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DVDSpot shutting down
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantEPKJ
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 52
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Quoting Evo2Me:
Quote:
Quoting mdnitoil:
Quote:
[...] less cheap (free) competition can only be good for Profiler.


That's the new paradigm in economics: Less competition is better? Would explain a lot ...


By definition, free alternatives are not competition. To compete with a business such as Invelos, one must operate a business, not give away free merchandise. How well do you think DVDSpot would have done against DVD Profiler if people had to pay for it?
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantAntares
Registered: May 26, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United States Posts: 599
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Quoting EPKJ:
Quote:
DVD Profiler is now, and always has been the best DVD database available. This is not even debatable. The program speaks for itself. I have never understood how anyone could prefer any of the other currently available alternatives. They are all inferior. DVDSpot was not a real database and now those who relied on it are crying their eyes out because their information will no longer be available in the format which they enjoyed. DVD Profiler is an actual program on my computer which I can use without internet access. The cavalier manner in which the owner of DVDSpot has announced its closing is hilarious. Of course he will dump a project which earns him no money in favor of ones which do so. Viva capitalism! One can only hope that this educates people to be wary of free services.


Weren't you one of the original members on their forum?
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantMark Harrison
I like IMDB
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
United States Posts: 3,321
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Quoting EPKJ:
Quote:
DVD Profiler is now, and always has been the best DVD database available. This is not even debatable. The program speaks for itself. I have never understood how anyone could prefer any of the other currently available alternatives. They are all inferior.


DVD Profiler is my favorite of course.  But I can understand how someone would prefer one of the other options.

1) They're free
2) They display your online collection much better than DVD Profiler.  At least I prefer them.  It's much easier to browse someone's collection since you see a whole page of thumbnails at once rather than just titles.
3) They're web based.  I prefer the client software myself, but there is something to be said for being able to update your collection from any place with an internet connection.
4) DVD Spot (and previously GuzzleFish) had really nice statistics built in.  DVD Profiler is weak in that area unless you download my plug-in (see my signature ).  Unfortunately, the casual user who doesn't visit this site knows nothing about plug-ins and don't realize it's an option.

Like I said, I prefer this software.  But let's not pretend it's perfect and everything else is rubbish.
Get the CSVExport and Database Query plug-ins here.
Create fake parent profiles to organize your collection.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantDr. Killpatient
Here's my card
Registered: May 19, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 5,916
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Quoting Mark Harrison:
Quote:
But let's not pretend it's perfect and everything else is rubbish.

You say that like you're not joking!
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
Aim high. Ride the wind.
Registered: March 18, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 6,396
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Can anybody point me to information on the export format? BulkEdit already imports CollectorZ and DVDProfiler XML. CSV import is nearing completion.

Wish I had known about that site - It would been a higher priority  . The goal would be a way to quickly load personal information and box set organization into DVD Profiler. Then just "refresh" and done.

Alternative: somebody (else) could write a little tool that would translate DVD Spot export output into DVD Profiler XML (or maybe it already is ...).
Thanks for your support.
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Advanced plugins available here.
Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog.
 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantFredLooks
phpDVDProfilerDude D5/7/2
Registered: March 13, 2007
Canada Posts: 350
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The export format is a zipped CSV file, with first row of:

upc,title,custom_title_sort,rating,review,source,price,owned,owned_date,owned_custom,watched,watched_date

I'm uncertain of the semantics of the fields, but I could experiment for you if you'd like ...
-fred
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantMark Harrison
I like IMDB
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
United States Posts: 3,321
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Quoting mediadogg:
Quote:
Can anybody point me to information on the export format? BulkEdit already imports CollectorZ and DVDProfiler XML. CSV import is nearing completion.

Wish I had known about that site - It would been a higher priority  . The goal would be a way to quickly load personal information and box set organization into DVD Profiler. Then just "refresh" and done.

Alternative: somebody (else) could write a little tool that would translate DVD Spot export output into DVD Profiler XML (or maybe it already is ...).


I'd say your best bet is to go over there, create an account, add a few profiles, then export it and see what you get.  Should only take about 10 minutes.

