[aneurysm-]

Hey guys.. I probably have a very stupid question.. But here goes.
I'm getting ready to switch from thetvdb api.

What is the advantage of getting this python scraper over the other tmdb scraper ? I presume both have the same features.
I'm still on Leia and not thinking of switching to Matrix fast.

When I do switch.. And I want to make sure my running shows scrape new episodes, I just need to refresh the show, right? No need to refresh all episodes that are scraped already.

[pkscout]

Hey guys.. I probably have a very stupid question.. But here goes.
I'm getting ready to switch from thetvdb api.

What is the advantage of getting this python scraper over the other tmdb scraper ? I presume both have the same features.
I'm still on Leia and not thinking of switching to Matrix fast.

When I do switch.. And I want to make sure my running shows scrape new episodes, I just need to refresh the show, right? No need to refresh all episodes that are scraped already.

The older XML scrapers are being phased out, so for Kodi 20 you'll need to be on one of the Python scrapers (TMDb TV Shows for TV and The Movie Database Python for movies, as an example).  Given that, you may as well make the change to the Python scrapers now if you're changing.  As for features, I'd say the two scrapers are mostly the same.  There are some spots that they diverge due to the underlying technology.  For the actual switch, you should be able to just refresh the shows and not every episode.  The one thing you do need to check before you do that is if you have any shows using the DVD order in TVDB.  TMDb uses a different method for alternate orders, so for those you have to create a special nfo file with the URL of the episode grouping you want to use.  There are instructions on the wiki, but for the life of me I can't find them now.  I'm pinging @Karellen because he'll know right where that page is.

[aneurysm-]

Hey guys.. I probably have a very stupid question.. But here goes.
I'm getting ready to switch from thetvdb api.

What is the advantage of getting this python scraper over the other tmdb scraper ? I presume both have the same features.
I'm still on Leia and not thinking of switching to Matrix fast.

When I do switch.. And I want to make sure my running shows scrape new episodes, I just need to refresh the show, right? No need to refresh all episodes that are scraped already.

The older XML scrapers are being phased out, so for Kodi 20 you'll need to be on one of the Python scrapers (TMDb TV Shows for TV and The Movie Database Python for movies, as an example).  Given that, you may as well make the change to the Python scrapers now if you're changing.  As for features, I'd say the two scrapers are mostly the same.  There are some spots that they diverge due to the underlying technology.  For the actual switch, you should be able to just refresh the shows and not every episode.  The one thing you do need to check before you do that is if you have any shows using the DVD order in TVDB.  TMDb uses a different method for alternate orders, so for those you have to create a special nfo file with the URL of the episode grouping you want to use.  There are instructions on the wiki, but for the life of me I can't find them now.  I'm pinging @Karellen because he'll know right where that page is.

Very clear. I’ll go for this python version then. I will check into the parsing nfo stuff for dvd order if I ever need it.
If I read the Tmdb threads correctly though..due to a difference between tmdb website and api results, there is no fallback yet on English if your selected language is not found yet. So for me, I would choose Dutch..but safer to go for English to not have missing data.

[Karellen]

TMDb uses a different method for alternate orders, so for those you have to create a special nfo file with the URL of the episode grouping you want to use.  There are instructions on the wiki, but for the life of me I can't find them now.  I'm pinging @Karellen because he'll know right where that page is.

Yep, section 4.1 here... https://kodi.wiki/view/Naming_video_files/Episodes

If I read the Tmdb threads correctly though..due to a difference between tmdb website and api results, there is no fallback yet on English if your selected language is not found yet. So for me, I would choose Dutch..but safer to go for English to not have missing data.

Yes, it is a bit of a thorn in our side. I guess TMDB are trying various approaches for languages, and keep changing the API returns. After two updates to the scraper to accommodate the changes, we have now decided to just sit and wait until they finalise their fallback feature for episode languages.
Read here... https://www.themoviedb.org/talk/60020206...003ed9e30c

[aneurysm-]

Clear again.
So for instance (the one show that comes to mind for me personally) for batman animated series dvd order

I would make tvshow.nfo (in the Batman Animated series folder)
and there put
https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/2098-batma...ted-series
<episodeguide>https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/2098-batman-the-animated-series/episode_group/5acfef37c3a36842e400333f</episodeguide>

[Karellen]

and there put
https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/2098-batma...ted-series
<episodeguide>https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/2098-batman-the-animated-series/episode_group/5acfef37c3a36842e400333f</episodeguide>

No.
1. You don't add <episodeguide>
2. You put the link to the actual listing, not the tv show. Check that wiki link again and read the instructions on the images.

