Guide data compression

[Philip J. Rayment]

I don't have a TiVo. I've written my own TV program guide in Delphi, with one of it's abilities being to highlight the programs I'm interested in so that I don't miss them.

I've been using the data from http://d1.com.au/D1xmltv.asmx, but they are ceasing this service from 31st March, and are directing users to http://minnie.tuhs.org/xmltv/api.html for a replacement guide.

The problem I'm having is to do with the compression of the data. I gathered that the guide data should be compressed, and it has a .gz extension indicating that it is, but was pleased to find when I tried it that either it wasn't compressed or IE was decompressing it for me.

However, a few days later, I got an error on trying to download data (from http://minnie.tuhs.org/xmltv/ABC-Vic_2008-03-21.xml.gz), and found that it was trying to download a compressed XML file instead of an XML page.

So my main question is, is the data supposed to be compressed or not? And why is it compressed for the link above but not for the same channel the next day, for example? Do I have to write my program to allow for either compressed data or uncompressed data?

I hope I've explained enough and accurately enough to make myself clear.

Philip J. Rayment

[petestrash]

As of fairly recently the files are now compressed.

The is a separate mailing list for TVGuide issues (here).

I don't look after the xml section and none of the other TVGuide Admins hang out here.

So any further xml questions are best posted to the mailing list.

Peter.

[Philip J. Rayment]

Thanks for that.

Philip J. Rayment

[petestrash]

I have authorised your subscription to the TVGuide mailing list.

Peter.