Connecting to database on server

[DenS]

I have been a long time user of Movienizer until they pulled a fast one and started charging for their latest update, without any prior notification. I do not mind the charge but just the way they did it. You install the new update and then find out there is a time limit unless you pay... very poor practice. To boot their license is for one computer only...

I thought I found a replacement with PVD until i discovered, and read here, that it will not work on a mapped shared drive. I store my movie data on a shared drive and access it from at least two computers. I did see that you mention a server for this purpose but can not locate any information on just what it does.... I find this a serious limitation considering how many households are networked and sharing information.

So for now thank you for this great database, I will continue my search for a Movienizer replacement.

DenS
 

[patch]

I thought I found a replacement with PVD until i discovered, and read here, that it will not work on a mapped shared drive. I store my movie data on a shared drive and access it from at least two computers. I did see that you mention a server for this purpose but can not locate any information on just what it does....

The PVD Database needs to be on the same computer as the database engine (firebird) runs.
I think the movies files can be on a mapped drive (but have not tested that)

If you have a computer network with several computers accessing PVD, then a network installation works very well.
This involves putting firebird on one computer with the PVD data file.
Multiple users on multiple computers can then access this database via their own PVD instance.
See Wiki And current limitation

[DenS]

Thanks... will give it a go...


Do you have an import funtion? I can export a list of my movies in Excel or text format.

DenS

[patch]

Do you have an import funtion? I can export a list of my movies in Excel or text format.

There is a menu called import, at the bottom of which cvs file and excel are listed.
You may want to configure these plugins first via
Tools -> Preferences -> Plugins -> CVS or MS Excel (as appropriate)

Most Important data to bring across would be
1) Movie identification eg Name, Year, url to preferred online database eg imdb
2) Path to where your copy of movie is (most importantly the file name as path can be updated)
3) Image files can be transferred but not as easily
4) Other data can readily be downloaded once in PVD

[DenS]

OK, I installed Firebird and verified that the service is running.
I entered the following into the Connect to server field:

192.168.1.108:E:\Our Data\PVD-Movies\MOVIES.PVD

"E:" is the drive designation used by the server to get to the file.
I can see the MOVIES.PVD file form the client via the path:

\\MUSIC\Our Data\PVD-Movies\MOVIES.PVD

BUT get the error attached.. any ideas?

The import from Excel went OK and I started to update the data without a hitch..

Thanks
DenS

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[rick.ca]

"E:" is the drive designation used by the server to get to the file.

This sounds like you're referring to a mapped drive, rather than a physical drive attached to the server.

Have you read the wiki entry Connect to server? And parts of this recent thread may be helpful.

...and read here, that it will not work on a mapped shared drive.

Can you recall which post created this impression?

[DenS]

Yea!

The solution was two fold from the post "And parts of this recent thread may be helpful."
My attempts to attach to the server were always to a physical drive..

• naming the server MUSIC from this suggestion "server:E:\Users Shared Folders\me\My Documents\Personal Video Database\movies.pvd - FB on a remote server, local path on server - WORKS!"
  
• addding the TCP port 3050 exception to the Windows firewall on the server.

My connection now looks like this:

MUSIC:E:\Our Data\PVD-Movies\MOVIES.PVD

Where MUSIC is the name of computer where the Firebird database service is running.
"Our Data" folder and the sub-folders under it are shared.

As for the mapped drive not working, I meant placing the database on a mapped drive without using the Firebird server. I have not tried accessing a mapped drive using the Firebird server.

Thanks for all your help and this great program... I will now spend s bit of time updating my imported movies, learning the program and adding PVD to my other computers.

DenS

[buah]

As someone who also gave a chance to a Movienizer, all that I can say is that they're simply not comparable. Wish I discovered PVD two years ago...