Welcome to the Invelos forums. Please read the forum rules before posting.

Read access to our public forums is open to everyone. To post messages, a free registration is required.

If you have an Invelos account, sign in to post.

    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Desktop Feature Requests Page: 1 2  Previous   Next
Formatting of Initials for Cast and Crew
Author Message
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorPantheon
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 1,819
Posted:
PM this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Ken

Would it be possible on a future version of Profiler to have the program display people's initials together?

Currently we have:

T.J. Smith display as T. J. Smith

Subsequently some users are utilising the Credited As feature to display the names correctly. Now, I personally think this is a complete waste of time and remove all such entries from my local database.

This issue, to me, is much the same as the ', Jr.' and 'Jr.' issue that you created the filter for.

Therefore if you could implement something that corrects this I would be v. grateful!
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantwoodg
Registered: March 21, 2007
Australia Posts: 160
Posted:
PM this userDirect link to this postReply with quote
Interesting. Maybe it's an "Australian" thing, but I prefer the spaced out version (i.e. T. J. Smith), and that is how it is, generally, written in Oz (although there is no hard-and-fast rule on that).

Maybe Ken could provide this as an option/setting so that we can both be happy?
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorKatatonia
Retired Profiler
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 20,111
Posted:
PM this userDirect link to this postReply with quote
I agree with all of your comments on this issue Pantheon. I would love to see a program filter implemented for this as well.
Corey
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,334
Posted:
PM this userEmail this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Quoting Pantheon:
Quote:
Ken

Would it be possible on a future version of Profiler to have the program display people's initials together?

Currently we have:

T.J. Smith display as T. J. Smith

Subsequently some users are utilising the Credited As feature to display the names correctly. Now, I personally think this is a complete waste of time and remove all such entries from my local database.

This issue, to me, is much the same as the ', Jr.' and 'Jr.' issue that you created the filter for.

Therefore if you could implement something that corrects this I would be v. grateful!


Unless I am not understanding you correctly...  it isn't users that are using the Credited as feature to do this... It is how Ken decided to handle this situation as it is a filter much like the Jr./Sr. filter that is doing it. I have done cast lists where it automatically gets changed to using the Credited as for this situation.

Here is where Ken explains the filter he put into place and how it works...

Initials Filter
Pete
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
Alien with an attitude
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 13,202
Posted:
PM this userEmail this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Quoting Pantheon:
Quote:
Subsequently some users are utilising the Credited As feature to display the names correctly. Now, I personally think this is a complete waste of time and remove all such entries from my local database.

Pete is correct, it isn't 'some users' that are doing this, it is the invelos filter.  If there are no spaces between the initials in the credits, I enter them both in the first name field...'J.K./ /Simmons'.  The profiler filter converts that to 'J./K./Simmons [J.K. Simmons]'.
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
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorT!M
Profiling since Dec. 2000
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
Netherlands Posts: 8,736
Posted:
PM this userDirect link to this postReply with quote
Quoting Pantheon:
Quote:
This issue, to me, is much the same as the ', Jr.' and 'Jr.' issue that you created the filter for.

Which is exactly why he addressed it around the same time, with a very similar standard + filter. For suffixes, he decided that we always use the format with the comma, and we use "credited as" to indicate whenever the commaless variant is used on-screen. And for initials, he decided that we always use the "spaced" variant (by spreading them over the first and middle name fields), and we use "credited as" to indicate whenever there's no space on-screen. Both standards are further supported by automated filters, and additionally, both standards trump the CLT results.
 Last edited: by T!M
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorArdos
Registered: July 31, 2008
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 2,506
Posted:
PM this userDirect link to this postReply with quote
Although I can see why some people might find them useful/helpful, as I spot them, I strip them out, the same as having a "." after an initial or not having it there. To me they're the same as each other and the credited as should only be used when it's an actual difference like Dwayne Johnson (The Rock).
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
Don't be discommodious
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 21,610
Posted:
PM this userEmail this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Quoting Pantheon:
Quote:
Ken

Would it be possible on a future version of Profiler to have the program display people's initials together?

Currently we have:

T.J. Smith display as T. J. Smith

Subsequently some users are utilising the Credited As feature to display the names correctly. Now, I personally think this is a complete waste of time and remove all such entries from my local database.

