The new updated list of CH DVDs (data miner)

[bga]

There's a new update available. I added a new column, DVD release date (the column release date refers to the theatrical or direct to video release year), which is populated if CH listed the title as available for preorder. This should make it easier for people impatient to order recent releases as enrollments to figure out what ought to be enrollments for any given week.

"Cowboy Bebop The Movie" still doesn't show up. I don't think there are any links to it, so it can only be found with a search, which my program doesn't do.

[Dkuper]

Thanks Bga. I always have something to get my eyes on wednesday mornings (usually).

and speaking of mexican films, a very good one was added for enrollment as well, Amores Perros.

[SRGilbert]

Originally posted by Ginwen
Since they won't sticky this, bump.

Hey great, except BGA almost always lets us know once a week when he posts a new list. Almost always a new one every Wed morning.

[bga]

Originally posted by SRGilbert
Hey great, except BGA almost always lets us know once a week when he posts a new list. Almost always a new one every Wed morning.

Gee, I'm really sorry, but I'm at a conference at Las Vegas this week, and I only just now finished up this morning's meetings. I'll try to do better next week when I'm back home.

Oh, and there are a lot of new titles this week, including a bunch from the Yu Yu Hakusho series, some Mexican titles, and the return of a Strawberry Shortcake title.

[SRGilbert]

They should at least have a link to this in the Newbie guide. It's an invaluable tool, and we thank BGA once again for keeping it alive!

[Dmvee]

I did even better than looking for it. That site is saved in my 'favorites'.

[lizard]

Originally posted by SRGilbert
They should at least have a link to this in the Newbie guide. It's an invaluable tool, and we thank BGA once again for keeping it alive!

It is listed in the Newcomer Guide. But, as Dmvee suggests, the easiest way to handle finding the dataminer thread (or any others you check regularly) is to bookmark it.

[SRGilbert]

Originally posted by lizard
It is listed in the Newcomer Guide. But, as Dmvee suggests, the easiest way to handle finding the dataminer thread (or any others you check regularly) is to bookmark it.

Well, shut my mouth, it is there isn't it? Haven't really read through that in a while I guess. It could be a little more prominant though, as it's really very helpful.

[mrspivy]

I don't know how to really use Excel. How can I widen the boxes so I can see the names of the titles better or make the text pop up above the borders?

[Dabaomb]

Originally posted by mrspivy
I don't know how to really use Excel. How can I widen the boxes so I can see the names of the titles better or make the text pop up above the borders?

when you're in excel, go to the column that you want to expand/shrink, then place the cursor to the right of the Column Heading (it'll be a letter: A, B, C, etc.) and make sure that it forms a "+" sign with an arrow on the left and right side. At this point, left click on the mouse and you can move the cursor left or right. If you double left click, it'll automatically resize the column to fit all the contents of the column.

[adumbc]

You haven't got a "thank you" the last few weeks, so I thought I'd chime in. This is an invaluable tool to all us CHers. Thanks!

[bga]

A new update is available. About 30 new titles, 60 new enrollments, and at least 100 price reductions. There are nearly 3800 titles now up from 2900 titles in May, including 54 VHS titles. There are over 130 $9.95 titles, 1200 $14.95 titles, 1400 $19.95 titles, and 700 $21.95 titles. No wonder I keep finding more titles I want to get one of these days. Too bad so many of them are $14.95 now.

[Qui-Gon John]

Any word on this weeks update? Ready to submit a new account and wanted to check for which titles are new enrollments.

[GotMilK?]

looks like won't be maybe till tonight...

[island007]

Originally posted by Qui-Gon John
Any word on this weeks update? Ready to submit a new account and wanted to check for which titles are new enrollments.

I do the same thing. I open new accounts on Wednesdays after checking bga's thread.

[bga]

Sorry it's late, it died at least 5 times overnight. Hope it was worth the wait for you!

[SRGilbert]

Originally posted by xpfshost
Just wanted to point out a possible error. For selection #2769404 Men In Black II, the spreadsheet says that it contains only 1 disc...I believe it actually contains 2. Thanks!

xpfshost

This is from bga's site

Notes: The number of discs column in the datafile is based on a parameter in the CH links, and does not always reflect the actual number of discs associated with the title. For example, some box sets show up as one disc.

So it looks like the data come directly from CH's server, and is re-assembled every week with the data-miner software. Long story short, bga doesn't have anything to do with the specifics of the list!

[bga]

The last time my program was able to ascertain from the CH website that Men In Black II is a 2-disc title was back in January. Just looking around their site, it looks like there are some titles, like this and Black Hawk Down SE, which only mention that they are multi-disc titles when you do a title or name search, and not on the page describing the DVD. Since I do name searches to find additional titles, I will change the logic to note (N-disc) in the name search, but it's not going to be done before tomorrow's run.

[skidmark]

Just a hearty "THANKS" to bga for creating and maintaining an awesome tool. Your efforts ARE appreciated!

[vivarey]

bga, just wondering how difficult it would be to modify your script to download the CH and/or BMG CD club catalogs?

[bga]

Originally posted by vivarey
bga, just wondering how difficult it would be to modify your script to download the CH and/or BMG CD club catalogs?

I have no idea. I've never joined the CH CD club, so I don't know how similar the two sites are. The program looks for specific information, both for the information about the DVD and links to other DVDs, so I suspect that it would take a bit of work to modify it.

I am a member of BMG's CD club, but I don't buy CDs very often, and I've never looked that closely at the BMG site. I expect that it would take a complete rewrite.

[bga]

A new update is available, with roughly 20 new titles, mostly preorders, and 20 new enrollments.

[bga]

Another update is available. About 50 new titles, 30 new enrollments, and it looks like all the Mexican titles that are not released by US studios (e.g., Y Tu Mama Tambien) are gone. On the downside, it looks like my code to notice some additional 2-3 disc sets might not have worked, and CH seems to be sitting on 23ED application I made on 9/14.

[Qui-Gon John]

Ugh! BGA, sad to hear that your 9/14 still hasn't gone through. Looks like we're back in another big slowdown and may even be seeing accoutns get denied, like we had several reports of back in June. Man I miss those overnight approvals from a few weeks ago!

[wotan2525]

BGA -- I was hoping you could email you. I appreciate your reasons for not releasing the source, but I'd like to right a similar script that would mine the data of (I see your in MN) Washington County Library system. If you go to their website you can see how extensive their dvd collection is by browsing by call number and putting in "DVD" The problem is, there is no easy way to browse this catalog so I'd like to refer to your source. Who knows... maybe with you so close you won't be able to resist.

Thanks,

rob
robc at usedlasers dot com