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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Plugins Page: 1... 8 9 10 11 12 ...19  Previous   Next
Tool: ProfilerQuery
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorGSyren
Profiling since 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
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Quoting TraunStaa:
Quote:
Hmmm, a thought, Gunnar. As there are 40 possible entries in DJDoena's plug-in, isn't it just possible to name them accordingly 1 to 40 and each user can search with his own lookup table?

I like the way you think. Unfortunately only the checked entries are saved to the XML file, so that won't work.
My freeware tools for DVD Profiler users.
Gunnar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorGSyren
Profiling since 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
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Sweden Posts: 4,508
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The "Expert Mode" experiment



I recently stumbled across scripting library called Devesprit.Scripting, and it occured to me that it might be fun to try to use it in ProfilerQuery. It uses standard VB.Net (not VBScript). So what it would allow the user to do is to perform additional tests to select or unselect profiles from the result.

This would allow you to do mixed and-or selections in one run. It would also allow you to perform some tests that would not be possible in the standard selection. The example above selects all profiles that have Gregory Peck as the first name in the cast list.

The gray areas are fixed, you just fill in the rest of the function. The whole function is compiled when you click Run, so it adds very little to the time it takes to run the query, even with thousands of profiles.

The downside is twofold. You need at least a basic (no pun intended) understanding of VB, and an good understanding of the internal structure of ProfilerQuery's Profile object.

The structure can of course be documented by me. It is also possible for me to add some programatic support. But it's a big job. And I just don't know if there is enough interest in it to justify the effort.

So I put the question to you all: Who would be interested in such a feature?
My freeware tools for DVD Profiler users.
Gunnar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributordee1959jay
Registered: March 19, 2007
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Wouldn't be for me - way over my head. But don't let that stop you!
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
Aim high. Ride the wind.
Registered: March 18, 2007
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Drooling ...

Wish I had the time to collaborate with you. But you are building stuff similar to what has long been on my wish list. Just don't have the time or skills.

The best use of such a capability would be in collaboration with other things, ideally as a plugin. Ok, I said it, but I know that's out.

Alternatively, creation of flag sets is also very useful (I'm sure that you do that). A flag set can control reporting, bulk edit, copy / paste and just about every other useful function within DVD Profiler. Keeping that in mind, anything you could do to make it seamless to use flag sets would be good (e.g. automatically setting the save location of your flag sets into the correct DVDP path).

The other thing I dreamed of (and actually tried to implement), was a way to present tabbed views of a collection, guided by a set of filters / search criteria. Each tab would have an associated filter, so that just by switching tabs, the user could view the collection in any number of unlimited ways.

My attempt was called MyTabs (since withdrawn). It was slow and buggy. Eventually Ken came up with collection categories, but it suffers from the problem that you must assign a DVD to a specific, and only one, category. This is not the same as a "view." Views are dynamic and configurable and each view is independent of the other.

So, if you could combine your most excellent query tool with the concept of tabbed views, giving the ability to assign a filter / query / script to each tab, so that any view of the total collection can be instantly presented, it would be amazing.

Any interest in that? 
Thanks for your support.
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Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog.
 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorsurfeur51
Since July 3, 2003
Registered: March 29, 2007
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Quoting dee1959jay:
Quote:
Wouldn't be for me - way over my head. But don't let that stop you!

+1.
I'm not sure of my understanding of VB, and of the internal structure of ProfilerQuery's Profile object. And the tool as it exists at present time does quite all I wish...
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorGSyren
Profiling since 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
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Quoting mediadogg:
Quote:
creation of flag sets is also very useful (I'm sure that you do that). A flag set can control reporting, bulk edit, copy / paste and just about every other useful function within DVD Profiler. Keeping that in mind, anything you could do to make it seamless to use flag sets would be good (e.g. automatically setting the save location of your flag sets into the correct DVDP path).

Yeah, ProfilerQuery already does that.

Quote:
So, if you could combine your most excellent query tool with the concept of tabbed views, giving the ability to assign a filter / query / script to each tab, so that any view of the total collection can be instantly presented, it would be amazing.

Hm, that sounds interesting. Not sure how easy it would be to integrate it in ProfilerQuery, but I'll give it some thought.
My freeware tools for DVD Profiler users.
Gunnar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorGSyren
Profiling since 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
Sweden Posts: 4,508
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Quoting surfeur51:
Quote:
Quoting dee1959jay:
Quote:
Wouldn't be for me - way over my head. But don't let that stop you!

+1.
I'm not sure of my understanding of VB, and of the internal structure of ProfilerQuery's Profile object. And the tool as it exists at present time does quite all I wish...

Yeah... I kinda suspected that such a feature would have a very limited target audience.
I guess it might be "a solution in search of a problem" 
My freeware tools for DVD Profiler users.
Gunnar
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
Aim high. Ride the wind.
Registered: March 18, 2007
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Quoting GSyren:
Quote:
Quoting mediadogg:
Quote:
creation of flag sets is also very useful (I'm sure that you do that). A flag set can control reporting, bulk edit, copy / paste and just about every other useful function within DVD Profiler. Keeping that in mind, anything you could do to make it seamless to use flag sets would be good (e.g. automatically setting the save location of your flag sets into the correct DVDP path).

Yeah, ProfilerQuery already does that.

Quote:
So, if you could combine your most excellent query tool with the concept of tabbed views, giving the ability to assign a filter / query / script to each tab, so that any view of the total collection can be instantly presented, it would be amazing.

