WebGrab+Plus - ArchWiki

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WebGrab+Plus is a multi-site incremental XMLTV EPG grabber. It collects TV program guide data from selected TV guide sites for your favorite channels.

- Fast through its incremental mode in which it grabs only what is new or changed.
- Rich in detail and highly configurable.
- Optional post-processors to add IMDb data or to customize your XMLTV listing.

It can later be used by Kodi, MythTV, Tvheadend and other compatible Television and Home Theater front-end media players.

A licensing model is introduced starting from version 3.1. The different license models are un_registrd_user, registered_user, donator, donator_license and developer. Registration is required, for more information please check WebGrab+Plus FAQ.

License Table
| default | un_registrd_user | registered_user | donator | donator_license | developer
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
channels/ini | 20 | 20 | 30 | 50 | 250 | 1000
channels total | 20 | 20 | 30 | 50 | 250 | 1000
siteinis | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 15 | 100
decryption keys | without userkey | without userkey | enabled | enabled | enabled | enabled
decryption mode | legacy (V2) | legacy (V2) | legacy (V2) | legacy (V2) | new (V3) & (V2) | new (V3) & (V2)
index only | yes | yes | no | no | no | no
postprocess MDB | disabled | disabled | disabled | enabled | enabled | enabled
postprocess REX | disabled | enabled | disabled | enabled | enabled | enabled
debug | False | False | False | False | False | True
show details ★ | ttd | ttd | ttsd | full | full | full
update mode | force | force | light | all | all | all
channel delay | 4 secs | 4 secs | 2 secs | 0 secs | 0 secs | 0 secs
index delay | 4 secs | 4 secs | 4 secs | 0 secs | 0 secs | 0 secs
show delay | 2 secs | 2 secs | 1 secs | 0 secs | 0 secs | 0 secs

★ showdetails : 'tt = times & title, 's' = subtitle, 'd' = description

## Installation

Install the wg++AUR package.

## Usage

First step is to create a working directory for `wg++` EPG/XMLTV grabber. The working directory will be saved to the home directory of the active user.

To create a configuration directory type:

    $ wg++ -g

At this point all necessary files are created and it's now possible to configure `WebGrab++.config.xml`.

To generate EPG guide file `guide.xml`, type:

    $ wg++

The EPG guide `guide.xml` will be stored in the location, which is defined in configuration file `~/wg++/WebGrab++.config.xml`.

To see what options can be used with `wg++`, type:

    $ wg++ -h

## Configuration

All configuration files will be placed in `~/wg++` directory. The main configuration file is `~/wg++/WebGrab++.config.xml`. See the upstream documentation for the available options.

Tip: You might want to set up web server on the same machine, set up read-write access for your user and generate `guide.xml` directly to it. For example `<filename>/srv/http/public/guide.xml</filename>`.

### Finding and adding channels

Channel entries defines what TV programs needs to be included in EPG guide.

To list all possible TV programs, use this command:

    $ grep site_id ~/wg++/siteini.pack/*/*channels.xml

To list all possible TV programs by country:

    $ grep site_id ~/wg++/siteini.pack/Country/*channels.xml

To filter TV programs by keyword:

    $ grep site_id ~/wg++/siteini.pack/*/*channels.xml | grep -i "keyword"

And paste as many `<channel>` entries as you want into the configuration file.

## Troubleshooting

### Different channel names

Your IPTV provider might use different channel names from what WebGrabber+Plus offers. For example - TV3 channel exists in WebGrabber+Plus channels list, but your IPTV provider uses TV3 4K, which refers to the same channel, but cannot be found in WebGrabber+Plus channels list. If the channel name is not changed, then it will not be picked up by IPTV player either.

To resolve this, take the actual WebGrabber+Plus channel element:

    <channel update="i" site="tvprograma.lt" site_id="tv3/42" xmltv_id="TV3">TV3</channel>

and change value accordingly:

    <channel update="i" site="tvprograma.lt" site_id="tv3/42" xmltv_id="TV3">TV3 4K</channel>

### Same channels under different names

Your IPTV provider might provide backup channels or channels with different quality, therefore ending up with duplicating channels under different names. In order to generate EPG guide efficiently, modify configuration file as per below example:

    <channel update="i" site="sporttv.pt" site_id="727" xmltv_id="SPORT.TV1">SPORT TV 1</channel>
    <channel offset="0" same_as="SPORT.TV1" xmltv_id="SPORT TV 1 HD">SPORT TV 1 HD</channel>
    <channel offset="0" same_as="SPORT.TV1" xmltv_id="SPORT TV 1 FHD">SPORT TV 1 FHD</channel>
    <channel offset="0" same_as="SPORT.TV1" xmltv_id="SPORT TV 1 XXX">SPORT TV 1 XXX</channel>

Note: Attribute `xmltv_id` must be unique in your configuration file. You might consider changing it to new channel's name as well.

## Tips and tricks

### Alternative configuration directory

You can specify and use alternative configuration directory. Copy default configuration directory to your desired destination:

    $ cp -r /usr/share/wg++ /path/to/configuration_directory

It's also possible to create an alternative configuration directory with `wg++`, type:

    $ wg++ -d /path/to/configuration_directory -g

To generate EPG guide, run:

    $ wg++ -d /path/to/configuration_directory

### Update channels list

wg++AUR will install the latest SiteIni.Pack and channel list files on a fresh install or update of the software. They are stored in `~/wg++/siteini.pack`. However, the files will be updated, revised or deleted over time.

Create a backup of the current (old) `~/wg++/siteini.pack` folder:

    $ cd ~/wg++/ && mv siteini.pack/ siteini.pack.old_$(date +"%y%m%d")

To be up to date, there are a few choices:

Download latest SiteIni.Pack and channel list files via `wg++`, type:

     $ wg++ -u

Or if an alternative configuration directory is used, type:

     $ wg++ -d /path/to/configuration_directory -u

Download latest SiteIni.Pack and channel list files from GitHub repository. Using subversion:

    $ cd ~/wg++/
    $ svn checkout https://github.com/SilentButeo2/webgrabplus-siteinipack/trunk/siteini.pack

Download latest SiteIni.Pack and channel list files from WebGrab+Plus Downloads:

    $ cd ~/wg++/
    $ curl -LO http://webgrabplus.com/sites/default/files/download/ini/SiteIniPack_current.zip
    $ unzip "SiteIniPack_current.zip" "siteini.pack/*"

Update yourself for specific TV guide providers. See WebGrab+Plus EPG-channels

## See also

- WebGrab+Plus official documentation

Category:

- Television