Run MC2XML Automatically on a Pi

[SLR65]

Hi Guys,

I'm a complete noob here, I bought a pre-configured Raspberry Pi / Openelec / XBMC off fleaBay and I'm quite impressed!

Though I have done some light programming and software configuration in the past, I know nothing about Linux.

I would like to use this on a tv in the bedroom. I don't have a cable box in the bedroom because I'm too cheap to pay the monthly fee (just being honest!) and the one real pain is without a cable box there's no channel guide.

I found the TV Guide Add On and was able to get it up and running by using MC2XML on a Windows machine and then moving the xml file over to the Pi. This works great, we can just drop down to the Pi, see what's on and hop back to live tv. I donated to MC2XML and he sent me a version that will run on the Pi, and I can even run MC2XML via Putty.

Where I'm stuck at is that I'd like to run MC2XML automatically every night at 4am. Researching it looks like there's a function called CRON that can used to do this, but I've not found a noob guide to using it.

Could someone help me out and tell me how to use this? I can use FileZilla and Putty to move files, execute, commands, etc., I just have no clue what to do to get this program running on an automatic schedule.

TIA!

Steve

[dominic7il]

Hi Guys,

I'm a complete noob here, I bought a pre-configured Raspberry Pi / Openelec / XBMC off fleaBay and I'm quite impressed!

Though I have done some light programming and software configuration in the past, I know nothing about Linux.

I would like to use this on a tv in the bedroom. I don't have a cable box in the bedroom because I'm too cheap to pay the monthly fee (just being honest!) and the one real pain is without a cable box there's no channel guide.

I found the TV Guide Add On and was able to get it up and running by using MC2XML on a Windows machine and then moving the xml file over to the Pi. This works great, we can just drop down to the Pi, see what's on and hop back to live tv. I donated to MC2XML and he sent me a version that will run on the Pi, and I can even run MC2XML via Putty.

Where I'm stuck at is that I'd like to run MC2XML automatically every night at 4am. Researching it looks like there's a function called CRON that can used to do this, but I've not found a noob guide to using it.

Could someone help me out and tell me how to use this? I can use FileZilla and Putty to move files, execute, commands, etc., I just have no clue what to do to get this program running on an automatic schedule.

TIA!

Steve

Enable cron in the OpenELEC settings.
Login via SSH and run:

Code:

crontab -e

Paste in the following code making sure to replace the path with the path to mc2xml.

Code:

* 4 bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql /path/to/mc2xml/file /dev/null 2>&1

Press Ctrl-X answer yes and press enter to save the crontab.

Reboot!

[SLR65]

Thank you for the help, but I'm still having trouble...

CRON is enabled in my OpenElec settings.

The MC2XML program resides in the /storage/EPG directory.

If I SSH in ./mc2xml -a -d 30 -f it works fine and generates an xmltv.xml file. The -a adds an asterisk to new programs, the -d 30 loads 30 hours of listings and the -f forces it to load a file even if it's the same as last time (added just for testing).

Using crontab -e I entered:
* 4 bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql /storage/EPG/mc2xml -a -d 30 -f /dev/null 2>&1
Except I altered the first byte and second byte to allow me to set the time for it to run to something close so I could test...i.e. when I tested at 7:00 pm I set it to 5 19 bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql so it would run at 7:05 pm.

After rebooting this didn't work.

I tried bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql 4 bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql /storage/EPG/./mc2xml -a -d 30 -f /dev/null 2>&1
and that didn't work either (after rebooting).

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks!!!

Steve

[ultraman]

Maybe

Code:

* 4 bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql cd /storage/EPG && ./mc2xml -a -d 30 -f /dev/null 2>&1 >/tmp/epg.log

[dominic7il]

Also make sure the folder mc2xml resides in is writable:
chmod -r 777 mc2xmlfolder

[ultraman]

Also make sure the folder mc2xml resides in is writable

Probably it is because running this command from console works.

[SLR65]

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! :cheer: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

I'm the inquisitive type, so can you tell me a little about what we're doing?

So far I've figured out:

* 4 bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql
This sets when it runs, the first one is minutes, the second is hours, the rest are days, etc. and if left to bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql run every day. Ex: to run at 4:30 am it would be 30 4 bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql *, to run at 4:45 pm it would be 45 16 bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql *

cd /storage/EPG
This is changing directories to the directory where the MC2XML program resides.

