EPG123 fails on Client Setup

[pju4711]

Hi,

I'm new to Schedules Direct and EPG123 - so it's very possible that I'm doing something stupid.
Have been using WMC - still on Windows 7 - for years with XMLTV.SE as EPG provider.
But looking into other EPG providers as alternative.
So, I have a virtual Windows 7 Home Premium (latest MS update) with WMC and EPG123 using SD Lineup "Kongeriget Danmark (forlænget) (National)" - wonder who gave it that name...
EPG123 version is 1.8.0.9.

Running "Client Setup" is OK for the first two steps - but the last step fails with

And using "Manual Import" makes EPG123 Client crash.
I have attached a small video showing what happens - had to give it suffix ".jpg" in order to upload it

The .mxf file is created:
D:\tools\Programs\epg123\output>dir
12-07-2023 20:09 2.768.170 epg123.mxf
12-07-2023 20:09 493.709 epg123.mxf.gz
12-07-2023 20:09 493.691 epg123.mxf.zz
12-07-2023 20:09 9.943.187 epg123.xmltv
12-07-2023 20:09 1.413.519 epg123.xmltv.gz
12-07-2023 20:09 1.413.501 epg123.xmltv.zz
6 File(s) 16.525.777 bytes
2 Dir(s) 63.470.014.464 bytes free


While running step 3 in Client Setup:
...
[12-07-2023 18:48:55] [ INFO] Found 0 cached/unavailable sport event image links.
[12-07-2023 18:48:56] [ INFO] Successfully retrieved artwork info for 3/3 programs. (0:00:00:00,2184004)
[12-07-2023 18:48:56] Exiting GetAllSportsImages(). SUCCESS.
[12-07-2023 18:48:56] [ INFO] Completed compiling keywords and keyword groups.
[12-07-2023 18:48:56] [ INFO] 8 entries deleted from the cache file during cleanup.
[12-07-2023 18:48:56] [ INFO] Completed save of the MXF file to "D:\tools\Programs\epg123\output\epg123.mxf". (2,648 MB)
[12-07-2023 18:48:56] [ INFO] Generated MXF file contains 18 services, 650 series, 422 seasons, 3125 programs, 7332 schedule entries, and 0 people with 796 image links.
[12-07-2023 18:48:58] [ INFO] Completed save of the XMLTV file to "D:\tools\Programs\epg123\output\epg123.xmltv". (9,535 MB)
[12-07-2023 18:48:58] [ INFO] Generated XMLTV file contains 18 channels and 7332 programs with 2583 distinct program image links.
[12-07-2023 18:48:58] [ INFO] Completed EPG123 update execution. SUCCESS.
[12-07-2023 18:48:58] [ INFO] EPG123 update execution time was 00:00:09.3288164.
[12-07-2023 18:48:58] [ INFO] File "D:\tools\Programs\epg123\notifier.json" does not exist.

When pressing "Manual Import":
[12-07-2023 19:31:13] [ERROR] Unhandled thread exception caught from epg123Client.exe. message: Length cannot be less than zero.
Parameter name: length
at System.String.Substring(Int32 startIndex, Int32 length)
at epg123Client.clientForm.btnImport_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

Anyone having an idea about where I'm failing?

Best regards
Poul

[garyan2]

I have an error in the client setup routine which will give the error prompt if there are any warnings or even an "update available" log entry. This also happens to prevent importing the file.

Before clicking manual import, set up the scheduled task and it should work after that.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

[pju4711]

Thanks a lot for the quick answer!
I'll upgrade EPG123 tomorrow and check it again.
Actually I had a scheduled task - but delting and recreating did fix it, as you said.

May I ask an additional question:
When using the EPG loaded by EPG123, my channel names disappear the WMC guide.
Channel 64 had the label "TV2" before loading the SD/EPG123 EPG.
I can see in other posts that at channel logo icon is shown here. But is there some flag I can set to keep the channel name?

[garyan2]

If you don't want logos, you can unselect the 'Include logos...' option in the configuration gui. Importing a new mxf file with that option will take care of that.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

[pju4711]

Sorry, but the field is left blank whether having "include logos" checked or not.
Wonder if I'm missing something with names.
The only channel where the name (but no logo) is shown, is "DK4" where both Call Sign and Service Name is the same.
The channel DK4HD gets neither label nor icon.
BTW: the logos folders has a number of .png's with the correct logos.

