| Message |
Details |
If there are any adventuresome programmers out there, I have an idea: I have noticed over the years, a gradual improvement in software that scans images for text. A clever programmer could write a nice app to allow quick text extraction of profile information from sections of the scanned covers.
There are also some new web page parsing packages out there, that allow for fast retrieval and aggregation of internet data ("screen scraping"). I would be happy to share tips and tricks I have used to deduce locality and country of origin and normalization of language specific characters in order to correlate information from multiple searches.
Send me a PM if you have any questions. | Posted: Topic Replies: 25, Topic Views: 4925 |
 |
In case people wonder about getting information off the disc programmatically, I can tell you that for the most part "it is not there." I have (had? - not sure if it still works) a plugin called DVDPCa ("Contribution Assistant").
Its original purpose was to automatically pull profile information off a DVD and build an Invelos profile. I even had dreams of scanning the credit images and convert to text.
Needless it to say, I was not able to reach that lofty goal, even after many hundreds of hours of in-depth study of the DVD internal format and coding.
But I was able to:
- Get DiscID for DVDs (I don't remember if I got it for BDs)
- Find a very small amount of cast / crew info, when it was there
- Sometimes could get title and a some genre info
- Audio and video tracks
- Region info
- Subtitles info
- Some special features info
- Some guesses about extra video bonus features
Complications arose due to lack of standards for what data is available, and enforcing its availability. And sometimes there are even errors compared with what is on the DVD cover.
I borrowed code from the old open source versions of DVDInfo and BDInfo, and added a lot of my own code and research. And then there is the problem of encryption, so AnyDVD or something like it, must be installed for me to get to the internal data.
Feel free to mess with the plugin. See if it even still works, or whether it provides any value to you. If it crashes, I will fix it to the point where at least it runs - but I'm not sure I can do much more than I did originally in terms of getting profile info. | Posted: Topic Replies: 25, Topic Views: 4925 |
|
| Oops, already posted by rdodolak. | Posted: Topic Replies: 5, Topic Views: 1795 |
|
The "4K" DVDs are not only high resolution. They also adhere to the "HD" standards, which improves and stabilizes colors, brightness and provides superior audio. I agree that upscaled materials don't always effectively exploit the new standards, but material that was designed for it, or that was remasterd from material that had the resolution, video depth and audio quality to allow conversion to 4K HD, definitely is markedly superior to regular DVDs and BDs.
If you have the correct equipment, you will see and hear the difference. People who don't have the proper equipment are not motivated to buy BD / 4K because they cannot experience the difference. | Posted: Topic Replies: 241, Topic Views: 56038 |
|
So grateful for your efforts.  | Posted: Topic Replies: 3, Topic Views: 2737 |
|
I agree with Gunnar's comments. Nice work!
(says deleted ...) | Posted: Topic Replies: 4, Topic Views: 3060 |
|
| Was using TurboCLT today. Man what a masterpiece that is. | Posted: Topic Replies: 12, Topic Views: 13572 |
|
| Thanks. I copied the link, pasted, fixed the typo and it worked. | Posted: Topic Replies: 69, Topic Views: 19690 |
|
| I can't reach the site. | Posted: Topic Replies: 69, Topic Views: 19690 |
|
| Wow, I love it when the communications architecture we crafted together supports diagnosis and recovery. Apparently, at least so far, we anticipated the things you would need to know. | Posted: Topic Replies: 50, Topic Views: 33767 |
|
This is what is in my localities.xod for the Netherlands locality ratings.
Netherllands localities.xod entry
Notice I am missing entries for ages 14 and 18.
How / when is this file updated from Invelos? | Posted: Topic Replies: 11, Topic Views: 7778 |
|
I proposed this many years ago, but it would be relatively easy for the community to share profiles in a structured way. Ken, again, in his ingenious vision has given us "profile files". You can encapsulate a profile into digital format and when "double clicked," they load into DVD Profiler automatically. If someone hosted a web site and appropriate tools, users could share profile files, indexed by profile ID and even version, if we wanted to allow controlled updates. An enterprising user could make a few bucks by charging a fee to host your profile files and xml exports for private use, and could also provide access to a shared set of vetted profile files with some kind of sync process for downloading to local.
This would in no way be a conflict with or competitive to DVD Profiler - just fee based backup and sharing service. Ken must have envisioned it, because he enabled it. | Posted: Topic Replies: 92, Topic Views: 23489 |
|
Quoting scotthm:
Quote:
Quoting mediadogg:
Quote:
I do not know why they do not, with all the generosity and patience that Invelos has shown us over the years, simply open up the software, database and website to the world.
