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Bulk data entry
pencilhead:
Hi All,
I am struggling with performing bulk data entry.
I have imported my database of about 700 movies / series from collectorz ok. A few minor hickups but nothing that couldn't be overcome.
I now have a couple of hundred or so movies that need to be entered manually.
I am finding bulk data entry methods to be unwieldy and am wondering if there is a better way.
If I type movie /optional year into an excel spreadsheet and then import port that, I find that the entries are added to my already exisiting database entries. I then need to filter the list ( I am filtering entries without a poster - there may be a better way) to get the list of movies I have just entered. I can then import data from IMDB/Amazon etc.
If I use the new (Ctl+N), the newley created list is at the top, but I find I have to click in the right hand side, enter the movie name/year. Ctl+Enter to save. Ctl+N - click the right hand side, enter the movie name/year.Ctl+Enter to save etc etc. if I forget to click in the right hand side, My list at the top is lost (merged in with already completed movies and I have to filter as per above).
I do not want to use the new movie mater function ctl+M for so many movies. It is ok for 1 or 2 movies but not hundreds.
Ideally, I would like to be able to go into a "Data Entry mode".
For example if you entered new movie mode (ctl +N)
You could enter the name of the movie and when you hit enter, it immediately took you to a new entry. No having to take hands off the keyboard or complex keyboard shortcuts. If you wanted other data like year you could tab to it. Similar to excel. Enter for new row, tab for new column.
When you have finished entering your data, you could then search the list in imdb/etc with the results merged into your existing list.
I guess I am looking to:
1. Streamline the way I enter data.
2. Be able to separate that list until it has been updated from IMDB etc.
If someone can provide a better way to get my data in and updated, it would be appreciated.
Cheers
PH
patch:
--- Quote from: pencilhead on July 31, 2009, 01:30:16 pm ---If I use the new (Ctl+N), the newley created list is at the top, but I find I have to click in the right hand side, enter the movie name/year. Ctl+Enter to save. Ctl+N - click the right hand side, enter the movie name/year.Ctl+Enter to save etc etc. if I forget to click in the right hand side, My list at the top is lost (merged in with already completed movies and I have to filter as per above).
--- End quote ---
Have you tried sorting your movies by data added
Works well provided you add only one set per day, after which it does get a little less intuitive (data field is to 1 day resolution)
Alternatively use an advanced search such as "url" "does not contain" "www"
For bulk field entry you could just do it in excel then import your typing
pencilhead:
--- Quote from: patch on July 31, 2009, 02:00:19 pm ---Have you tried sorting your movies by data added
Works well provided you add only one set per day, after which it does get a little less intuitive (data field is to 1 day resolution)
Alternatively use an advanced search such as "url" "does not contain" "www"
For bulk field entry you could just do it in excel then import your typing
--- End quote ---
Thanks patch,
I haven't had a chance to check all the filtering options.
There are many and they look very cool. So far ones that don't have a poster works. The searching options are really quite awesome
I am also especially impressed with the scan movies from file feature.
It seems convoluted to have to enter your movies into excel to then have to import them into a movie database program. It seems more logically to have it so you can "just type them in" and "go". It would be really nice to be be able to do it in a single step.
I think I will use the excel/filter option at the moment.
Cheers
PH
rick.ca:
I'm having difficulty understanding the situation you're describing. Importing movies, even if it's just a list of titles, is more efficient than entering them manually. If you had digital media, you'd be creating records by scanning that. How is it you "have" several hundred movies for which there is no media and no list exists?
As you've described, a new entry will stay at the top of the list until the list is refreshed. That's normally sufficient for doing whatever needs to be done initially to create the record. But, yes, if you are doing several different things, it's likely a refresh is going to happen before you're done. As you've already learnt, you can filter or sort the list to deal with this. I find it easier just to bookmark new items until I'm satisfied I'm finished adding/updating/checking everything.
The "data entry mode" you describe doesn't exist because, thankfully, there's little need for it. If it's simply a matter of preferring to manually enter data via the keyboard rather than importing, you'll find Grid View (removed from 0.9.7.x, planned for 1.0.x) will provide a natural solution for you. Entering data there will be similar to entering it in Excel.
--- Quote ---It seems convoluted to have to enter your movies into excel to then have to import them into a movie database program.
--- End quote ---
Yes, but no one has suggested doing that. Excel is a useful tool because, as long as you can get the data into it, you can create a list which can then be imported into the database.
deazo:
This the way I do it. I thought I would share it with you, it might help I don't know.
On average I enter movies by bunches of 50 or so.
I use excel because it's much faster to type the movie title, hit enter, and so on. I also add media label (number of the dvd the movie is on) but that's just because of the way my collection is organised.
I then import the excel list into PVD.
It is very easy to find the movies I have just entered because I sort by date added.
I then select them all with the the shift key, and use IMDB import to harvest the information from IMDB.
I use Amazon and google image to find posters but that's another subject.
I don't know if this helped you, but I don't see any problem with this way of bulk data entry, and didn't find anything quicker.
If I had my movies on a hard drive I would use the Scanning utility and it would even go faster (scanning the burnt dvd's is very slow because of the drive mainly).
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