API call for altering EPG data

[Fuzzy]

Is there an API call for manipulating EPG data? The only call close would be SetMediaFileMetadata, which WILL alter the Airing and Show objects, but I'm not sure if it'll work until a show is recorded., thus creating a MediaFile object. I'd like ot be able to alter the EPG data to correct for inconsistancies when I can detect them (primary example being inconsistant detection of 1st runs for NFL Total Access). I have seen nothing in the Airing API that would allow manipulation of EPG data prior to scheduling.

I'm thinking I could set up some 'rules' that would be run from the EPGUpdateCompleted event, to parse thorugh the guide and make my fixes. Any ideas?

[JREkiwi]

Last time I had a play with doing something like this, I found that any of my EPG changes got overwritten on the next EPG update. I think I was using AddShow() for it

John

[stuckless]

I don't know any direct apis to edit the EPG data, but it would be handy. I do know that you can have an epg (epg_import_plugin, ie, xmltv uses this i think) but I think it replaces the SageTV EPG and doesnt augment it. What I don't know, is if it has the ability to interect with the existing epg data at a level that is not possible with the standard api. if it does, then you may be able to create some sort of faux epg import plugin that updates the NFL data.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by JREkiwi

Last time I had a play with doing something like this, I found that any of my EPG changes got overwritten on the next EPG update. I think I was using AddShow() for it

John

Well, that would be enough - if my updates were triggered by the EPG updated event, than it should catch it each time it gets re-overwritten. I'll have to do some tests and see how it works out.

[Slugger]

If the Sage API provided methods like AiringAPI.SetIsHD(boolean), ShowAPI.SetIsFirstRun(boolean), etc. then you could correct minor errors with the data. For example, Hell's Kitchen on Fox is never marked with the HD flag, at least for the Fox HD affiliates on my lineup (Spokane, WA and Rochester, NY). So Sage always ends up recording an SD airing of the program instead of an HD one when it could unless I remember to override via manual recording, which I forget to do most weeks. If I could write a simple script to update the IsHD flag for those airings on those Fox channels then I'd be a happy camper.

I've reported this to Sage who's passed it on to Z2I and it has yet to be fixed (3 years now). I've also directly contacted Z2I numerous times with no results. Now I just want the AiringAPI.SetIsHD(boolean) API call so I can do Z2I's work for them.

As for changing actual program listings. I've experimented with this in the past (v6 only) and it does work. You create a Show object and then Airings for that show and it gets put into the EPG. There are two problems:

1) Your edits always get overwritten on the next EPG update; however, you can now detect when that will happen with the event system in v7 and then just rerun your edits.

2) If the programs you're inserting into the EPG don't fall in the same time slots as the ones already there then Sage removes all the surrounding programs from the EPG to allow your edits to fit in the schedule so you really have to be careful about what you're inserting into the EPG. I used to do this when I was on cable because the EPG data for the sports packages was just generic nothingness. So I'd parse a pdf from the cable co's web site and then inject the game schedules into Sage's EPG. Since I was just overwriting nonsense anyway I was ok, but if you were overwriting a channel that contained some legit listings then you'd want to be extra careful with what you were doing.

[Fuzzy]

Yeah, it looks like creating new show/airing combos will have to be the way to go forward. For me, the only thing I'll be correcting would be 1st run and episode title, everything else would be cloned from the existing airing I'm replacing, so it shouldn't nuke anything around it.

For instance, with NFL Total Access, it's a new show every day at 4pm pst. It then repeats 4 times before the next 4 pm airing. Basically, I just need to give it unique descriptions for each 'day (4pm one day, to 3:59 the next)', mark the 4pm one as 1st run, and it should work. Currently, though, Wed and Thurs are usually detected as repeat airings, because they have plain-standard descriptions. The only reason Mon, Tues and Fri get recorded at all, is they throw the week numbers in the description, so sage detects them as unique.

This type of plugin would work okay for news programs as well. Something to make each day's show unique from the previous day.