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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Desktop Feature Requests Page: 1  Previous   Next
Catalog No., ISBN, other suggestions
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DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantstorable4259
Registered: August 16, 2007
United States Posts: 17
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I had previously been tracking my collection in an MS Excel spreadsheet that was becoming way too large and cumbersome. I tried creating my own MS Access database, but found the learning curve too high and the transition too time consuming.

So, after exploring the newest version of DVD Profiler, I went ahead and paid for the Unlimited version. It's a cool program, but it could use the following:

--Basic film details (also filterable) such as B&W, Color, B&W/Color, Color Tinted, Sepia Tone, etc.

--Input fields (also filterable) for catalog numbers (most DVDs, save for many Twentieth Century Fox Region 1 titles, are issued with catalog numbers) and ISBNs (not required, but issued for many DVDs).

--The addition of more aspect ratios, including 2.76:1 (for Ben-Hur), 2.55:1 (for early CinemaScope titles like Carousel and House of Bamboo), and 1.19:1 or 1.20:1 (used for some silent films like Sunrise).

--The addition of more audio formats (and the denotation of the number of audio channels on the existing formats), notably Dolby Digital 1.1 (yes, Universal's 1976 Midway has Mono plus LFE), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, 3.0, 4.0 Surround, 4.1 Surround, and PCM 2.0 Mono.

--The ability to specify more than a single Country of Origin (some films are international co-productions between various countries) as well as more than a single language (The Battle of Algiers is in French and Arabic, The Vanishing is in French and Dutch).

--The addition of more fields for Studios, and the removal of Production companies from said fields. Production companies should get their own fields. There should be a "Publisher" field and a "Label" field (i.e. Publisher: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment; Label: Sony Pictures Classics).

--A "sort" field for Studio names (so "The Criterion Collection" needn't be entered as "Criterion Collection, The").

--The ability to enter a greater number of characters in the "Edition" field--some entries are truncated because there are not enough characters permitted.

--The addition of an "Out of Print" check box.

--The moving of information like "Price Paid" and "Purchased" from General Info to a separate tab, perhaps called Personal Info or Purchase Info.

There are other things I could suggest too, but those are the most egregious.

Lastly, I have a large number of LaserDiscs I have cataloged quite nicely at LDDB.com. Any plans for DVD Profiler to expand to cover LaserDiscs as well? 
 Last edited: by storable4259
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorVoltaire53
Missed again!
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 2,293
Posted:
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Quoting thejpcol:
Quote:
I had previously been tracking my collection in an MS Excel spreadsheet that was becoming way too large and cumbersome. I tried creating my own MS Access database, but found the learning curve too high and the transition too time consuming.

So, after exploring the newest version of DVD Profiler, I went ahead and paid for the Unlimited version. It's a cool program, but it could use the following:


You raise some interesting ideas on which I'll comment:

Quote:
--Basic film details (also filterable) such as B&W, Color, B&W/Color, Color Tinted, Sepia Tone, etc.


Though useful to a few 99.9% of films will either be B/W or Colour so the detail you go into I do not see as 'basic' information. However it is very easy to do this in Tags as it stands (and I do).

Quote:
--Input fields (also filterable) for catalog numbers (most DVDs, save for many Twentieth Century Fox Region 1 titles, are issued with catalog numbers) and ISBNs (not required, but issued for many DVDs).


I don't see it as a good idea to use multiple additional methods of ID when we have the one standard barcode method. If they're not required then many DVDs won't have them and therefore they sound more suited to personal data to me in Notes... on which you can filter if you want.

Quote:
--The addition of more aspect ratios, including 2.76:1 (for Ben-Hur), 2.55:1 (for early CinemaScope titles like Carousel and House of Bamboo), and 1.19:1 or 1.20:1 (used for some silent films like Sunrise).


Two points here:
The aspect ratios provided in the drop down list are not exhaustive and you can overwrite them with your own if none of them fit. Adding all potential rations to a drop down menu would make it totally unwieldy.
How would you measure the difference between 2.76:1 and 2.77:1 and PROVE that (even if it was made in that ratio) that is the ratio on the disc? Note that it's not what aspect ratio they are made in but what's on the disc and many prints will be stretched or cropped slightly compared to the original.

Quote:
--The addition of more audio formats (and the denotation of the number of audio channels on the existing formats), notably Dolby Digital 1.1 (yes, Universal's 1976 Midway has Mono plus LFE), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, 3.0, 4.0 Surround, 4.1 Surround, and PCM 2.0 Mono.