Is is possible that somehow the source code has been lost or compromised?
---------------
Of course anything is possible. If by compromised you include legally constrained, even more likely. Given that either Ken, his family or some authorized business entity is allowed to or required to maintain the web site, the database and contributions process, then I suspect there is something very powerful preventing them from doing more, because it is obvious that someone has cared enough to enable what is happening now.
There are many examples of creative community-minded people leaving money in a foundation or trust fund to continue something after their passing, that was important to them in life. I think that scenario is also possible.
Bottom line is that we are clearly being left in the dark on purpose, but we are also being supported, at significant cost, also on purpose. And for the latter, I am grateful. | Posted: Topic Replies: 92, Topic Views: 23489 |
|
Quoting Ian79:
Quote:
Next (stupid) question.
Let's take a hypothetical case. Ken wants to sell DVD Profiler.
What's the program now worth? It's a declining market.
Is there someone on this forum that could or would buy it? With or without partners. And also willing to maintain it.
Sent that very question to Ken's email years ago. No reply. | Posted: Topic Replies: 92, Topic Views: 23489 |
|
Thanks, I appreciate your kind words.
Just like that, we have it. The real value of DVD Profiler. Its Community. | Posted: Topic Replies: 92, Topic Views: 23489 |
|
Another thought. Two similarly innovative programs that we all use are "PKZIP" and "VLC Player".
They were once crazily popular tools that everybody loved and the developers busily kept pumping out new features. They both eventually went open source and the world-wide community of programmers began doing even more amazing things with them. Eventually PKZIP became integrated into operating systems such as Windows and VLC Player became even more popular. They both brought nice rewards to the original developers though different means, so I don't think they suffered by going open source.
I do not know why they do not, with all the generosity and patience that Invelos has shown us over the years, simply open up the software, database and website to the world. I think a massive new wave of innovation would result, if people did not have to start from scratch, and had the ability to explore different approaches with the original still serving as the measure of success for user satisfaction. History has shown that Invleos would likey also benefit from future corporate licensing deals. | Posted: Topic Replies: 92, Topic Views: 23489 |
|
Quoting Ian79:
Quote:
First, I don't know anything about software. So don't hate me for the question/remark.
I noticed that there are some software specialists/engineers on this forum. Is it an option or chance that you guys get together and write a new DVD Profiler. With the best parts from DVD Profiler and update it to be better then it's now. I know it's not written in two days. But is it doable?
It is a very good and valid question. Most of us take the answer for granted since we have been here so long. The answer is, yes of course it is theoretically doable. But it would be very costly and the results might not be commercially viable. Here is why:
(1) DVD Profiler has a long history, having been built by a genius programmer and colleagues. Over those years, which included court battles, the program, mobile apps, web site and online database have evolved to be the gold standard for DVD / Blu-Ray collectors. The code is not open source, and the database is proprietary.
(2) The MO ("modus operandi") of the Invelos ecosystem involves intense user participation. DVD metadata is contributed by users who meticulously audit the actual DVD contents, or validate other contributions against it. There are strict, complex contributions rules, a committee, anonymous reviewers that still exist even now, for approving database contents, known as DVD profiles.
(3) DVD Profiler has a unique method for encouraging other developer enhancements called "plugins". To recreate DVD Profiler would mean not only duplicating the enormous functionality of the program, the database, contributions mechanism, synchronized cloud and mobile apps, ability to extend the database, shared windows database across PCs, filters, reviews, custom skins, reports and the list goes on; one would have to decide which plugins would need to be reviewed for functions that many users consider to be important parts of the DVD Profiler experience.
(4) One of the reasons DVD Profiler was so popular was that it provided high value for a very low one-time license fee. This scenario would never work in today's economic environment.
(5) A replacement program would need to accommodate the new streaming paradym and consider innovative features and functions to allow users to make the most of the significant investments that we are all making on purchasing and using digital rights to online content. A new program would have to go much further than DVD Profiler to provide enough value to justify the high license fee it is likely to require in order to be financially viable. The use of "AI" will have to be heavily featured to be competitive.
