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More => Old Versions => Media Center 11 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: rar2667 on September 13, 2003, 02:20:59 pm

Title: Accessing MC database with 3rd party
Post by: rar2667 on September 13, 2003, 02:20:59 pm

Is it possible to define MC's database files to a 3rd party db engine (Access, Crystal Reports or such) in order to generate reports directly?

I know I could export to text and import to another db, but trying to save a step.

Thanks for any ideas.

Title: Re: Accessing MC database with 3rd party
Post by: KingSparta on September 13, 2003, 03:55:51 pm

you can not import from another database

there is more to the MC9 database than just that info, and if you export the mc database not all of the MC9 related info is exported only the list data is exported.

Title: Re: Accessing MC database with 3rd party
Post by: MachineHead on September 13, 2003, 05:21:05 pm

What kind of reports are you trying to generate that MC cannot do itself?

Title: Re: Accessing MC database with 3rd party
Post by: rar2667 on September 13, 2003, 05:53:35 pm

I was wanting to print an all-inclusive report of all tracks in the library, but do some breaks on media type, etc.  I can create a view with them, but I wanted to print with headings, page-breaks, etc.

I just wondered if I could access the MC9 db with a report generator? Maybe I don't know enough about reporting with MC9?

Thanks,

Title: Re: Accessing MC database with 3rd party
Post by: MachineHead on September 13, 2003, 06:22:33 pm

Don't know if this what you want....

Select all files for your list (Ctrl-a). You have to use the Action Window if you're on 9.1, or right-click and select propeties in 9.0. Then dig around until you find statistics. There are several different options there. Maybe one might work.

Could be you need more though....

Title: Re: Accessing MC database with 3rd party
Post by: rar2667 on September 13, 2003, 06:48:53 pm

Thanks MachineHead,

I have poked around with all those options, but I think I really want a nice printed (hard copy) report to give some other folks of my collection.

The only way I see is to export all fields to ASCII and import to some database or Excel. Problem then is that as my library changes, I have to re-export, etc.

Would be nice if you could use dBase or Access or something to just read the MC9 files directly.

Thanks

Title: Re: Accessing MC database with 3rd party
Post by: MachineHead on September 13, 2003, 07:11:18 pm

Depending upon which 'view' you select, you can print a list in a very neat fashion. Artist / Album will tell you the who what and how many for everything you've got.

Maybe try a small set and print it out. Could be enough for a hard copy list.

Title: Re: Accessing MC database with 3rd party
Post by: Soundman on September 15, 2003, 08:07:09 am

Hi.  Please see my post in this thread:
http://www.musicex.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=dev;action=display;num=1063473269

This should allow you to import it easily into your database software.

Soundman