Can't disagree there. I think there are plans to add more in as an early request for all options was sent out. I suspect a method is being found to avoid a ridiculously large drop down list before release.

Quote:
--The ability to specify more than a single Country of Origin (some films are international co-productions between various countries) as well as more than a single language (The Battle of Algiers is in French and Arabic, The Vanishing is in French and Dutch).


Agree again... and Rules specifying how you decide too!

Quote:
--The addition of more fields for Studios, and the removal of Production companies from said fields. Production companies should get their own fields. There should be a "Publisher" field and a "Label" field (i.e. Publisher: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment; Label: Sony Pictures Classics).


I dare say you won't get too many arguments... and the separate field for the actual DVD publisher (which often has to be left off at present and many consider the most important) is something I strongly agree with.

Quote:
--A "sort" field for Studio names (so "The Criterion Collection" needn't be entered as "Criterion Collection, The").


Hmm, you may enter it with a trailing The but it'll be rejected real fast from the central database I dare say! To be honest I don't often filter on studios so that extra 10 seconds to find the right name doesn't worry me.

Quote:
--The ability to enter a greater number of characters in the "Edition" field--some entries are truncated because there are not enough characters permitted.


It has been extended quite a few times though I agree a few more wouldn't come amiss!

Quote:
--The addition of an "Out of Print" check box.


I can see this being a can of worms... assuming it would have to apply to that particular EAN/UPC this could still have lots of trouble with re-releases, releases in a different slipcover etc. It's something that would be very easy to do locally with a Tag though.

Quote:
--The moving of information like "Price Paid" and "Purchased" from General Info to a separate tab, perhaps called Personal Info or Purchase Info.


I don't see the reason for this and there's enough problem displaying all the data with the huge headers that the 3.0 version seems to require without adding another new section IMO.

Quote:
Any plans for DVD Profiler to expand to cover LaserDiscs as well? 


LOL
It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantnuoyaxin
prev. known as ya_shin
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Taiwan, Province of China Posts: 3,436
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Quoting thejpcol:
Quote:
--The addition of more aspect ratios, including 2.76:1 (for Ben-Hur), 2.55:1 (for early CinemaScope titles like Carousel and House of Bamboo), and 1.19:1 or 1.20:1 (used for some silent films like Sunrise).

The dropdown merely suggests the most common aspect ratio. You can actually type in that field and therefore have any aspect ration profiled you need.

More audio formats have previously been requested.
Multiple Country of Origin has been requested.
The expansion of the Studio field, resp. the separation of the movie and DVD related data has been requested.

Quote:
--The moving of information like "Price Paid" and "Purchased" from General Info to a separate tab, perhaps called Personal Info or Purchase Info.

It would be doubled up, but you could create an HTML window with all the personal information collected there. (Not a bad idea actually.).

EDIT:
I see Voltaire53 started typing a little earlier than me. Nicely done!
Achim [諾亞信; Ya-Shin//Nuo], a German in Taiwan.
Registered: May 29, 2000 (at InterVocative)
 Last edited: by nuoyaxin
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
Don't be discommodious
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 21,610
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thejpcol:

I have a suggestion now for you now. It would be very useful for you to search around a little bit FIRST, everyone of your suggestions is very old and can be found without a new thread being started. As foir Lasers, the Program is called DVDProfiler, many of your other ideas can be handled quite nicely via the Tag system.

Skip  
ASSUME NOTHING!!!!!!
CBE, MBE, MoA and proud of it.
Outta here

Billy Video
 Last edited: by Winston Smith
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantstorable4259
Registered: August 16, 2007
United States Posts: 17
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Quoting Voltaire53:

Quote:
Though useful to a few 99.9% of films will either be B/W or Colour so the detail you go into I do not see as 'basic' information. However it is very easy to do this in Tags as it stands (and I do).


I use tags for this as well, but I still think it is basic enough to be included on the "General Info" tab, as it is specified on most DVD packaging.

Quote:
I don't see it as a good idea to use multiple additional methods of ID when we have the one standard barcode method. If they're not required then many DVDs won't have them and therefore they sound more suited to personal data to me in Notes... on which you can filter if you want.


I use notes for tracking both Cat. no. and ISBN right now, but it would be a lot easier if the software had fields for them so people other than myself could start filling them in. I think both are useful, particularly catalog numbers, which, before everything had a barcode on it starting in the late '80s, was the primary method of distinguishing one title from the next (this is one reason why LDDb.com, the LaserDisc database, uses catalog numbers as primary identification--most LDs pre-1990 did not have barcodes. LDDb also tracks UPCs and ISBNs for LDs).