Finally, perhaps the most glaring manifestation of the answer to your question lies in the observation that of all the competitors who have tried to create an equally compelling alternative, so far nobody has done it. Yes, there are other successful and useful approaches, but so far, nobody has captured the imagination and spirit of avid media collectors like DVD Profiler and embodied that spirit in a set of computer program functionality that continues to surprise those of us who have been using it for over 20 years. I am still discovering nuances that I didn't know were there, that reflect the enormous vision and creativity of Ken Cole and his team.
It is a "once in a century" type of invention. There will be a new one someday - maybe already out there, waiting to be discovered. I hope so. | Posted: Topic Replies: 92, Topic Views: 23489 |
|
Does your ingenuity have no bounds?  | Posted: Topic Replies: 50, Topic Views: 33767 |
|
Quoting nanoron:
Quote:
Thanks. I'll be careful not to run DVDProfiler on both PCs at the same time and only sync my iPad to the "master". Of course when I decide to switch "master" PCs I assume I can then start syncing my iPad to the new "master". Correct?
My original "master" PC has a serious problem and I need to reformat its hard disk. I was hesitant to do this until I had another PC with DVDProfiler running since both PCs are actually iMacs running Bootcamp.
Sounds like you understand the concept well. Best of luck. Let us know how you make out. And of course if you find my advice needed modification, help us all learn what you found out.
By the way, of course you can run both PCs at the same time, so long as you don't have DVD Profiler running on both machines at the same time, attempting to use the same database. | Posted: Topic Replies: 9, Topic Views: 6688 |
|
Quoting nanoron:
Quote:
I have added a second PC (iMac running Bootcamp) running DVDProfiler to my home network, anticipating eventually switching over to it. What is the best way to sync them and my iPad up? The two PCs seem to be using the same OneDrive cloud storage.
Declare one of the PC's as the "master". Make sure to keep the database up to date and BACKED UP on that one always. Sync the iPad to the master.
The second PC can be loaded from an exported database from the master, or an uploaded online database, or synced to the master using the remote connection. Using the same copy of the cloud database can also work if you are vey careful about NOT using DVD Profiler on the two PCs at the same time, and carefully managing updates and backups. | Posted: Topic Replies: 9, Topic Views: 6688 |
|
HTTPJolie Version 1.75 Available
In this version of HTTPJolie:
- GSyren updates to the HTTPJolie Command Reference
- HTTPJolie Usage Guide (pdf) updated to include more details on sending commands using TCP
- Bug fixes to the "xml" and "pidlist" commands
- Fixed bug that returned the incorrect set of profiles for any command using &collection="owned"
- Improved the "refresh" command, and added a new parameter &ctrlkey="true" or "false", with "false" being the default. If &ctrlkey="false" (default), the oline profile list is refreshed as an incremental change. If &ctrlkey="true", the entire online profile list file is downloaded. This, as with any other command, can be sent using the command line utility "TCPsend", and thus can be automated using a scheduler program.
This time I remembered to reset the download windows for past orders for your convenience. | Posted: Topic Replies: 113, Topic Views: 34043 |
|
Do you have any old copies of your PC hard drive? If so, you might be able to get a head start by simply copying images from the old image folder.
By "images", do you mean headshots or cover scans? If you mean head shots, and if you don't mind starting with somebody else's choices, you could take a loo at the Headshot Master Database. Most of your actors will likely be covered, and you can then update or add at you leisure. | Posted: Topic Replies: 4, Topic Views: 4403 |
|
Well I was able to write some code to do it inside HTTPJolie. That makes it possible to add to any of GSyren's tools, or to automate from a browser or by using the TCPSend command line utility.
Example for partial refresh:
tcpsend "?cmd=""refresh""
Example for full refresh (control key down):
tcpsend "?cmd=""refresh""&ctrlkey=""true"" | Posted: Topic Replies: 87, Topic Views: 23124 |
|
This discussion has caused me to review the HTTPJolie command "refresh".
Today it does this:
PerformPendingDownloads();
I plan to change it to:
TriggerMenuItem(PluginConstants.FORMID_Main, PluginConstants.MENUID_Form, "Online", "Refresh Online Profile List...");
PerformPendingDownloads();
TriggerMenuItem(PluginConstants.FORMID_Main, PluginConstants.MENUID_Form, "View", "Refresh Collection List");
And I will add an option equivalent holding down the Ctrl key for the first item.
Any comments? | Posted: Topic Replies: 87, Topic Views: 23124 |
|
I'm not finding information on holding down the Ctrl key. Can someone jog my memory on how that changes things?
Oh I see now, and I guess it was never officially documented. | Posted: Topic Replies: 87, Topic Views: 23124 |