Managing MediaDB Collections
A collection is a set of books, DVDs and board games, and is stored in a file on
your hard drive. The program can manage any number of collections. The first
time you save your collection, the program will ask for a location and filename.
When the program starts up, it will always load the collection you were working
with last time. The name of the current collection is displayed on the title bar
of the program. If there is a * next to the name, there are unsaved changes.
Managing collections:
- If you want to work with a different collection, just select the
'Open Collection' button on the toolbar, or 'Open' under the 'File' menu. You
will be prompted for the collection to open.
- To create a new, empty, collection; select 'New Collection' on the
toolbar, or 'New' under the 'File' menu. The current collection will be closed
and a blank one opened. You will be prompted for a filename and location when
you save this new collection.
- To make a backup of your collection; select 'Save As' in the 'File' menu.
You will be prompted for a new filename and your collection will be saved in
that file. That file will then become the default collection. (Just open your
old file again if you want to go back to it)
- If you remove items from your collection, the disk space those
items were taking is not freed and is used next time you add an item. To free
up the disk space, select 'Compact Database' under the 'Options' menu.
- Export: The program can export a collection to a comma separated
file (.CSV) that can be read by spreadsheet and other database programs. When
you select 'Export' from the 'File' menu, you will be prompted for a filename
to save to. In this directory, a sub-directory called pics will be created. A
JPG file will be created in this directory for every book or DVD cover image
in your collection. These files will be referenced by the ISBN number and the
CSV file will contain the filename of the image for each book and DVD.
- Import: The program can import a CSV file that is in the exact format that
the program exports.