[EPG] EPG Importer for Window Media Center 7

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andrewderekjackson

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#61353 14-May-2010 18:54

Hello fellow geeks.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I have released a (public beta) version of a program for importing XMLTV EPG data into media center.

It was initially written for private use but some friends and family have found it really useful so I thought I would release it to the public. This was specifically design for NZ screen scraped sources and provides some heuristics for trying to guess categories and lookup metadata etc.

For people interested in giving it a go (and providing feedback / bug reports), you can download it from the site here: http://andrewderekjackson.spaces.live.com/default.aspx

Thanks,
Andrew Jackson

andrewderekjackson@gmail.com

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#330216 14-May-2010 20:13

Looks interesting. I've installed Net Framework 4.0 as prompted..and rebooted, however it still won't install and is prompting me to install net framework! :)

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andrewderekjackson

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#330218 14-May-2010 20:27

It looks like the link to .NET 4 in the setup program is pointing to the "Client profile" version of .NET. Please try and install the "Full" version and try again.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9cfb2d51-5ff4-4491-b0e5-b386f32c0992&displaylang=en

If you don't come right with that, let me know and I will post a version without a setup program.

Andrew

mentalinc

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#330284 15-May-2010 06:47

May i suggest you make contact with sjb or giggles

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=58935

Combining your two applications would make an almost complete NZ epg solution.

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wazza15

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#330296 15-May-2010 08:21

May i suggest you make contact with sjb or giggles

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=58935

Combining your two applications would make an almost complete NZ epg solution.

+1

Batman

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#340260 10-Jun-2010 16:01

i've been starting to use 7mc for dvb-t lately and am astounded why the prog listing needs further tweaking, anyway will give your tool a try! thanks

illicit

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#340604 11-Jun-2010 12:49

I have been using this for about 3 weeks now and it seems to be working fine, only issue being the most of the names for channels are missing, freeview ones have the logo, but ones with no logo (sky channels) have nothing, just numbers, will report back when i have it sorted.

Thanks very much to Andrew Jackson though, great program and very professional

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#340659 11-Jun-2010 15:41

hmm needs .net framework 4 installation - is there ANY disavantage to me installing this component - eg will it slow down my computer? cheers. (hee hee reason for suddenly needing EPG is becos of the world cup FEVER ... go ... err ... Argentina! altho i have serious doubts about their chances due to mad coaching)

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#340881 12-Jun-2010 08:59

hi so sorry, could you tell me how to get the guide exported to 7mc? i have ticked the export to 7mc box but when i open 7mc they're not there ... i can live with nodata but without time slots i can schedule world cup highlights recording!

thanks

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#340887 12-Jun-2010 09:16

(note i have read all the threads about importing all kinds of 'epg's into 7mc but i dont understand any of them!)

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#340897 12-Jun-2010 09:55

i have started another thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=62682

andrewderekjackson

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#340898 12-Jun-2010 10:02

Hi Everyone. Thanks to those who have given the program a go. I can see from the comments that there are a few areas where people are struggling or things are not quite as clear as they could be. I will try and see if I can make this a little easier and/or possibly add some documentation around these areas for the next release - this is what a beta program is for :-)

To answer some of the questions posted here:

@mentalinc: I took a look at the MHEG5 EPG data grabber and feel that there would not be any real value for either projects to combine forces. Out of the box, the output from MHEG5 data grabber can be used as a source for my EPG importer. The projects have different responsibilities so to speak and compliment each other well.

@illicit: Thank you for your comment. I haven't tested the application extensivly with sky data (as I don't use sky). I will raise a bug report for the issue. Something to try: In the EPG configuration screen, make sure that you have a channel name entered and that the logo field is empty (this should then display the name in the guide listing rather than the logo)

@joker97: .NET 4 runtime is required for the application to run. I can see no disadvantage to installing it as you already probably will need it for other apps in the future (this version is pretty new) and it will come down as a windows update in a few months anyway if you don't install it yourself.

You probably do not see any guide data in media center because you haven't set up your guide to use the guide data.

Here are the steps to follow to get imported guide lineups to show in media center. You have probably already completed up to step 2 so start off at step 3.

1. In media center (7MC), go through the standard TV setup wizard. You can set your postal code to 0000 to get you past that wizard screen but the end result is the same. After doing this, you should be able to go to the guide and see your channels listed (they will probably say "No data" or something like that but your should be able to at least see the channels.
2. Run Win7 EPG Importer program to get your guide data into 7MC. At the end it should of the import you should see a "Importing into Media Center" message with no errors.
3. In 7MC, navigate to "settings -> TV -> Guide -> Edit Channels"
4. Click on a channel and select "Edit Listing"
5. You should be able to see the imported listing (Should be in the format "Channel Name - EPG Importer"
6. Select the correct listing to assign to the selected channel.
7. Repeat steps 4 - 6 until all the channels you care about are mapped.
8. Back out to the main menu saving your changes on each screen.

I hope this helps. Comments/suggestions/bug reports are welcome.

Thanks
Andrew

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#340901 12-Jun-2010 10:24

awesome! i went as far as "edit channel" but didnt realise edit listing would get me the whole nine yards (*blush*)

technology! i can understand my parent's misery sometimes :)

SEEN

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#341350 13-Jun-2010 23:44

Thank you SO much for the help with how to choose the listing data! I was stumped, and couldn't work out why the program wouldn't work!

One little annoyance though, is there any way (eg command line switch) to make the importer run hidden? this is running on my father's computer, and I would like it to not be visible when it imports the data, especially if I am gonna set it to download TV series images.

Cheers,

Sean

steve181

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#342478 16-Jun-2010 22:34

Hi andrew

I have Windows 7 64bit

I downloaded your software & installed Net Framework 4.0.

I followed your '12-JUN-2010 10:02' post instructions but it's not working fro me. This is the address where I installed your software: C:\Program Files (x86)\HappyTools\Win7 EPG Importer. Inside the folder I ran 'EpgImporter', a window briefely popped up then went away again.

I got up to step 5 with your instructions. I can see a list of Freeview channels + a 'use listings from broadcaster' entry but the 'Channel Name - EPG Importer' entry is not in the list. Was I supposed to install your software into a Windows Media Centre folder or did I do the right thing by installing your software to the location I mentioned above?

Thanks for your time.

andrewderekjackson

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#342508 16-Jun-2010 23:55

@steve181: when you install the importer application, it should install two shortcuts in your start menu: one for the configuration program and one for the actual importer program which does the import. You will need to run the configuration program and enter your sources otherwise the there will be nothing to import and you not see any imported channels in media center.

@sean: the best way for you to run the importer without showing the importer console window is to use the built in windows task scheduler to run the import. By default, it will not show the ui while it is running. This technique will also ensure that you never forget to update your epg. I have been running like this for months now. Set it up once and forget about it.

I downloaded your software & installed Net Framework 4.0.

I followed your '12-JUN-2010 10:02' post instructions but it's not working fro me. This is the address where I installed your software: C:\Program Files (x86)\HappyTools\Win7 EPG Importer. Inside the folder I ran 'EpgImporter', a window briefely popped up then went away again.

I got up to step 5 with your instructions. I can see a list of Freeview channels + a 'use listings from broadcaster' entry but the 'Channel Name - EPG Importer' entry is not in the list. Was I supposed to install your software into a Windows Media Centre folder or did I do the right thing by installing your software to the location I mentioned above?

Thanks for your time.

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