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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Contribution Discussion Page: 1 2 3 4 ...7  Previous   Next
"Common Name" problem!
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLewis_Prothero
Strength Through Unity
Registered: May 19, 2007
Reputation: Superior Rating
Germany Posts: 6,730
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Quoting MikaLove:
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Well, they should still consider it.

Agreed

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Surely there are a lot of negative aspects about iMDB as well. But why would DVDP be without faults?

It's not. And I am not the last to admit that. The ultimate source for my local database is "Me" (with a little help from several sub-sources  )

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I am really not talking about using credit lists from iMDB, but rather the profiles for cast and crew.

I didn't say that, it's just that I don't see any advantage in using a single name for every appearance of an actor, no matter what name he/she actually used. As I said, this might work well for the Top1000, but will utterly fail for John Doe.

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I think those are a lot more controlled and can be relied upon.

How would you know??



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It is like that in all the rest of society as well. One person, one identity. Not two, not three, etc.

Tell that to Ida Flammenbaum

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If it was up to me, I would let iMDB choose which name is the correct one.

Feel free to do so, but please only in your local database.

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Or why not google the names?

Because Google might help you with Ida Flammenbaum, but surely will not with less known staff.

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It's one thing how a person is credited and it's a completely different thing what that person's real name is.

Agreed! That's why you don't find Nicholas Kim Coppola or Marion Robert Morrison in the database.
It all seems so stupid, it makes me want to give up!
But why should I give up, when it all seems so stupid?


Registrant since 05/22/2003
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorNexus the Sixth
Contributor since 2002
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Sweden Posts: 3,197
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Quoting TheMadMartian:
Quote:
Quoting MikaLove:
Quote:
Also, if I feel that one person only should have one entry in my DB (I consider it mine, because I bought DVDP for MY purposes), I would and could change the DB as I saw fit. I would remove all duplicate names so that one person has one entry and not several.

I have to correct you on this point.  You did not buy Profiler.  You purchased a license to use the product and access the online database.  The software and database belong to invelos.


But Mika is of course free to change his/her local database in such a way. Many people do just that, and only use the online database as a starting point.
First registered: February 15, 2002
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributornorthbloke
Registered: March 15, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 5,459
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Quoting MikaLove:
Quote:
If it was up to me, I would let iMDB choose which name is the correct one.


That wouldn't work, as I learned recently that IMDB can change the names as well.

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Or why not google the names?


Again, not an ideal solution, as which results of the google search would you use? Most times when I search on a name, the top few results are IMDB-mined data.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 17,334
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Quoting Kinoniki:
Quote:
Quoting TheMadMartian:
Quote:
Quoting MikaLove:
Quote:
Also, if I feel that one person only should have one entry in my DB (I consider it mine, because I bought DVDP for MY purposes), I would and could change the DB as I saw fit. I would remove all duplicate names so that one person has one entry and not several.

I have to correct you on this point.  You did not buy Profiler.  You purchased a license to use the product and access the online database.  The software and database belong to invelos.


But Mika is of course free to change his/her local database in such a way. Many people do just that, and only use the online database as a starting point.


sure... local only is always something he could do... but going by him posting in the contribution Forum I don't think that is what he is after.
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorMikaLove
Knowledge is Power
Registered: May 2, 2009
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Posts: 490
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@Addicted2DVD:
I see it differently. All I see is a lot of discussion... With CLT you can see the variants of how a person's name is spelled in the DB - if you find the same one person, but you need still to decide which name to use. IMO just because a name is in some majority, it's not necessarily the correct name.
But it's like with democracy. I don't feel that the majority necessarily is of the correct opinion.

Ken this and Ken that. I don't know the guy. He created DVDP but we are the users.

And there will never be just one name for one person. As then you need to check the names all the time and at no time there will be just one entry for each person, as long as the DB in its current state don't have the names right in the first place.

Rebecca Romijn is known as Rebecca Romijn. I KNEW her as "... Stamos", but that was then and even if I don't read gossip about her I have still noticed that she changed her name - from seeing the credits in the X-Men movies.

Which made me feel that, "OK, that is her real name now!"

I can see how I am in some way contradicting myself now, because of all the other movies she has made earlier, under another name. But then we "simply" need to update all those entries in the DB... To her current name. Which isn't so current, as she got divorced five years ago.

@samuelrichardscott:
Why not right away? It's like waiting for something obvious. Unless she stops acting.

@TheMadMartian:
Smart a**... Anyway, I didn't mean I "bought" DVDP, but I bought a license to use it as MY database. And I mean the DB that is also on MY hard drive(s). And it's made up by us contributing users. Without us, there would be no Invelos.

However. I bought DVDP to sort my movies and have a very good, intact DB. And that doesn't include having multiple entries for the same persons or companies.

So since I bought the right to use the program, I can use it any way I see fit. And for me that is to make the database immaculate.

Maybe some people don't care. But I think there could only be one standard for one DB. Regardless of how many users there are with different opinions.


I got an idea. Why not introduce the ability to link several instances of one person together?
So if you search for "Romijn" or "Stamos", you would in both cases get the same actress; Rebecca Romijn".
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributornorthbloke
Registered: March 15, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United Kingdom Posts: 5,459
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Quoting MikaLove:
Quote:
Why not introduce the ability to link several instances of one person together?
So if you search for "Romijn" or "Stamos", you would in both cases get the same actress; Rebecca Romijn".


Check this thread:

Are you satisfied? Cast/Crew linking: Your opinion and ideas
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorNexus the Sixth
Contributor since 2002
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
Sweden Posts: 3,197
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Quoting Addicted2DVD:
Quote:
Quoting Kinoniki:
Quote:
Quoting TheMadMartian:
Quote:
Quoting MikaLove:
Quote:
Also, if I feel that one person only should have one entry in my DB (I consider it mine, because I bought DVDP for MY purposes), I would and could change the DB as I saw fit. I would remove all duplicate names so that one person has one entry and not several.