Hm, that sounds interesting. Not sure how easy it would be to integrate it in ProfilerQuery, but I'll give it some thought.

Another thought. How about adding to PQ a command line and / or DLL callable interface, such that PQ saved queries can return results to another program such as a plugin. That could have some awesome future usefulness. Returned results could be XML, JSON or whatever (but preferably not CSV). How about that?

Input parameters would include an XML collection file(or path), and a saved query file(or path).

Even a command line interface CLI might be useful. One could set up a DVDP command file that calls a query and creates a flag file that would then be loaded as a filter before some other useful activity. Could make for some efficient one-click style maintenance for the heavy contributors?
Thanks for your support.
Free Plugins available here.
Advanced plugins available here.
Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog.
 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorGSyren
Profiling since 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
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You really don't want me to have any time to watch any DVDs from my unwatched pile, do you mediadogg? 

It does sound like another ”it would be cool but would anyone use it” project.
But hey, I'm a sucker for cool projects, so who knows. 
My freeware tools for DVD Profiler users.
Gunnar
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
Aim high. Ride the wind.
Registered: March 18, 2007
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Quoting GSyren:
Quote:
You really don't want me to have any time to watch any DVDs from my unwatched pile, do you mediadogg? 

It does sound like another ”it would be cool but would anyone use it” project.
But hey, I'm a sucker for cool projects, so who knows. 

Here is how I would use it (no guarantee as to when I would have time ...)

(1) In BulkEdit spreadsheet mode Load function: Perform a call to PQ that dynamically prepares a set of profiles to edit.
(2) In MyTools (toolbar editor): Allow associating PQ call with a toolbar icon.
Thanks for your support.
Free Plugins available here.
Advanced plugins available here.
Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog.
 Last edited: by mediadogg
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorGSyren
Profiling since 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
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Sweden Posts: 4,508
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I have an idea ...

Well, that's how my projects starts out. They go through steps. That's probably true for most developers. So for me they are
1) I know what I want to do.
2) I ask myself "Is it useful?"
3) I envision what the user interface is going to look like.
4) I figure out if I'm smart enough to implement it.
5) I ask myself if it is worth the effort.
6) I do it.

Some of these steps overlap, of course. Many fall through at step 4. Duh! Some at step 5. Some at both of them, perhaps. "Yes, I'm smart enough to do that - if I wanted to". Yeah, right!

But often step 2 is the really difficult one. Is it useful? And that's kind of where I am right now. So here is the idea for ProfilerQuery:

I thought that I would like to put a value on criteria and have the result sorted by the combined values. So there should be a way to set a value from -10 to +10 on every property of a title. The default would of course be 0. So for each selected title the values get added up and presented in a column of its own, and the result would by default get sorted on that column. We might call it a Preference value.

So right now I'm thinking that, yeah, that would be cool to be able to do. But is it really something that anybody needs? And I'm at a point where I, somewhat reluctantly, feel that it might be a waste of time. It might be more confusing than helpful.

But I thought I should run it up the flagpole and see if anybody salutes. And if not, I'll just lower it at half mast and let it rest in peace.
My freeware tools for DVD Profiler users.
Gunnar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorsurfeur51
Since July 3, 2003
Registered: March 29, 2007
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France Posts: 4,479
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Quoting GSyren:
Quote:
It might be more confusing than helpful.

Well, something very important for a user is the facility to use those tools. ProfilerQuery is powerful AND rather easy to use, and I think it presents a good compromise. Making it more complex may make it less usable, even if it can do more things. I speak as a user that loves play with data, but has very few skills at programming.
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorGSyren
Profiling since 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
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Well, no interest in this idea. No surprise, really, so I'll just play Degüello and let it die.

And if you don't know what Degüello is, you should perhaps watch John Wayne's The Alamo. Sadly, the full roadshow version is not available on DVD (or bluray), since MGM has refused to restore it, and let it rot in their vaults, where it is now almost certainly beyond salvation. F*** you, MGM!
My freeware tools for DVD Profiler users.
Gunnar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorGSyren
Profiling since 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
Sweden Posts: 4,508
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ProfilerQuery 3.19.0

Good news, bad news ...

Good news
I have added two crew fields to selection / presentation; Role and Custom Role.
Please see "What's New" in the help file for important information.

Bad news
The translation feature started giving me problems, so I decided to remove it from ProfilerQuery. So it is now in English only.
Apologies to those who may have preferred a localized version. My most sincere apologies to the individuals who spent time translating ProfilerQuery, a job that now is in vain.
My freeware tools for DVD Profiler users.
Gunnar
 Last edited: by GSyren
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantmediadogg
Aim high. Ride the wind.
Registered: March 18, 2007
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This reminds me that I never got around to releasing PQPal. Is the DLL in your production release of PQ compatible with the functions I am using, or do I need to include the version you prepared for my use?
Thanks for your support.
Free Plugins available here.
Advanced plugins available here.
Hey, new product!!! BDPFrog.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorGSyren
Profiling since 2001
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
Sweden Posts: 4,508
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Well, the version of ProfilerData.dll that comes with PQ 3.19 should work with PqLib.dll, but it doesn't add any useful functionality since PqLib doesn't support the new crew fields. I would have to update PqLib for that. Do you feel that PQPal needs that functionality?
My freeware tools for DVD Profiler users.
Gunnar
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