Maybe it is the way they explained it.. because it didn't sound like it to me either.

The biggest advantage would be that we would no longer need a common name to create linking, nor would we need birth years to cope with duplicate names. Both of those would be taken care of by the key, which would be system generated.
So in essence it would require less effort to create linking, simply documentation that two different cast or crew entries are the same person.

I haven't actively contributed to this forum or even the database for a long time now, because it's too much damn hassle. Everything descends into an impossible argument. It's a fascinating place. I read it occasionally for a good laugh.

To prove the point, I've been registered since late 2000 and I reckon it was about two years ago when a much nicer forum appeared and I gave up arguing around how best to credit people because I was tired of Skip jumping up and down on my head. I finally waved the white flag when he even told me how wrong I was for using Halliwell's Who's Who, cross referenced with two other notary publications.

Yet here you still are in the middle of the same argument! Aren't you all a bit jaded by now? You should have medals, really. No further forward and Skip is still finding heads to jump up and down on, yelling at them for just how wrong they are. But the database still doesn't work well enough for an average user to contribute. Not that there can be many average users. They're all over at IMdB, leading much more worthwhile lives, probably after being scared away from these forums.

Oops, sorry! I said a Bad Word. IMdb. Damn! I said it again! Because that's the real kicker, isn't it? For the best part of a decade, dedicated users of Profiler have banged on about how useless IMdB is, how uttering it's name should be punishable by law, yet it's still there and actually, nothing like as inaccurate as anyone here has ever made it out to be. Meanwhile, DVD Profiler, marvellous as it is, still lags way behind in both popularity and it's own ambition (or Skips. It's hard to tell). I know it's there to do a different job... at least I think it is. This is "DVD Profiler", not "Movie Profiler". Sorry, force of habit. I almost had that as my signature years back.

By now the most casual of uneducated users shouldn't be confused by how to use such a well established program. The fact they are surely demonstrates Profiler hasn't developed in the right direction. But then Ken does follow this forums lead and it's had its collective head up its arse for too long now to make any valuable design feedback.

By the way, when I say "uneducated", I mean they simply like to watch a film or two; they are not lawyers, birth registrars or film industry insiders, the current qualifications seemingly required by this software. Obviously I'm being facetious and there are no qualifications required. Except that's how people feel when they visit Invelos for the first time and why they never bother to contribute, or go back to a spreadsheet... with links to IMdB.

Just wanted to say my piece. Let you hear an outsiders perspective, who used to be a very active insider and someone who's sad that a piece of software he very much supported seems to have been left floundering by the very users so passionate about making it the best. I know there are a lot of you enjoying it, contributing and getting on well. It's just I'm concerned that it's no more commercial than it was two or even five years ago. Obviously if you want elitist, then woohoo. Result. Just stop biting newbies so hard.

I've got my hard hat on, so the jumping up and down on my head can commence if you so desire. 

Thx JonM.

I've forgotten why I avoid this forum for 2 years. Now, I remember again 

[Over and out]

First you document that all are the same person, they probably are...but they may not be. Once that is established you then check the CLT to find the most commonly credited name. In your edit screen the CLT is the name you will look for, then in your Cast or Crew list you list the name As Credied On Screen, regardless of anything else. Hope that helps.

Skip

Quoting Morglum:

Quote:
I'm not sure if I really understand this. A random example from my collection:

Tohko Aoyama (3 Profiles)
Toko Aoyama (3 Profiles)
Touko Aoyama (1 Profiles)

What should I do to link them together?

Only document Tohko = Toko = Touko? That would be like the CLT
Or document Tohko (Profile 1) = Tohko (Profile 2) = ...? Nearly impossible for unknown actors. We would end with 7 "different" Tohkos in the database.
Or simply link them together without documentation? Welcome Errors

According to the Credit Lookup Tool, Touko Aoyama is the most common name with 7 unique titles.
Toko is used in 5 titles, and Tohko in 3. I don't see any crossover with the titles so I'm assuming all the credits are correct.

Is it possible that the different names are simply a result of different people translating the Japanese text in slightly different ways? If you look at the credits and the Japanese is the same then I think it's fair to assume it's the same person.
If you're translating from one language to another you have two options, either submit a spelling change to make the names match with documentation of why you think your spelling is better, or pick the most common name and use "credited as" to show the spelling variations.

If you still have trouble there are plenty of Anime fans here who are always happy to help.

I think everyone who frequents these forums is pretty clear on the source of the negative environment.  We're also clear that Ken doesn't have a problem with it so we might as well drop it.

Quoting northbloke:

Quote:
Quoting Morglum:

Quote:
I'm not sure if I really understand this. A random example from my collection:

Tohko Aoyama (3 Profiles)
Toko Aoyama (3 Profiles)
Touko Aoyama (1 Profiles)

What should I do to link them together?

Only document Tohko = Toko = Touko? That would be like the CLT
Or document Tohko (Profile 1) = Tohko (Profile 2) = ...? Nearly impossible for unknown actors. We would end with 7 "different" Tohkos in the database.
Or simply link them together without documentation? Welcome Errors

According to the Credit Lookup Tool, Touko Aoyama is the most common name with 7 unique titles.
Toko is used in 5 titles, and Tohko in 3. I don't see any crossover with the titles so I'm assuming all the credits are correct.

Is it possible that the different names are simply a result of different people translating the Japanese text in slightly different ways? If you look at the credits and the Japanese is the same then I think it's fair to assume it's the same person.
If you're translating from one language to another you have two options, either submit a spelling change to make the names match with documentation of why you think your spelling is better, or pick the most common name and use "credited as" to show the spelling variations.

If you still have trouble there are plenty of Anime fans here who are always happy to help.

Thanks, but I know how the current system works. My question was for the system with unique id for actors. Same procedure or more complicated?