I have to correct you on this point.  You did not buy Profiler.  You purchased a license to use the product and access the online database.  The software and database belong to invelos.


But Mika is of course free to change his/her local database in such a way. Many people do just that, and only use the online database as a starting point.


sure... local only is always something he could do... but going by him posting in the contribution Forum I don't think that is what he is after.


True, but many, especially new users but sometimes even old users, seem to forget they "own" their local data. They can do whatever they wish with it and also protect it from changing. I think it's worth pointing out now and again. If you think you've come up with a better or more "correct" system, you're free to use it. Or even to copy IMDb data, if that's what you prefer. Although personally I don't see the point of creating another IMDb clone. The original is after all much easier to use. 
First registered: February 15, 2002
 Last edited: by Nexus the Sixth
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorMikaLove
Knowledge is Power
Registered: May 2, 2009
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OK. There's a lot of talking going on now, and I knew this topic would "stir some things up", as there is SO MUCH about this names... issue.

I like the change with dividers. And the "credited as" is useful.

However, I still would like to come to the conclusion that if we found the ability to link production/media companies and cast & crew members together into ONE - if we know it is the same company/person - that is the most effective way to go about it.

So if you search for something, you will find it.

It's like with movie titles. They can be different. Like "T2"/"Terminator 2: Judgment Day".

Also introduce a better and simpler way to check multiple profiles at the same time and also edit and correct them, if needed.

EDIT:
Also, if you actively change the already contributed names in the cast and crew lists - which most often (I would assume) are based on how it looks like in the movie, the DB itself loses its integrity. Because when you change the cast and crew names into "common names", it doesn't correspond with the actual credit list in the movie.
Therefor, we lose that part of the DB.

You should be able to type in the name as it says, but it will still be regarded as one and the same person. Even if you wouldn't use the "credited as" option.

Maybe, when you add a name, the system could prompt for the "common name", but only so you can have the option to use the "credited as" feature. However, it shouldn't be obligatory to use "credited as" - as it's not probable that everyone always knows the common name. At least not on beforehand.
So that would save lots of time. If all persons' names would be properly linked together.
 Last edited: by MikaLove
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
Alien with an attitude
Registered: March 13, 2007
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United States Posts: 13,202
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Quoting Kinoniki:
Quote:
But Mika is of course free to change his/her local database in such a way. Many people do just that, and only use the online database as a starting point.

Indeed.  I was focused on the main db.  Sorry for any confusion.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
Alien with an attitude
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting MikaLove:
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@TheMadMartian:
Smart a**... Anyway, I didn't mean I "bought" DVDP, but I bought a license to use it as MY database. And I mean the DB that is also on MY hard drive(s). And it's made up by us contributing users. Without us, there would be no Invelos.

However. I bought DVDP to sort my movies and have a very good, intact DB. And that doesn't include having multiple entries for the same persons or companies.

So since I bought the right to use the program, I can use it any way I see fit. And for me that is to make the database immaculate.

As I just said, I didn't read it that way.  As others have pointed out, you are free to do just that in your local, you just have to do all the work yourself and must keep it local.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
 Last edited: by TheMadMartian
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorMikaLove
Knowledge is Power
Registered: May 2, 2009
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Posts: 490
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@TheMadMartian:
I didn't mean that I should rebel the DB, but that I want it to be immaculate, and most of all: rational and logical.

Also, everyone would benefit if the ability to link persons and companies were there.

If this would mean in practice that the whole main DB would have to be rebuilt, then it should be.

To link persons together, we can all verify that a person that is credited in several different ways is the same. Most of the times, that shouldn't be too difficult.

Also, a more intelligent search engine would need to be constructed and implemented into DVDP.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAce_of_Sevens
Registered: December 10, 2007
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Under Feist Publications v. Rural Telephone Service, I'm pretty sure IMDB doesn't have an enforceable copyright on their credits, just stuff like plot summaries, but that aside, the databases are different and it wouldn't really make sense to copy theirs.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorMikaLove
Knowledge is Power
Registered: May 2, 2009
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I would like to point to my post.


It sums up what I think and what I wish to see.
 Last edited: by MikaLove
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributormdnitoil
Registered: March 14, 2007
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Well, I will say this much.  The one thing imdb does that gives them a great head start over us is using one centrally located cast/crew table.  Everybody is working off of the same page right out of the gate.  Around here, there are as many unique cast/crew tables as there are Profiler installs.  It's a fundamentally untennable situation...like trying to herd cats.  At the end of the day, I see this as the crux of the problem.
 Last edited: by mdnitoil
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantAlien Redrum
Proudly blocked by liars.
Registered: August 23, 2008
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MikaLove, like you I prefer IMDB, mainly for its linking ability.

There has been tons of discussion about the naming convention on the boards and nothing ever really comes from them.

While there's little disagreement that the online DB is flawed, there is much disagreement about using IMDB or not.

That said, I recommend you download DJDoena's awesome Cast/Crew Edit tool. It's probably the best tool out there for me. You basically plug in the movie title, what roles you want to download from IMDB and it takes it from there. Could be what you are looking for until there is a better solution.
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"I also refuse to document CLT results and I pay my bills to avoid going to court." - Sam, keeping it real, yo.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
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That is a very good program for those that want to use imdb data... but please remember if you decide to use it... you have to keep it local only (can't contribute it to online database)... so remember to lock your cast and crew profiles so it doesn't get overwritten.
Pete
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