Plugin: mc2xml EPG Plugin

[gdippel]

Slugger, thanks for your patience and great plugin(s). I finally figured out the problem. As HAL the computer said in Stanley Kubrick's film 2001, "I've come across this before, it's always human error."

I originally set up the plugin on my backup/test system and then copied everything over except for the mc2xml.exe which I had placed in my test system's windows\system32 directory. DUH ! I merely copied the SageTV directory. The epg log showed that mc2xml wasn't found (of course, since I hadn't installed it!) The epg had never updated since it was installed on my server.

[stevenkd]

I am still running version 6 of SageTV. I am considering upgrading to version 7 specifically to be able to use this plugin. Am I correct in that if I use the licensed verison of mc2xml I will get the full episode data that I get today with the standard SageTV EPG?

Thanks for all the great work on this, I am planning to keep SageTV running even if Google dumps it, I don't really have any additional requirements. This will allow me to use it even is the standard EPG data goes away next year.

[Slugger]

Originally Posted by stevenkd

I am still running version 6 of SageTV. I am considering upgrading to version 7 specifically to be able to use this plugin. Am I correct in that if I use the licensed verison of mc2xml I will get the full episode data that I get today with the standard SageTV EPG?

Thanks for all the great work on this, I am planning to keep SageTV running even if Google dumps it, I don't really have any additional requirements. This will allow me to use it even is the standard EPG data goes away next year.

You do NOT need to get the licensed version of mc2xml. If you do, you CANNOT use the "new" Microsoft listings data as the source for this plugin, it will not work with that data source. You must use the Microsoft "legacy" service or Schedules Direct, though Schedules Direct support in this EPG plugin is not complete at this time. SD with a single lineup will work fine, multiple lineups are not fully functional.

With that said, I recommend making some kind of donation to mc2xml - it's a very useful tool.

As for the data, it's somewhat lacking compared to the Sage EPG server. I outline what's missing, supported, etc. here. Note: To get the season and episode numbers using this EPG source requires that you get a license for this plugin, NOT mc2xml. The unlicensed version of this plugin will work fine with a single lineup, but will not enable thetvdb.com functions, which are required to pull S/E data.

[gdippel]

I have 3 video sources, (1) a HD PVR through a STB, (2) S-Video capture with a PVR 1850 through a STB and (3) Clear QAM with the PVR 1850. When I set up the mc2xml plugin, I set up just one lineup for the HD PVR and just copied that lineup for the other two sources.

The HD PVR lineup updates fine, but the copies of the other two lineups are not updating. On the copies of the lineups for the S-Video and Clear Qam, I have only enabled the SD channels (for the S-Video) and Clear QAM for the local clear channels. On the HD PVR lineup, I have disabled these channels. Is the fact that I have disabled the SD and Clear QAM channels on the original HD PVR lineup causing those channels not to be updated? I assumed that even disabled channels updated. BTW, this was how I had the original Sage lineups set.

I have the licensed version of the plugin so I guess I could use three separate linueps, but shouldn't it work as described? I must be missing something.

[Slugger]

It should work. Check the xmltv.xml file in your lineup folder under plugins/mc2xmlepg/ and make sure listings are being pulled in for the channel(s). Assuming there is data being downloaded, check the epg.log file in the plugins/mc2xmlepg/logs/ folder for any errors processing the data. If there are none then the issue would seem to be with the core.

[gdippel]

I've checked the epg log, looks fine to me, no errors as far as I can tell. I've attached a portion of the log for Today (2/2/2012.) Data for the channels are also being pulled in according to the xmltv.xml file. When I enable a non-updating channel on the HD PVR, the lineup updates, so apparently the copies are not. Is anyone successfully using copies of one lineup similar to my earlier post? If not, I guess I'll just create separate lineups for each source.

[Slugger]

Yeah, that output looks fine. Did you check the xmltv.xml file to see if there's actually listings in there for the channels you're having problems with? If it's channel 50, for example, then search for I50. in the file. There seems to be an issue for some users where OTA stations do not show up in the data provided by mc2xml. Though it seems you're using a cable lineup so that shouldn't be an issue for you - I don't think. But anyway I'd just check to make sure that the channels are in the xml file and have some program entries in it.

[gdippel]

I checked the xmltv.xml file, all the channel data is there. I think, for whatever reason, the copies of the lineups are not updating. Rather than pulling my hair out figuring out why, I'll just make unique lineups for each source.

[Slugger]

Yeah, that should work. Admittedly, I didn't test the copying of lineups extensively, but I did test it enough to know that it worked for me. But I only copied my lineup once to a second tuner. The second copy could be the issue or there could be old settings stuck in your properties file, etc. Sage support should be able to tell you why copies of a lineup aren't pulling in the fresh data being populated from the main lineup otherwise the multi lineup approach should work as well.

