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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Desktop Feature Requests Page: 1 2 3 4 5  Previous   Next
Disc content requirements
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributornorthbloke
Registered: March 15, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 5,459
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Quoting Snark:
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Creating a unique ID would not be difficult.  One simple way would be to use DiscID plus "Title #" which is the order in which they appear on the DVD menu.  If we accept discID as unique then adding a unique numberic subidentifier at the end will also be unique.

But how do you propose we search for these when adding them to our collection?
For example, do you forsee the "add by disc" window ignoring the title number and bringing up all titles that include that disc ID? Because at the minute that screen latches on to the first profile it finds even when there are multiple localities involved.
And how do we cater for those who don't want title-level profiles - cos you know there will be some who don't want this!
 Last edited: by northbloke
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar Contributorlyonsden5
Hello old friends!
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Posts: 2,372
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Quoting dav4is:
Quote:

Pretending that one title is three, and separating the cast & crew with so-called separators is not a realistic solution. IMO, it is a patch, a stop-gap.


You are correct, and this is something that is well known. But it is what it is. Heck, up until about a year ago we didn't have dividers even (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong about the time  ). The programmer is well aware of the community's desire to be able to profile these multi titled discs properly.

They work quite well (these "so called separators" or as they're actually called "dividers"  ) for TV sets, where I believe they were initially designed to cover. Most of the time (not always) the "other information" (aspect ratio, sound, etc.) is the same on a disc with multiple episodes on it. Only the cast and crew are different so the dividers work. They don't work so well with movies as they rarely have the same information from movie to movie.

At some point I have no doubt Ken will address the issue. I'm sure it's on the list. Only problem is we don't know how long the list is!   



EDIT: WOW - stopping for one phone call while typing and my post is no longer timely or even on the same page!
 Last edited: by lyonsden5
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantSnark
Registered: June 3, 2007
United States Posts: 333
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Quoting northbloke:
Quote:
But how do you propose we search for these when adding them to our collection?
For example, do you forsee the "add by disc" window ignoring the title number and bringing up all titles that include that disc ID? Because at the minute that screen latches on to the first profile it finds even when there are multiple localities involved.
And how do we cater for those who don't want title-level profiles - cos you know there will be some who don't want this!


We don't search for them.  We add by disc ID and they should all come down at once from whichever the appropriate locality is.  Or better yet we get all the children from the UPC.  (This is something lots of people want.) Otherwise we could search by title. 

As far as those who don't want profiles at the title level... why cater to them?  What we have currently is less useful then title level profiles.
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantdav4is
Don't feed the trolls!
Registered: September 10, 2008
United States Posts: 164
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Quoting northbloke:
Quote:

You're right - it's a stop-gap, but how do you proprose we identify these individual titles? We can't use UPC or disc ID because they've already been used to identify the disc.

It's no good just saying "I want this" as a feature request. Giving suggestions of how you think the new system would work helps get people on your side a lot.
Especially in this situation where no one yet has been able to think of an alternative to dividers.


I don't think that a feature request necessarily requires an implementation design to be valid. If a design is included, fine. How many here are familiar enough with the internals of the program to propose a valid design for accomplishing any particular feature proposal? How many programmers do we have here?
I am a programmer, of long experience -- enough experience to hesitate proposing a specific design change for a program I have never seen the interior of!

I will say this, by way of a proposed design: Perhaps adding a qualifier to the extant key of UPC/ID would do the trick. I.e. in addition to the UPC, a qualifier of A1,A2,A3 to identify three works on side A of that disc.
Edit: As Snark has also proposed.

To be consistent, there should also be a way to map a single title to more than one disc, or disc side.
-R.
Windows 7 (Home Premium) SP1; 64-bit
DVD Profiler 3.8.1
 Last edited: by dav4is
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLithurge
Paralysis by analysis
Registered: March 13, 2007
Posts: 1,279
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Sometimes design and useability aren't always the same thing, so comments on how it works shouldn't necessarily be restricted to programmers.

I say this from several years experience working with programmers. 

But you're right a feature request is just that, but as this is a one man programming band it doesn't hurt for people to suggest designs etc...
IVS Registered: January 2, 2002
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantlmoelleb
Beer Profiler now!
Registered: March 14, 2007
Denmark Posts: 630
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Of course design is not needed for a feature request. And if it is supplied it should be as an addon to the actual usecase - the usecase is the primary (and only required) part of a decent feature request.

Mapping single titles to multiple discs has been discussed regularly. There are pros and cons (there are many different masters of the same movie, and it could be a bit tricky to let people find the correct one - unless it is limited to sharing between discs with the same ID in case the same master is used in several locals - but this obviously reduce the benefit etc).

