Try using mc2xml for now. I've got it working even though the channel mapping is somewhat unclear (you'll see).
....why isn't anybody using mc2xml? It is a plugin that can use the data from the microsoft site, which has data for 10 days or so, instead of 3 days on tvgids.nl. I mean this as a serious question, as the tool is very fast, it has all data in a few seconds.
Can these plugins described here work with a xml file that is already present on the pc? So no downloading required, just writing the new data to MP?
mc2xml -c nl -g 5211 -o TVguide.xml
....why isn't anybody using mc2xml? It is a plugin that can use the data from the microsoft site, which has data for 10 days or so, instead of 3 days on tvgids.nl. I mean this as a serious question, as the tool is very fast, it has all data in a few seconds.
Henk99,
Thanks for suggesting mc2xml ;-)))
It is the most complete TVguide I ever got and what I imported today is even (snik) 12 days ahead!
It works PERFECTLY!
Can these plugins described here work with a xml file that is already present on the pc? So no downloading required, just writing the new data to MP?
So to answer your question, here is what you need to do:
1) download mc2xml.exe here: mc2xml
2) put this in a folder + a copy of 'xmltv.dtd'
3) open a DOS box (run 'cmd') and go to this folder
4) type 'mc2xml -c nl -g 0000 -o tvguide.xml'
5) you get a menu/list of 9 possible sources (I used '5' = Canal Digitaal)
6) after a few seconds you have a very big ~20MB 'tvguide.xml'
7) ... optional (or do later)
8) You now startup the 'TVserver configuration'
9) goto plugin "XmlTv" (make sure the XmlTv plugin box is checked) & select the folder with above generated Tvguide.xml
10) goto tab 'mappings'
11) select your 'Group'
12) press 'load/refresh'
13) In the list box you now get your 'channels' with drop down boxes to select the belonging description from the at (6) generated TVguide.xml
14) When finished selecting all channels press 'Save'
15) Verify the correct selections by pressing 'load/refresh' again (all boxes should now be white)
16) Go back to the 'settings' tab & press 'import': you should see your number of channels and a lot of programs importing (after a few seconds)
17) close 'TVserver configuration'
18) start MP and enjoy
19) .... optional
About 7) & 19)
19) Make a (daily) scheduled task with 'mc2xml.exe'
Note: when you ran item 4)+5) the first time, all settings were stored in the 'mc2xml.dat' file, so next time you can just give the command 'mc2xml'!
7) You can reduce the very large TVguide.xml to only include the channels that you are using.
For example: I reduced the TVguide.xml from 22MB to 4MB file (412 channels to 26 channels), which you will notice performance wise
You do this as follows:
a) open the TVguide.xml with an editor (I can advise the freeware XML-editor from 'firstobject')
b) open Notepad
c) check in the beginning of the xml file -until the programs begin- all the channel descriptions: e.g. like "<display-name>Ned 1</display-name>"
d) you now copy & paste one 'display-name' for each channel that you want in your EPG from the xml to the Notepad:
e.g. you copy& paste "Ned 1" to Notepad, next you copy 'Ned 2' to a new line etc. and you get something like this:
~~~
Ned 1
Ned 2
Ned 3
RTL 4
...
~~~ Note that these descriptions must be literal as in the TVguide.xml (that's why I suggest the copy&paste) so watch the upper & lower cases and spaces etc.. If you are missing programs with step 13) or later in your MP EPG, all chances are that this channel does not have the literal same text like in the TVguide.xml
e) when you have listed all your channels, save the Notepad to the TVguide folder as "mc2xml.chl"
I am not sure if this is absolutely nescesary but I did this next:
f) delete 'mc2xml.dat' from the folder
g) delete 'TVguide.xml' from the folder
h) repeat 3)+4)+5) and generate the smaller TVguide.xml
Success,
Ronald
Thanx ronald2oo2 & henk99,
for that mc2xml suggestion and the explanation how to get it working. I've made my own channel list now and it seems to work. I am going to try it for a few days before i implement it fully on my Mediaportal, but it seems to do the work, and very fast.