DVD Cataloguing Software

Discuss North American DVDs and Blu-rays or other DVD and Blu-ray-related topics.
Post Reply
Message
Author
kevyip1
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 7:07 pm

DVD Cataloguing Software

#1 Post by kevyip1 » Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:42 am

DVD Profiler? DVDAF? DVDSpot?

Do most of you use more than one tool, since every tool seems to have its strengths and shortcomings?

I'm using IMDB My Movies to catalog my "movie collection", but, of course, it doesn't have any DVD info. So I have to use another tool for that.

Also, no tool I know of stores the director/cast/crew, etc. of those DVD bonus features, such as the bonus documentary on the Citizen Kane DVD. Considering the often huge amount of features on DVDs these days, there's whole lot of info not made available and searchable by these cataloguing software. Yes, I know a lot of the DVD features are useless EPK promo stuff, but there's often some important stuff too.

Also, no tool stores the name(s) of the audio commentator(s).

And DVDAF.com seems to be the only place that shows whether a DVD is discontinued.
Last edited by kevyip1 on Tue Aug 07, 2007 1:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
dx23
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:52 pm
Location: Puerto Rico

#2 Post by dx23 » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:45 am

DVDProfiler is the one I have been using for the past 6 years. The new version is no longer free, but you pay only $30 for a lifetime subscription and if there are any software updates, you get to download it for free.

User avatar
The Invunche
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:43 am
Location: Denmark

#3 Post by The Invunche » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:46 am

DVDAF, but I'm not a fan of the new layout. It's cluttered as hell. Also, I stopped submitting new titles a good while back because the admins there discourage it.

User avatar
Jeff
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:49 pm
Location: Denver, CO

#4 Post by Jeff » Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:09 pm

If you use a Mac, I think Delicious Library is about the coolest thing in the world. I love the interface and the ability to add titles by holding the UPC in front of my iSight camera.

That being said, all I've done is play around with trial version. The full Monty costs $40, and while it's a fun tool to play with, I'm not sure I'd ever really use the thing in any practical way. I've got over 1,300 discs, and it would probably take a couple of days to input them all, even though they make it exceedingly easy. I rarely loan discs to friends and I'm pretty good at keeping track of what I've got, so I don't think I really need it.

User avatar
domino harvey
Dot Com Dom
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm

#5 Post by domino harvey » Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:26 pm

I use DVDAf, works well enough for me, tho as mentioned above, there's probably a dozen or more titles in my collection they don't list, esp a lot of the R4 stuff.

kevyip1
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 7:07 pm

#6 Post by kevyip1 » Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:42 pm

Am I missing it, or does DVD Profiler offer no way to look up films that are in color or B/W (or both)???

But my biggest need is that the handling of DVD bonus features in DVD Profiler (and every cataloguing tool I know) needs to be improved. I want a tool that can search for everything about bonus documentaries/featurettes: title, cast, crew, year, running time, aspect ratio, etc. I want to be able to look up names of people who did audio commentaries as well. They basically have to turn DVD Profiler into another IMDB -- have it store every bit of info about every title -- and that's going to be hard, but that's seems to be the only way to accomplish my goal. Note that this is not some frivolous pursuit on my part; to me, this is an ESSENTIAL thing to have. Often I have to look for certain important bonus documentary and I only know who's in it but can't remember the title or which DVD it's on. And it's frustrating that DVD Profiler can't help me with that after the extraordinary amount of time I've spent entering data into it. I know that sometimes the bonus features are listed in the "Overview" section of the DVD profile -- SOMETIMES! But you just can't rely on it being available/complete/accurate all the time.

I started a thread about this at the forum of Invelos, maker of DVD Profiler.

User avatar
Nadsat
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:03 am
Location: Sweden
Contact:

#7 Post by Nadsat » Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:27 pm

Jeff wrote:If you use a Mac, I think Delicious Library is about the coolest thing in the world. I love the interface and the ability to add titles by holding the UPC in front of my iSight camera.