[LehighBri]

Does anyone have any recommendations on which service I should use to get the "most" metadata for US-based shows? I noticed that some shows aren't showing the season/episode info (e.g. the new show "Smash" did not have S/E info whereas most of my other shows do... neither does the new show "Touch").

Also, is there a way to update the season/episode logic to see if it's a "Premiere" and if so, flag it as Episode = 1?

Bottom line... given I'm trying to use new utils like SageSync to get my shows to be recognized in XBMC, I'm trying to make sure that the major episodic shows have season/episode info.

[Slugger]

Are you currently using this plugin for your EPG data?

If so, it pulls the S/E data from thetvdb.com. The cool thing is, if an airing is missing S/E data in your Sage EPG and you're using this plugin, just go to thetvdb.com, update the episode data there, wait 15 mins (thetvdb sometimes takes up to 15 to generate the new xml for a show), then force an EPG update. The new S/E data should then be pulled into the EPG. If shows are missing S/E data it's because no one's updated it at thetvdb.com. New/popular shows are usually updated a day or two before they air, but not always. But that's when, if you really want that info pulled in before the recording, you go update thetvdb.com to get that info in.

As for premieres, this plugin has to do it the other way. The EPG data from mc2xml does not include premiere/finale info. Instead, I determine it based on the S/E data. If an airing is S01E01, it's a series premiere and flagged as such. If it's SnnE01 where nn > 1, it's a season premiere and flagged as such. There is currently no way to determine a finale based on the info available from thetvdb.com.

Note, all S/E data is only pulled in with the licensed version of this plugin.

[LehighBri]

Originally Posted by Slugger

Are you currently using this plugin for your EPG data?

If so, it pulls the S/E data from thetvdb.com. The cool thing is, if an airing is missing S/E data in your Sage EPG and you're using this plugin, just go to thetvdb.com, update the episode data there, wait 15 mins (thetvdb sometimes takes up to 15 to generate the new xml for a show), then force an EPG update. The new S/E data should then be pulled into the EPG. If shows are missing S/E data it's because no one's updated it at thetvdb.com. New/popular shows are usually updated a day or two before they air, but not always. But that's when, if you really want that info pulled in before the recording, you go update thetvdb.com to get that info in.

Good idea. I think this is due to the fact that the TVDB ID is pointing to something else called Smash. I'll update it and see what happens... thanks for the guidance.

Originally Posted by Slugger

Note, all S/E data is only pulled in with the licensed version of this plugin.

Yep, I own a license and it is indeed pulling in S/E info for some shows, but not all.

[Slugger]

Yeah, use the latest web ui to update the tvdb id for shows that aren't downloading properly.

[OldPCGUY]

I will donate!!!

With both Yahoo and Google buying companies we can now see the incentive for other developers to develop where Sage Left off.

Did google really think Sage would die if they just turned off the EPG?

[wayner]

Originally Posted by OldPCGUY

Did google really think Sage would die if they just turned off the EPG?

I doubt that - getting EPG data isn't rocket science and all of the folks outside of North America have always had to provide thei own EPG data.

[Slugger]

Effective immediately, official support for this plugin has ended. More details available here.

A special thank you to all who have donated to this project. Because of your support, a donation for a little over $500 has been made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Again, thank you for your support!

[bsung]

It would be really great to have this app working but I've gone through the installation instructions and am having some trouble.

I get as far as "Reconfigure Video Sources" on the Google code website. On Sage, I get to the window where it asks me if I want to
1. Use US, Canada, or XMLTV Guide Data with this Source
2. Use tvtv Services Guide Data with this Source
3. Do Not Use Program Guide Data with this Source
4. Use or Copy an Existing Channel Lineup for this Source.

I think I'm supposed to choose #1 but after confirming my zip code, it asks me to select my cable or satellite provider. But that page is blank. I can't find the folder name that I create in the prior steps.

Can anyone help?

[Slugger]

Be sure you followed the steps in this section carefully. I'm referring to the "Configure mc2xml" section starting just below the screen shot.

Specifically, you need to make sure you created the lineup directory in the expected location (C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\plugins\mc2xmlepg\[lineup]\) and then inside that dir you created you must create the lineup.properties file as outlined in the link above. When done correctly, entering your zip code will present the lineup instead of a blank screen.

[bsung]

Originally Posted by Slugger

Be sure you followed the steps in this section carefully. I'm referring to the "Configure mc2xml" section starting just below the screen shot.

Specifically, you need to make sure you created the lineup directory in the expected location (C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\plugins\mc2xmlepg\[lineup]\) and then inside that dir you created you must create the lineup.properties file as outlined in the link above. When done correctly, entering your zip code will present the lineup instead of a blank screen.

I'm sorry, I'm an idiot. I realized that I put the lineup.properties file in the wrong folder. Sorry about that. Thanks a lot for the plugin.

[HelenWeathers]

Just a heads up for users of mc guide data.

EPG data seems to end 04/19/2012 at approx 8pm eastern time.

MS has been made aware of the issue and say they are looking into it.