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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Layouts and Reports Page: 1 2 3 4  Previous   Next
Episode Guides and style sheets
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantItalo_Disco
Registered: June 8, 2007
Netherlands Posts: 58
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If you don't know how use Episode Guides in DVD Profiler, please read this thread first.

I've fooled around a bit with Episode Guides, downloading a handful from http://epg.dvdaholic.me.uk/ and creating some new ones, and it struck me that lots of Episode Guides use all kinds of different formatting.  I was wondering if we could agree on using some sort of default layout, using Cascading Style Sheets, which would allow us to have all Episode Guides in a single DVD Profiler format and be completely user-definable at the same time.

For instance, I've created a guide for The Outer Limits (original first season) which uses a stylesheet with white text on a black background, and blue episode dividers with white text.  Anyone who would rather have black text on a white background would only have to update the Episode Guide to use the white.css style sheet instead of the black.css style sheet.

At this moment I've defined three CSS styles that can be used in a guide: body (for all plain text), title (for the Episode Guide main title) and episode (for the episode dividers).  Please have look at what you can do with this, and maybe we can build something nice from all this.   

And a big thank you to addicted2dvd and xyrano for helping us all out with Episode Guides to begin with.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,334
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I appreciate all the work that goes into the episode guides... it is something I came up with before we were able to do any type of box set profiles what so ever.

I personally will never do EPG's in one style... that to me is what is really fun about the EPGs... you can have many in many different formats. Whether it be a simple text format with background and font color... or a simple text with series banner... or if use episode banners... episode images used within tables.. or what have you. I personally think it would be extremely boring if they were all formatted the same way... but that is me.

Another thing you have to remember is some people may only know basic (old fashion) HTML.  Like me for one (I don't even know what Cascading style sheets are)... and I am not looking to learn something new for something that to me is supposed to be nothing but fun.

I don't want to put any type of limitations on anyone that wants to create EPGs. As far as I see it... if someone wants to make one... in the style they are comfortable with... I would love to see it... possible use it... and possibly even learn off it and make some just like it. As I said... this is something that is just for fun... so the way it works is.. you download it... if you like it great... use it... if you don't... don't use it... and please feel free to create your own version... and upload it to share with others.

That is my personal opinion on the matter. But as always... will be happy to check out any of your work that you would like to share with everyone else.
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantItalo_Disco
Registered: June 8, 2007
Netherlands Posts: 58
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Quoting Addicted2DVD:
Quote:
I don't even know what Cascading style sheets are


In a nutshell: Where you would previously code an episode header as <center><font color="white" size="+2"><b>Episode Title</b></font></center> you would instead code <p class="title">Episode Title

You then also have a separate file where you define what a "title" should like like. Centered, bigger and bold in the above example.  Everyone can then choose to have a different style for each TV series they own, or use one style, or a few styles whatever their preference.  It's much like a best of both worlds solution. You finally can have your cake and eat it too 

But all silly jokes aside; I seriously think pre-defining a set of formats (as many as you like) would improve the quality of the Episode Guides in general.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantRossRoy
Registered: March 13, 2007
Posts: 793
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Personally, I prefer simple EPG. A banner"series logo at the top, and simple text. Nothing fancy, no tables, no screenshots, no backgrounds.

For that, I try to use CSS as much as possible, but the CSS code inside the HTML file instead of a separate CSS file. That way, I can easily have different looks for different series, and I find it easier to manage than having to remember what class name I used for what series.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantMark Harrison
I like IMDB
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
United States Posts: 3,321
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I agree with Pete.  I like the fact that the guides aren't uniform (unless it's for the same show).  I've seen some very creative things done that might look great with one series, but wouldn't fit with another.  For example, the white background and orange text looks great with Arrested Development.  Those colors really fit well with the opening of the show.  Which of course had images over a white background.  But Lost on the other hand has a spining white Lost over a black background.  And the episode guide for Lost would just look wrong on a white background.  Likewise Arrested Development would look wrong with a black background.

This might be doable if you don't care about the images.  But once you start putting screenshots in there from the show, the colors start making a difference.

I also agree that some people don't know CSS stuff and some probably don't care enough to learn.  I'd much rather have the content, then consistant coding.

For the record, I'm a web developer and understand and appreciate style sheets.  I just don't think they'll fly in this particular case unless it's one a episode guide by episode guide basis.
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,334
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What it boils down to is this is something that everyone should feel comfortable doing... no matter what their experience with HTML or CSS or any other type of coding. It started out as a group of people just putting them together for the fun of it... and for the fact that it was something that was lacking from profiler That could be handled easily within (at the time) notes section.

