There is already a Plugin available for this. Have you tried the LoadDVD plugin?

Quoting chzdhippt:

Quote:
I looked at this, and it somewhat solves the problem, but not completely.

This plugin works great if I am browsing my collection using a computer running the DVDProfiler software and the plugin, but falls a little short of the mark I am aiming for.

I would like to store the UNC Path of the file in the database with the rest of the movie details, so that I can export the XML and have the path included.  This way, I can use the entire catalog (with the network locations) from any interface I choose.  In this case, a set top box running custom software on a linux platform.  I can't run DVD Profiler on it, nor would I want all the extra stuff that I use in DVD Profiler (which I maintain and update from one of my PCs)

I agree that if you are not using DVDProfiler, then a plugin doesn't work for you. The only way your request relates to LoadDVD is that I did in fact explore a number of ways to store the filepath of the media. You could do the same thing. I'll summarize them here:

- Notes field: Notes are included in XMLexport. LoadDVD defines its own filepath specification. I wish instead that I had used standard HTML. SInce the notes field spans all discs in a profile, you need a syntax that associates the electronic media with a specific disc. For LoadDVD, I use a "disc=n" parameter on the filepath specification.

- Location field associated with each disc: Also included in XML export. The only reason that LoadDVD does not use Location for the actual network filepath is that the Location field is limited to 32 bytes. I have a pending request to lengthen that field.

- DecscriptionA and DescriptionB fields associated with each disc:

In LoadDVD, you can define additional media such as trailers, documentaries, etc. associated with a profile as additional "discs." So, for each profile you can have a virtually unlimited number of individual electronic media items actaully cataloged and available to you either inside DVDPro, or as exported XML values.

So, while I agree that you don't need LoadDVD, its paradigm for storing and retrieving pointers to the electonic media may be useful.

I hope this has been helpful.