TodayPlus Boards v2

I wasn't sure were to put this, so mods, feel free to move this as you see fit.

As per the request/suggestion by fishboy, I modified my movie listings script to accept theaters in the URL.  So if someone wants to host it for people, it's now possible.

Usage:

http://someservername/somedirectory/listings_rss.php?theater1=theater1&zip1=zip1&theater2=theater2&zip2=zip2...

So, for instance, for my theaters, I use:

listings_rss.php?theater1=Muvico&zip1=21076&theater2=UA Snowden Square&zip2=21046&theater3=CO Rio 14&zip3=20878&theater4=AMC Hoffmann Center 22&zip4=22314&theater5=AMC Columbia 14&zip5=21044


I only tested it with the theaters I know, so please let me know if you get any weird behavior.

What do I have to do to change it to receive one theather only? the name of the Theather is Regal Commerce Center 18 zip 08824

Quote from: joelw135What do I have to do to change it to receive one theather only?

Just call it like this:

http://someservername/somedirectory/listings_rss.php?theater1=Theater Name&zip1=Theater zip

Just use one theater name and zip code.


listings_rss.php?theater1=Your theater here&zip1=theater zip here


The script is dynamic so it *should* be able to accept any number of theaters.

Do I change any thing in the script?

Nope.  That's the beauty of it.

In case anyone is interested, here is my PHP Script to get stock information from Yahoo.  It displays the stock name, current price, and change as one rss entry (i.e. ^DJI 10463.48 +9.56).

The format to use this script is:
http://someservername/somedirectory/YahooStocks-rss.php?symbols=symbol1+symbol2+symbol3...
For example:
http://someservername/somedirectory/YahooStocks-rss.php?symbols=^dji+^ixic+^gspc+aivsx
You can enter as many symbols as you want.  Goto http://finance.yahoo.com to look up symbols for a particular stock.

EDIT:  FYI, the file size is only 936 B (.936 KB), not 936 KB as incorretly reported by the board.

When I try to get the movie listing nothing comes up. My provider does not allow numeric IP.  When I try it in IE I get this error:
Fatal error: Call to undefined function: file_get_contents() in /home/virtual/site66/fst/home/jwaxman/public_html/listings_rss.php on line 68

And this is the important part of the rss:

listings_rss.php?theater1=Loews New Brunswick&zip1=08824

joelw135,

I don't know if this is causing your problem, but I noticed that in your address:

listings_rss.php?theater1=Loews New Brunswick&zip2=08824

zip2 should be zip1, the next theater would be theater2=...&zip2=... etc.

Oh, and MadTxn, nice job!  :)

I just copied it wrong, it is correct in script., and I changed it in above post.

FYI.  I tried your parameters using IE with my server and it worked fine for me (although I did get a weird error the first time).  Most likely is a problem with the server that is running the script, not the script itself.

Ok I got to figure out what the problem is, really want this to work.

What version of PHP Server is your server running? I am using PHP 4.3.4.

Really don't know, it is on my sons, which is remote.

I guess I will have to wait until someone is willing to host it.

I just checked the PHP manual, and you need to have version 4.30 or higher for this to work.  Sorry...

You know what?  I'm not sorry.  Upgrade or else. :twisted:

Well I believe that the to use the function "file_get_contents" requires version 4.3.0 or higher, so you might want to find out what version you have and have your son upgrade the server it is lower than this version.

EDIT:  Looks like MadTxn is a faster gun slinger than I, beat me to the draw.

My son spoke to the owner of his server and he is unwilling to upgrade or even tell him what version he has.

Is there another command that can replace the get command?

Well, changing the command will make the script take longer to run, and will be more memory intensive on the server.  Maybe our fine host would be willing to host the file for a few people.

That would be nice.

Because I'm just a Prime Specimen of Manhood©, and because you've been so nice about it, I edited the script just for you.  Enjoy.

You are indeed a scholar and a Gentleman.

Works great, and fast. Thanks again.

Not a problem.  Also, for future reference, if you place a file with the following in it:


<?php
phpinfo();
?>


it will tell you the PHP version, along with a buttload of other stuff.

If at a later date I want to add another theater, all I would do is add the &theater2=Name&zip2=zip Is that correct?

You are correct.

Ran into a problem. the script would take so long to download the information, that it would not sync TodayPlus. If I did it via wi-fi it would work, but not in the cradle. I removed that rss feed and it would sync fine. Back to the drawing board. Got to find another host.

Anyone know a free PHP host in the USA?


