Full Radio Times programme descriptions (using SQLite)
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 12:14 pmYou know how the programme description is truncated at 300 characters which means that you often don't get to see what the programme is actually about? (p.s. blame the Radio Times for this not the AltEPG TVGuide!). Well here's an add-on for TivoWebPlus 2.1 that will display the full description when you move the mouse pointer over the truncated description.
How does it work?
The scripts work in the background to download the Radio Times XML data feed and store it on your TiVo. This is the same data feed as used in the TVGuide. The data are stored in a sqlite database which TWP searches to display the full description.
Each night your TiVo will use its network connection to download the latest RT XML data.
Now I'm not suggesting this is in any way, shape or form a useful application - it was merely a proof of concept, of
(1) the ability to store & access SQLite databases on a Series 1 TiVo, and
(2) the ability to have a local copy of the RT XML data accessible to Tivoweb.
Prerequisites:
TivoWebPlus 2.1b3. It will not work with any other TivoWeb version.
Download:
Download the package from here
Installation:
1) First you must install SQLite from over here: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/sh ... ?p=8682395
2) Then, unzip the package and FTP the 2 files (ensure your ftp program uses "binary" mode for BOTH files) to /var/tmp
installrtdb.sh
installrtdb.tar
3) Telnet to your tivo and run
cd /var/tmp
./installrtdb.sh
Configuration:
You need to tell the scripts which channels it should retrieve XML data for. (It does not retrieve ones you don't watch since that is wasteful as well as putting an unecessary load on the RT server). You should edit the file /sqlite/channeldata.txt and append the TiVo station callsign to each row you want to retrieve. E.g. see the rows for FILM4 and E4 in the default file.
Retrieve the Radio Times data
cd /var/hack/sqlite
./makedb.tcl
(Note FTAOD: this database/procedure does not of course replace the AltEPG TVGuide - that is totally different; there is no integration between the sqlite database and your TiVo's scheduling software).
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How does it work?
The scripts work in the background to download the Radio Times XML data feed and store it on your TiVo. This is the same data feed as used in the TVGuide. The data are stored in a sqlite database which TWP searches to display the full description.
Each night your TiVo will use its network connection to download the latest RT XML data.
Now I'm not suggesting this is in any way, shape or form a useful application - it was merely a proof of concept, of
(1) the ability to store & access SQLite databases on a Series 1 TiVo, and
(2) the ability to have a local copy of the RT XML data accessible to Tivoweb.
Prerequisites:
TivoWebPlus 2.1b3. It will not work with any other TivoWeb version.
Download:
Download the package from here
Installation:
1) First you must install SQLite from over here: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/sh ... ?p=8682395
2) Then, unzip the package and FTP the 2 files (ensure your ftp program uses "binary" mode for BOTH files) to /var/tmp
installrtdb.sh
installrtdb.tar
3) Telnet to your tivo and run
cd /var/tmp
./installrtdb.sh
Configuration:
You need to tell the scripts which channels it should retrieve XML data for. (It does not retrieve ones you don't watch since that is wasteful as well as putting an unecessary load on the RT server). You should edit the file /sqlite/channeldata.txt and append the TiVo station callsign to each row you want to retrieve. E.g. see the rows for FILM4 and E4 in the default file.
Retrieve the Radio Times data
cd /var/hack/sqlite
./makedb.tcl
(Note FTAOD: this database/procedure does not of course replace the AltEPG TVGuide - that is totally different; there is no integration between the sqlite database and your TiVo's scheduling software).
Yes I noticed a couple of your edits during testing - I thought the script had gone wrong till I realised it was your handiwork 