This is an early feature spec for a new plugin I'm starting to work on.

The plugin will replace the 2-paned comparison window for previewing profile changes with a single 3-column window that is similiar to the one used in online DB comparisons (left: existing data, middle: field/section name, right: new data).

As known from the online comparison, this provides a data display that is much more compact than the current 2-pane view and also eliminates the currently necessary frantic left and right pane scrolling to keep corresponding data in sync.

The plugin will work together with a custom comparison skin that takes advantage of the additional functionality provided by the plugin.

The comparision view can be toggled to either show all data fields or only those that have changed.

If Microsoft Word is available on the user's system, it will utilize the revision feature of MS Word to better highlight small changes in large text fields like Overview.

Highlighting changes to cast and crew will be improved as well, making it easier to identify inserted, deleted, re-ordered and changed entries.

Comments on this as well as additional ideas for other cool features are welcome.

Quoting goodguy:

Quote:
If Microsoft Word is available on the user's system, it will utilize the revision feature of MS Word to better highlight small changes in large text fields like Overview.

If that was the only feature your plugin added, it would be a winner in my book.  I look forward to seeing the end results.

Knowing how great your other plugins are, I cannot wait for this one!

Actually, what I'd like to see is a comparison with three columns:

Local Db Profile
Current Main Db Profile
Contribution Profile

Quoting Mark Harrison:

Quote:
Quoting goodguy:

Quote:
If Microsoft Word is available on the user's system, it will utilize the revision feature of MS Word to better highlight small changes in large text fields like Overview.

If that was the only feature your plugin added, it would be a winner in my book.  I look forward to seeing the end results.

I agree.  As I'm sure you all know, it's extremely frustrating to see two Overviews, for example, which seem to be identical.  If the change(s) were highlighted, it would be easier to determine what the difference is and whether or not the change is correct.

Also, it would be helpful if it were possible to demonstrate a difference in video aspect fields.  Many times I see that field flagged (particularly with full frame or pan and scan) where both sides appear identical (full frame, 1.33:1, NTSC).  It seems to occur the most often with the 1.33:1 ratio (using RHo's skins, BTW).

Quoting hal9g:

Quote:
Actually, what I'd like to see is a comparison with three columns:

Local Db Profile
Current Main Db Profile
Contribution Profile

If I understand you correctly, you want to see what changes have been made to the main DB between the newly published profile update and the previous one. I don't think that this is possible. Even the evaluation links in the contribution notes are expired as soon as a contribution has been approved.

Quoting RHo:

Quote:
Will your plugin replace the complete window including the controls on the bottom or just the top part with the HTML sections?

Only the HTML sections. I can't see any reason to replace the functionality already available via the bottom controls. That part works pretty well and I don't want to reinvent the wheel.

I see what Hal is saying.

But...

It's my understanding that the comparison screen shows your profile compared to the new main DB profile. So, you're getting 1 and 3 and not 2. Am I wrong?