Used your script and found out that the server is running 4.2.2 PHP.

I think I have found a temporary fix for the movie times refresh problem. What I did was move the movie RSS to the first on the list. This way it gets the hard to sync info first.  I have tried it a few times, and seems to work. I will see later when the net is filled with users.

P.S. It takes around 2 minutes to full refresh. It used to take aprox 30 seconds.

Quote from: joelw135If at a later date I want to add another theater, all I would do is add the &theater2=Name&zip2=zip Is that correct?

Hi Guys:

Where will this line go in the script? Secondly, I am not getting any details with the downloads. Is there anything I an not doing right?

Thanks.

LawofA

That line is part of the line you use in the config file to call the server for information.
The example below is what the line would look without a server selected.
You need a host to carry the script, that the line below calls.

http://server name/server directory/listings_rss.php?theater=Regal commerce Center 18&zip1=08824

And of course you must change the theater and the zip to what you want.

Quote from: LawofA
...Secondly, I am not getting any details with the downloads. Is there anything I an not doing right?

What do you mean "details"?  All you should be getting is a listing of movie titles, then clicking on them (depending on your skin), should show a list of theaters with times.  Are you not getting that?  If not, make sure that the theater name is exactly as it shows up in Yahoo, along with the theater's zip code.

joelw135 - I'm pretty sure the script shouldn't take that long.  Even running from my home PC with a 256K upload that's pretty much fully utilized, it doesn't take that long.

All I get is the first list of movies , I never get a list of theaters. I know I entered the correct rss address. Only the movies in one theater show.

I uploaded the special script you wrote for the older PHP. I even tried your theaters on my sons server. If I didn't make that the first rss download I couldn't refresh weather. I think it timed out or something.

I don't know what to tell you about the timeout, but as for the details, you should get the list of movies, as you see, then you should be able to tap the movie name, and get something like the below picture, just imagine for your skin.

(http://home.comcast.net/~madtxn/todayplus/rss.gif)

Found the problem, I reloaded the script to the server, and it now works.

Quote from: MadTxnWell, changing the command will make the script take longer to run, and will be more memory intensive on the server.  Maybe our fine host would be willing to host the file for a few people.

I will speak for him/her/them and say they've done alot already. :)

I just reqistered movierss.com and moviesrss.com and have them setup on our primary server. Need to wait for the dns to update and we're qood.

Oh and I have to install the script ;)

-SC

you guys need to be very careful hosting anything that screen scrapes yahoo pages.  Yahoo really dislikes this and they actively look for and take steps against any script / program etc that scrapes their pages.

that said, anything relatively small scale should "fly under the radar" (although I wouldn't be suprised if they caught it...).

That's what I haven't offered to host them.  A couple of people using them shouldn't be a problem, but you got a lot of them running the same file, it really get's noticed.

When I put in place the RSS for this site, the bandwidth almost doubled.

you'd think with yahoo being such a large site, they would hardly notice or care about the odd script here or there, but, suprisingly, from what I've read elsewhere, this seems not to be the case.

afaik they haven't taken any really onerous actions, other than perhaps sending a letter / changing the page code so that the scraping no longer works.

Quote from: joelw135All I get is the first list of movies , I never get a list of theaters. I know I entered the correct rss address. Only the movies in one theater show.

Hi MadTxn:
I got confused. What I meant by details were actually list of theaters, which I still need help on.

Hi joelw135:

I still cannot get movies in more than one theater to show. Could you please explain to me how to do that?


Thanks.

LawofA

After theater1=xxxxx&zip1=xxxxx&theater2=xxxxx&zip2=xxxxx&theater3=xxxxx&zip3=xxxxx

Just follow what I did above put the name of the theater as listed on Yahoo then the zip code you use. It can be all the same zip as you did in Yahoo.

You don't see the other theaters until you click on a movie title.

Quote from: srsyou guys need to be very careful hosting anything that screen scrapes yahoo pages. Yahoo really dislikes this and they actively look for and take steps against any script / program etc that scrapes their pages.

Thanks for the warning.  I don't think the stocks feed script should cause much of a fuss because it is utilizing their already available web page to retrieve a comma delimited list of data for a stock (which can easily be accessed by IE).  This script is not actually a page scraper as it only loops thru a list of stocks, calls this page, and reformats the results.  

Got my fingers crossed that Yahoo looks at this as acceptable.  :)

Quote from: joelw135After theater1=xxxxx&zip1=xxxxx&theater2=xxxxx&zip2=xxxxx&theater3=xxxxx&zip3=xxxxx

Just follow what I did above put the name of the theater as listed on Yahoo then the zip code you use. It can be all the same zip as you did in Yahoo.

