teceem Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 When I read around on this forum I have the impression that there's a big majority here that uses Launchbox as a ROM launcher. I on the other hand am hoping it can replace Collectorz Game Collector as my games database front end. A while ago I sent a feature request to Collectorz asking for a possibility to add local videos (instead of just a youtube player) to the games "details" page. The answer I got was pretty off-putting: "nobody wants that, and they're focusing on "the cloud". Since I dislike everything DRM (I can't view a video from within my database if I'm offline or the youtube video is removed), LB seems like a possible perfect replacement! So I'd like a way to import my Collectorz database (txt, xml, csv). I'm sure I'm not the only one that has made the move to LB from some other database (program)? I have 2 collections in Collectorz: my boxed PC games and my GOG collection. I made a crude conversion of my GOG database by scanning the installation exe files in my GOG folder, but transferring all my manual additions would be a giant undertaking... So I'm not only asking for a simple import, but also to import data in an existing LB database (e.g. replace the LB descriptions with the descriptions from a csv file). I've seen this request (or something like it) on this forum somewhere, but it was an old topic. Is this really a low priority? Are "database converts" such a small minority that the LB developer doesn't want to invest time in it? And something else: how about adding the front cover to the details pane? (especially for when viewing in list mode). And the Box - Front reconstructed should be view-able as a replacement for Box - Front for all those digital-only releases! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spycat Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 Hi teceem. On the subject of showing the Box front in the Details pane (LaunchBox right sidebar), currently the direct options don't allow for Box fronts. As a workaround go to Tools, Options, Screenshot Priorities and tick the Box-front box. This will add the game Box covers to the Details pane. If you want the Box to show above the game screenshot, just move it up the priorities list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teceem Posted December 16, 2016 Author Share Posted December 16, 2016 (edited) 35 minutes ago, spycat said: As a workaround go to Tools, Options, Screenshot Priorities and tick the Box-front box. This will add the game Box covers to the Details pane. If you want the Box to show above the game screenshot, just move it up the priorities list. Ideally, I'd like it above the description, separate from the screenshots. But this is already a huge improvement! Thanks a lot, spycat! edit: has the following been requested yet? I'd like the pictures on the details pane to be scaled (up or down) to a maximum width (px). Preferably a custom setting per type... Edited December 16, 2016 by teceem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightcraw1er Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Hi, I am also wondering about support for external data import. Much like teceem's initial post, I have a vast library (and I am talking at least 10k records) over various platforms, varying information, stores etc. I have spent many hours getting this into some sort of shape using the "other" db, so would be very interested in a feature to import that hard work from csv/xml rather than starting again. Actually lauching things doesn't interest me much, just the databasing side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crush Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 If you want a pure fully-customizable database i would suggest to check Filemaker. I use it to keep track of my boardgame collection and it is easy to use with plenty of features (cross linked databases, full record customization, scripting, e.t.c) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightcraw1er Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 Thanks for the tip Crush, I will have a look at that software. Been through various incarnations over the years, much like most I would imagine (Excel, Sizimi etc). So would be nice to find one near to what I imagine, otherwise I will end up building my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillonm Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 (edited) Yeah me too. I also use Game Collector and I'd love to convert to using Launchbox. The fact I cant import is the only reason preventing me from switching to Launchbox just now. I've got over 1000 PC games and Ill be damned if I need to manually input all those games back in LB to use it. Game Collector exports to txt file, xls and csv. Surely it cant be that difficult for Launchbox to support reading from them? Edited February 11, 2017 by dillonm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damageinc86 Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Same thing here. But with databases from the Hyperspin xml files. Even with the new playlist feature, I can't seem to just tick a box like it was in filters, and get all of the games under Arcade, from a certain developer. I have typed the name in the search, but I never get the same amount of games show up in Launchbox as I have in my HS databases. Unless you can add to a playlist in the audit feature? Maybe that would be a decent solution. But still, so much easier to just import an already finished database and have it match the game names from that and import those into a playlist, or a platform if you are doing a first import. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillonm Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 (edited) Here is a very small (11 games) export in xml and txt format from Game Collector - for anyone that wants to have a shot at converting into Launchbox. Cheers. export.xml export.txt Edited February 20, 2017 by dillonm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ize Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Well, it's not hard to convert those (horribly formatted) xml files to launchbox format: However it's just not worth it to convert it 1:1 since alot of what launchbox is asking for is missing and theres no way to get the launchbox id to access the graphics and other metadata. What i could do, is generate a folder structure from the xml files which you could then import into launchbox via the import wizard, that would then also get the correct id's from launchbox database and scrape everything automatically. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillonm Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Whatever you could manage Izegod would be a tremendous help to many people I'm sure. Many thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ize Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 (edited) OK here it goes: You need Python 2.7 (https://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.7.13/python-2.7.13.msi) Copy the attached file into a folder with your export.xml from GCZ GC and doubleclick it... Depending on how many games are in the xml file you might see a console window or it will just flash and close again. You will now have a folder named "output" which contains all your game titles with the extension .IZE (lol :P) Start LaunchBox In LaunchBox goto Tools->Import->Rom Files... Next -> Add Folder and choose the new "output" folder. Click Next Choose the platform for the games (for your example choose Windows) and click next Choose an "Emulator", which one doesn't matter and click next Choose "Use the files in their current location" and click next Click both checkboxes if you want or just leave the launchbox db checked and click next Choose your desired art and click next Emumovies? Click next You can uncheck everything here if you want and click next Launchbox will now parse the files and show you an overview, click FINISH! Launchbox will now import all the games and download the metadata and graphics. After the import process you can delete the output folder. Hope it works for you conv.py Edited February 21, 2017 by Izegod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillonm Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Thank you so much Izegod. Ill give this a try tonight. Ill let you know how it goes! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillonm Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 It didn't work I'm afraid. I gave it a quick try on my break and out of over 1000 games in my export file - it only created 111 ize files. The ize files appear to be empty as well - 0 kb. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ize Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 They are supposed to be empty ? Upload the XML file and I'll take a look... I probably already know why it doesn't work ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillonm Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 (edited) Here you go - thanks! The last game it creates an ize file for is Championship Manager 4 export.xml Edited February 21, 2017 by dillonm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ize Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Here is the fixed? script which generates 1.117 files for me. Holy moly... now i know why you don't want to add all by hand conv2.py Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillonm Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Great stuff thanks! I'll give this another try when I get home. Yeah few years worth of bargain game collecting there lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillonm Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 Worked this time Izegod. Many thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ize Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Great! maybe it will be of use to someone else in the future too I took a look at the collectorz software and wow... is it horrible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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