English > Feature Suggestions

include episodes in simple search results

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patch:

--- Quote from: Marc on August 08, 2009, 08:32:55 pm ---Of course, the real solution would be a new feature that lets you properly catalogue box sets. I'm sure that will probably be added in the future, but in the meantime, maybe a tiny modification of the episode feature could be a temporary solution?

--- End quote ---
I can see merit in your goal, not so keen on the work around.
What you are describing is a custom way of grouping movies. This is applicable for
1) The way you bought the movies - box sets etc
2) Series of related movies - Matrix, Harry potter, James Bond, etc
3) How movies are stored - rack, shelf etc

If nostra is going to spend time updating the code, aiming to a planned goal, rather than a work around would be prefered.
Perhaps we could look at ways this could all fit together in a general way.

rick.ca:

--- Quote ---Perhaps we could look at ways this could all fit together in a general way.
--- End quote ---

Considering we already have grouping as an effective and flexible means of dealing with many of these kinds of requirements, what exactly is the additional benefit a new general way of do this might offer? The only thing that comes to my mind is the ability to record additional information at the group level—like details about a box set. I'm not sure what might be recorded about a series of related movies. Or a shelf—although maybe a picture and/or its location on a floor plan would be cool. ;)

Also, it seems behind such requests is a desire to put the published media ahead of it's content. One of the fundamental characteristics of PVD that sets it apart from other similar applications is that it's a movie database, not a DVD database. Many of us are not interested in recording information about DVD's or box sets. We're only interested in information about the movies (and series and other types of video) themselves. I have no problem with media specific information being provided for, but it must be secondary to the movie information itself. In other words, it should be a movie database in which specific media information (e.g., a specific DVD edition) can be recorded.

Perhaps a more general discussion we need to have is about to better accommodate those who do want to record information specific to the particular media they own. Since the application is built on a relational database, the obvious (but theoretical) solution is to completely separate movie and media information, and relate them. Then it would be possible to have one movie record linked to multiple DVD editions and/or a box set. Or multiple movies linked to rips burned to one DVD. This, however, would be a significant architectural change for something there may not be much demand for.

In the meantime, I think the best way to handle movies series and box sets is using the grouping feature. If it's necessary to record information about the entire series or box set, a dummy record (named so it appears first in the list) can be created for this purpose.

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--- Quote from: rick.ca on August 09, 2009, 02:07:36 am ---Also, it seems behind such requests is a desire to put the published media ahead of it's content. One of the fundamental characteristics of PVD that sets it apart from other similar applications is that it's a movie database, not a DVD database. Many of us are not interested in recording information about DVD's or box sets. We're only interested in information about the movies (and series and other types of video) themselves.

--- End quote ---

Rick take care. We realize you use PVD a specific way, however yours is not the only way.

Back on topic.
Much of the capability required for this type of grouping could probably be achieved via custom fields with tree view display. The issue with this approach would be where movies not in such series are sorted.

It would be nice to be able to enter the movie series name when it is in a series. Then display movies by name or with movie series grouped. With movies not in a series, sorting by movie name instead would be appropriate. The existing episode series capability to show only series is also nice. To achieve this a custom movie series field, which could be displayed in tree view, and with a default sorting value if blank configurable to be "title" or "original title" would be good.
I modify the title to achieve similar grouping but clearly that is not as flexible and does not provide any addition series specific fields, although I do not need any.
Rick I thought you used another field for similar grouping.

With movies grouping by unit purchased ie box set, similar grouping options would be appropriate except the series the user entered would be say "Matrix 1,2,3 box set". Again movies not in boxes / series should display as movie title. 
With this approach I have added no additional fields for box set information. I'm interested in what if any information of this type other would require (I don't need any).

For movies filed by box / shelf / folder. Then the default value should be the next in the current series. I'm guessing a user defined prefix and start counter with PVD incrementing the counter with each movie added would be the sort of thing most users would want. Note this is similar to the existing capability except I have added a user defined prefix. I store my movies on hard disc so will need to defer to those with a larger physical library for guidance here.

rick.ca:

--- Quote ---Rick take care. We realize you use PVD a specific way, however yours is not the only way.
--- End quote ---

Please do stay on topic. This is uncalled for and inappropriate in a civil discussion about how a software application should work. It's a simple fact PVD is designed as a movie database. If you want to argue it should be turned into a DVD database, go ahead. I believe it would be more productive to discuss how it might better handle media-specific information without throwing it's fundamental design premise out the window.


--- Quote ---It would be nice to be able to enter the movie series name when it is in a series. Then display movies by name or with movie series grouped. With movies not in a series, sorting by movie name instead would be appropriate...
--- End quote ---

In other words, you want movie titles and series to be listed together alphabetically. I suppose this might work for those who want to adopt this as their primary "view" of their collection (like those presently inclined to record movies as episodes). It seems rather rigid, however, in comparison to grouping. When I group my movies by series, it's because I want to see them as series (e.g., in most cases, it's appropriate and informative to sort them by year). I'm generally not interested in movies that are not members of a series at this time. They are, however, still there (in the "undefined" group) should I want to do something like show movies of a particular director. When done, I revert to plain view.


--- Quote ---With movies grouping by unit purchased ie box set, similar grouping options would be appropriate except the series the user entered would be say "Matrix 1,2,3 box set".
--- End quote ---

Since the series name has to be entered by the user, it can be whatever the user wants it to be. I dedicate just one field for "Movie series," and use it for a number of different grouping purposes. Most are for what most would consider to be movie series, but it's also used for other purposes. The existing grouping feature works very well in temporarily providing an alternate view of my collection, but what you're describing sounds too rigid.

Let's not forget this thing is built on a relational database. With its ability to group, sort, filter and search, just about any presentation can be achieved. Maybe some general enhancements can be made, like adding the ability to record information on group nodes. But it shouldn't be necessary to argue for hard-coded changes to accommodate individual user preferences. I think we'd all be better served by new features that help make the full power of the program and the database more accessible and easier to use. By that I mean things like saved grouping, filter and (advanced) search settings—so users can configure the presentation of their collection to their heart's content, and recall any saved configuration instantly.

Marc:
Hmm, it seems I have misunderstood the purpose of Personal Video Database. My intent is to use it as a DVD (and Blu-ray) database, but if it's not really meant to accomodate such intentions maybe I should be looking for something that will suit my needs better. Although it is call VIDEO database, not movie database, so that's confusing.

Anyway, my idea of a box set feature looks the same and works the same as episodes work: you enter a new movie which is the DVD box set (so it's not a new movie you enter, but a DVD), and then you add the movies that the box contains in the same way as you would add episodes. The difference being that the box is just a group name, and the movies behave just like regular movies (in searches and such).

I hope I'm explaining well enough, because English is not my first language.


--- Quote from: rick.ca on August 08, 2009, 10:26:22 pm ---I don't understand. How do ID's impact on the handling of box sets? Why do they even need ID's?

--- End quote ---

In my case they need ID's because that's how my collection is ordered: I entered every movie based on the date of purchase, so old movies have a low number, new movies a high one. Since I can't sort the collection by purchase date (this is a custom field), I rely on the ID's. Hence your solution doesn't work for me.

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