TV_GRAB_NA_DD(1p) | User Contributed Perl Documentation | TV_GRAB_NA_DD(1p) |
tv_grab_na_dd - Grab TV listings for North America using Schedules Direct http://www.schedulesdirect.org
tv_grab_na_dd --help tv_grab_na_dd --version tv_grab_na_dd --capabilities tv_grab_na_dd --configure [--config-file FILE] [--dd-data FILE] [--reprocess] [--auto-config add|ignore] [--gui OPTION] tv_grab_na_dd --list-lineups [--config-file FILE] [--dd-data FILE] [--reprocess] tv_grab_na_dd [--config-file FILE] [--dd-data FILE] [--reprocess] [--auto-config add|ignore] [--days N] [--offset N] [--quiet] [--notrim] [--old-chan-id] [--low-mem] [--output FILE] [--list-channel] [--share SHAREDIR] [--list-times] [--download-only] [--padd n] [--dropbadchar] [--agent NAME]
This script downloads TV listings using Schedules Direct's data service, converts it to XMLTV format, and outputs the results.
You must first register with Schedules Direct at: <http://www.schedulesdirect.org>
Schedules Direct is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide low-cost television program guide data to end-users of Open Source and Freeware applications.
The raw data source is Schedules Direct's SD-DD service, which purchases Data from Gracenote (formerly known as Tribune Media Services).
While the service is not available for free, Schedules Direct strives to keep costs as low as possible.
First you must become a member at the <http://www.schedulesdirect.org> site.
Next, you use that website to add lineup(s) to your account.
Next, you execute "tv_grab_na_dd --configure" to set up the grabber.
Finally, you execute tv_grab_na_dd with no arguments and it will output listings in XML format to standard output. See below for other options.
Like many utilities, tv_grab_na_dd tries to exit with a "0" on success and something else on error.
When used in grab mode, appends new channels to the config file.
Sometimes applications want to call tv_grab_na_dd as a standalone application, but automate the configure process. The best way is to hook in to the XMLTV::Ask module, but if that's not available, here is a solution.
Step2. "tv_grab_na_dd --dd-data lineups.xml --list-lineups"
Step3. Application adds desired lineup to config file.
Step4. "tv_grab_na_dd --dd-data lineups.xml --reprocess --auto-config add --list-channels"
Step5. Application edits config file as needed, and deletes lineups.xml.
Data Direct offers a "suggested download time" that can be retrieved with the "--list-times" option. Its use is encouraged.
tv_grab_na_dd only outputs a single lineup. If your Schedules Direct account has multiple lineups, they are all downloaded even though only one is output.
To process multiple lineups, use separate --config-file. Separate config files are also handy if you need different channel sets for a lineup (common with MythTV). To prevent re-downloading the data on subsequent passes, the "--reprocess" option is recommended.
Here's an example: (the = sign is optional, but helps readability)
tv_grab_na_dd --config-file=lineup1.dat --output=lineup1.xml --dd-data=dd.xml tv_grab_na_dd --config-file=lineup2.dat --output=lineup2.xml --dd-data=dd.xml --reprocess tv_grab_na_dd --config-file=lineup3.dat --output=lineup3.xml --dd-data=dd.xml --reprocess
Each config file specifies the desired lineup and channel list.
If you want to merge the lineups into a single file, you can use tv_cat
tv_cat lineup1.xml lineup2.xml lineup3.xml >guide.xml
tv_grab_na_dd checks for channel icons in a directory share/icons. The share directory is usually set during the install. For windows exe users, it defaults to the location where xmltv.exe is. tv_grab_na_icons is available to download the icons.
Channel lists can be configured both at the Schedules Direct website and through the grabber. This is done to allow multiple config files with different channel lists as Schedules Direct only supports a single channel map per lineup.
Similarly, tv_grab_na_dd only supports a single channel mapping for a station. If multiple mappings are detected, only the first one is used and you are advised to adjust your Schedules Direct lineup.
Three episode-num formats are supplied (when available)
If a password is stored in the config file, the config file should be properly protected. Instead of storing the password in the config file, it can be omitted, and will be prompted for.
Data Direct currently adds a channel to your lineup automatically when it is available. When tv_grab_na_dd sees the new channel in the Schedules Direct lineup, it prints a message (and potentially adds or ignores it based on --auto-config).
If you are sensitive to bandwidth issues, I would set --auto-config ignore and periodically check your --config-file for ignored channels and remove from your Schedules Direct lineup.
Previous releases of tv_grab_na_dd set XMLTV's "date" field for DD "original-air-date" field. The correct place for the data is "previously-shown->start" The OAD is in both places temporarily for compatibility reasons.
DD has dropped the "repeat" flag and replaced it with a "new" flag. Now we set "previously-shown
none!
Author/Maintainer: Robert Eden, rmeden@yahoo.com
Don Huettl, drh@huettl.net
Matti Airas, mairas@iki.fi (I used tv_grab_fi as a template)
and of course everyone else I forgot to mention. :)
2021-02-09 | perl v5.32.1 |