This issue, to me, is much the same as the ', Jr.' and 'Jr.' issue that you created the filter for.

Therefore if you could implement something that corrects this I would be v. grateful!

Who are we to decide to this. The credit is what it is and we can adjust for it. There are TJs and T.J.s and T. J.s, we list them as T./J. of T/J for our purposes but we then can adjust the Credited As to reflect reflect the Actual credit.So I am confused.

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

Billy Video
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorPantheon
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 1,819
Posted:
PM this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Ok

I must have missed the whole discussion on the automation of this issue.

So, why doesn't every instance of initials showing spaces result in the Credited As box being completed?

I've just tested a submission on a profile I have that doesn't have the credited as filled. The submission screen did not automatically add the credited as to display the initials correctly.

So, am I missing something or just getting the wrong end of the proverbial stick?
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorPantheon
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 1,819
Posted:
PM this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Quoting Jubal:
Quote:
Quoting Pantheon:
Quote:
Ken

Would it be possible on a future version of Profiler to have the program display people's initials together?

Currently we have:

T.J. Smith display as T. J. Smith

Subsequently some users are utilising the Credited As feature to display the names correctly. Now, I personally think this is a complete waste of time and remove all such entries from my local database.

This issue, to me, is much the same as the ', Jr.' and 'Jr.' issue that you created the filter for.

Therefore if you could implement something that corrects this I would be v. grateful!

Who are we to decide to this. The credit is what it is and we can adjust for it. There are TJs and T.J.s and T. J.s, we list them as T./J. of T/J for our purposes but we then can adjust the Credited As to reflect reflect the Actual credit.So I am confused.

Skip


In my experience there are many, many more cases of no space between initials than there are spaces. Would you agree?

Therefore, an automated filter that displays the name without the spaces would be easier than having to do them; given that it seems to be the way we are going.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,334
Posted:
PM this userEmail this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Here is what works and what don't...

Quoting Ken Cole:
Quote:
I've added a new filter to standardize initials.  It will operate to move the second initial to the middle name if there is no middle name entered.  If a change is made that affects the displayed name, the Credited As field will be set, if not already set, and if not an uncredited member.

So:

J.D./Dawodu becomes J./D./Dawodu [J.D. Dawodu]
J D/Dawodu becomes J./D./Dawodu [J D Dawodu]
J. D./Dawodu becomes J./D./Dawodu

Not affected by this filter:
JD/Dawodu
J/Dawodu
J.D./Bob/Dawodu


As for a reason that it works that way... Ken would have to tell you for sure. But I would have to think that it is because (and this could be a regional thing,,, I dunno)... but There is times when what looks to be initials is actually a first name. For example I once knew a guy named JR... that was his actual first name... it didn't stand for anything,,,, his actual name was only the 2 letters JR.  So that is most probably the reason there is some situations not covered by the filter... as Ken's quote above shows.

EDIT: Slight correction... I remembered the guy's name wrong and wanted to correct it. But hey... it was in high school... so been over 20 years now. 
Pete
 Last edited: by Addicted2DVD
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,334
Posted:
PM this userEmail this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Quoting Pantheon:
Quote:
Quoting Jubal:
Quote:
Quoting Pantheon:
Quote:
Ken

Would it be possible on a future version of Profiler to have the program display people's initials together?

Currently we have:

T.J. Smith display as T. J. Smith

Subsequently some users are utilising the Credited As feature to display the names correctly. Now, I personally think this is a complete waste of time and remove all such entries from my local database.

This issue, to me, is much the same as the ', Jr.' and 'Jr.' issue that you created the filter for.

Therefore if you could implement something that corrects this I would be v. grateful!

Who are we to decide to this. The credit is what it is and we can adjust for it. There are TJs and T.J.s and T. J.s, we list them as T./J. of T/J for our purposes but we then can adjust the Credited As to reflect reflect the Actual credit.So I am confused.

Skip


In my experience there are many, many more cases of no space between initials than there are spaces. Would you agree?

Therefore, an automated filter that displays the name without the spaces would be easier than having to do them; given that it seems to be the way we are going.


