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| Registered: August 4, 2012 | | Posts: 5 |
| | Posted: | | | | Hey Folks,
I'm currently trying out DVD Profiler and have run into an interesting problem. First, I'm using version 3.8.1 and have the CLZ Barry scan app for my iPhone. When the scanner scans the barcode it also does a lookup (this becomes important).
Last night I started adding titles and found a surprising number that came up with no available info (~15%) . But looking down at the scanner app it had the correct DVD title and info listed. So apparently the scanner is able to find the info from its database while DVD Profiler is not. What's more, if I enter a placeholder title (intentionally wrong) and then click on the Amazon link it also pulls up the correct item.
Is there any way to have the program point to a better database? I don't want to type info for 50-75 DVDs for no reason.
Thanks
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Rob |
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | Reputation:  |  Posts: 13,202 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting rbdwarf: Quote:
Is there any way to have the program point to a better database? I don't want to type info for 50-75 DVDs for no reason. DVD Profiler uses the DVD Profiler database so there is no way to point it to a different database. The CLZ Barry Scanner App uses the Collectorz.com database. Amazon, obviously, will have the data as they are trying to sell the titles. DVD Profiler is a user build database. That means users have to add the title for it to be there. If nobody adds it, well, you get the idea. While Collecorz is also user built, it seems that the Collectorz staff adds basic information themselves...something Invelos does not do...and allows the users to add the details. | | | No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar |
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| Registered: August 4, 2012 | | Posts: 5 |
| | Posted: | | | | Hey Martian,
It would seem that adding the ability to import info from an outside source such as Amazon would benefit the DVD Profiler users, would it not?
As a prospective buyer I have to admit that I'm less willing to pay for a program that doesn't take advantage of the info available on the net. I have MP3 tagging programs that can import info from Amazon so I know the API is available. Is there a reason why resources such as this are being ignored?
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Rob |
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 17,334 |
| | Posted: | | | | Personally I would hate to see it pull info from outside databases. Not the way these databases arefilled with bad/incorrect data. I personally would rather have blank fields then wrong info. But that is me. So don't say too much... but it does show that not everyone would agree with your statement. | | | | Pete |
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| Registered: December 22, 2008 |  Posts: 87 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting rbdwarf: Quote:
I have MP3 tagging programs that can import info from Amazon so I know the API is available. Is there a reason why resources such as this are being ignored? Yes, because those resources, aren't "free". Those are copyrighted databases, that you can personally use free of charge. But you're not allowed to use that data commerialy. If you contribute such data into a commerial database – and the user-maintained Invelos database qualifies as such by all means – you violate the terms of use of each single of those "free" databases. No one should be allowed to contribute such data to the Invelos database, simply to prevent the slightest possibility of a law suit against Invelos. But because a few users don't follow those very simple rules, and regularly try to contribute stuff they've data-mined from other databases – violating the terms of use of those databases and Invelos itself – there's no way to automatically import anything from another database. And that's exactly the way it should be, as long as people are unwilling to recognize, that "other available resources" aren't "free" resources for whatever use some users might think they'd come in handy.  |
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 13,202 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting rbdwarf: Quote:
Hey Martian,
It would seem that adding the ability to import info from an outside source such as Amazon would benefit the DVD Profiler users, would it not? The ability to import basic information...Title, SRP, Release Date, Format...as it seems collectorz seems to do, might be a good thing. I say "might" because I don't know how they actually do it. Quote:
As a prospective buyer I have to admit that I'm less willing to pay for a program that doesn't take advantage of the info available on the net. I have MP3 tagging programs that can import info from Amazon so I know the API is available. Is there a reason why resources such as this are being ignored? They aren't being ignored but, because they cost money to license for anything other than personal use, Invelos has chosen not to use them. Your MP3 program can do it because you are not adding that information to a database that you are offering with software you are selling. | | | No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar |
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| Registered: May 19, 2007 | Reputation:  |  Posts: 6,730 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting rbdwarf: Quote:
I don't want to type info for 50-75 DVDs for no reason. 50 - 75 DVDs!!! I'm impressed. Believe it or not I typed in the data for ALL my DVDs and BluRays (currently 1053). And I didn't do it for "No Reason", but for having the data as precise as possible and to be sure I have the correct data and not some invented stuff from some obscure "outside source". The reason why people choose DVDProfiler is (in most cases) that it is NOT using those external databases, but is relying on it's users to build a better one than any other available on the net. I may not like all the decisions made in the forums or in the "Rules Committee", but I prefer "our" data to the "outside sources" any time of the day. ... for some reason I'm quite sure that I'm not alone with this attitude. | | | It all seems so stupid, it makes me want to give up!
But why should I give up, when it all seems so stupid?
Registrant since 05/22/2003 |
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| Registered: December 27, 2009 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 5,131 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting Lewis_Prothero: Quote:
Quoting rbdwarf:
Quote:
I don't want to type info for 50-75 DVDs for no reason.
50 - 75 DVDs!!!
I'm impressed.
Believe it or not I typed in the data for ALL my DVDs and BluRays (currently 1053). And I didn't do it for "No Reason", but for having the data as precise as possible and to be sure I have the correct data and not some invented stuff from some obscure "outside source".
The reason why people choose DVDProfiler is (in most cases) that it is NOT using those external databases, but is relying on it's users to build a better one than any other available on the net.
