NZ EPG Episode and Series Data, Has anyone got a solution?

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5hundred

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#129012 31-Aug-2013 18:57

Hello all,

I use mediaportal for live (DVB-T and DVB-S cards) and recorded TV, I also use the mp-tv series plugin.

I'd love to be able to have my recorded TV files recognised by the mp-tv series plugin, but for that to happen it would need to have series and episode data in its title.

Ive tried using EPG collector to generate that data from both the DVB-s and DVB-t feeds but no luck, the CRID seems only to give long strings of numbers that are not understood by Mediaportal.

Is there any guide data for NZ out there that has series and episode values or is there any solution that someone has to produce it, if so please share as I'd be very grateful.

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#887575 31-Aug-2013 21:22

The latest version of EPG Collector will output sensible season and episode numbers to an xmltv file if you select that option as the format of the episode tag on the Output tab.

Only TV2, TV3 and Four include season and episode numbers in the data as part of the programme description. EPGC extracts them from there and puts them in the episode-num tag in the xmltv file. It doesn't currently do it for TV2.

5hundred

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#887686 1-Sep-2013 07:54

Thanks for that info, is that for data coming from DVB-S or DVB-T or both? Ive tried setting that option but had no luck so far spotting any sensible season or episode info other than that which is contained within the programme description.

Edit. Got it working on DVB-T, many thanks, look forward to seeing the other channels follow suit.

SJB

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#887720 1-Sep-2013 10:00

Same data on satellite.

Hopefully the other channels will start broadcasting the episode/season numbers as well but I wouldn't hold your breath.

I'll do a fixpack in the near future that will give you TV2 so keep an eye on Sourceforge.

5hundred

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#887728 1-Sep-2013 10:33

Thats grand, thanks very much for your continued efforts.

Edwood

218 posts

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#983900 11-Feb-2014 10:21

Hey folks,

I've spent quite a lot of time trying to get a solution, and thus far, I fail.

I'm using current latest / stable versions of Mediaportal (DVB-T) / EPG Grabber / TV Series.

I've tried all of the available options in the output tab for series/episode format.
In my tests, im specifically looking at popular mainstream shows that do have the series/episode data in the description fields in the TVGuide.xml.

I can not get any sensible data into the episode-num tag. You guys talk as if you had it working - if so, what am I missing?

As a sidenote, i'd love to find a user guide for EPG Grabber so I can get a better understanding of the numerous parameters.

SJB

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#983918 11-Feb-2014 10:37

Do you mean EPG Collector when you say EPG Grabber?

If so you need to set the option on the Output tab - XMLTV options - 'Format of episode tag'. Choose Valid season and episode numbers only.

NZ Freeview is broadcasting the season/episode numbers in a number of different formats in the description field. EPG Collector should deal with most of them.

Edwood

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#983958 11-Feb-2014 11:25

Collector / harvester / grabber / assimilater....

Err... yeah, EPG Collector! Thats what i mean!

I'll go and do some more testing and get back to you soon with some real data...

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Edwood

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Master Geek

#983989 11-Feb-2014 12:06

OK Here's some real data...

I've looked a little further than my usual test cases, and I can see there is some series/episode data where I didn't expect it... (and still data no where i do expect it).

The following are extracts from TVGuide.xml generated just now, and using the "Valid season & episode numbers" option.

So here's my testing...
Sorry this is a massive post - no code tags / no spoiler tags... we're almost tagless :)

    <title>CSI</title>
    <desc>New Episode. Catherine Willows returns to help the CSIs solve a cold case that has haunted the team for 14 years. Guest starring Jason Priestley. S14 Ep5</desc>
    <rating>
      <value>AO</value>
    </rating>
    <subtitles type="teletext" />
</programme>

Note: No episode-num tag, but also note that S14 Ep5 is given in the description.
I had thought EPGC would extract the Season/Episode numbers from the description, and stick 'em in the episode-num tag.

Note same thing for NCIS (S11 EP5)
<title>NCIS</title>
    <desc>New Episode. DiNozzo returns to his Baltimore police department days when he sees a felony suspect from a 15-year-old case at the crime scene of a murdered petty officer. S11 Ep5</desc>
    <rating>
      <value>AO</value>
    </rating>
    <video>
      <quality>HDTV</quality>
    </video>


...and a whole lot of others (different channel I guess) have the S[0-9] e[0-9] info at the beginning of the desc.