I can only go by my experiences with doing cast lists in DVD Profiler on this... but it always seemed pretty even to me.
Pete
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorPantheon
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 1,819
Posted:
PM this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Quoting Ken Cole:
Quote:
I've added a new filter to standardize initials.  It will operate to move the second initial to the middle name if there is no middle name entered.  If a change is made that affects the displayed name, the Credited As field will be set, if not already set, and if not an uncredited member.

So:

J.D./Dawodu becomes J./D./Dawodu [J.D. Dawodu]
J D/Dawodu becomes J./D./Dawodu [J D Dawodu]
J. D./Dawodu becomes J./D./Dawodu

Not affected by this filter:
JD/Dawodu
J/Dawodu
J.D./Bob/Dawodu


This seems incomplete (and therefore pretty useless to me).

Surely it should also do:

T./J./Smith becomes T./J./Smith [T.J. Smith)

Or are we now meant to put all initials in the first name box to make the filter work? If so, that seems pretty stupid to me.

I automatically split initials over the two boxes if they have fullstops inbetween, such as T.J., but will leave in the first name box the following: TJ

I personally don't think the filter is working very well at all.

So, going back to my initial post (and taking into account my above example)...it is as I thought....that users are inserting a credited as for some entries (such as mine above).

I just don't see the point of T. J. Smith [T.J. Smith]...but, if that's what Ken wants then I think it should happen automatically.

Maybe I should just not worry about it!
 Last edited: by Pantheon
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorPantheon
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 1,819
Posted:
PM this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Quoting Addicted2DVD:
Quote:
I can only go by my experiences with doing cast lists in DVD Profiler on this... but it always seemed pretty even to me.


Not in mine.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,334
Posted:
PM this userEmail this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Quoting Pantheon:
Quote:

This seems incomplete (and therefore pretty useless to me).

Surely it should also do:

T./J./Smith becomes T./J./Smith [T.J. Smith)


uh.... question... why should it automatically do the above? There is no way for the filter to know if the credits says T. J. Smith or if the credits shows T.J. Smith. Since the whole purpose of the credited as field is to match how the names are in the credits only we can tell the program if the actual credits has a space or not.

So if we have standardized the common name as T./J./Smith and we type in T.J.//Smith the filter knows it is wrong per the filter and fixes it while using credited as to put the name the way the program has to assume the credits are by what we entered.

But if we put in T./J./Smith that matches our standard for common name... and no reason to assume the credits are different.
Pete
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorPantheon
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 1,819
Posted:
PM this userView this user's DVD collectionDirect link to this postReply with quote
Quoting Addicted2DVD:
Quote:
Quoting Pantheon:
Quote:

This seems incomplete (and therefore pretty useless to me).

Surely it should also do:

T./J./Smith becomes T./J./Smith [T.J. Smith)


uh.... question... why should it automatically do the above? There is no way for the filter to know if the credits says T. J. Smith or if the credits shows T.J. Smith. Since the whole purpose of the credited as field is to match how the names are in the credits only we can tell the program if the actual credits has a space or not.

So if we have standardized the common name as T./J./Smith and we type in T.J.//Smith the filter knows it is wrong per the filter and fixes it while using credited as to put the name the way the program has to assume the credits are by what we entered.

But if we put in T./J./Smith that matches our standard for common name... and no reason to assume the credits are different.


I fully understand your point.

Do you understand mine?

If someone puts in:
T.J./Smith
...the filter knows this is wrong and does: T./J./Smith [T.J.Smith]

How does it know that the onscreen credit was T.J. and not T. J.? Given that the user was wrong enough to put both initials in the first name box, then it's relatively safe to err on the side of caution that they never took any notice of spacing either.
The filter is making an assumption based on the placment of the intials.
Therefore, if it's going to do that then it should be consistent.

If you see one of my contributions showing a simple entry of: T./J./Smith there is currently no way of knowing if there is a space between the initials or not (which is fine my me, because I think it's silly info).
The only way for it to display correctly is for me to incorrectly input T.J./Smith into my local database. How can that be logical or correct? It can't.

Personally, I would rather this sort of nonsense was removed. Using credited as for spacing between initials is the worse kind of anal retentive rubbish IMO.
 Last edited: by Pantheon
    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Desktop Feature Requests Page: 1 2  Previous   Next