I may not like all the decisions made in the forums or in the "Rules Committee", but I prefer "our" data to the "outside sources" any time of the day. ... for some reason I'm quite sure that I'm not alone with this attitude. That kind of attitude I can agree with. |
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| Registered: August 4, 2012 | | Posts: 5 |
| | Posted: | | | | Apparently I'm in the wrong place. As much as I think the software is gorgeous it wasn't designed for me. I'm looking for a good looking way to have an inventory of my DVD and Blu-Ray collection and not the least bit interested in doing data entry as a bragging point.
Thanks for the opinions folks.
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Rob |
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| Registered: March 18, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 6,461 |
| | Posted: | | | | Hang on there ...
- There is plugin available that converts Amazon ASIN to UPC, which is the magic ticket that downloads masses of metadata from Invelos
- Invelos Add DVD by title has pretty fast engine that finds the correct entry fairly easily. It even works with speech input
- There is a free (for personal use) database for region 1 DVDs that you can do a title search on. I have tools that use it, but I can't release them yet due to license restrictions. Maybe someday ...
If you are open to perhaps alternate methods to achieve your goal, there is a lot of help available. Maybe don't be so quick to dismiss something just because it is done a different way from what you are accustomed. | | | Thanks for your support.
Free Plugins available here.
Advanced plugins available here.
Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog. | | | | Last edited: by mediadogg |
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| Registered: August 4, 2012 | | Posts: 5 |
| | Posted: | | | | Hey Mediadogg,
Does it download the info from Amazon? I already know that the discs aren't in the Invelos database.
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Rob |
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| Registered: March 18, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 6,461 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting rbdwarf: Quote:
Hey Mediadogg,
Does it download the info from Amazon? I already know that the discs aren't in the Invelos database.
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Rob No it doesn't. I missed that second key point. Best I can offer you is the free plugin DVDPca, which will, with a couple of mouse clicks build you an official profile that can be submitted. Then dozens of members of the community will automatically join you in completing the profile. DVDPca pulls the data directly from the DVD disc. It is not complete, but it satisfies the criteria for a basic skeleton profile. You might have to add a couple of things manually such as UPC and locality - that's it. | | | Thanks for your support.
Free Plugins available here.
Advanced plugins available here.
Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog. | | | | Last edited: by mediadogg |
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| Registered: August 4, 2012 | | Posts: 5 |
| | Posted: | | | | Hey Mediadogg,
I'm not dismissing the software because it does things in a different way than what I'm accustomed. I currently have everything in an Excel spreadsheet which was typed in one disc at a time as I bought them. No, my concern now is that I'm not interested in retyping data that is out there and available.
I think the difference is perfectly illustrated by Lewis. He wants a hand crafted list that he feels reflects his dedication to his video collection. I want a list that I can use as a reference (do I already have that movie?) and show to insurance if I get robbed. I'm more utilitarian, he's more boutique. I'll save the lovingly crafted list as a project for when I retire :-)
The collectorz.com software is very good but it has the fugliest HTML export that I've ever seen. I was hoping for something better looking.
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Rob |
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| Registered: March 18, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 6,461 |
| | Posted: | | | | Ok, then perhaps you would be interested in BulkEdit - another free plugin. BulkEdit can: - Import CSV to create "manual profiles" - if you don't care about submitting them and just want to capture your data in DVDP format - Import CollectorZ XML Whose your Daddy now ...  | | | Thanks for your support.
Free Plugins available here.
Advanced plugins available here.
Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog. | | | | Last edited: by mediadogg |
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| Registered: May 19, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 6,730 |
| | Posted: | | | | Rob,
I think you misunderstood, or better I possibly expressed incorrectly what I wanted to say.
I try to say better:
I am one of the several hundred contributors to the maindatabase. While in theory all of the paying users of DVDProfiler have the right to do this only a very small percentage (< 10%) of the users is actually doing this.
That's why I typed in all of my data myself. For most users the existing data completely suffices and in many locations these 10% of contributing users cover more than 90% of the releases. The remaining releases that are not in the database are usually some very small releases and/or quite unknown features.
With a little research in the maindatabase you may nevertheless find the "missing" title already added with a different EAN/UPC, DiscID or in a different locality.
In those cases where the data really isn't to be found in our database you have the possibility to do it the "recommended way", which would be to enter the data of the actual DVD into the profile. Or you could use one of the tools pointed out by Mediadogg, there's even an unofficial tool that scrapes IMDb data (when interested ask DJDoena about it).
For your local database there's almost no difference which way you choose, but if you choose so called "Third Party Material" you are not allowed to contribute "your" data to our maindatabase. Simply because it would violate the terms of usage of most of the "sources".
So have fun with DVDProfiler.
It in fact covers all your needs and can be so much more when required. | | | It all seems so stupid, it makes me want to give up!
But why should I give up, when it all seems so stupid?
Registrant since 05/22/2003 |
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| Registered: September 18, 2008 | Reputation:  |  Posts: 2,650 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting Lewis_Prothero: Quote:
Quoting rbdwarf:
Quote:
I don't want to type info for 50-75 DVDs for no reason.
50 - 75 DVDs!!!
I'm impressed. Me too! I've added about 1000 manually out of the 5600+ I have listed so far. I have another 400 in a pile still to add from scratch that aren't in the database. Should be easier as I don't really bother with cast/crew, but still a pain. Worth it in the end though. |
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