Sharing DVDpedia

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jy_nl
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Sharing DVDpedia

Post by jy_nl »

Hi! Just brought DVDpedia and had a question about sharing the database. I've read something about it, but that isn't exactly what I'm looking for.

I've a my main Mac where I organize the cataloge. On this machine I add everything. Then I have a shared folder on a Windows PC where I share some DVD-files. Last I got a Mac Mini connected to my TV and home cinema set to watch the DVD's.

I managed to make a shared database in the shared folder of the Windows PC. However, all of these computers are not always turned on. So that would mean if the Windows PC is turned off, I can't watch my collection on the Mac's. Or if I take my Macbook away to someplace else, I don't have access to the shared folder on the Windows PC, and thus can't access the database. Is it somehow possible to:

Share my collection so that every Mac always has the newest version of the database, and that I can access the database on both Macs - even if they are not connected to the network?
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Conor
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Post by Conor »

With this setup I would keep the main database on the main Mac and then setup an Automator or script to copy the database folder from the main Mac to your other computers when they happened to be connected (this avoids having to have a connection to the other computers to share the database). The main Mac database is where you would make changes and the other two Macs would have copies of the same data. As long as you mount the Windows PC drive with the movie files on it with the same name on the Mac Mini as on the main Mac, then the links will work as they both point to the same volume name.
jy_nl
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Post by jy_nl »

Great, that would indeed be a good solution. I have been thinking about a sync-solution. Does somebody already has an Automator script like that? I'm not really familiar with Automator.
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Post by Conor »

1. Launch Automator
2. Select Files & Folder template (Ask for files and folder now)
3. In the file select dialog select (~/Library/Application Support/DVDpedia)
4. On the left hand side select "Finder"
5. Drag "Copy Finder Items" action to the workflow
6. Select the "To:" pop up and select other and point it to your mounted Mac Mini Volume (/Volumes/MacMini/Users/me/Library/Application Support/DVDpedia)
7. Click on replace existing files check box
8. Repeat steps 5-7 for the other computers
9. Save your automator action for use via double click or to call from a script that runs periodically or one that mounts the other computers and then runs the action.

With so many things going on be sure to backup your data folder often. You can use the export command under the file menu in DVDpedia, there is a backup option that will make an archived copy of your data folder automatically.

Not to overwhelm you but your new Mac comes with an internal sync program that can be another option via the Terminal program. The command would be:

Code: Select all

rsync -avHE "/Users/me/Library/Application Support/DVDpedia" "/Volumes/MacMini/Users/me/Library/Application Support/DVDpedia"
If you add an "n" to "-avHE" the first time it will just do a dry run and you can see if it's going to work.

I got all this from http://www.macosxhints.com/ It's a great place for all kinds of tips on getting the most out of your Mac. And of course there are always programs that do sync such as silverkeeper; but it seems developers are still catching up to Leopard.
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Post by jy_nl »

Thanks Conor, I got the Automator working now. Now, when I update DVDpedia, I just run the Automator and he will copy everything to my Mac mini.
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