I went with
DVDprofiler for this metadata issue. It isn't perfect (ie it is missing data and whole DVDs sometimes), but I found it had more accurate information than any of the other options with CQC.
With DVDPro, you simpy type in the UPC number of the DVD. If someone else has that disk and has added it to DVDPro's database, then that information will be prefilled on your system. Of course that information may be incomplete or worse, inaccurate. But for most disks, the information is complete and accurate. The only disks that I have trouble with are the kids stuff that just isn't as popular as the main stream movies.
Once you have your disk metadata complete in DVDPro, you then export the data into a XML file (it is a feature on the paid version of DVDPro, I don't think you can do this step on the trial version). Then you need to load the
CQC DVDPro XML Repository and point it to the location of your XML file that you exported. The CQC driver will read all the XML information and get all that information into the correct fields. Then all your repository fields and widgets will look right in the IV.
When you get new movies and want to add them to the collection, you have to open DVDPro and get the movie into the program. Then you export the XML file again (overwriting the original file), and then you reload the CQC DVDPro XML Repo. There is a "ReloadDB" field in the driver that you set to "True" and it will read the XML file again. It will not automatically look for updates. So there is a little bit of a manual process to get the movies loaded into the CQC system.
To me, it was worth the $30 for DVDPro to keep from having to enter in 90% of the DVD information by hand into the CQC repository - even if it was just cutting and pasting from a metadata site. But that is just my person opinion. If you don't have a lot of movies, or you don't mind entering in the information, then you can do this without having to pay for another program (like DVDPro), but it will generally require more work.
Hopefuly that helps explain everything.
Brian - a long time user that rarely messes with the system now
Other systems used:
SageTV w/ cablecard tuner & multiple extenders for viewing
BlueIris and IP cameras for CCTV
Incredible PBX for home phone