You don't see the other theaters until you click on a movie title.

Hi joelw135:
I still don't get it. Where and what line in the script is this added. If possible, could you PM me your script? I will appreciate it.

Thanks.

LawofA

You don't change the script.  That's at the end of the URL you use to view it.  So in your config, for this RSS entry, you would have:

http://server name/server directory/listings_rss.php?theater1=xxxxx&zip1=xxxxx&theater2=xxxxx&zip2=xxxxx&theater3=xxxxx&zip3=xxxxx

Quote from: MadTxnYou don't change the script.  That's at the end of the URL you use to view it.  So in your config, for this RSS entry, you would have:

http://server name/server directory/listings_rss.php?theater1=xxxxx&zip1=xxxxx&theater2=xxxxx&zip2=xxxxx&theater3=xxxxx&zip3=xxxxx

Thanks MadTxn. I will try it tonight.

LawofA

well I'm still up for hosting the scripts... atleast until told  otherwise.

eitel & madtxn - any idea on the kind of bandwidth usage we're looking at?

also perhaps a few things can be done...

A)  mod the script to cache so it's not making so many calls?

B) find a source interested in letting us qet these feeds?

Also I might be ok hosting the stock feed as well.

-SC

I have no idea on the bandwidth... but my file opened in Opera and saved is 9.19kb.  It shouldn't be downloaded more than once or twice a day.

The caching is a good idea, except it would be different for every person.  I'll work on it...

I have mine set to refresh in 180 minutes which is the max allowed in the config, I wonder if you edit the registry you can set it to once a day. I just changed the  registry, so that it does it every 8 hours. I will see if that works.

Quote from: MadTxnI have no idea on the bandwidth... but my file opened in Opera and saved is 9.19kb.  It shouldn't be downloaded more than once or twice a day.

The caching is a good idea, except it would be different for every person.  I'll work on it...

The thinking behind the cache was that theaters most likely don't change times often? Maybe every couple of days?

So it would hopefully cut BW and cut hits to Yahoo... atleast from the same people using the RSS and refreshing?

Now I just need to get the script up.... tomorrow (Wed.)

-SC

That would be great.

Hi All ---

I get the following error (on my web page) when attempting to load the rss page

QuoteXML Parsing Error: mismatched tag. Expected: </description>.
Location: http://myserver.com/listings_rss.php?theater1=harkinsfashionsquare&zip1=85251
Line Number 5, Column 66:  <description>Movie Listings from Yahoo! for ovies - Showtimes</title>

Any ideas?

Thanks for any and all replies.

Cheers.

BD

Are you sure the name of the theater is one word, I don't think that is correct. Put spaces between the words, and try that. It should be this.
Harkins Fashion Square 7

Quote from: joelw135Are you sure the name of the theater is one word, I don't think that is correct. Put spaces between the words, and try that. It should be this.
Harkins Fashion Square 7

That's it...thanks.

I was going to the movie section of Yahoo and entering my zipcode and then using the exact name of the theatre as it appeared on the site. In this instance, clearly that is wrong.

Appreciate the help.

Well, got the script on the server, sorry for the delay.

http://www.moviesrss.com/listings_rss.php

You can dump the www and it'll work fine.

I'll probably put up a more generic domain for other feed needs.

Does the stock script need a home?

-SC

Thanks a lot, works great, the stock feed does need a home as far as I know. Nice when it is on a fast server.

Thanks, MdTxn for the php script; and SacredCow, for hosting it.

Works like a charm !!

Scotty.

Hi All ---

For movies that are currently playing at more than 2 theaters, I need to be able to scroll down to see the remaining times, however there isn't a scroll bar. Any idea how to have a scroll bar appear when neeed?

Thanks.

Yea, I had the same problem, I will wait to see if any one has any ideas. I guess the region size has to be changed.

Hey MadTxn - what are you using to get the flyout menu?

What skin?

Thanks!
-SC

Quote from: MadTxnI don't know what to tell you about the timeout, but as for the details, you should get the list of movies, as you see, then you should be able to tap the movie name, and get something like the below picture, just imagine for your skin.

(http://home.comcast.net/~madtxn/todayplus/rss.gif)

The skin is my own, which is unfinished.  I mainly have some graphics work left.  As for the floating region, if you check out this (http://www.dark-mojo.com/todayplus/viewtopic.php?p=5880#5880) thread, there are some helpful tips.

Thanks :)