, in this case you get the default BTV categories. But as soon as you open the categories, a almost blank set of categories is created and unfortunately BTV needs one subcategory for movies otherwise you get the error (this is a bug I fixed for a upcoming version of the Importer).

One last question- yesterday when I viewed the guide via your viewer plug in if I hovered over a program a pop up box showed the program details etc. Very impressive, but I haven't seen it since. How can I get that feature working again please?

Well, there is nothing that turns on / off this feature. So as it is purely a Javascript / DHTML feature, so look for Javascript error, or wait a litte more time before the pop up comes in.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[steve909]

Thanks again for your reply.
I have now downloaded and installed the donator versions of Importer and Web Viewer. All is working well except I still do not have the java feature you mentioned. I'll wait a while longer.
Can I ask though, when I try to test the web viewer via my lan I get a 'page under construction' message, is this usual or do I have to do anything further in order to view the guide remotely?

I have disabled port forwarding as you suggested. I uninstalled previous verions of Importer and Viewer, Installed and re-booted.
I can see the guide via http://localhost/guide and via BTV webadmin.

Thanks again.