Support for multiple titles on the same disc is an obvious and valid request. I would guess it probably require quite a lot of refactoring of the program - nothing difficult obviously as it is hardly a complex concept - but a lot of work.
Regards
Lars
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantSnark
Registered: June 3, 2007
United States Posts: 333
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Quoting Lithurge:
Quote:
Sometimes design and useability aren't always the same thing, so comments on how it works shouldn't necessarily be restricted to programmers.

I say this from several years experience working with programmers. 

But you're right a feature request is just that, but as this is a one man programming band it doesn't hurt for people to suggest designs etc...


A simple approach would be to start with every profile starting as "Title 1", then a menu item can be added to "Add title to current profile".  The info that would remain constant (Disc ID, covers, etc...) would be pushed into a new "Title 2".  Or whatever the next open title # is.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
Don't be discommodious
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 21,610
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dav4is:

In case you didn't understand. And thank you astra for helping to 'splain it ot him. You have done nothing but carp since signing on, and it all revolves around the same thing, criticism of the program and how not only it should work in YOUR opinion, but now you have even added the extra lkittle "in order to be DVDProfiler it should be this way. Explore and learn how to use it and stop carping. Like I said , this Program is not perfect and NO program I perfect. I am responding to your attitude and persistent behavior, and your tag line, which speaks volumes apparently about YOU. Part of the fun of this program and most programs is getting new versions and seeing what kind of new toys we get to play with. Good grief man, if you think the Program is that bad, there are plenty of others, I know I look at all of them constantly or develop the one you want, this IS the best program out there for what it is designed to do and is getting better all the time.

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

Billy Video
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
Don't be discommodious
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 21,610
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Quoting Snark:
Quote:
Ok.  My turn. 

Experience with the product has nothing to do with it.  The point is either valid or it's not.  In this case, dav4is has a good one.

DVDProfiler is a good application, but it is NOT perfect and it's rediculous to leap down a newbies throat for pointing out areas where the product could be improved.  This IS the feature request section.

Dividers were a nice interim measure, especially for TV shows but they don't really cut it for handling multiple films per disc side.

BUT.... we should be able to assign cast, crew, overview, running length, rating, genre, etc for each title.  Right now all we can do is assign all of the cast and crew to the profile and use dividers to tell who is in which "title". 

What we have now does not allow for filtering at the "title" level, the running length is flat out useless on such discs and when there are conflicting genres or ratings you're simply out of luck.  Right now our only options are to use manual profiles which removes the ability to contribute and share these profiles or to accept the limitations of the divider system.

Finally, I would like to wholeheartedly second his request.  With the increasing numbers of multi-title discs out there I would like to see a better way of handling it than we have.


Snark:

I nibbled his toes simply because ALL he has done is complain, insult the program and made VERY clear that he has not even begun exploring it yet. I did not say dividers is the perfect answer, it is not and there is no perfect answer it is what we have right NOW. Who knows we may see some form of change as we go forward in 3.5 Beta testing.

I just grew weary of his persistent complaining and found his first post in this thread to be arrogant beyond belief. He is beginning to simply sound like a troll. I have seen nothing really new in any of comments the last...NOTHING.

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

Billy Video
 Last edited: by Winston Smith
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantdav4is
Don't feed the trolls!
Registered: September 10, 2008
United States Posts: 164
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Quoting lmoelleb:
Quote:
8><
I would guess it probably require quite a lot of refactoring of the program - nothing difficult obviously as it is hardly a complex concept - but a lot of work.


hehehe
What we used to call in the trade: a SMOP. [Simple Matter Of Programming]   

re amount of work: That would depend largely on the programming language used and the design principles being followed -- none of which we know anything about (right?). The program could be simple to modify if various coding principles are followed, or it could be a spaghetti code horror. The fact that there is a single author (or two) could work in its favor, though.
-R.
Windows 7 (Home Premium) SP1; 64-bit
DVD Profiler 3.8.1
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributor?
?
Registered: March 14, 2007
Posts: 3,830
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Quoting dav4is:
Quote:
Quoting Giga Wizard:
Quote:

When you add crew or cast in the edit window you have these buttons:
  • Assign
  • Remove
  • Replace
  • Add divider

  • you can use this to divide epsiodes:
    in the Rules under TV series credits you can find: 8><


    I thought so.

    Pretending that one title is three, and separating the cast & crew with so-called separators is not a realistic solution. IMO, it is a patch, a stop-gap.