<title>Masterchef New Zealand</title>
    <desc>S5 E5 The Top 12 duos shuck and prepare oysters three ways in the Bay of Islands.</desc>
    <video>
      <quality>HDTV</quality>
    </video>
    <subtitles type="teletext" />

However, looking deeper, I see that EPG Collector IS putting Series/Episode data into some really good shows, like the Good Wife :)

<programme start="20140211231000 +1300" stop="20140212001000 +1300" channel="1300">
    <title>The Good Wife</title>
    <desc>New Episode. Wendy Scott-Carr presents her evidence against Will to the grand jury.</desc>
    <rating>
      <value>AO</value>
    </rating>
    <video>
      <quality>HDTV</quality>
    </video>
    <audio>
      <stereo>dolby digital</stereo>
    </audio>
    <episode-num system="xmltv_ns">2 . 13 . 0/1</episode-num>
</programme>

I looked up The Good Wife S2E13 on imdb, and on tvdb.com, and the description doesn't seem to match the episode... lets upgrade to a trully class act...
<programme start="20140212153000 +1300" stop="20140212163000 +1300" channel="1300">

   <title>The Glee Project</title>
    <desc>Dance skills are put to the test and the contestants perform the LMFAO song Party Rock Anthem.</desc>
    <rating>
      <value>G</value>
    </rating>
    <video>
      <quality>HDTV</quality>
    </video>
    <episode-num system="xmltv_ns">1 . 2 . 0/1</episode-num>
</programme>

Same thing, online db's dont match S1E2 with this description. Lets reverse the search...
Aha! Searching for "The Glee Project Dance skills are put to the test and the contestants perform the LMFAO song Party Rock Anthem" reveals that this is actually S2E2!
A similar search shows that the quote Good WIfe (I actually have one of those) is actually S3e14 - not s2e13.

Sooo.... keh!?

SJB

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#983995 11-Feb-2014 12:11

Having just tried it I think you will find it is currently extracting season and episode for TV3 and Four.

TV1 and TV2 have introduced a new format and I'm adding that as we speak.

SJB

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#984026 11-Feb-2014 12:51

The season/episode numbers in the file are 1 less than those broadcast. That's the xmltv standard.

There is a fault in the version you have that means that if the season is more than 9 the episode tag won't be created. I'll fix that at the same time as putting in the TV1/TV2 format.

Edwood

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Master Geek

#984042 11-Feb-2014 13:03

SJB: The season/episode numbers in the file are 1 less than those broadcast. That's the xmltv standard.

Well that is trully weird...
I guess, that means that if MediaPortal also uses the xml standard, then my recorded files will be named correctly - with the right S/E data... If thats the case, then im all good.

There is still some inconsistency though because TheGoodWife was +1 on episode and series, but TheGleeProject was +1 on episode only... ?

SJB: There is a fault in the version you have that means that if the season is more than 9 the episode tag won't be created. I'll fix that at the same time as putting in the TV1/TV2 format.

Cool, thanks for your work! :thumb:

Give me a rough ETA, and i'll make a note to come back and do some testing on the next version.

SJB

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#984111 11-Feb-2014 13:55

MP will use the standard.

I've just run a collection and checked all the Glee Project entries in the xmltv file and they were all correct so I don't know why the entry you saw was wrong.

Check it again after you put on the next fixpack (19) which I'll put up on SF later today. I'll post here when I've uploaded it.

SJB

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#984265 11-Feb-2014 16:37

I've just put fixpack 19 on Sourceforge.

Try it out and let me know how it goes.

Edwood

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Master Geek

#984352 11-Feb-2014 18:26

Looks ok so far with a couple of exceptions... although its a little hard to tell.

I successfully recorded Big Brother as a series, and the files were generated correctly by MediaPortal which was exciting to see!
Im confident I will now be able to record the shows i care about, and have them importing correctly.

I notice the Series/Episode data has been removed from the description text. From a testing perspective, this means I can't tell if the original S/E data is just missing or if it has gone walkabout in the process.
Im tempted to do a parallel installation of v4.0 so i can check, I can't see a problem with doing that yet, but not sure if i can really be bothered...

Assuming Home & Away / Shorty st / etc is not provided with S/E data, then they are OK. (I didi think it was a bit weird that these particular shows didn't have s/e data, but im learning that NZ/AU TV is really a bit behind.

Glee however, is still seems confused.
I could care less about Glee, but...
<programme start="20140211153000 +1300" stop="20140211163000 +1300" channel="1300">
    <title>The Glee Project</title>
    <desc>Fourteen contestants begin their quest for a guest shot on Glee. Their first challenge centers on the theme of individuality and tasks them to perform Whitesnake's Here I Go Again. </desc>
    <rating>
      <value>G</value>
    </rating>
    <video>
      <quality>HDTV</quality>
    </video>
    <episode-num system="xmltv_ns">1 . 1 . 0/1</episode-num>
</programme>

According to the data, this should be S02E02.
However, Google tells me this is S02E01

Something is not right with the Edit / text replacer
I have a rule that looks for "New Series: " and replaces it with nothing.
This is the last rule in my list, and i've tried to delete, recreate, and re-collect with the same results.
I've also tried removing the trailling space - same result
Long story short, replacement is not made
Other replacements seem to be working ok.

Let me know if there's somewhere else (eg. a bug tracker) I should note any other issues.

Thanks!

SJB

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#984380 11-Feb-2014 19:06

There's an option on the Output tab to leave the data in the description 'Don't remove extracted data....'.

Just tick it and the series/episode numbers won't be removed which will make it easier to check.

Can't see Glee being wrong if all the others are correct.

I'll check out the text editing. Is the case correct? (maybe New series).

This is fine for reporting issues.

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