Quoting mzconcete:

Quote:
Is there a plug-in to operate Ziotek Media Carousel Plus for DVD Profiler?  I know Movie Collectorz supports these storage units.  However, I would much prefer to use DVD Profiler.

Interesting. I'm finding out about about all these carousel units now. I made a Plugin LoadDVD for the SONY carousel, but there seems to be more demand for a bunch of others. So I will look into it until / unless another plugin author comes along that wants to do it. Anyway, can you get access to the software that ships with the unit? If I can take a look, I will let you know whether it is possible to easily modify my existing plugin to support your device.

I was able to download and install the software, but it will not run without a device installed. Then I looked at the program folder and noticed that there is a single executable. There is no separate dll for device control. So all the logic is bundled up in that one application. This means that whoever wrote it, knows the details of carousel control codes and protocol. Without those codes or an API to control software (such as a dll), I'm stuck. Perhaps you could peruse the collectorz forums and see what you can find out. I'll take a look also.

The following was posted in another thread.  This is the same carousel unit I use...CD Carousel Plus.  Am I correct in assuming your plug in will work with this.  They are manufactured by Ziotek. 

Posted: June 29, 2007 4:36 PM
PM this user View this user's DVD collection Edit post Reply with quote
Quoting les1941:

    Quote:
    thanks DR. Killpatient

    I want  one as I am not a programer. just hoping some one can make a plugin

The product is shipped with a software tracking application. It seems like an alternative to the more expensive and capable "CD Carousel Plus" which also ships with software. My point is that you may already have a solution. LoadDVD can call any software program and pass the slot# and title, etc. to the program, using a simple .BAT file that is supplied with the plugin. So now you just need to find out whether your carousel software can be executed from the command line. If so, point me to some documentation, and I'll tell you how to code the .BAT file. Edit: I went to the Century site and noticed that the product is no longer supported. I assume you knew that. I hope that you can find a way to use existing LoadDVD capability - I will help, but it probably would not make sense to write a lot of new code for a dead product. If you can PM me the software or doc, I'll give you my assessment.

mediadogg

I Just Reran your app just after I send you the last e-mail a minute ago. and I am getiing a diffrent response now.

Listed below are the DOS Window Messaeges.

Start of test.
I think there are 2 devices.
The Device ID of the first unit is: 18224
The status of the first unit is: I/O Error.
The Device ID of the second unit is: 13027
The status of the second unit is: I/O Error.
Unit 1 LED should be ON: I/O Error.
I think I just moved unit 1 carousel to slot 3: I/O Error.
I think I just ejected the disc from unit 1, slot 3: I/O Error.
Unit 1 LED should be OFF: I/O Error.
Unit 2 LED should be ON: I/O Error.
I think I just moved unit 2 carousel to slot 4: I/O Error.
I think I just ejected the disc from unit 2, slot 4: I/O Error.

As you can see your app does see me two devices but it does not do anything.

Thanks




Quoting mediadogg:

Quote:
Not yet, but I'm doing my best. There is a software API package made available by Dacal that may have the potential to be compatible with these units. I have not been successful in compiling the application, as Microsoft has changed some things. Even if I do manage to get the code compiled, and then make the necessary adjustments, I would have to code in the dark and rely on you guys to try it out - because I don't own any of those carousel products (except the SONY VAIO one). Thanks for following up. I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile if there are any experienced C++ programmers out there who would like to take a shot at resolving the compilation issues, please PM me. It has to to with the 32bit mfc libraries that used to be free - now only available as part of an SDK that you have to buy from Microsoft.
Edit: @mzconcete - please check your PM.

Edit: Still no response from mzconcete. If anybody else wants to try the carousel test program, please PM me. Can't move forward until I know whether first step is working.

I am pleased to announce that:

LoadDVD v0.4 Released
This upgrade adds support for:

Dacal (tm) - style disc carousels that connect via USB port. The software was modelled after Dacal source available on their web site, however it was actually tested with a more recent Ziotek brand, which also works with the Dacal sample applications.

Syntax is consistent with other LoadDVD commands:

  Personal Information Location: Dacalx  - where x is 1 - 127

  Personal Infomation Slot: n    - where n is 1 - 150


The menu structure for v 0.4 has been simplified. Instead of "DVD" -> "LoadDVD" -> "Play", this version uses "DVD" -> "(Auto)Play|Open|Select". In the event of more than 1 disc, the menu is extended by -> "disc1", ... "discn", wher en is the number of discs in the profile.

This would have not been possible wthout the tireless support of Carlos, who tested many iterations of the code on his two Ziotek units, and made many helpful suggestions.  I think we set a new record for Google Talk messages per minute! 

I would expect that this code will work on many Dacal-style units (not sure about Century). I would appreciate knowing your experiences.

Quoting P1:

Quote:
I purchased two Datawrite DC-300 CD Library units for storage for some of my DVD's (I had run out of shelf space), they worked well as standalone units and I purchased another two.

Looking through the forums here, I spotted that Mediadogg's plug-in supported the Ziotek units (the Datawrite is a clone of these), so I thought I would give it a try.

The most painful part of the process was updating 600 disks within DVD-profiler to add the details for the location of the disks.

I have tested out the plug-in it works without any problems, the only thing to keep in mind is that all of the units need to be connected and powered up to access the higher numbered units (the standalone software will work with just one unit connected and works via the unit id).

I will probably buy another couple of these units for additional storage, it is a quick method of finding a disk and reduces the storage space required to keep disks.

I like DVD-profiler but it has become really useful now thanks to mediadogg for his efforts in spending the time to develop the LoadDVD plug-in.

Cheers,

David

Wonderful news. I'm happy to hear it. The problem you had with the higher numbered units is interesting. When you get a few spare moments, perhaps you can send more more details via PM, and if I can improve the device handling, I will certainly try. Thanks for your kind comments.

Hi mediadogg,
I recieved my Ziotek carousel, I cna't get DVD Profilier to work/see the carousel. I down loaded the plugin from your site.
What I do is Right click on the movie from my list, click on play/retrieve, click on main feature, but nothing happens.
i did edit the personal info page for that movie with Location and Slot.
can you help.

thanks 

thanks for the info I have the black carousel plus. I using Vista and have gotten the software CDLIB to work. I'll let you know