    If a disc can have 3 titles -- or 30 titles -- per side, each should be accessible in the same way as single works recorded one to a side. Lumping them all together with gimmicky separators and such is just that: gimmicky.

    My name is dav4is and I approved this opinion. 



    Why don't you make a manual ID for each movie on a DVD disc and hang that as a child profile in the main profile. All you have to do is download the available title from the online use the clone plugin and presto your done each disc has its separate movie profile.
    Sources for one or more of the changes and/or additions were not submitted. Please include the sources for your changes in the contribution notes, especially for cast and crew additions.
    DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
    Don't be discommodious
    Registered: March 13, 2007
    United States Posts: 21,610
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    Quoting dav4is:
    Quote:
    Quoting lmoelleb:
    Quote:
    8><
    I would guess it probably require quite a lot of refactoring of the program - nothing difficult obviously as it is hardly a complex concept - but a lot of work.


    hehehe
    What we used to call in the trade: a SMOP. [Simple Matter Of Programming]   

    re amount of work: That would depend largely on the programming language used and the design principles being followed -- none of which we know anything about (right?). The program could be simple to modify if various coding principles are followed, or it could be a spaghetti code horror. The fact that there is a single author (or two) could work in its favor, though.


    That's the first correct comment i have seen you make, dav4is. we can tell you that the basis for the program is Delphi, beyond that... Relax and enjoy the program with all its shortcomings, it isIS the best one. You are not that unusual, many newb believe that whatever the comment or idea, they are the first to utter it or seem to. When , in fact, they are far from it, this program has been around for over 8 years and quite a few of us have been around since nearly Day ONE and watched it grow and evolve.

    Does ken do everything the way i would...oh hell no. You should know that if you give two programmers a problem to solve and separet them they will come up with two different approaches. You have yours, I have mine, Ken has his but its Ken's Program...he wins by default.

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

    Billy Video
    DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributor?
    ?
    Registered: March 14, 2007
    Posts: 3,830
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    Each separate movie profile can have their children with episode and those can have the children for scenes as you demanded. And that all without a rewrite of the program code.
    Sources for one or more of the changes and/or additions were not submitted. Please include the sources for your changes in the contribution notes, especially for cast and crew additions.
     Last edited: by ?
    DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantdav4is
    Don't feed the trolls!
    Registered: September 10, 2008
    United States Posts: 164
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    Quoting skipnet50:
    Quote:
    dav4is:

    In case you didn't understand. And thank you astra for helping to 'splain it ot him. You have done nothing but carp since signing on, and it all revolves around the same thing, criticism of the program and how not only it should work in YOUR opinion, but now you have even added the extra lkittle "in order to be DVDProfiler it should be this way. Explore and learn how to use it and stop carping. Like I said , this Program is not perfect and NO program I perfect. I am responding to your attitude and persistent behavior, and your tag line, which speaks volumes apparently about YOU. Part of the fun of this program and most programs is getting new versions and seeing what kind of new toys we get to play with. Good grief man, if you think the Program is that bad, there are plenty of others, I know I look at all of them constantly or develop the one you want, this IS the best program out there for what it is designed to do and is getting better all the time.

    Skip


    Oh, I understand full well -- you would rather make ad hominem attacks than discuss the Request.

    Need I remind you that this being the Feature Request forum necessarily requires a degree of dissatisfaction with the status quo. If Feature Requests are "carping", then so be it.
    -R.
    Windows 7 (Home Premium) SP1; 64-bit
    DVD Profiler 3.8.1
    DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantdav4is
    Don't feed the trolls!
    Registered: September 10, 2008
    United States Posts: 164
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    Quoting Giga Wizard:
    Quote:

    Why don't you make a manual ID for each movie on a DVD disc and hang that as a child profile in the main profile. All you have to do is download the available title from the online use the clone plugin and presto your done each disc has its separate movie profile.


    If I understand you correctly, that is pretty much what I am doing: Making the disc look like a "collection", but the ID isn't set correctly (I think!).

    It should be easier. That is the "why" of my request.
    -R.
    Windows 7 (Home Premium) SP1; 64-bit
    DVD Profiler 3.8.1
    DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
    Don't be discommodious
    Registered: March 13, 2007
    United States Posts: 21,610
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    Davi4is:

    You don't understand. So far every one of yourt requests, besides not being anything NEW, come across like you are complaining, not requesting a feature. And this comment simply put me over the edge.

    "These are what I consider to be essential features for DVDP to be a true DVD Profiler."

    I won't tell you what my response really was, but it wasn't positive.

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

    Billy Video
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