[aneurysm-]

and there put
https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/2098-batma...ted-series
<episodeguide>https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/2098-batman-the-animated-series/episode_group/5acfef37c3a36842e400333f</episodeguide>

No.
1. You don't add <episodeguide>
2. You put the link to the actual listing, not the tv show. Check that wiki link again and read the instructions on the images.

sorry, right you are .. was after midnight while I was checking .. mixed 2 wiki pages with each other.
Tnx for the assistance ... time for me to make the switch

[whysoserious]

2. You put the link to the actual listing, not the tv show. Check that wiki link again and read the instructions on the images.

Just wanted to mention, I followed the instructions and successfully re-added my Firefly (DVD order) and Star Wars: The Clone Wars (chronological order) to my library, in the correct order. I had previously used the TVDB scraper for this, but since the TVDB scraper might be problematic in the near future I wanted to switch to the TMDB scraper.

I removed them from library, cleaned the library and deleted the existing .nfo files, made and added a new tvshow.nfo with just the required URL, then re-scraped.

Worked as expected, no drama.

Thx!

[aneurysm-]

2. You put the link to the actual listing, not the tv show. Check that wiki link again and read the instructions on the images.

Just wanted to mention, I followed the instructions and successfully re-added my Firefly (DVD order) and Star Wars: The Clone Wars (chronological order) to my library, in the correct order. I had previously used the TVDB scraper for this, but since the TVDB scraper might be problematic in the near future I wanted to switch to the TMDB scraper.

I removed them from library, cleaned the library and deleted the existing .nfo files, made and added a new tvshow.nfo with just the required URL, then re-scraped.

Worked as expected, no drama.

Thx!

Tnx !
Yeah I made the plunge this afternoon. Since thetvdb was still working, but a lot of episodes on new shows weren't giving me the plot anymore (while I checked on thetvdb and it was there). But since next week or so the v3 api will be gone anyways ...

[Karellen]

But since next week or so the v3 api will be gone anyways ...

There's still a bit of time. TVDB have assured us they won't retire the old API's until they have released the new Kodi TVDB scraper and ironed out most of the bugs. My understanding is that they are in the process of writing the new scraper.

[aneurysm-]

But since next week or so the v3 api will be gone anyways ...

There's still a bit of time. TVDB have assured us they won't retire the old API's until they have released the new Kodi TVDB scraper and ironed out most of the bugs. My understanding is that they are in the process of writing the new scraper.

Good to know for the installation at my mom
But I also got fed up with the random missing plots.
Tell me your secrets gives me plot for the first ep.. Missing all the others.
Wandavision missing ep 8 (and one before that too)

[Jondar]

Hi!

(If this is the wrong place to ask this question, I apologise and will happily accept a moving to the correct location!)

I too, am in the middle of migrating from TVDB to TMDB-Python for TV Shows. I've also discovered episodegroups for the first time. (Previously my episode numbering matched the TVDB, and used displayseason and displayepisode in the NFO files for "special" episodes that fall in the middle of seasons).

I have a question about file naming with regard to episode groups though: If I use an episodegroup for a TV show, the file naming (specifically season and episode) numbers have to match the episodegroup, correct? So something that would display with TVDB like S01E01, S01E02, S00E01, S01E03 -- with S00E01 being a special episode between episodes 2 and 3, but using a chronological episode order with TMDB would have to be S01E01, S01E02, S01E03, S01E04 ?

I hope I'm clear about that example!

Thanks in advance,

~Jondar

[Karellen]

If I use an episodegroup for a TV show, the file naming (specifically season and episode) numbers have to match the episodegroup, correct?

Yes, the order of the listing you want. Not the order of the main default listing.

So something that would display with TVDB like S01E01, S01E02, S00E01, S01E03 -- with S00E01 being a special episode between episodes 2 and 3, but using a chronological episode order with TMDB would have to be S01E01, S01E02, S01E03, S01E04 ?

If that is the way it is listed at TheMovieDB, then yes, you would number them that way.
TheMovieDB does not use that TVDB feature of inserting Special episodes into the main season listings. It can still be done, but requires editing, and rescanning nfo files.

Might be of use... HOW-TO:Movie_universe (wiki)

[Jondar]

Thanks for clarifying, Karellen!

TheMovieDB does not use that TVDB feature of inserting Special episodes into the main season listings. It can still be done, but requires editing, and rescanning nfo files.

I'm no stranger to editing and rescanning nfo files for episodes that already exist, so before I go to the (annoying) step of renaming files, I'll try what you've suggested. I'll also try including displayseason and displayepisode, just to see if that works for my edge cases.

Thanks again!

~Jondar

[Karellen]

I'll also try including displayseason and displayepisode

Yep, that is what you need to edit in the nfo file.

xml:
<displayepisode></displayepisode>

<displayseason></displayseason>