Value Converter

[rick.ca]

This is great fun getting tweets about new plugins, but what is this for and how does it work?

Value Converter needs a configuration file named valueconf.cfg that contains entries in following format fieldnumber|value|change to.

fieldnumber
Number and not name? If so, is this message still a valid reference for field numbers?

value and change to
Valid constants, I pressume. Is it the value of the whole field, or can it be a substring? For example, will it work like a "search and replace" to replace specified substrings in a memo field?

Does this change the data in the database, or just how it's displayed?

[nostra]

Number and not name?

It is always with numbers first, because easier to implement ...  

If so, is this message still a valid reference for field numbers?

Use this file http://www.videodb.info/bin/Fields.pas. I will update the file in case numbers change.

Valid constants, I pressume

Anything

s it the value of the whole field, or can it be a substring? For example, will it work like a "search and replace" to replace specified substrings in a memo field?

It does not work as find and replace, but there will be such an option later. It works with whole values, the plugin can separate values in multivalue fields like genre.

Does this change the data in the database, or just how it's displayed?

Yes, it changes data in the database!

[rick.ca]

Valid constants, I presume.

By this, I meant constants but not variables. This is strictly for replacing specified fixed values with "change to" values, not for converting all my budget and box office data from USD to Euros. Right?

the plugin can separate values in multivalue fields like genre.

So I could change the genre "romance" to "chick flick," and a "comedy, romance" movie would become "comedy, chick flick"?

Yes, it changes data in the database!

I suppose we need to be careful then.

How is it invoked—just by the DLL and valueconf.cfg being present when the database is loaded? Is the idea to leave the configuration so the values will be changed whenever a plugin or script "updates" the fields to their old values?

[nostra]

By this, I meant constants but not variables. This is strictly for replacing specified fixed values with "change to" values, not for converting all my budget and box office data from USD to Euros. Right?

Right, but converting USD in Eur is an interesting idea. I'll consider implementing such a possibility as well.

So I could change the genre "romance" to "chick flick," and a "comedy, romance" movie would become "comedy, chick flick"? Cool

That's correct

How is it invoked—just by the DLL and valueconf.cfg being present when the database is loaded? Is the idea to leave the configuration so the values will be changed whenever a plugin or script "updates" the fields to their old values?

All general type plugins are executed with the application itself and ended with it. Such plugins run always in backgound. This particular plugin changes values right before they are going to the database file every time you edit data manually or using a plugin/script.