Zap2xml.pl and switches #87
Replies: 16 comments 3 replies
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If you're using the zap2xml.pl perl script, then the "-D" switch still works. Yes, it takes a while especially if you've deleted your existing XML file and the cache folder. In fact it can take up to 3 hours to finish on my end because there are over 124 channels in the Phoenix area where I live. I run the perl script every 6 hours and it indeed does still work. Here's an example I pulled just a few minutes ago: 
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Thanks for the reply.
I've been running the perl script in ubuntu and no problem until recently.
I upgraded ubuntu from 20.04 to 22.04 and thought that might be the problem
so I compiled the script for windows and get the same results. Without -D
is takes about 66 seconds to complete but with -D it running over 24 hours
when I gave up. I think I'm going to tinker with the switches maybe reduce
the number of days, currently using 16 to see if that helps. Do you use -D
1 or just -D ?
Thanks again.
…_____
From: Stephen Ferrell ***@***.***
Sent: Friday, January 2, 2026 4:39 PM
To: jef/zap2xml
Cc: SkyeCairns; Author
Subject: Re: [jef/zap2xml] Zap2xml.pl and switches (Discussion #87)
If you're using the zap2xml.pl perl script, then the "-D" switch still
works. Yes, it takes a while especially if you've deleted your existing XML
file and the cache folder. In fact it can take up to 3 hours to finish on my
end because there are over 124 channels in the Phoenix area where I live. I
run the perl script every 6 hours and it indeed does still work. Here's an
example I pulled just a few minutes ago:
image.png
<https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/4042f2b7-dc76-4c95-ae71-17842e64
8318> (view on web)
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I installed Strawberry perl and compiled the script for Windows and scheduled a task to run it every 6 hours. Here are my switches. I'm just using the -D swtich and not -D 1 and I still get details and genre: zap2xml -d 2 -S 1 -D -A "new live" -E "amp apos quot lt gt" -9 -u my@email.com -p my_password |
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Seems my problem is a server issue only a problem when adding D to the switches |
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The cause of the errors is right here: 
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Have you logged into the gracenote server using your web browser and set the correct ZIP code so that you get the correct channel lineup? I get 504 timeout errors too, but it's for channels where there is no detailed content or genre. The other channels get processed just fine. :504 Gateway Time-out at script/zap2xml.pl line 364. |
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Even when it was working I would get these messages about postalcode at the end of the download. When I remove the D switch everything works fine with the same logon details. When the program asks for these additional details genre etc I have problems keep getting the Getaway time out. Removing D it works and I do get some genres e.g. News, Talk Show, Movies are ok. but most are nothing. As in Kodi (see pix) some are OK and I can live with it. Thanks for your trouble. |
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Are you using the script found here: https://github.com/jef/zap2xml/blob/historical-perl/zap2xml.pl or are you using a different version? |
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Also forgot to mention that if you're using MSYS2 or Cygwin to run the perl script you'll get all kinds of crazy errors. On Windows, you should install Strawberry PERL and compile the script per the instructions below: Download and install PERL from here: https://strawberryperl.com/ Open a Command Prompt in the folder where you download your zap2xml.pl file, then run: cpan From the cpan console run: install PAR PAR::Dist PAR::Packer Once finished, type exit to leave cpan. Run the following command to compile the perl script into an EXE, including the dependent module (sub::Util): pp -M sub::Util -o Zap2xml.exe zap2xml.pl And you're done :) |
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One more thing. You can move the EXE to other Windows machines but you'll need to install Strawberry on those machines too because the EXE relies on some of the DLLs that Strawberry installs. |
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Yeah there were about 6 lines of differences mostly due to zapit.com
mentioned in script @ github while the one I had had gracenote. For example
$urlAssets = 'https://zap2it.tmsimg.com/assets/'; nevertheless I have used
the script @github and get the same results with lots of 504 errors and
neverending downloads. Again remove -D resolves my problems although
there's alot of shows with no Genres.
…_____
From: Stephen Ferrell ***@***.***
Sent: Saturday, January 3, 2026 8:51 AM
To: jef/zap2xml
Cc: SkyeCairns; Author
Subject: Re: [jef/zap2xml] Zap2xml.pl and switches (Discussion #87)
Are you using the script found here:
https://github.com/jef/zap2xml/blob/historical-perl/zap2xml.pl or are you
using a different version?
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Yes, you'll get a lot of 504 errors but I'm pretty sure those are caused due to programs that don't have details/genre . It does slow the script down while it waits for a timeout to move on. There are 124+ channels here in the Phoenix area so it takes around 3 hours to complete a run on my end but I'm also downloading 2 weeks of data. I hope the problem isn't due to the gracenote server being overwhelmed with requests from most users using the affiliate ID of orbebb. I'll compile the script using a different affiliate ID and see if things change. some working affiliate ID's are: |
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I changed the affiliate ID to 'tribnyc2dl' and recompiled and ran the EXE and I'm getting way fewer 504 timeout errors, so maybe the server handling the 'orbebb' affiliate is saturated. Here's a snip of the first few minutes of runtime. D:\Zap2XML>zap2xml -d 2 -S 1 -D -A "new live" -E "amp apos quot lt gt" -9 -u my@email.com -p my_password |
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Here's the script edited for 'tribnyc2dl' if you want to use it and save some editing time. |
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I have 32 channels and 16 days of data and it ran `12 hours overnight still
no end in sight. Maybe the problem is on my end. The problem just started
late December 2025 whatever the problem is. It use to run and be completed
in about 10 minutes. Thanks anyhow. I'm in Canada but it's never been a
problem before.
…_____
From: Stephen Ferrell ***@***.***
Sent: Saturday, January 3, 2026 1:26 PM
To: jef/zap2xml
Cc: SkyeCairns; Author
Subject: Re: [jef/zap2xml] Zap2xml.pl and switches (Discussion #87)
Here's the script edited for 'tribnyc2dl' if you want to use it and save
some editing time.
zap2xml.pl.txt
<https://github.com/user-attachments/files/24417299/zap2xml.pl.txt>
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Wow! That's crazy. Well, you could always switch over to the node.js version. It's significantly faster. I just ran it and it completed in less than 45 seconds and that was downloading 350 hours of EPG data. I run it locally on a Windows box instead of using Docker. |
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Went back to original perl script that I had and ran it last night in linux and after 10 hours job is finished with all my details. The job used to take 10 minutes. Oh well it's a new year and slower . Thanks for all your help. |
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I'm starting to think that the problem is server saturation because I changed my EPG update schedule to every 12 hours. It now runs once at 2 am and again at 2 pm and the script finishes in 1.5 hours instead of the the 3+ hours it was taking when it ran every 6 hours.. |
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We use to be able to get TV details with the switch D 1 but now using it takes for ever after 24 hours I gave up. Without the switch it takes seconds :-) The -j switch only gives you "series" to non movies. Is there a work around this or we can no longer get the details? For TV shows I simply want the genre e.g. Sitcom, Western etc so not asking for alot of details.
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