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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Desktop Feature Requests Page: 1  Previous   Next
Studio: a movie attribute, not a release attribute...
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar Contributoreommen
DVD nerd
Registered: March 13, 2007
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With more back catalogue titles only sellable on the cheap, we see more movies per disk. Especially "2 movies per disk" seem popular. So far, many times these are all from the same studio, like a number of recent Disney releases in the USA. But there has also been Bloodsport/Timecop (USA BluRay 883929132256). And I am seeing more combinations of movies not sharing the studios. Of course this is because it is the distributor that combines movies into one release.

Yet, studios and distributors are currently a release ("profile") attribute, for DVDp-historical reasons sharing the same database table.

In a new program release, I would like to see these split and also that 'studio' can be a per movie attribute, much like cast and crew are. A multimovie-singledisk would then need separators for each movie.
An alternative could be to have child profiles for such a release, but that would require some newly invented ID for the child (a movie ID  ). (it could be a stepping stone to a unified movie db as a part of the profile db, but let's not get ahead of ourselves...)

Any of the two would do for me, as it resolves the incorrect 'studio is a release attribute'.
Eric

If it is important, say it. Otherwise, let silence speak.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLewis_Prothero
Strength Through Unity
Registered: May 19, 2007
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It all seems so stupid, it makes me want to give up!
But why should I give up, when it all seems so stupid?


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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorKulju
Registered: March 14, 2007
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I would much rather see this fixed correctly, which would mean a new primary key that could allow us to enter same disc in db more than once. Primary key could be for example a combination of UPC/Disc ID + Locality + running number. This would also allow us to profile short film collections correctly.

A multimovie-singledisk release can have different Genres, Running Time, CoO, Production Year, Audio Tracks, Aspect Ratio etc. for each film.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Have to agree with Kulju on this one. 
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorsurfeur51
Since July 3, 2003
Registered: March 29, 2007
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Quoting eommen:
Quote:
An alternative could be to have child profiles for such a release, but that would require some newly invented ID for the child (a movie ID  ).

I think this is the best solution (1 movie= 1 profile), and the program already allows to do it. For example, each time I have a short film as feature on a disc, I create a profile for it : no boxset, no dividers, data corresponding to each movie : everything is simple and clear.

You just have to create manual profiles each time you have no specific ID.
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
Aim high. Ride the wind.
Registered: March 18, 2007
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I wonder if a cheap workable solution could simply be expanding the types of ProfileIDs accepted as a database key?

As you know, today all discIDs start with "I" as database key, with "M" for manual profile database keys, and with a digit (0 - 9) for UPC/EAN. All of them allow for locality. (For simplicity I haven't mentioned the rules for the following characters, but we all know those rules.)

So, could the solution be as simple as DVDP recognizing some new defined key structures (e.g. for a "movie" profile, or whatever - its a shame "M" is already taken  )?

Example: ProfilesIDs starting with "L" for local, with no restrictions on the following characters, except maybe a maximum length. By definition non contributable, so no need to worry about locks or accidental uploads. You can then do anything you want with the profiles and still be able have intelligent sorting on the profileID (Manual profiles are allowed have only numbers following the "M"). Not advocating this particular thing - just giving an example how the technology could be used.
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 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar Contributoreommen
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Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting mediadogg:
Quote:
<...>
As you know, today all discIDs start with "I" as database key, with "M" for manual profile database keys, and with a digit (0 - 9) for UPC/EAN. All of them allow for locality. (For simplicity I haven't mentioned the rules for the following characters, but we all know those rules.)

No, I didn't know. Neither did I study the underlining coding rules.   
Quote:
So, could the solution be as simple as DVDP recognizing some new defined key structures (e.g. for a "movie" profile, or whatever - its a shame "M" is already taken  )?
<...>

How about "F" (from "film")?

Quoting Kulju:
Quote:
<...>A multimovie-singledisk release can have different Genres, Running Time, CoO, Production Year, Audio Tracks, Aspect Ratio etc. for each film.

Agreed, in principle. I just thought I'd start with a small request, rather than a wholesale refurbushing request. Mind you, the latter would be preferable. I agree with the items you named as movie/film specific, albeit that running time can also be the combined running times of whatever is on the disk (think TV episodes...).
Eric

If it is important, say it. Otherwise, let silence speak.
 Last edited: by eommen
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
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Registered: March 18, 2007
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Ok, FYI here are the rules, as I understand them. Actually I think DVDP is more tolerant internally, but I don't know if violating these rules is supported or if it would cause program instability.

