Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

Movie Database Module Needed

With all the different modules out there for the healthcare industry, and different flavors of dictionaries, it would be really handy if someone like the IMDB (International Movie Database), or Movie Hound, or Leonard Malton did a module dedicated to movies that you could pop in your Visor and take to the movie rental place.

I'd pay for that and keep it in the ashtray in my car. Seems they could cram that type of stuff into a MMC card too.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

You have a memory card? Tomeraider has this at memoware, in several sizes, both TR and the IMDB will run from the card, too, saving space.
I know, I know, it's not pre-packaged...

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

Cool!

I do, I do have a Memplug and an 8MB card! But tell me, its says the files are zipped. Does the database program unzip them on the fly, or do I need a really big card?

I've never done much with databases and I probably should (I do have CSpotRun). Does Memware's reader differ from ThinkDB? I'd like to set up some handy databases sometime and would hate to spend $20 on the Memware product if ThinkDB would provide the same access but offer me a fully functional database program (both desktop and palm).

Last edited by Keefer Lucas on 01-26-2002 at 04:39 AM

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

Not sure which files you are talking about that are zipped. When you go to Memoware, the files are zipped, but have to be unzipped and converted before use.
Go to memoware and pick the database, note the different start dates and variable details, all factors in the size of the database. Next, or first, however you choose to do it, roll on over to Tomeraider and get the software to read the files. The IMDB needs to be unzipped, then converted using the import file you got with the tomeraider download.
The Tomeraider sorts everything in list view, so finding a movie isn't a problem. I'm pretty sure that the TR format is proprietary, so ThinkDB couldn't read it, but memoware has a ton of info already out there for it, and TR also offers a desktop version, but I havn't tried it. Good luck,

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

Danke

Thanks a bunch. Why do I get the sneaking suspition that we could put all this on a 16MB flashcard, superglue it into a Memplug and sell it for $99 as an IMDB Springboard?

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

For Sale:
DamLucas IMDB Card $99.99 + shipping.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

In Spirit

In keeping with Springboard tradition, lets introduce it at $299. After six months we will start offering rebates, and by the time Christmas rolls around it will be in the closeout bin at OfficeMax for $49.

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 366

I have the IMDB database for Tomeraider and I love it. It is actually really nice when you are looking through the TV guide for something to watch, find a movie you never heard of, then search in Tomeraider for information on that movie. Now updated to 2.5.1, searching is really fast, though I have not put a database so large in /Palm/Programs/Tomeraider .

As far as a module goes, I can't see why they didn't. But I do have a pretty good guess. Updating such a module would be a real pain to nearly impossible. With my database, I download the monthly updated database and move it over using a card reader because it is 14.5 MB in size. You would not be able to do that using a flash module or a dedicated module. An SD card might be a bit better but may still require a card reader.

Zipping the file was just a way to shrink file size when downloading it from Memoware and in no way affects how you put it on your card or visor though you do need to unzip it first.

The desktop version of Tomeraider is currently the only supported way of transfering your documents as that coversion program is no longer bundled with Tomeraider for the Palm. Just install the Windows version, run it, open a .tr file, and preview the file and convert it. It is shareware but that in noway affects the conversion of the database.

Tomeraider is VFS-aware but I don't trust large databases like my dictionary (why did I ever get Noah Pro) and movie database. I just keep those files in my PiDirect folder. Runs much faster and cleaner.

Another word of warning when working with large databases: Go back to the Docs page of tomeraider before exiting Tomeraider. I have had numerous strange errors and fatal alerts when I forgot to exit a database before exiting Tomeraider. Deleting the TomeraiderDB file fixed that but it was still very annoying. Just a word of warning.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

TomeRaider

TomeRaider is pester-ware; I hate spending money on software for my Visor. In fact, other than bundled stuff with modules I have, I have never spent a dime on software for my PDA.

I am such a cheap bastard.

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 366

Re: TomeRaider

quote:

---

Originally posted by Keefer Lucas
TomeRaider is pester-ware; I hate spending money on software for my Visor. In fact, other than bundled stuff with modules I have, I have never spent a dime on software for my PDA.

I am such a cheap bastard.

---

I have easily spent $125-150 dollars in Palm software. In fact, I, personally, have spent more on Palm software than on PC software. My dad buys most of those programs. Anyways, Tomeraider's importance to me has waxed and waned over the last few months, but since I got a 128 MB card and downloaded the dictionary for it, I have been quite happy. The dictionary, when used with an expansion card like Memplug SM, is better than Noah Pro. No 1MB VFSCache file in your RAM, and it comes with a thesaurus so you can search for a word a quickly see its definition and jump to other words that are similar.

It is very much pesterware. My dad had an unregistered copy so that he could use the IMDB database (my most used large file next to my History of the World file). However, the thing pestered him so much about registering that using it was very difficult. I like the way Launcher III nags you about registering. My dad (he is beginning sound like you ) has an unregistered version of Launcher III. IT only nags him once a day. That way you are reminded but not so often that you can't get an honest feel for the program.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

My Biggest Problem

My biggest issue is that I leave my OmniRemote module in my Visor all the time; I have a Memplug for backups, but don't use it on a daily basis. I'd like to load the IMDB onto the memory card, and leave the Memplug with the card in the ashtray of my car, so I can pop it in when I go to the Video Store. You can see why I don't want to pay for the software--its not like I'll use it every day.

One major problem is that the PI Launcher software that would allow me to read the IMDB off my CF Card using TomeRaider requires Palm OS 3.5, and of course the VDX runs 3.1. I could move the database on and off my VDX as need be, but it would hardly be convenient.

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 366

You could always put the movie DB in the VFS directory used by Tomeraider (/Palm/Launcher by default but you can change it). In addition, you can get smaller dbs. For example, you can get the compact version of the 1960-current database, or 1980-current database, whatever suits your needs.

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