I for one don't want to scare people off of sharing what they create just because it isn't coded to any specific style. In my opinion... people will not learn a new way of coding just so they can share some EPGs with other people... they instead will just make what they want and not bother to share it. And then we all lose out. So no... I would be against putting any type of rules or restrictions on how to make and share these. I much rather see more being shared... and everyone just enjoying the EPGs.
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantnolesrule
Registered: 09/21/2000
Registered: March 15, 2007
United States Posts: 366
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If you were using <font>, <b> and <center>, you aren't writing proper html anyway. They were deprecated from the move from HTML 3.2 to HTML 4.0.

Anyway, for clean code, using a declared <style> section in the <head> section and standard formatting would make things prettier. That's how I did my styles. It gives you one spot to set all font details (colors, sizes, line heights etc.) background colors, background images without heaving to edit every instance in a file. It also makes for smaller file sizes.

I would not use a single style sheet to cover every EPG file.

Oh yeah, I'm a web dev too.

Actually, using styles would make things easier for most people. It gives them a small "settings" section and all they have to do is drop the text in where appropriate (Series title, Episode names, episode synopses).  All that would be needed was a basic template that someone whips up.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,334
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No matter how easy it would be... I still would not feel right to force people to do it in any certain style of code... I think it is important that everyone feels comfortable and be able to share them... no matter how they know or how they prefer to do it.
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantWhite Pongo, Jr.
No, I iz no Cheshire Cat!
Registered: August 22, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Posts: 1,807
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Quoting Addicted2DVD:
Quote:
No matter how easy it would be... I still would not feel right to force people to do it in any certain style of code... I think it is important that everyone feels comfortable and be able to share them... no matter how they know or how they prefer to do it.


Agreed. Leave it as it is.
-- Enry
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile Registrantleo1963
Registered: May 14, 2007
United States Posts: 455
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If it ain't broke - don't fix it.  I agree, leave it as is. episode guides are fun to put together and I enjoy seeing the finished product. 

Thanks again to Addicted2DVD for his website and how well it is maintained.

Leo
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,334
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Quoting leo1963:
Quote:
If it ain't broke - don't fix it.  I agree, leave it as is. episode guides are fun to put together and I enjoy seeing the finished product. 

Thanks again to Addicted2DVD for his website and how well it is maintained.

Leo


Thanks... but I can't take credit for the website and how well it is maintained... we have that because of Andy (ajm) offering to host them for us. So a big Thank You goes out to him! 
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantxyrano
41215.reg 70320.urk
Registered: March 13, 2007
Sweden Posts: 646
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If we're talking about forcing a set of css templates onto the EPG creators, then it not a good idea, but if we're only talking about the structure of the html code, then it could be something to consider.
Seperate the view from data is always good, IMHO.

Anybody here considered using XML for thier EPG's?
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,334
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Well... unless I got this whole thread wrong... it seems like that was the original poster's thought on the matter... to force a standard one everyone. And all I am saying is I would never force anyone to change how they do it now... anyone is free to create them in any matter they are comfortable with... and feel free to share them with others. 

so all I am saying is I will not limit how people decide to do it.  If you feel comfortable with css or anything else... we are more then happy to have you share them... and on the same token... if you are only interested in the most basic of html... no matter how obsolete it is... we are still more then happy to have you share them

This is something that has to stay fun... stay simple for everyone... and at the same time allow everyone to share their EPG no matter how simple it is... or no matter how fancy it is... or no matter how they make it.

I see it this way... I know if I was just someone creating these things... and then all the sudden they say sure we want you to share your work with us... but it has to be done in this style only. I would personally say the hell with that... I will make them for myself... and just not share them with everyone else. and that is a place I do not want to see us go.

I will not stop anyone from creating them in CSS or  XML or anything else they decide to do with them. So why would I stop someone that only knows the very simplest... most basic form of html?
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantMark Harrison
I like IMDB
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
United States Posts: 3,321
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Perhaps a good middle ground would be to allow people to contribute as they have been if that's what they choose to do.

But there's no reason there couldn't be a standard template for people to start with if they choose to use it.  As long as it's not required, it would be a fun and easy way for people to learn some new skills.  There's already a very simple How To of sorts.  I see no reason why that couldn't be expanded slightly.
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,334
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I agree Mark... That is all I requested from the start... Never said anything against using css (or any other standard)... never said anything against offering up templates... just said I wouldn't accept that to be the only way to allow it to be done.

Hell... I would even check out any template(s) offered and see if they make any sense to me. If they do great! If not... I will just continue with the way I know.

As I said... I am only against making it so everyone HAS to use them.
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorsnarbo
Registered: March 13, 2007
United Kingdom Posts: 1,242
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Of course the other thing is NOT everybody uses the now available EPG window in html.
Some still use the old form in the NOTES section...Skip for one or so I've heard.

Steve
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