That being said, all I've done is play around with trial version. The full Monty costs $40, and while it's a fun tool to play with, I'm not sure I'd ever really use the thing in any practical way. I've got over 1,300 discs, and it would probably take a couple of days to input them all, even though they make it exceedingly easy. I rarely loan discs to friends and I'm pretty good at keeping track of what I've got, so I don't think I really need it.
Why don't try DVDpedia, a program that I highly recommend :)

User avatar
davebert
Joined: Fri May 05, 2006 4:00 pm
Location: NY
Contact:

#8 Post by davebert » Tue Aug 07, 2007 4:19 pm

I use DVD Database X on the Mac, which is a simple, nifty and cheaper option than Delicious Library, especially since I don't have an iSight. It pulls the film info off IMDB and cover images/features off Amazon, which is a nice touch (if occasionally problematic). And of course, multiregion content can be entered using the IMDB film info, but the entry doesn't look as snazzy because Amazon doesn't have the info on it.

I agree that DVD database tools aren't always necessary, but it's nice for me, since I have a good selection of titles at my apartment here but the bulk of my former collection still at my parent's house, so it helps remind me what I have that I can theoretically retrieve if there's a sudden shift in interest.

User avatar
Matt
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:58 pm

#9 Post by Matt » Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:15 pm

The Invunche wrote:DVDAF, but I'm not a fan of the new layout.
Same here. I would use Delicious Library if it were not for the fact that it grabs its info from Amazon and thus wouldn't include all my foreign discs and for the fact that I want something web based that I can look at or update on the go.

User avatar
der_Artur
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 6:22 pm
Location: stuttgart

#10 Post by der_Artur » Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:41 pm

MS-Excel (Really).

User avatar
milk114
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:38 pm
Location: Mar Vista, Los Angeles

#11 Post by milk114 » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:00 pm

Another plug for good ole' excel.

And on a sad note, i recently had to make the list in alpha order by movie title rather than by director. And did the same for my collection on the shelf, so my fiance can actually have a chance of finding something.

User avatar
davebert
Joined: Fri May 05, 2006 4:00 pm
Location: NY
Contact:

#12 Post by davebert » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:18 pm

Speaking of organizing the shelf, remember that old thread we had that was basically post-yer-collection porn? Or were we just mocking a CF.com thread... since I didn't embarrass myself with a post/picture, I honestly can't remember.

User avatar
Matt
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:58 pm

#13 Post by Matt » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:20 pm

davebert wrote:Speaking of organizing the shelf, remember that old thread we had that was basically post-yer-collection porn? Or were we just mocking a CF.com thread... since I didn't embarrass myself with a post/picture, I honestly can't remember.
Someone tried to start that thread once and I put the kibosh on it in about 0.03 seconds. Putting a link to your collection in your profile seems sufficient exhibitionism to me. Then again, that was a long time ago and Chris may have a different opinion than this old crank.
Last edited by Matt on Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Luke M
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:21 pm

#14 Post by Luke M » Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:03 pm

I use DVD Spot Pretty easy to put stuff in there, they have a growing number of R2 DVDs as well. A nifty little feature is the statistics page where you can see which directors you have the most of.

User avatar
cdnchris
Site Admin
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:45 pm
Location: Washington
Contact:

#15 Post by cdnchris » Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:49 pm

Matt wrote:
davebert wrote:Speaking of organizing the shelf, remember that old thread we had that was basically post-yer-collection porn? Or were we just mocking a CF.com thread... since I didn't embarrass myself with a post/picture, I honestly can't remember.
Someone tried to start that thread once and I put the kibosh on it in about 0.03 seconds. Putting a link to your collection in your profile seems sufficient exhibitionism to me. Then again, that was a long time ago and Chris may have a different opinion than this old crank.
No, not really. Link in profile works.

User avatar
zedz
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm

#16 Post by zedz » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:31 pm

davidhare wrote:MS Excel.

Director (by alpha); title (now attempting to reshuffle chronologically); year; source; additional features or box context; PQ (FAIR, OK, G, VG, HD); D for dub (if not original); other comments (incorrect ratios, alternate version etc...)
Ditto, but less exhaustive (I've just got Y and N columns for Extras and Commentary). I also add columns for 'parent sets' (in case I forget which box set a particular film is in, or if a significant film is hidden away on another disc, as with Mystery of the Wax Museum) and 'series' (so I can sort all MoCs, Criterions or JNWCs together if needs be, not that I've ever actually done this).

What do you mean by reshuffling your titles chronologically, David?

User avatar
Harold Gervais
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:09 pm

#17 Post by Harold Gervais » Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:25 am

Third such system I've tried and DVD Spot is the hands down winner.