[garyan2]

Okay, I think I understand. WMC will not show names if it is supposed to be showing a logo. In your case, DK4 has no logos which is why you can see the name regardless of your settings. The problem is the logos not showing.

Open the client and click the [Tweak WMC] button. You can click the [Default] button and then the logos will probably appear in the guide. If not, just change some of the settings for the guide. I have found that since the tweaks are so dynamic that there are some cases where being over by a fraction of a pixel for the logo frame will cause it to not show in the guide.

[pju4711]

Sorry not having responded - have been in to over my head with family business.
I'll try what you propose - but actually I would like to run with names and not logos.
But the names do not show even when I unselect using logos.

[garyan2]

I suspect the logos are not showing due to your guide dimensions which may be corrected by clicking the [Tweak WMC] button and then [Default], but certainly [Update]. On the same [Tweak WMC], you can click the [Remove] button to remove all channel logos which will bring back the names without having to click [Default] or [Update].

The configuration GUI does not interact with WMC. Any settings you change in the configuration GUI will not be shown in WMC until you have created a new MXF file and imported it into WMC.

So if you want names only, in the configuration GUI, uncheck the 'Include station logos ...' option and the click [Save & Execute]. Also, if you want to change the names from call signs to actual station names, in the client [Tweak WMC] there is an option to 'Replace Callsign with Channel Name'. I think that is what you are looking for.

[pju4711]

yess
Thanks a lot.
I'll stay with XMLTV.SE/Honeybee for the moment, since it has many more of my channels in the EPG than SD does.
But it's a bit shaky, sometimes not being updated for quite some days.

I have a ticket at Schedules Direct to see if they can supply more of the missing channels.

But it still makes me feel much more comfortable to know that there is an good alternative.

So thanks a lot for a great product and superb service.
/Poul

PS: Having found this great site, I think I'll give WMC on Win10/11 a try. My WMC HW is 10+ years, so...

[pju4711]

Just for your information.
I have WMC running now on both Win10 and Win11 Insider. Both up to date.
I have a setup with a HDHomeRun HDHR3-4DC tuner and a cable provider.
The path I found:

• Install old HDHomeRun software - I had a 2014 installer.
  This enabled me to discover the 4 tuners and run a scan for channels.
  But I could not play the streams with native Windows.

• Install latest HDHomeRun software. Fortunately it kept the old ability to talk to WMC.
  Now the streams could be played by native Windows.

• Install WMC - and that's that

Thanks so much for providing the .msi package - now even I can make it work

Seems btw that WMC now automatically pulls the EPG from my provider - I have never been able to make that work on my Win7 WMC.
It can pull the EPG, but only when the channel is used. So I will have to make a small recording on every channel every day to have a fresh EPG.

[StinkyImp]

Just for your information.
I have WMC running now on both Win10 and Win11 Insider. Both up to date.
I have a setup with a HDHomeRun HDHR3-4DC tuner and a cable provider.

So I will have to make a small recording on every channel every day...

I've got to admit... When I read this it caused my eyebrows to raise.

Are you saying you've been successful in viewing and recording cable channels in WMC with these two operating systems?

[kkingsto]

I wonder about that. Windows 10 after 1501(I think) has removed DRM support for the Prime Tuners. If it's gotten to work, want to know how!

[garyan2]

The OP is in Denmark. Does not use CableCARD.

EDIT: HDHomeRun EXPAND (HDHR3-4DC/HDHR5-4DC) is designed to receive unencrypted digital cable (DVB-C) signals in Europe.

[kkingsto]

Now that makes sense. Thanks, Gary!

[pju4711]

Gary's right - so it may be of limited interest, the path I've been able to follow.
My cable provider provide the channels without encryption. The are paid thru the cable fee.
My focus - sorry for the lack of precision - was on HDHomeRun which does not support WMC anymore. But fortunately does not remove the support already installed by old versions.

[garyan2]

Just FYI. The whole Client Setup was broken at Step 3 for using EPG123 and HDHR2MXF locally. I released version 1.8.1.0 to correct that so it won't be a problem in the future if/when you decide to use EPG123 as a guide source.

[pju4711]

Thanks a lot.
I would love to switch to EPG123. I feel very comfortable with it as it's very intuitive for me to use. And that is great:-)
But, still, the lack of DK channels in SD/Gracenote makes it less useful.
Denmark is a nice country to live in - but it's very, very small seen in a context like this


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