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Can't get Excel import to work at all - any ideas?
Roy22:
OK, this is probably some thing stupid, but I just can't get Excel import to work.
I've read the help file guide, configured PVD via Preference\Plugins\MS Excel general import\ to read 'Path, Actors' and created an Excel sheet with data to add as Path then Actors. I've tried with & without headings in Excel. I've tried substituting ID for path. Every time, I see a message down low saying ' Excel Importing records, please wait' but I get no dialogue re update/merge etc, and I find nothing has changed in PVD despite there being data to update.
Any ideas?
Roy22:
OK, with much fiddling I've got is as far as the 'Update/Merge/Add....' dialogue appearing. Whichever I choose, it goes away for some time (updating over a 1,000) or seconds if I cut it down to just one or two. But nothing changes. I've tried endlessly, and I know that the ID field is correct, all I'm adding is a simple Actor's name, but the record appears unchanged. I did try downloading the latest MS Excel plugin from the download page.
Does this ever work for anyone?
rick.ca:
I'm not sure what bearing it has on the problem, but the task sounds odd. Are you really importing one actor for each of 1,000 records?
If never tried matching records with [File Path], so I'm not sure that works. All I've ever used for matching is [Title] and [Year]. And I've used that to import [ID], which now has me wondering if [ID] is really used for matching (if it can also be added).
If you're being prompted for a field update method, it must be matching something. Is it matching the first item in the list? Are you selecting Update when prompted?
Roy22:
It may seem like an odd application, but it's a real one. Back before the days of PVD, I used to append the names of actors onto the end of filenames, in a systematic way. I could then find films with a certain actor through a simple file browser wildcard. Sometimes there's one name, sometimes a few separated by commas, a format PVD doesn't mind when I've manually pasted such data into the Actors field.
Now, I'd like to extract these appended actors names and update the bare imported movie names with them. I've managed the Excel extraction bit OK, but after several frustrating hours yesterday, have come to the conclusion that PVD isn't working as described in the manual.
I'd have hoped that an exactly matching ID (name) was enough for a match, but I'm starting to think that it isn't, even if the manual says it is.
I'm not sure if PVD should be changed, or the manual. Perhaps someone could try adding a dummy movie to their database (title only) then try running an Excel import with just 'ID' and 'Actor's columns, to replicate the fault?
rick.ca:
--- Quote ---Now, I'd like to extract these appended actors names and update the bare imported movie names with them.
--- End quote ---
What I find odd is these are apparently movies for which there is no external source of actors. If there is, you won't be able to add them without overwriting what you're importing now.
--- Quote ---I'm not sure if PVD should be changed, or the manual.
--- End quote ---
Neither. It works as described. I imported Actors (a comma-delimited set of two or three for each movie) using ID for matching records. Then I imported the same data to Producer using Title for matching records. It worked flawlessly.
If you're using Excel 2007 or 2010, are you saving the file in XLS format?
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