Hacking Windows 7 Media Center

Using MC2XML to Download Guide Data for Third Party Apps

by Michael Healy @ 9:15 am on August 1st, 2009 in programs, recording tv, tv listings with 5 Comments

Terminal Some 3rd-Party EPG guide programs (which we’ll be covering soon) require you to have your EPG listings in XMLTV format. It can also be handy to have a copy of the Windows 7 Media Center listings if you switch between multiple HTPC applications. The easiest method, by far, to convert Media Center guide data into a standardized XMLTV format is to utilize a program called MC2XML.

We won’t be covering the various uses for XMLTV files quite yet but will be referring back to this guide in the future as we get into them. To get started with MC2XML you’ll need to download a copy (Hack7MC Mirror) to your hard disk. Launch the program using the exe provided, there’s no installation process.

configure

On first launch you’ll be prompted to setup your location. We’re going to focus on Media Center here but there’s also support for retrieving guide data from TitanTV and Schedules Direct. Enter your postal zip code and country code into the input boxes provided. For example, the United States would be country code US, Great Britain would be GB and so on.

guides

Next you’ll be given a list of guides available for your location. Choose the same guide you chose during your Media Center setup. If your using a custom channel lineup this makes things a bit more difficult as MC2XML currently only allows you to download a single lineup at a time. Settings are saved in a file in the same location as the program named mc2xml.dat.

Each time you run the program once you’ve setup your settings MC2XML will automatically load the .dat settings file and download your guide data. In order to use multiple locations you’ll need to use a command line switch to change .dat files. Create a shortcut for each location and establish separate files using the “-D <filename>” switch to set the .dat file and “-o <filename>” to set the output filename.

That’s all there is to it. You can find a complete listing of command line switches as well as the download for Windows, Linux and OSX on the official MC2XML website.

Be sure to check back with Hack7MC soon to cover the various uses for these XMLTV files!

5 Comments


Andrew
Comment #2422 from Andrew [Reply]

I use this along with big screen EPG to populate my guide data. Only way I know of to ge a proper guide when using OTA ATSC in Canada. For some reason Microsoft doesnt think Canadians are good enough to use OTA ATSC.

Comment left August 1, 2009 at 10:51 am Permanent Link

Michael Healy
@Reply #2426 from Michael Healy [Reply]

It’s a handy tool, I’m using it to test out Big Screen EPG and used to use it with Media Portal as well.

Comment left August 1, 2009 at 2:10 pm Permanent Link

Bibi86
Comment #2938 from Bibi86 [Reply]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for this Excellent software !!! It absolutely perfect. I use it since the French XMLTV doesn’t work. And it’s much better cause the windows media center programs are more detailed.

Comment left August 28, 2009 at 7:19 am Permanent Link

Bibi86
Comment #2939 from Bibi86 [Reply]

I add that I use it with DV Scheduler, to get my EPG for DV Scheduler and then automatically record my favorite programs.

Comment left August 28, 2009 at 7:21 am Permanent Link

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