How to program WMC to record TV series NOT currently shown in Guide?

Let's say I want to set up my new WMC HTPC to record the series Downton Abbey or The Good Wife, both of which are currently on hiatus for new episodes. There doesn't seem to be any way to tell WMC that when the series re-starts with new programs, you want it to record them(?)

This seems too convenient and important for it to not be a feature, so I'm assuming I just don't know where it is and how to set it up. After all why would WMC require a show to be showing up in its 10-day rolling Guide just to instruct it to record? What am I missing?

So in short - how do you program WMC to record something bgiving it the series name even though the series does not show up in the 10-day guide? Can it be done and how? Thank You!

gowestwardho said:

So in short - how do you program WMC to record something by giving it the series name even though the series does not show up in the 10-day guide? Can it be done and how? Thank You!

From the main WMC menu, push "Recorded TV", to see your list of existing recordings.

At the top-left of the next presentation, you will see (a) Add Recording and (b) View Scheduled. Push the "Add Recording" item.

Since presumably the series you want to record is not in the next 10 days of Guide (actually, I think it might go out to 11), you want to enter either of the two "Enter custom recording with" dialogs: (a) Wish List or Keyword, or (b) Channel and Time. Since you don't really know when the series is actually due to return, I would say go with the "Wish List or Keyword" item.

Your next set of choices are actor name, director name, movie title, program title, or generic keyword. Since you know the name of the series you want to record, I would choose the "program title" item.

Next, you're given the same type of free-form entry area you use when doing an ordinary "search". So just enter the exact name of the program you want WMC to keep looking for in the Guide. When you finish typing and push the DONE button, you will no doubt get a response that says "No results were found. Select Record Future Shows with "..." to record all shows with that phrase in the title." Use the right-arrow key to move the cursor over to that item and push OK.

Now you'll be looking at what is very similar to any OK on a Guide cell offering to record that show or the entire series. You then navigate through the nine items offered, customizing as seems reasonable to reflect what really looks like an ordinary "series" recording with your own personal recording options. You'll see "record every time" (i.e. "series") vs. "record once" (i.e. one-off). The only real difference from a normal Guide-initiated recording initiation is that the program or series you want to record is not yet in the Guide. But it's now in your "Wish List".

Push RECORD on the left, to accept.

You'll then get "no programs found" (because there's nothing yet in the Guide for what you specified). Just push OK.

You're now back to the "Recorded TV" list.

To confirm what you just did, now navigate up to the "View Scheduled" item and push OK. Then navigate down to "series" item and push OK, to see the alphabetical list of all of your "series" recordings. Your new "Wish List" item should be in that list. You can navigate to it and push OK to review, or you can delete (just like any other series), or you can change items, etc.


I believe that should do it for you.

I would suggest you experiment with some random show right now, just to be sure this works. To really simulate your whenever-back-from-hiatus situation you would want a program or movie that is not currently in the Guide but will be shown sometime in the next 2-3 weeks say.

Wow, thanks for such an excellent and complete answer. Funny thing is, I just this morning came across that feature totally by accident. BUT not too much later on I couldn't figure out what I had done to get to it! (Doesn't say much for my memory-recall) So your answer is all that much more appreciated. Thanks!

I actually just yesterday went through these exact steps, to set a "wish list" series recording for the upcoming "So You Think You Can Dance" which begins on 5/24. It wasn't currently yet in the Guide but after tonight's 3AM update I'm guessing it should be.

So I created a "wish list" item just as I described you should do. Let's see what happens tomorrow, and if the 5/24 recording does in fact get auto-scheduled as I intend. There certainly is an entry in my "view scheduled" list which reflects everything I would want for a "series", so let's see if it works.

Be back tomorrow.