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[lise]

I am in the process of converting all our video tapes into dvds, and would like to use MC as a dvd database. Is it possible? I tried inserting info in fields for one of my dvds, but the info didn't stay in the database after I removed the dvd from the drive.

[IanG]

You can store information about the DVD in a playlist, but I'm not sure how you want to organise things.  What had you got in mind?

Ian G.

[lise]

I want to put in the dvd, type in all the tag info (director, actor, year, genre, etc), then remove the dvd.

Basically, I want a database of my collection, even though the media is not stored on the computer. That way when I'm in the mood for a thriller, I look it up in MC, and my custom "source" field tells me where the dvd is physically located (e.g., binder #3).

I think MC or perhaps MJ used to work this way with cds, and perhaps it still does. I would like it to also work with dvds.

[IanG]

I want to do something a bit different - I make a short movie of, say "Katherine's Wedding", which will be a chapter on a DVD.  I can add information about each chapter on that DVD and store it as a playlist called e.g. "DVD1".  What I haven't checked yet is whether the information is searchable in the db, though I guess it should be.

Ian G.

[Robert Taylor]

Lise,

I use a program called "DVD Profiler" to catalogue all my DVDs.

You can get a free version from http://www.dvdprofiler.com/dvdpro/index.html

It's purely a librarian for your collection, doesn't try to do anything else. When you input a new DVD (either via it's UPC - barcode, or by title), it retrieves the details online (a lot like YADB is used for music tags).

I have around 330 DVD's and it makes it much easier to keep track of them all (you can enter in details of DVDs you've loaned to a friend for example).

I liked it so much I paid for the version with no ads in it. I can't recall how much it was, but it was pretty cheap.

Hope this helps...

[LonWar]

This is indeed a very good and easy program to use...

[221bBS]

DVD Profiler is a great program to keep track of DVDs that you buy but might not be so great for custom made DVD of home movies and such...

Media Center should have your DVD info in MEDIA LIBRARY > ADVANCED > CD & DVD. With a little help from the forum you could customize MC to better display your collection

[lise]

Media Center should have your DVD info in MEDIA LIBRARY > ADVANCED > CD & DVD. With a little help from the forum you could customize MC to better display your collection

You must be referring to the fact that when you insert a dvd, you can tag info, and then that info will display whenever you insert that dvd and select it under Drives and Devices.

That's not quite what I need though. I want the info permanently stored in the database, even when the dvd is not in the drive.

To the others who suggested DVD Profiler:
Thanks. I downloaded it but I keep getting errors whenever I launch it. I'll keep trying (have already re-installed three times) but I am not quite sure I want yet another database. MC has spoiled me in terms of databases (with all the custom fields, etc), and I was really hoping to keep all my media info in one place.  

Seems to me this is useful function, and the JRiver folks may want to add this ability, so that MEDIA Center really does act as a database for all media.

Matt, Jim... is this something that might be coming in the near future, or should I just go ahead and invest (money and time) in another program for this purpose?

[DJMUK]

Here's a link to an alternative to DVD Profiler.  I have used this for a few years.  It's very customisable so it may suit.  It will get DVD info from the internet.

http://www.fnprg.com/catvids/catvids.html

I used to use their CD database before I found MC.  I still use their Book and Software DB's.

David

[NoCodeUK]

The other alternative are the collectorz.com programs.  I have started using these and they are very good.  They do a book, movie, music, mp3, comic and game version. All work in the same way and are very customisable. Get them from www.collectorz.com

Adam

[221bBS]

You must be referring to the fact that when you insert a dvd, you can tag info, and then that info will display whenever you insert that dvd and select it under Drives and Devices.

Nope...MC stores your disc info in MEDIA LIBRARY > ADVANCED > CD & DVD and you can access that info even when the disc is not in the cd/dvd drive.

The rule it uses is...
[Removable]=[1] ~d=mc

IDEA

1) create new custom field....maybe named "Home DVD"
2) Tag your home DVDs and also tag the new field you created....maybe with a "Yes"
3)create a new VIEW SCHEME and use a rule like this
[Removable]=[1] ~d=mc -[Home DVD]=[]

as long as the new field "Home DVD" has something in it it will show in the new VIEW SCHEME

[221bBS]

Here's a link to an alternative to DVD Profiler.  I have used this for a few years.  It's very customisable so it may suit.  It will get DVD info from the internet.

http://www.fnprg.com/catvids/catvids.html

I used to use their CD database before I found MC.  I still use their Book and Software DB's.

David

I also use to use CaTraxx, CD database software, then I found MC

[lise]

Thanks to all who have replied.

I have looked at some of the suggested programs, and have decided to go with Collectorz.com Music Collector (I also got the Book version, I was so impressed with this software).  I can't believe the ease with which it gets all the info from net.  Catvids seemed ok (especially the awards info it gets), but I found it a bit clumsy in that you  can only get info from the net for one item at a time, whereas Collectorz lets you type in many entires, then search them all at once. But the real selling point for me was Collectorz' integration with ListPro--this lets me easily export the  fields I want and then easily import with ListPro for my Pocket PC. Catvids has an add on to export info that I didn't try, but on the whole I preferred Collectorz' ease of use and interface. So thanks to all!

ps--I could never get DVD Profiler to install correctly, so I didn't give that one a go.  
pss--This made me think of how it would be really cool if MC could get info from the net, and not just cover art. Too bad it doesn't include the functionality that Godfather? has.  Maybe in the future...