This add-on replaces both my UK TV Guide and Search and UK TV, and Radio, Guide and Search add-ons. The former's data feed is due to cease on the 16th June 2016, and the later... well, you won't be able to afford its data feed.
It is available here: XMLTV Guide and Search
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To use this add-on you will need to be able to provide your own XMLTV formatted file(s). The add-on was developed and tested with data fetched using mc2xml - specifically, this was using the Service: microsoft legacy, the County code: GB, and a valid UK postcode, for a Freeview lineup, and also using the Service: schedules direct json, Country code: GB, and a valid UK postcode area, for a Freeview lineup.
Not all data sources support all of the possible features included in the add-on, in which case some information may not be shown - for example, Series and Episode numbers are not a part of the microsoft legacy Service.
On first use the add-on will invite you to set up an XMLTV Data Source. This simply means you need to point to an XMLTV file on your computer. You can, optionally, also specify the application to run that produces that file so that it can be coveniently launched from within the add-on on demand.
Once you have at least one XMLTV Data Source set up you can then run an Import which will populate the Channel list on the left. As you tick channels from the list the Guide view will be updated.
If you only want to use a single XMLTV Data Source, that's it. The Execute button on the bottom right can be used to fire up the application that produces the XMLTV file, and the Import button can be used to Import it. You can use these as often as required.
If you want to have more than one XMLTV Data Source, for example to include more than one lineup, you can use the Execute and Import buttons for the different sources using the Sources tab. The buttons on the bottom right can also be linked to any of the Data Sources using the Source drop-down menu above the Channels List - picking the 'All' Source will display all of the channels from all of the sources in the Channel list but this will disable the buttons on the bottom right.
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Once you have your chosen channels selected you can navigate the Guide and play with the Search.
On the Guide tab the Now button will navigate to the current date and time whereas the Refresh button will navigate to whatever date and time you enter. You can assign colours to the different genres from the Colours drop-down, and highlight the current search using the Highlight Search check-box.
On the Search tab there are 5 filters: Channels, Dates, Genres, Attributes, and Title. Assigning something to one or more of these will create a filter that is applied when the Search button is clicked. If a filter is not assigned it will not apply any filter for that category.
Be careful with the 'Omit' options on the drop-downs. If, for example, you tick 'Omit Channels' then any channels that you tick will be Omitted, if you untick 'Omit Channels' then any channels you tick will be Included. In this way you can use your ticks to either include or omit items - whichever means less clicking. There are tool-tips on all of the 'Omit' options to remind you how they work.
There is a 'context menu' - one of those right-click menus - on the Channel list that allows a number of operations. You can Alias the channel names, for example you might like to see simply 'ITV1' in the list instead of 'ITV1 Thames Valley North'. You can also Add, Rename, and Delete channel groups so, for example, you might like to create separate groups for Freeview channels and Sky channels, or Sports channels and News channels.
Also, look out for the context menus on the Guide, Search, and Favourites panes. Wherever you can see a programme there are options to add and delete your Favourites ♥.
Otherwise, just click stuff. That's what I do. And look out for the tomatoes.
Have fun.
[Disclaimer: Use of this add-on does not guarantee that you will find anything worth watching on TV.]
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Instructions for obtaining an xmltv.xml file needed to import into the XMLTVGuide add-on.
Go to mc2xml and download mc2xml.exe using one of the links given under the Downloads section.
Put mc2xml.exe into its own folder somewhere on your computer
Optionally, in the same folder, create a file called mc2xml.chl - for speed, this file can limit the list of channels you grab, although, you may prefer to use this option later. For example:
Code: Select all
# includes
1
2
3
4
5
15
70
72
704Optionally, in the same folder, create a file called mc2xml.ren - this file can contain a list of channels you want to rename during the grab, again, you may prefer to use this option later, or not at all if the channel numbers appear to be correct and up to date. For example:
Code: Select all
# Renumber
70:120
72:122Not optional...
- · Manually run mc2xml.exe - initially, just pick the Service: microsoft legacy, the Country code: GB, and for Postcode: enter a valid UK postcode within your transmitter area. Press OK.
· From the 'lineup selection' list pick the entry for your preferred Provider and Local Region. Press OK.
Two new files should appear in the mc2xml.exe folder: mc2xml.dat and xmltv.xml. The .dat file carries the choices you made, plus some timing information - this file will get used whenever you run mc2xml.exe from now on. The .xml file carries the TV schedule data - this is the one we will need to import into the add-on.
From within the XMLTVGuide add-on go to the Sources tab and Add a new source.
- · Enter a 'friendly' description.
· Click the folder icon for the Executable location and navigate to wherever you have mc2xml.exe
· Click the folder icon for the Import File location and navigate to wherever you have xmltv.xml
· Click Add
Then select your chosen channels from the Channel list, with each selection the guide should populate.
In the future you can click the Execute button on the bottom right to re-run the data grab, and after it has finished, the Import button to refresh the add-on's schedule data.
There other ways to produce xmltv.xml files, and the add-on can support multiple data sources for different Services and Lineups. Although I can offer no warranty, in theory, they can all be imported into the add-on.
Sorry, that this is such a humongous wall of text!
Ben.
I want my little wheel back 
- has barely any differences to the v0.9.5 one. The wheel does only appear on the Guide view though. They're not on the Channel list any more because, in effect, all the schedules load together.