All of these are valid profile IDs:

UPC/EAN  - 12 or 13 numeric digits, optionally followed by locality

DiscID - "I" followed by 16 hexadecimal digits (0-9, ABCDEF), optionally followed by locality

Manual - "M" followed by one or more decimal digits. Maximum = 999999...  (I forget how many places)

Locality is one or two decimal digits, attached to either of the above by a single dot/period ("."). A missing localiity is equivalent to a locality of "0", which is the default USA locality. Locality "0" is usually not displayed within the DVDP program, but is accepted programmatically for the use by plugins.

Based on this, I think your "F" suggestion could easily work programmatically. Hopefully this will be a supported scheme and contributable.

Ok, while I'm at it, go for broke:

L = "local", followed by any characters, such as IMDB ID, Gracenote ID, Netflix ID, VHS UPC or whatever, non-contributable

T or TV - followed by some Invelos official scheme for naming TV shows, and therefore contributable.

... etc, you get the idea. Does this get anywhere near something useful, or just create another mess?
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 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantMark Harrison
I like IMDB
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting Kulju:
Quote:
I would much rather see this fixed correctly...


I agree.  No more band-aids.  The next version should fix this issue once and for all.  Do it right the first time.

This has been my #1 request for years.  I'm tired of having to split sets into manual profiles so I can track things properly.
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
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Registered: March 18, 2007
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But what is "correctly"? So far, a couple of ideas have been floated ((1) new primary key structure and (2) new acceptable formats within the existing key structure).

Any other thoughts? Might as well pretend to be DVDP designers while we're at it. 

If this has been documented elsewhere, maybe just point to it as a reminder. Now that Ken is supporting 5 database platforms (PC, Android, Web, iOS and SmartPhone), we might have to accept the reality that a solution requiring a major database redesign "ain't gonna happen."
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Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog.
 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorDJ Doena
Registered: May 1, 2002
Registered: March 14, 2007
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If it were for me, we's need an extension of the existing key.

A "variant" so to speak. This way we could cover all sorts of conflicts we have today: Multiple same-day releases, re-releases, UPC-reusage, multiple movies on the same disc and so forth.

In the program you'd say you wanted to create a variant of an existing profile, then the profile ID would change to the existing key + a determined suffix.

When you contribute a variant for the first time, it is not treated the same as a new profile in regards to voting.

It will have to go through the regular voting process, comparing the variant profile with the existing one and the contributor has to explain why (s)he deemed the variant necessary.

The contribution will appear to all owners of the original profile (and all other variant owners) who can read the contributor's reasoning and vote accordingly.

This way the database won't get flooded with variants of profiles which aren't really variants according to the rules just because a user wants his own version of the profile because he doesn't agree with other contributors of the same profile.

Once the variant has been accepted, the owners of the original profile (and other variants) will not get to vote on the variant anymore, because it has been successfully "branched off".

If I don't contribute a variant profile, it remains in my database just like any other manual profile.


Which brings us to the issue of the suffix ID part.

When I create a variant locally, I'd go with [UPC].[Locality].[MV1]

MV = Manual Variant.

When the MV is contributed (and not yet approved) there will be a new online ID created, e.g. [UPC].[Locality].[V4]

During the transmission of the data (which still happens in the program) the web server tells the local profile of this new ID and the V4 is stored within the profile data somewhere.

Once the V4 profile is accepted and the user runs his next update of his profiles, the program properly changes the ID of the profile from .[MV1] to .[V4].

If the contribution is denied or the user never completes the contribution process in the first place, his ID remains MV1.


The rest of the program behaves the same way it already does: When adding by UPC or DiscIDs if there are multiple profile matches, just show them in a list.
Karsten
DVD Collectors Online

 Last edited: by DJ Doena
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
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Thanks DJ, interesting.
Thanks for your support.
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Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorsynnerman
Take me with you. Please.
Registered: March 13, 2007
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This could also be tied into a larger project to include TV episodes and short films, each of which has their own data for things like running time, production years, overviews, cast and crew, audio tracks...even aspect ratios ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer" had a special widescreen episode, as did the fourth season of "The Shield").
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