Having 3 seperate fields helps narrow searches.

I parse the names how they should be after researching the Net, by seeing how others have contributed the same titled DVD's for other localities etc.

Steve

Quoting Lopek:

Quote:
You can't sort by surname without at least 2 fields, which to me is crucial functionality.

Two fields (given name and family name) would be better than the three fields we have now IMO. But in the end (seeing this discussion over and over again) I would favour the one field solution abandoning the possibility to sort by family name.

Quoting T!M:

Quote:
but to end all parsing debates I'd be happy to go to one field, too.

I don't mind switching to a single field, but it is my impression that these debates highly exaggerate the problem. I don't deny that there is the occasional tricky case, but I have not yet seen the flood of ping-pongs some seem to be afraid of.

As is normal for me I won't say if or how I voted, I typically don't vote in polls.

Thge issue over alleged "family" names, with all due respect to Tim and my other Euro friends, I simply don't see. It becomes a question of accuracy of data and if that is the goal then researching and presneting solid documentation should not be a burden. Two fileds accomplishes nothing there will still be parsing issues is it HB//C or H//BC.

It would be simple to revert to one field, but IMNHO the best answer is the one I have repeatedly explored. Is it culturally correct...No, not even here in the United States, but it does allow the users to enter the data in the simplest possible manner by taking it from the screen. Those of us who have a desire to be accurate can then provide documentation and make the corrections as they can be verified. I don't see any other answer that does not wind it far too many complexities to be easily dealt with by ALL users. Is George a first name, middle name or family name. all could be true and there is no way that I can think of to develop anything that allows that choice to be made. There will even be names that many of us MAY THINK should be parsed differently, but because of the lack of ability to document it then we just have to live, "I THINK it should be" is just not good enough.

I like what we have been doing as a starting point First/Everything Else/Last. Don't get all hunfg up on middle name, it means nothing really, it is a field for data. We have a tab called Total DVDs, but it is NOT really Total DVDs, it should be renamed Total Profiles(because that is what it really is)

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The only thing I see having one field will mess with is having the option (see Default section of Options Menu - Middle Right side) to show the actor list in the format Last, First Middle  But I don't use it personally myself... so I would be ok with the change to 1 field if Ken sees fit to do it.

Go away,enry. You bother me.(Thank WC) We have been through your little dance several times with other users. But keep trying. You might hit on something we haven't talked about endlessly already.

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Ooooo, oooo, can i help 8Ball Oh, wait a minute, i forgot how muich you like to be beaten.        

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