About the EPG Tags option in OnTheAir Video

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• To use EPG Tags in OnTheAir Video 4, you need the EPG option.
• You can test it free with our demo version. Just download the latest version of OnTheAir Video. No license is needed. The export is limited to 4 hours at a time. 
• This feature is not available in OnTheAir Video Express.

This option allows you to add the support for EPG (Electronic Program Guide) to a OnTheAir Video license. A useful tool to determine the list of current and scheduled programs, with information and details for each program on your channel. On each clip you can add info such as a title, category, etc… You can then export that info into an XML file.

Setting up

Go to the top menu "OnTheAir Video > Settings... > EPG": 

You can select your EPG server as:

• Local: on your local machine.
• Server at: for multiple instances. You can add a new server with an IP address. It means you share the EPG tags setup (categories, custom ratings...) on the same server. 

You can also change the settings for your EPG export: 

• Format: you can choose between XMLTV or TV Guide for your files.
• Rounding: you can choose between none, 1 minute and 5 minutes. 

More information about the export at the end of this article. 

EPG Window

To open this window, go to the top menu “Window > EPG Tags”. You will find three panels:

EPG Tags

It is where you can create a new EPG tag and set information about a program:

Click on "New EPG Tag" to open the "EPG Information" panel. You can set: 

• Unique ID: A unique identifier set to your EPG tag when you create it.
• Air Date: Information about when the program is scheduled to be played.
• Last Modification: Is set each time changes are done to the Tag.
• Modified By: The ID of the last person that modified the Tag.
• Title: The name you give to the Tag.
• Sub Title: A secondary or explanatory title.
• Synopsis: A short description of the contents of the program.
• Season/EpisodeNr/EpisodeID: Set information related to a TV show or a TV series.
• Rating System: The TV Parental Guideline, different between countries. You can set the info between V-Chip, MPAA or Other (it will not affect the OnTheAir Video playout).
• Rating Value: A value related to your Rating System (PG-13 in the USA for example). You can create presets through the Ratings Window.
• Categories: The category of your program (Movie, Sport, News…). You can create presets through the Categories Window.
• Icon URL: to add an Icon to your program. 

Click on "Save Changes" to save your new tag.

All the tags you create are shown in the "EPG Tags" list. If you want to modify the information of a tag, click on it, modify and click again on "Save Changes", it will automatically modify your tag wherever it is located. 

Click on "Reload" to refresh the EPG tags Window.

EPG Categories 

This window allows you to set your categories (news, movie, weather...). You can set multiple Category Name for your programs:

• Just click on New Category to add a new one. Double-click to edit one you already added and press on the Trash to delete it.
• You can add as many Category Names as you want. Click on Search to find one with the name you are looking for.

• On The EPG Tags window, when you set the Categories, a small window will appear with the Category names you created. It saves time when you create a new EPG Tag.

 

EPG Ratings

Same logic with the EPG Ratings Window, you can preset Rating Names to save time when you create an EPG Tag.

• You can add a new Rating name. Double-click to edit it or the Trash to delete it.
• You can add as many Rating Name as you want.

 

Add/Remove an EPG Tag to a Clip

Just drag and drop the tag to the clip in the playlist. When it is done, you will see an EPG logo added to the clip in the playlist.

If you want to remove an EPG tag from a clip, open the contextual menu with the right click and “EPG > Clear EPG Tag from Selected Clips”
If you click on “EPG > Show EPG Tag”, it will open the EPG window.

 

Export EPG

You can export your EPG tags in OnTheAir Video with a XMLTV or a TV guide format. It will automatically detect all the EPG tags and their information in the clips from a schedule.

To export EPG, go to the top menu “File > Export EPG…”. This window will pop:

You can set:

• Export between - and: Select the date and the hour of the beginning and the end. The export will only contains the EPG tags in between.  (When in DEMO mode, you won't be able to set these start and end dates)
• Destination Folder: To select where the export file is stored.