Challange #1
 

I am a geek, but I'm not yet of sufficient geek status to do what I want to...after I finish up the next few tests here I'm going to throw myself at PHP, and maybe C+, both of which could accomplish my goal.

The Dilly:

I archive data to DVDs. This is good. In order to know what's on the DVD, I type a description. This is also good. Sometimes, however, since DVDs hold a LOT of stuff, there's LOTS of different things on the DVD. Then I basically have to generate (by hand) a file tree, and type in all the directories that it contains, the files, etc.

What I want is to be able to insert the burnt disc in the drive and have a program that will read the directory structure and create a DVD insert (the big kind, for the full cases) that displays this information. Preferably, it would have a field to declare the title for the disc and the date.

Does such a product exist yet?

If not, anyone feel bored?

MPEDrummer

You could always make a template in Word that fits the dimensions of the case and use a small font so the directory listing will fit on a few pages. Then just go to DOS and type "dir d: /S > c:\blah.txt" Cut and paste into the DOC file. Print it on a duplex-capable printer if you want.

So far, so good. This is quite cool.

Is there a flag that I could set to ignore certian file extensions?

MPEDrummer

Short answer, no.

You could make multiple batch files. One for each file extention you wanted. But then you would have to merge them together.

Each one would look something like this:
dir d: /s *.exe >blah1.txt
dir d: /s *.dll >blah2.txt

This would grab all the exe's on the d drive but then you would have to manipulate the resulting files to get the directory structure correct.

What is you timeframe on this?

Oh, there's no timeframe...whenever.

I'm just looking at the formatting I'm doing by hand, and I realize that I (or someone else) could probably make the computer do it for me, and it would be less of a PITA.

MPEDrummer

Interesting...hrdwareguy...I couldn't get your commands to work at...work...where I have Win2000 Pro, but at home (XP Pro) it does.

On Win2K, the /s overrode everything every time.

MPEDrummer

you can always get dirprinter

if you want to use the dir D:\*.* /s deally and ignore certain extensions do this..

go here-> http://www.jpsoft.com
download and install 4nt
run 4nt

do the following

--- cut here
d:
except (*.txt,*.vss,*.ncb) dir *.* /s >&C:\foo.txt
--- end here

its pretty self explanatory, the *.whatever in the () are the ones to ignore


if you want to add it to an existing file do >>&c:\foo.txt
(two > instead of one )

the & means *all* output, including any errors.

Charlie, you rule. As soon as I get off work, I'll go try that.

MPEDrummer

Well, having tried both suggested programs...I've decided that I like the current way of doing it better anyway. Basically, I have to format a lot of things by hand, even if I do exculde certian crap files, like *.bak etc...there's still necessary file extensions that have unnecessary files that are fairly impossible to filter using either function...

I'll figure something out, or just get over it. :)

Either way, doesn't matter. Takes longer to burn the DVD than it does to format the cover, so I'm ahead of the curve either way.

Thanks for all your help!

MPEDrummer

post an example of the dir list you are obtaining, then follow it with the layout you'd like to see.

The layout isn't really the issue...I'm generating backups that have thousands of .wav files on them (from my studio projects) and not all are relevant...I think I've just realized that since the relevant files are different every time, and don't necessarily follow a logical pattern, it would be a huge list of exceptions to program/script.

Thanks
MPEDrummer

I use a program called Where is it? to cataloge all my disks. It creates an archival list of everything on the diska nd assigns them a disk number. you can then browse the disks in an explorer type setting or search for what you are looking for and it will display which disk it's on. I think it is about $30 to buy, but wellworth the money.

We also use it at work to keep track of 6000+ Cds/DVD of archived art data. Itruely believe this was teh best spent $30 I have even spent.

Don't forget our old DOS friend "tree"!

tree /f

Volume serial number is 0006FE80 6038:DEFD
C:.
„_ winscp.RND
„_
„¥„Ÿ„Ÿ„Ÿcygwin
„_ „_ c.lnk
„_ „_ cygwin.bat
„_ „_ cygwin.ico
„_ „_ d.lnk
„_ „_ w.lnk
„_ „_
„_ „¥„Ÿ„Ÿ„Ÿbin
„_ „_ a2p.exe
„_ „_ addftinfo.exe
„_ „_ addr2line.exe

and so on...

of course this will look like crap when posted. Looks nice in the console window.

i would use cuecat as a barcode scanner and write my own indexing library in mySQL and c++. There are libraries to interface with the cuecat and create barcodes for you so all you need to do is write some software. This way you can "look" at the disk without taking it out and putting it into your drive or you can do a search in your Database and find the proper disk that way.

Actually, Boner, if you output it to a text file, and open it in Word as "OEM United States" it looks the way it's supposed to...I'll have to play with it a bit at home after work.

Thanks
MPEDrummer