My simple step by step guide to setting up EPG using Quickguide

[BenP]

Hi all,

I have set up a simple step by step guide to getting your EPG going using Quickguide, it'll only take you about 20 mins depending on your download speed:

follow the link:

http://www.bmpbargains.biz/mce_epg.htm

Cheers all

Ben

[Mike]

Well I know what I'll be doing tonight! 8)

[skygazer]

Great instructions ! When I get some time I will write a procedure on how to schedule steps 7&8 to run automatically every night (or how often you want). It is very simple using XP scheduler and at simple batch file.

[BenP]

Great skygazer,

let me know when you do and I'll add to the set up instructions, I have no idea on how to do the batch file, I'll rely on you for that one.

Cheers Mate

Ben

[zaph0d]

Hope you dont mind me jumping in. I just got this going:

1. Run Notepad

2. Type this in exactly:

@echo off
del listing.xml
del listing2.xml
tvharvest.exe
QuickGuide.exe

3. Save as c:\windows\ehome\getepg.bat and close notepad

4. Go to Control Panel > Scheduled Tasks > Add Scheduled Task

5. Click 'Next'. Click on 'Browse' . Go and find c:\windows\ehome\getepg.bat.

6. Type in 'Download EPG' as a name, Click on 'Weekly'. Click on 'Next'

7. Choose a Day of the week and a time when you know the system will be on.Click on 'Next'

8. Enter in Authentication details for the user that the guide update process will run as. Using your regular login would be a good idea. Click on 'Next'. Click on 'Finish'

This can also be easily adapted to other guide updating system that work through the command line.

[BenP]

Well done Zaph,

I'll add it into my set up guide, now we'll have a truly automated solution for the EPG.

Thanks to all who have provided help on this one, Gee it was only about 7 weeks ago that we were saying how good an operating EPG would be, and now we have one!!!

Amazing what a focussed bunch of forum members can come up with.

Cheers all and Once again thanks.

[skygazer]

No problem at all.

Thanks Zaph0d and Benp

Finally a complete automated solution .

[zaph0d]

Glad to help out!

That batch file can easily be modified to call any other grabber / epg updater combo.

I found quickguide much much easier!

Also i'm happier not installing IIS ;D

Would it be worth throwing in the state / area codes for other places instead of just telling them to go to nine msn?

[Mike]

zaph0d - if you have them handy it would be a great idea!

Ben did mine for me but before he did, when I thought of having to find them - I didn't really know where to start.

[ExtremePC]

Well All'freakin'right I've now got it going too using Quickguide. It really is the easiest method yet!

[zaph0d]

Here goes:

126 = ACT
63 = Broken Hill
66 = Central Coast
67 = Griffith
184 = Newcastle
69 = Northern NSW
106 = Remote & C'tral NSW
71 = Southern NSW
73 = Sydney
74 = Darwin
108 = Remote & C'tral NT
75 = Brisbane
78 = Gold Coast
79 = Regional QLD
114 = Remote & C'tral QLD
81 = Adelaide
107 = Remote & C'tral SA
82 = Renmark
83 = Riverland
85 = South East SA
86 = Spencer Gulf
88 = Tasmania
90 = Eastern Victoria
93 = Geelong
94 = Melbourne
95 = Mildura/Sunraysia
98 = Western Victoria
101 = Perth
102 = Regional WA

If i get some time this week, i'll try wrapping all of the smartguide etc into an .msi file with a little config gui built into the installer.

Another handy hint for those setting up the scheduled task is to open the task from Control Panel > Scheduled Tasks and go to the settings tab.

Check 'Wake this computer to perform this task' and click on 'OK'

Rock on!

[impact]

Quickguide is the best and easiest way yet.... although I had scheduled downloading working previously, the simplistic approach just makes it so easy... I wonder if we should upload our config files to make it even easier - instead of just the tvharvest numbers above.

One question I do have, I'm using TvHarvest in Melbourne - all works well, but everything is categorised as Film. All the other categories are listed - is everyone else getting the same - or did I forget something.

I used the instructions at TheGreenButton as the link above did not work last night.

[monster]

my xml files dont have categories in them generated from tvharvest so that might explain why u have only 1 cat.

  <programme start="20050207213000 +1000" stop="20050207223000 +1000" channel="Network TEN Sydney">
   <title>The Biggest Loser</title>
   <desc>The teams put their new-found stamina to the test. One contestant, however, refuses to work out, bringing the Blue Team trainer to the brink of his patience.</desc>
   <rating system="ABA">
    <value>PG</value>
   </rating>
  </programme>

BTW after tvharvest has generated the listings.xml and listings2.xml how does quickguide know to use both of them because in the config file for quickguide theres only element for listings2.xml? so what actually happens here :

[impact]

I had thought as much... tvharvest is simple and easy to use... the ninemsn data is by far better than others - and it does have the category / genre listed for each item, just a shame it does not pick it out.... Maybe we can BJ or someone to write a new grabber that gets the comlete data, interfaces to imdb and gets actors / directors / and ratings for films...

[specks90]

I am not having much fun people how come everyone else gets it going so easily! Quick Question I fall over at "....Run CasPol.exe -s off" what is the -s off for? as this will not run for me?

Apart from that the instructions are nice and clear and it looks like an easy option until the networks sort their sh*t out