what the the links between epg.xml, Big Screen, and WMC ?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › what the the links between epg.xml, Big Screen, and WMC ?

dhazen

63 posts

Master Geek

#60079 18-Apr-2010 18:35

The penny finally dropped and I've made the changes to the WMC Guide so that the channel names are identical to those found in Big Screen (which are in turn taken - I presume - from the epg.xml feed I get from our provider). I also added channel numbers to the Big Screen setup, but I'm not sure if that had any effect - and yes, I asked Big Screen to output channel numbers.

With a few exceptions, the information from the broadcast channels is now great but the information from the Sky channels didn't make it through, and I'm real sure I got the channel names right. Adding channel numbers didn't help either.

Here is some info from the XML file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE tv SYSTEM "xmltv.dtd"[]>
<tv date="20100417150237 +0000" source-info-name="DVB broadcast EPG" generator-info-name="DVBGuide" generator-info-url="http://www.dvbguide.com/">
...

<channel id="X03F5">
    <display-name>Discovery</display-name>
</channel>
...
<programme start="20100417063000 +0000" stop="20100417073000 +0000" channel="X03F5">
    <title lang="en">American Chopper</title>
    <desc lang="en">Unique Machine Bike: Sr. takes a trip up to Alaska to research a bike and ends up meeting with Governor Sarah Palin.</desc>
    <category lang="en">Education</category>
    <video>
      <present>yes</present>
    </video>
    <audio>
      <present>yes</present>
    </audio>
</programme>

Is there any way I can use some of this information to get the program details into the WMC guide? I'm thinkin of the channel id ( <channel id="X03F5"> ) perhaps.

Also, I'm happy to do some post processing on the XML file if needed - changing channel and display names with string substitutions if that's required.

Thanks.

4ga

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#320122 19-Apr-2010 09:40

Select all your channels in BSE and use the "Match Selected Channel(s)" button to match with the channels from WMC. If a match is found that channel will now have a value in the "Match Name" field.

There are couple of options to match on, I use the call sign, this matched most channels out of the box, for the remaining channels that dont match I edit the call sign in BSE to be the same as the channel name in WMC.

MyHeritage

Shop MyHeritage and uncover your origins and find new relatives with a simple DNA test. (affiliate link).

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#320194 19-Apr-2010 12:20

I do it the other way around. I specifically do NOT give any of the channels a number in BSE. This means that no channels EPG's get matched to the channel sources in MC.
Then when in MC you go into the setting to select the EPG source. If you start typing in the name it will show the channels. The one that does not have a number is the the one from BSE. Means a bit more work from MC but I KNOW that I am using the right EPG source.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

rvangelder

352 posts

Ultimate Geek

#320200 19-Apr-2010 12:36

dvbguide has an option to insert straight into media center.
i've never tried it, but the author of dvbguide, pclare, is pretty active on some forums.
no bse required, in theory.

dhazen

63 posts

Master Geek

#320208 19-Apr-2010 12:53

Thanks very much - that sounds like a winner - I'll post the results.

dhazen

63 posts

Master Geek

#320210 19-Apr-2010 12:56

Thanks very much for the suggestion -- I'll try 4ga's idea first, but if that doesn't work I'll give yours a go. -- I'll also steal your signature construct - great idea.

- Deck

dhazen

63 posts

Master Geek

#320212 19-Apr-2010 13:00

I found that source shortly after my initial post -- thanks for the confirmation -- I tried his dvbguide but my card failed to get a signal lock so I sent him the debug output -- I fell asleep at my keyboard before I got a chance to have a look at his loader, but I like the idea of having more control over what goes in to the guide. Thanks again,

- Deck

dhazen

63 posts

Master Geek

#320272 19-Apr-2010 16:05

A follow-up if I may - what version of WMC do you have? I don't think I've ever seen a place to select the EPG source. (I'm running the Windows 7 version).

thanks.

4ga

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#320422 19-Apr-2010 19:44

Right click the channel in the guide select "edit channel", then "edit listings"

The guide data you have imported with bse will probably be there already, just not connected up to the channel.

dhazen

63 posts

Master Geek

#320451 19-Apr-2010 20:58

Dude (assumption) - yer my hero -- I'm going to name my first born male child "4ga" in honor of your brilliance (he's 28 now and may not be happy about it, but I think I know a lawyer that can make it happen).

Thanks.

- Deck