Provided by: xmltv-util_1.4.0-1_all 
NAME
tv_grab_na_dd - Grab TV listings for North America using Schedules Direct http://www.schedulesdirect.org
SYNOPSIS
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]
DESCRIPTION
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.
Stand-alone options
--help
Print a help message and exit.
--version
Show the version of the grabber.
--capabilities
Show which capabilities the grabber supports. For more information, see
<http://wiki.xmltv.org/index.php/XmltvCapabilities>
Mode selection (default is grab mode)
--configure
Activates configure mode. If a config file already exists the values are used as defaults.
--gui OPTION
Use this option to enable a graphical interface to be used. OPTION may be 'Tk', or left blank for
the best available choice. Additional allowed values of OPTION are 'Term' for normal terminal output
(default) and 'TermNoProgressBar' to disable the use of Term::ProgressBar.
--list-lineups
Lists available lineups. Only requires username in the config file. Used by programs that automate
the "--configure" process.
General Options
--config-file file
Set the name of the configuration file, the default is ~/.xmltv/tv_grab_na_dd.conf. This is the file
created during "--configure" mode.
--dd-data file
Store raw Data Direct data to this file. (default is a temporary file)
--reprocess
Don't get data from Data Direct, but reprocess a file saved with --dd-data.
--auto-config add|ignore
When used in --configure mode, updates the config file, removing old channels, and adding or ignoring
new channels. Prompts are skipped if defaults are available in the current config file.
When used in grab mode, appends new channels to the config file.
Grabber Mode options
--days n
Grab n days. The default is 7.
--offset n
Start N days after the default.
--quiet
Suppress some messages normally written to standard error.
--notrim
Data Direct includes shows in progress at the start time. The default behavior is to filter these
shows out so data can be cleanly split between days. This option turns off that filter so you get
shows in progress a tthe start time.
--old-chan-id
Use a channel id similar to the one used by the old tv_grab_na grabber.
--low-mem
Omit all but the most basic program information. Reduces memory usage.
--output file
Write xml to file rather than standard output.
--list-channel
Same as --days 0
--share SHAREDIR
tv_grab_na_icons stores icons in SHAREDIR/icons. The share directory is set at install time, but
there may be times when it needs to be specified. (for example: no write access to the default share
directory)
--list-times
Report to STDERR the Schedules Direct blockedTime (not currently enforced) and suggestedTime values
to assist automated processes with scheduling.
--download-only
Don't generate any output, just fetch the data. Personally I don't see the point, but it was
requested and easy to add.
--padd n
Add <n> spaces to the front of the start date. This is normally not needed, but can be helpful in
working around a SD-DD problem when the request packet spans TCP packets. Recommended initial value
is "20". This is only needed if you get "invalid start time" messages. If this helps, please post
results to the list.
--dropbadchar
DD data is supposed to be in UTF-8 format. Sometimes DD sends bad characters which cause a "Bad XML
from DD" error. This option causes those bad characters to be deleted.
--agent NAME
appends NAME to the http agent string when fetching data. This is a polite way to tell Schedules
Direct which application is being used. It helps developers know how many people are using their
application and gives applications credit towards free accounts.
Automating configuration
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.
Step1. Application creates config file with username (and optionally password).
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.
Grabber Timing
Data Direct offers a "suggested download time" that can be retrieved with the "--list-times" option. Its
use is encouraged.
Handling Multiple Linups
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
Adding icon links to listings
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.
Notes on channel lists
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.
Notes on episode numbers
Three episode-num formats are supplied (when available)
xmltv_ns
always "..a/b" for part "a" of "b". First two xmltv_ns fields always blank.
dd_progid
Gracenote generated "a.b.c/d" where "a" is a unique program id, "b" is a unique episode id, "c/d" is
part "c" of "d" similar to xmltv_ns.
onscreen
Distributor-designated number corresponding to an episode of a specific show. Varies by distributor.
Notes on passwords
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.
Notes on lineup changes
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.
Notes on previously-shown
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
Known issues
none!
SEE ALSO
xmltv(5).
Author
Author/Maintainer: Robert Eden, rmeden@yahoo.com
Contributors:
Ed Avis, ed@membled.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. :)
perl v5.40.1 2025-04-19 TV_GRAB_NA_DD(1p)