User avatar
malcolm1980
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2007 4:37 am
Location: Manila, Philippines
Contact:

#18 Post by malcolm1980 » Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:35 am


User avatar
jt
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:47 am
Location: zurich

#19 Post by jt » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:30 am

zedz wrote:
davidhare wrote:MS Excel.

Director (by alpha); title (now attempting to reshuffle chronologically); year; source; additional features or box context; PQ (FAIR, OK, G, VG, HD); D for dub (if not original); other comments (incorrect ratios, alternate version etc...)
Ditto, but less exhaustive (I've just got Y and N columns for Extras and Commentary). I also add columns for 'parent sets' (in case I forget which box set a particular film is in, or if a significant film is hidden away on another disc, as with Mystery of the Wax Museum) and 'series' (so I can sort all MoCs, Criterions or JNWCs together if needs be, not that I've ever actually done this).

What do you mean by reshuffling your titles chronologically, David?
I'd love to have the patience to go through my (title and language only) excel list and add all these details but unless I get stuck at home for a few weeks with a broken leg or something, I don't think I'll ever have the time.
I did add a method of marking films I've not watched since buying the dvd but when the number of crosses approached three-digits I felt a little funny and deleted the column...

User avatar
Scharphedin2
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 7:37 am
Location: Denmark/Sweden

#20 Post by Scharphedin2 » Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:35 am

davidhare wrote:Zedz what I mean is, under each director, his or her films in chrono order, thus Hawks starting with Girl in Every Port 1928, next line Dawn Patrol 1930, etc, etc.
David, would this not work the same, if you simply entered all the info in a spreadsheet, and then, when and if you wanted to have a chronological ordered listing, simply use the "data sort" option?

Funny to see that everyone is more or less taking the same kind of proprietary pleasure in maintaining these lists. I do too, and have the following fields:

Title -- if part of set, the set is included after the title in (), same goes for double features, and for shorts or docos. Titles shorter than 40 minutes are italisized.
Director
Production Year
BW or Color
Aspect Ratio
Duration
Format
Label
Region/Country
Detailed listing of extras

My default setting is to display titles by year, title, director, but I have on occasion used director, year, title.

The big job was to track down all the details on sets such as The Movies Begin, the Treasures from the Film Archives sets, the Edison set and the Unseen Cinema sets. This literally took days.

User avatar
Steven H
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:30 pm
Location: NC

#21 Post by Steven H » Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:47 am

I use excel, and have a few thousand or so, but my laptop with my list was stolen a couple years ago, and I never got around to redoing it. Now it's even more of a monster. I'm thinking giving a street urchin some nickels to do it for me.

User avatar
Alyosha
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 8:50 am
Location: Northern Sweden

#22 Post by Alyosha » Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:55 am

A couple of summer's ago I built a webpage/database in PHP/MySQL - mostly for fun and to learn PHP.

Nowadays, when adding a film I simply enter the title, then the script connects to IMDb (this particular code was written by someone else and could be found for free over at sourceforge.net) and I get to choose the correct film and then it adds an entry in the database together with director, actors, year, genre etc. Most of this info could be browsed and searched for in the web interface. :)

User avatar
Matt
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:58 pm

#23 Post by Matt » Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:41 am

Scharphedin2 wrote:The big job was to track down all the details on sets such as The Movies Begin, the Treasures from the Film Archives sets, the Edison set and the Unseen Cinema sets. This literally took days.
It may or may not have the information you require, but you can always take advantage of the work of professional catalogers here. Do a search and click on the "Details" tab to get contents information. For example:

http://worldcat.org/oclc/62095746?tab=details

kevyip1
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 7:07 pm

#24 Post by kevyip1 » Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:46 pm

Right now I'm trying to remember a silent film DVD I own that has a Martin Scorsese introduction. It's so frustrating that none of the tools I've used can help me with that. Not to mention, I'm unable to search for any bonus features that Marty appears in. The problem is nearly all of these tools have a DISC-BASED database structure, and we really need one that uses a FILM-BASED structure, like IMDB, in order to be able catalog ALL CONTENT on one's DVD collection.

OPENOFFICE.ORG is a free, full-featured office suite with word processing, spreadsheet, etc. No need to pay for Excel.

User avatar
The Invunche
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:43 am
Location: Denmark

#25 Post by The Invunche » Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:03 pm

Beyond the Rocks?

Post Reply