Many DVD publishers in the U.S. use both catalog no. and ISBN in addition to UPC--Criterion, Sony, Warner, New Line, many more. In addition to further verifying and delineating a particular title, the numbers themselves have meaning in identifying publishers, labels, etc. if one knows how to decode them.

Quote:
Two points here:
The aspect ratios provided in the drop down list are not exhaustive and you can overwrite them with your own if none of them fit. Adding all potential rations to a drop down menu would make it totally unwieldy.
How would you measure the difference between 2.76:1 and 2.77:1 and PROVE that (even if it was made in that ratio) that is the ratio on the disc? Note that it's not what aspect ratio they are made in but what's on the disc and many prints will be stretched or cropped slightly compared to the original.


Thanks for clarifying that it is possible to set a non-standard aspect ratio. That makes things a bit easier. And I agree, it's what's on the disc that counts (not the packaging, which is very often incorrect).

Quote:
--The addition of an "Out of Print" check box.


Quote:
I can see this being a can of worms... assuming it would have to apply to that particular EAN/UPC this could still have lots of trouble with re-releases, releases in a different slipcover etc. It's something that would be very easy to do locally with a Tag though.


I've added a tag for it, thanks.

Quote:
--The moving of information like "Price Paid" and "Purchased" from General Info to a separate tab, perhaps called Personal Info or Purchase Info.


Quote:
I don't see the reason for this and there's enough problem displaying all the data with the huge headers that the 3.0 version seems to require without adding another new section IMO.


Fair enough. I just thought that since this info was entered (in the "Edit" window) in the "Personal Information" tab that it didn't really belong in the General Info tab in the profile proper.
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantstorable4259
Registered: August 16, 2007
United States Posts: 17
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Quoting skipnet50:
Quote:
thejpcol:

I have a suggestion now for you now. It would be very useful for you to search around a little bit FIRST, everyone of your suggestions is very old and can be found without a new thread being started. As foir Lasers, the Program is called DVDProfiler, many of your other ideas can be handled quite nicely via the Tag system.

Skip  


Skipnet50,

I did search around first, read some of the threads, and I could not find anyone that brought up catalog numbers or ISBNs. As for the other things I mentioned, if it was discussed before, I don't think it hurts to reiterate some earlier suggestions. I realize the program is called DVD Profiler. That doesn't negate the fact that many people who own DVDs also own laserdiscs and would be interested in cataloging those as well. I have already created tags for many of the issues I brought up, but I think the program would be improved if it would incorporate some or all of these features to make using said tags unnecessary.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
Don't be discommodious
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 21,610
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LOL< let me refer you also to the original website intervocative.com. This program is 8 years old, and there is nothing new under the sun.

Skip
ASSUME NOTHING!!!!!!
CBE, MBE, MoA and proud of it.
Outta here

Billy Video
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar Contributorlyonsden5
Hello old friends!
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Posts: 2,372
Posted:
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Quoting thejpcol:
Quote:
Quoting skipnet50:
Quote:
thejpcol:

I have a suggestion now for you now. It would be very useful for you to search around a little bit FIRST, everyone of your suggestions is very old and can be found without a new thread being started. As foir Lasers, the Program is called DVDProfiler, many of your other ideas can be handled quite nicely via the Tag system.

Skip  


Skipnet50,

I did search around first, read some of the threads, and I could not find anyone that brought up catalog numbers or ISBNs. As for the other things I mentioned, if it was discussed before, I don't think it hurts to reiterate some earlier suggestions. I realize the program is called DVD Profiler. That doesn't negate the fact that many people who own DVDs also own laserdiscs and would be interested in cataloging those as well. I have already created tags for many of the issues I brought up, but I think the program would be improved if it would incorporate some or all of these features to make using said tags unnecessary.


Feel free to ask anything you want here. As you see most people are willing to answer your questions. You are certainly not required to search an old site from another completely different company before you post a request or question.  Besides, the search function built into the forum at IVS hasn't worked since Ken locked evertything down and moved it to the new server.


BTW - Welcome. You made the right choice.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributornorthbloke
Registered: March 15, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 5,459
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Another useful tip for you for keeping tabs on those laser discs:

When adding discs, if you untick the "download profile from Invelos" box, then you can add a profile manually to your local collection. And who's to say that the manual profile has to be of a DVD... 
As long as you don't try and contribute these profiles there should be no problems.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantDr. Killpatient
Here's my card
Registered: May 19, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 5,918
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Ya know, a DVD is technically a "Laser Disc"..... 
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorsurfeur51
Since July 3, 2003
Registered: March 29, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
France Posts: 4,479
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Quoting northbloke:
Quote:

As long as you don't try and contribute these profiles there should be no problems.


