Alternative DVD tracking software?
03-05-04, 12:45 AM
#1
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Alternative DVD tracking software?
Lets assume for a second that DVD profiler has imploded forever and for good. How about your thoughts on alternatives to track dvd collections with?
Some criteria:
Easy to import large collections -
Is there an easy way to export titles and UPC numbers from Profiler? Something simple like saving the data as a text file or excel spreadsheet. Assuming there is, the new tracking system should accept the spreadsheet output from DVDP
Also available offline -
The program should have some way to save the DVD data on the local computer. That way we can avoid this unpleasant business again the future.
Free is good -
The ads in DVDP never bugged me because the price was right. I'd like the new database to be the same.
Multiple Region Support -
Being limited to only R1 discs would make any such programs useless to me.
So, what say the peanut gallery? What non DVD Profiler software to you prefer?
Some criteria:
Easy to import large collections -
Is there an easy way to export titles and UPC numbers from Profiler? Something simple like saving the data as a text file or excel spreadsheet. Assuming there is, the new tracking system should accept the spreadsheet output from DVDP
Also available offline -
The program should have some way to save the DVD data on the local computer. That way we can avoid this unpleasant business again the future.
Free is good -
The ads in DVDP never bugged me because the price was right. I'd like the new database to be the same.
Multiple Region Support -
Being limited to only R1 discs would make any such programs useless to me.
So, what say the peanut gallery? What non DVD Profiler software to you prefer?
03-05-04, 02:41 AM
#2
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Alternative DVD tracking software?
Also available offline -
The program should have some way to save the DVD data on the local computer. That way we can avoid this unpleasant business again the future.
Actually, DVD Profiler is also available online, it's just that you can't download the info for any new disks you are adding right now. And since it is offline, you can go into the file menu, export it to CSV (readable by Excel) which leads to the next part.
Easy to import large collections -
Is there an easy way to export titles and UPC numbers from Profiler? Something simple like saving the data as a text file or excel spreadsheet. Assuming there is, the new tracking system should accept the spreadsheet output from DVDP
I think DVD Aficianado is the easiest to import into. Just have your DVD Profiler export CSV, open Excel (or an excel viewer), copy the titles (up to 300 at a time), and pick the ones you want from what it gives you (many of the DVDs you put in will have more than one option to choose from).
Free is good -
The ads in DVDP never bugged me because the price was right. I'd like the new database to be the same.
DVD Af and Guzzlefish are both free. There may be others.
Multiple Region Support -
Being limited to only R1 discs would make any such programs useless to me.
DVD Af is, I think, mostly user submitted. Guzzlefish has user submissions; they've had some problems, but are doing better now. DVD AF has a lot more multi-region stuff than Guzzlefish at this point.
They are all subject to going away, of course. That's why I've always kept multiple lists (plus, I think each of the ones I use offers a feature the others don't). Hopefully Profiler comes back, since it's my favorite (mostly due to the export to CSV option, since I use that to make a spreadsheet where I track what I watch and when I watched it).
The program should have some way to save the DVD data on the local computer. That way we can avoid this unpleasant business again the future.
Actually, DVD Profiler is also available online, it's just that you can't download the info for any new disks you are adding right now. And since it is offline, you can go into the file menu, export it to CSV (readable by Excel) which leads to the next part.
Easy to import large collections -
Is there an easy way to export titles and UPC numbers from Profiler? Something simple like saving the data as a text file or excel spreadsheet. Assuming there is, the new tracking system should accept the spreadsheet output from DVDP
I think DVD Aficianado is the easiest to import into. Just have your DVD Profiler export CSV, open Excel (or an excel viewer), copy the titles (up to 300 at a time), and pick the ones you want from what it gives you (many of the DVDs you put in will have more than one option to choose from).
Free is good -
The ads in DVDP never bugged me because the price was right. I'd like the new database to be the same.
DVD Af and Guzzlefish are both free. There may be others.
Multiple Region Support -
Being limited to only R1 discs would make any such programs useless to me.
DVD Af is, I think, mostly user submitted. Guzzlefish has user submissions; they've had some problems, but are doing better now. DVD AF has a lot more multi-region stuff than Guzzlefish at this point.
They are all subject to going away, of course. That's why I've always kept multiple lists (plus, I think each of the ones I use offers a feature the others don't). Hopefully Profiler comes back, since it's my favorite (mostly due to the export to CSV option, since I use that to make a spreadsheet where I track what I watch and when I watched it).
03-05-04, 06:23 AM
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Has anyone worked with ReaderwareVW?
03-05-04, 10:25 PM
#4
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I love DVDAF, I had been using a plain old Excel file to track them, and I was able to do a good size dump right into AF. I like the folders system, and they even have a forum of their own.
I don't know about offline, but every few disc purchases I just save an image of the page to my hard drive. There might be something for excel in the next build.
I don't know about offline, but every few disc purchases I just save an image of the page to my hard drive. There might be something for excel in the next build.
03-05-04, 10:43 PM
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Even if DVD Profiler disappeared forever, you could still use the program. All of your current disc information is still on your hard drive, and you could enter new discs and scans manually. The only thing you couldn't do is have a link to your collection, although you could probably export the information or run a report in a way that could be used on your own web page.
03-06-04, 12:06 AM
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I too have been looking for an alternative that has a desktop component (since I'm fine with DVD AF for online).
I've seen a few, but none of them have the DVD-centric bent of DVD Profiler.
I've seen a few, but none of them have the DVD-centric bent of DVD Profiler.
03-06-04, 08:28 AM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
I dumped DVD Profiler a long time ago. I know that I'm in the minority, but I really dislike it. Still no ability to import titles (if one wanted to switch from some other tool to DVDProfiler). It also has some very strange behavior in automatically updating/locking disc information. Not to mention that the screen layout isn't very efficient for displaying information about a particular disc...(requiring a "tabbed" interface) oh, and it's for DVDs only (no support for other media).
I prefer Ant Movie Catalog. http://www.antp.be/software/moviecatalog/
It addresses all of the issues that I have with DVDProfiler, as well as having a rich scripting language, reports, charts, custom HTML output, etc.
However, this is pretty much an either-or situation... if you like DVDProfiler, you will dislike Ant Movie Catalog.
I prefer Ant Movie Catalog. http://www.antp.be/software/moviecatalog/
It addresses all of the issues that I have with DVDProfiler, as well as having a rich scripting language, reports, charts, custom HTML output, etc.
However, this is pretty much an either-or situation... if you like DVDProfiler, you will dislike Ant Movie Catalog.
03-06-04, 09:17 AM
#8
The Movie Library is a great free online tracking program that also allows you to add your laserdiscs, which is great for me since I like to include my 600+ lasers with my collection. It has an excellent Quick DVD import feature too.
I've used Ant as well and that's another great local-based program (which also allows laserdisc tracking).
I've used Ant as well and that's another great local-based program (which also allows laserdisc tracking).
Last edited by matome; 03-06-04 at 09:24 AM.
