python-xmltv is a Python module that provides access to XMLTV data. XMLTV is an XML format for storing TV listings.
More information on XMLTV can be found at http://wiki.xmltv.org/index.php/XMLTVFormat
There are no extra requirements for Python 2.5 and up. Compatibility with latest versions of python 2 is still guaranteed for the xmltv module, however the command-line tool is guaranteed to work only with a state-of-the-art python 3 interpreter.
Usage of the module is generally straight-forward::
import xmltv
from pprint import pprint
# If you need to change the locale:
# xmltv.locale = 'Latin-1'
# If you need to change the date format used in the XMLTV file:
# xmltv.date_format = '%Y%m%d%H%M%S %Z'
filename = '/path/to/xmltv/file'
# Print info for XMLTV file (source, etc.)
pprint(xmltv.read_data(open(filename, 'r')))
# Print channels
pprint(xmltv.read_channels(open(filename, 'r')))
# Print programmes
pprint(xmltv.read_programmes(open(filename, 'r')))
There are currently three functions for reading that should be used:
**read_data** ``(file_object) -> dict``
Get the source and other info from an XMLTV file.
Returns a dictionary of <tv> attributes, eg::
{'date': u'20030702230041 -0300',
'generator-info-name': u'tv_grab_na V3.20030629',
'generator-info-url': u'http://sourceforge.net/projects/xmltv',
'source-info-name': u'Zap2It',
'source-info-url': u'http://www.zap2it.com'}
**read_channels** ``(file_object) -> list``
Get all of the channels.
Returns a list of hashes, each representing a channel, eg::
[{'display-name': [(u'Channel 10 ELTV', u'')],
'id': u'C10eltv.zap2it.com'},
{'display-name': [(u'Channel 11 CBHT', u'')],
'icon': [{'desc': '','src': u'http://tvlistings2.zap2it.com/tms_network_logos/cbc.gif'}],
'id': u'C11cbht.zap2it.com'}]
**read_programmes** ``(file_object) -> list``
Get all of the programmes.
Returns a list of hashes, each representing a programme, eg::
[{'audio': [{'stereo': [u'stereo']}],
'category': [(u'Biz', u''), (u'Fin', u'')],
'channel': u'C23robtv.zap2it.com',
'start': u'20030702000000 ADT',
'stop': u'20030702003000 ADT',
'title': [(u'This Week in Business', u'')]},
{'audio': [{'stereo': [u'stereo']}],
'channel': u'C36wuhf.zap2it.com',
'desc': [(u'In an effort to grow up, George proposes marriage to former girlfriend Susan.',
u'')],
'rating': [{'system': u'VCHIP', 'value': u'PG'}],
'start': u'20030702000000 ADT',
'stop': u'20030702003000 ADT',
'sub-title': [(u'The Engagement', u'')],
'subtitles': [{'type': u'teletext'}],
'title': [(u'Seinfeld', u'')]}]
There is also a Writer class. It should always write proper XMLTV data. All strings, except for dictionary keys, should be in Unicode.
It contains the following methods:
**__init__** ``(fp, encoding="UTF-8", date=None, source_info_url=None, source_info_name=None, generator_info_url=None, generator_info_name=None)`` -> ``Writer``
Returns a Writer object.
Arguments:
``fp``
A File object to write XMLTV data to
``encoding``
The text encoding that will be used. *Defaults to
``UTF-8``*
``date``
The date this data was generated. *Optional*
``source_info_url``
A URL for information about the source of the data. *Optional*
``source_info_name``
A human readable description of ``source_info_url``.
*Optional*
``generator_info_url``
A URL for information about the program that is generating the
XMLTV document. *Optional*
``generator_info_name``
A human readable description of ``generator_info_url``.
*Optional*
**write_channel** ``(channel)``
Write a channel dictionary
Here's an example channel dictionary::
{'display-name': [(u'Channel 11 CBHT', u'en')],
'icon': [{'src': u'http://tvlistings2.zap2it.com/tms_network_logos/cbc.gif'}],
'id': u'C11cbht.zap2it.com',
'url': u:'http://www.cbc.com'}
**write_programme** ``(programme)``
Write a programme dictionary
Here's an example programme dictionary::
{'audio': [{'stereo': u'stereo'}],
'category': [(u'Comedy', u'')],
'channel': u'C36wuhf.zap2it.com',
'country': [(u'USA', u'')],
'credits': [{'producer': [u'Larry David'], 'actor': [u'Jerry Seinfeld']}],
'date': [u'1995'],
'desc': [(u'In an effort to grow up, George proposes marriage to former girlfriend Susan.',
u'')],
'episode-num': [(u'7 . 1 . 1/1', u'xmltv_ns')],
'language': [(u'English', u'')],
'last-chance': [(u'Hah!', u'')],
'length': [{'units': u'minutes', 'length': 22}],
'new': [1],
'orig-language': [(u'English', u'')],
'premiere': [(u'Not really. Just testing', u'en')],
'previously-shown': [{'channel': u'C12whdh.zap2it.com',
'start': u'19950921103000 ADT'}],
'rating': [{'icon': [{'height': u'64',
'src': u'http://some.ratings/PGicon.png',
'width': u'64'}],
'system': u'VCHIP',
'value': u'PG'}],
'star-rating': [{'icon': [{'height': u'32',
'src': u'http://some.star/icon.png',
'width': u'32'}],
'value': u'4/5'}],
'start': u'20030702000000 ADT',
'stop': u'20030702003000 ADT',
'sub-title': [(u'The Engagement', u'')],
'subtitles': [{'type': u'teletext', 'language': (u'English', u'')}],
'title': [(u'Seinfeld', u'')],
'video': [{'colour': 1, 'aspect': u'4:3', 'present': 1}]}
**end** ``()``
Write end tag
Call this before closing a file.
For bugs, comments, and questions, please open an issue on github at https://github.com/dcesari/python-xmltv/issues