In my opinion, Ken should automatically bump you to at least 2 stars if you can come up with an easy migration option for these soon to be homeless collectors!
Get the CSVExport and Database Query plug-ins here.
Create fake parent profiles to organize your collection.
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantxradman
Registered: June 17, 2002
Registered: March 14, 2007
United States Posts: 1,328
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They are afraid of Skip and I can't say that I blame them.  Looking at their forum, their mean age seem much younger than DVDP, so it may not mesh well.
My Home Theater
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
Aim high. Ride the wind.
Registered: March 18, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 6,396
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Quoting FredLooks:
Quote:
The export format is a zipped CSV file, with first row of:

upc,title,custom_title_sort,rating,review,source,price,owned,owned_date,owned_custom,watched,watched_date

I'm uncertain of the semantics of the fields, but I could experiment for you if you'd like ...

Much obliged partner!    Edit: I sent you a PM with some specific items of info that I need ...

Let us know what you find out. Is that really all they put out? If so, it will be a snap.

Only need to capture the UPC and create purchase info, source = retailer for the purchase I guess, and create a Watched Event. Then a refresh will add all the good stuff.
Thanks for your support.
Free Plugins available here.
Advanced plugins available here.
Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog.
 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
Aim high. Ride the wind.
Registered: March 18, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 6,396
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Quoting Mark Harrison:
Quote:
In my opinion, Ken should automatically bump you to at least 2 stars if you can come up with an easy migration option for these soon to be homeless collectors!
Just your saying that is worth far more to me than the stars. I'll give it a shot. 

(That being said, I don't want to shut anybody else out ... the format seems simple enough - if one of the many super scripters out there wants to pitch in ... there are lots of stars (and work) to go around, I think ...)

Edit: Mark, I considered that. But I can use the help that has been offered. Always nice to have a team effort ...
Thanks for your support.
Free Plugins available here.
Advanced plugins available here.
Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog.
 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLord Of The Sith
Registered: March 17, 2007
United States Posts: 853
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Quoting xradman:
Quote:
They are afraid of Skip and I can't say that I blame them.  Looking at their forum, their mean age seem much younger than DVDP, so it may not mesh well.


How did you come to this conclusion?
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantxradman
Registered: June 17, 2002
Registered: March 14, 2007
United States Posts: 1,328
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Quoting Lord Of The Sith:
Quote:
Quoting xradman:
Quote:
They are afraid of Skip and I can't say that I blame them.  Looking at their forum, their mean age seem much younger than DVDP, so it may not mesh well.


How did you come to this conclusion?

Take a look at this thread and other posts on this forum.

Profiler forum thread about DVD Spot
My Home Theater
 Last edited: by xradman
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorSkywatcher
Registered: Feb. 7, 2002
Registered: March 13, 2007
Portugal Posts: 315
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Oh boy, our Skip is a celebrity! 
With every passing hour our solar system comes forty-three thousand miles closer to globular cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules, and still there are some misfits who continue to insist that there is no such thing as progress.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantMark Harrison
I like IMDB
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
United States Posts: 3,321
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Quoting mediadogg:
Quote:
(That being said, I don't want to shut anybody else out ... the format seems simple enough - if one of the many super scripters out there wants to pitch in ... there are lots of stars (and work) to go around, I think ...)

Edit: Mark, I considered that. But I can use the help that has been offered. Always nice to have a team effort ...


I'm busy with other things lately, but I'd be happy to help as much as possible if you need it.
Get the CSVExport and Database Query plug-ins here.
Create fake parent profiles to organize your collection.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
Aim high. Ride the wind.
Registered: March 18, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 6,396
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Quoting Mark Harrison:
Quote:
Quoting mediadogg:
Quote:
(That being said, I don't want to shut anybody else out ... the format seems simple enough - if one of the many super scripters out there wants to pitch in ... there are lots of stars (and work) to go around, I think ...)

Edit: Mark, I considered that. But I can use the help that has been offered. Always nice to have a team effort ...


I'm busy with other things lately, but I'd be happy to help as much as possible if you need it.

Cool. I PM'ed FredLooks with some questions for his research. Based on your experience with CVS Export, it would be helpful if you could take a look at the data format and pass along any ideas / recommendations. Also, I'm hitting a couple of bugs in the CVS Import that I will PM you about - once stable, it should be a simple matter to tweak it to include the DVDSpot format.
Thanks for your support.
Free Plugins available here.
Advanced plugins available here.
Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog.
 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantFredLooks
phpDVDProfilerDude D5/7/2
Registered: March 13, 2007
Canada Posts: 350
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Indeed, the issue is simply one of mapping the exported data fields of DVDSpot to DVD Profiler fields. Some are simple and obvious (title -> title) and some need to have their DVDSpot semantics explored (owned_custom -> ???)
I'll poke around on the site a bit today to try to determine the mapping ...
-fred
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