&&
I don't know what this is doing.

./mc2xml -a -d 30 -f
This is invoking the MC2XML program and passing configuration switches (-a puts a bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql after the names of new shows, -d 30 loads 30 hours of program data, -f forces it to reload a file even if it's dl'd it before - that's just for testing, I dropped it off in practice)

/dev/null 2>&1
I don't know what this is doing either.

>/tmp/epg.log
I don't know what this is doing either, but the > usually directs output, so it's sending any program messages to a file named epg.log in the tmp directory?

Beyond this, I have one more request if I may...it's kind of slow loading the xml data into the program when a new file is dl'd. It has an option to load the new file when XBMC boots up, so it would be nice if after dl'ing the the listings if it could be made to reboot so it would load the listings when no one is using it. Is there any way to make it reboot when it's done?

THANK YOU sooooo much! I really appreciate the help! I'm having some health issues and they're really stressing me out so I bought this just to distract me a little and keep my mind from being pre-occupied with the health issues, and it's really worked! I'm kinda chuckling because I bought a pre-configured unit just so I wouldn't have to fight software and install issues. It came with an older OpenElec version and Frodo XBMC. I bought a couple extra SD cards so last night I loaded OE 4.0.1 with Gotham . . . WOW! Was that easy! This lil box, and the support it's getting, is soooo cool!!!

Thanks again!

Steve

[ultraman]

&& executes next command if previous was successful.

But now that I read about using mc2xml program you could use instead

Code:

cd /storage/EPG && ./mc2xml -a -d 30 -f /dev/null 2>&1

just

Code:

/storage/EPG/mc2xml -a -d 30 -o /storage/EPG/xmltv.xml -f /dev/null 2>&1

-o is the name of the .XML file which will be created. After mc2xml downloads TV listings, it will write a file called xmltv.xml at specific folder. I think xmltv.xml is default output file.
But this is just for your info - leave as you have because it already works

/dev/null 2>&1
/dev/null redirects standard output (stdout) to /dev/null, which discards it.
2>&1 redirects standard error (2) to standard output (1), which then discards it as well since standard output has already been redirected.

>/tmp/epg.log
writes everything to that file. It was meant to help you debug what is going home. But now it's fine.

You can use command as you have before.


About your second problem I don't fully understand it. If you want to restart the box after mc2xml is done you could use this

Code:

cd /storage/EPG && ./mc2xml -a -d 30 -f /dev/null 2>&1 && reboot

or maybe this - it will just restarts xbmc and not the whole box

Code:

cd /storage/EPG && ./mc2xml -a -d 30 -f /dev/null 2>&1 && systemctl restart xbmc

[SLR65]

Thank you Ultraman!

The TV Guide add on is kind of slow loading an update xml file in, so the first time you go to use it after it loads a new file you have to wait a bit while it loads which is kind of inconvenient. There's an option to make it load the new file when XBMC boots up, so I thought it would be better to make it download it's update file at 4am, then reboot and load the file directly afterwards when XBMC starts up so the first person to use it after it downloads it's update wouldn't have to wait for the new file to load, it'd already be done.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working from crontab. I can SSH in and execute the line behind the bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql 4 bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql bbcode.txt done insert_posts.sh mybb_posts.csv mybb_posts.sql new newnew oej34_kunena_messages.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.csv oej34_kunena_messages_text.sql oej34_kunena_users_banned.csv oej34_kunena_users.csv oej34_users.csv old openelecj34prod.sql posts.sh replace.sh table_posts test.csv test.txt update_sample.sql and it works fine and reboots, but when I try to have crontab do it, it doesn't work.

I'll play with it a bit later and report back.

Again, thanks for all the help...I'm almost there, just gotta get this one little bump worked out.

Take care,

Steve

[SLR65]

Interestingly enough, running the string where it restarts XBMC at the end works when I ssh into the box and enter it on the command line, but when I put it into crontab it does not. However, when I use the string that reboots the box it works fine both at the command line and in crontab!

Good enough! THANKS ULTRAMAN, YOU DA MAN!!! :cheer:

Steve