Anyway manual profiles cannot be contributed. So effectively, There should be no problem.

thejpcol, welcome here, and do not worry about flaming, some users here are very friendly. And yes, you made a good choise with dvdprofiler even if some points may be ameliorated.
Images from movies
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorStaid S Barr
Registered: Oct 16, 2003
Registered: May 9, 2007
Netherlands Posts: 1,536
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Quoting Dr. Killpatient:
Quote:
Ya know, a DVD is technically a "Laser Disc"..... 


Quite right, but a Laser Disc is not a DVD. In particular, it's an analog format, not Digital.
Hans
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantstorable4259
Registered: August 16, 2007
United States Posts: 17
Posted:
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Quoting northbloke:
Quote:
Another useful tip for you for keeping tabs on those laser discs:

When adding discs, if you untick the "download profile from Invelos" box, then you can add a profile manually to your local collection. And who's to say that the manual profile has to be of a DVD... 
As long as you don't try and contribute these profiles there should be no problems.


northbloke: Good idea. Might be worth a try. 

lyonsden5 and surfeur51: Thanks for the warm welcome! 
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantDr. Killpatient
Here's my card
Registered: May 19, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 5,918
Posted:
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Quoting Staid S Barr:
Quote:
Quoting Dr. Killpatient:
Quote:
Ya know, a DVD is technically a "Laser Disc"..... 


Quite right, but a Laser Disc is not a DVD. In particular, it's an analog format, not Digital.

Yup, one way comparison, thus the because I was being a smart-ass.
Invelos Software, Inc. RepresentativeGerri Cole
Invelos Software
Registered: March 10, 2007
United States Posts: 524
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Quoting thejpcol:
Quote:
I had previously been tracking my collection in an MS Excel spreadsheet that was becoming way too large and cumbersome. I tried creating my own MS Access database, but found the learning curve too high and the transition too time consuming.

So, after exploring the newest version of DVD Profiler, I went ahead and paid for the Unlimited version. It's a cool program, but it could use the following:

--Basic film details (also filterable) such as B&W, Color, B&W/Color, Color Tinted, Sepia Tone, etc.

--Input fields (also filterable) for catalog numbers (most DVDs, save for many Twentieth Century Fox Region 1 titles, are issued with catalog numbers) and ISBNs (not required, but issued for many DVDs).

--The addition of more aspect ratios, including 2.76:1 (for Ben-Hur), 2.55:1 (for early CinemaScope titles like Carousel and House of Bamboo), and 1.19:1 or 1.20:1 (used for some silent films like Sunrise).

--The addition of more audio formats (and the denotation of the number of audio channels on the existing formats), notably Dolby Digital 1.1 (yes, Universal's 1976 Midway has Mono plus LFE), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, 3.0, 4.0 Surround, 4.1 Surround, and PCM 2.0 Mono.

--The ability to specify more than a single Country of Origin (some films are international co-productions between various countries) as well as more than a single language (The Battle of Algiers is in French and Arabic, The Vanishing is in French and Dutch).

--The addition of more fields for Studios, and the removal of Production companies from said fields. Production companies should get their own fields. There should be a "Publisher" field and a "Label" field (i.e. Publisher: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment; Label: Sony Pictures Classics).

--A "sort" field for Studio names (so "The Criterion Collection" needn't be entered as "Criterion Collection, The").

--The ability to enter a greater number of characters in the "Edition" field--some entries are truncated because there are not enough characters permitted.

--The addition of an "Out of Print" check box.

--The moving of information like "Price Paid" and "Purchased" from General Info to a separate tab, perhaps called Personal Info or Purchase Info.

There are other things I could suggest too, but those are the most egregious.

Lastly, I have a large number of LaserDiscs I have cataloged quite nicely at LDDB.com. Any plans for DVD Profiler to expand to cover LaserDiscs as well? 


Welcome to DVD profiler. You found the right place for your suggestions. Ken peruses these forums for ideas, and with any software, the actual users of the programs have the best ideas.

-Gerri
Invelos Software, Inc. Representative
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantstorable4259
Registered: August 16, 2007
United States Posts: 17
Posted:
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Quoting Gerri Cole:
Quote:


Welcome to DVD profiler. You found the right place for your suggestions. Ken peruses these forums for ideas, and with any software, the actual users of the programs have the best ideas.

-Gerri


Thanks for the welcome, Gerri. It's nice to know that my suggestions are under consideration. 
 Last edited: by storable4259
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