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Topic: Database related question - Page: 1

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Hi. I have two external hdds (2 maxtor 300GB). Today I have bought a Seagate hdd 1,5 TB. All the data on two maxtor I have copied on the new hdd. I have now 2 database files (one on every maxtor hdd) and I'll have 1 database on the new hdd (containing both database files on the old hdds). Question: how can I merge the 2 database files in order to NOT lose information in old database files? Thanks.
 
Posted Wed 18 Nov 09 @ 1:59 pm
Hi mariushallangos,

maybe i'm wrong, but in my eyes the only way is, to copy your HD's with VDJ.

Means, plug in your first HD and copy with the VDJ browser the hole first old HD to your new one.
After that, take the second HD.

So VDJ tranfer the tracks and the database informations from A zu B.
VDJ create a new database on your new big HD

If you use for exapmle the Windows Explorer or simular to copy from A zu B, no database informations will be tranported.
So you must match both old databases to one new and i don't know how this can work.
In your case.

Maybe somebody else know a better way.

Haui
 
Thanks. I already have copied the data with total commander. I think I managed to merge the 2 database files. I replaced the driveletter in the first xml file than copied the text contained by the first xml into the second xml file. And I have some info (i think all the info is there).
 
mariushallangos wrote :
Thanks. I already have copied the data with total commander. I think I managed to merge the 2 database files. I replaced the driveletter in the first xml file than copied the text contained by the first xml into the second xml file. And I have some info (i think all the info is there).


Keep your old drives as backups until you have confirmed the database is intact and all your info is there.

Anyway, I'd keep those two drives as backups anyway ;-)

Roy
 
GadgetMan wrote :

Keep your old drives as backups until you have confirmed the database is intact and all your info is there.

Anyway, I'd keep those two drives as backups anyway ;-)

Roy


You know what? I was thinking of that...thanks.
 
2 weeks ago I crashed my external hard drive containing all music + covers. This happened while VDJ was not running so no risk of corrupting the database. I did not restart VDJ until restore.

I then restored files from a home backup drive onto a new external drive. I checked that drive letter was similar to those used VDJ DB xml file.
I then restarted VDJ and to my bad surprise, most, yet not all, songs were considered as new, therfore losing all cue, bpm values and adjustments, and other non iD3 data.

Directory structure and drive letter were identical. Drive name was changed, but this name does not appear in the db file.

These are counteless hours of work lost.
- How can I prevent this from happening again ?
- Is there any utility to batch move some of the VDJ fields into ID3 tags to save some of the work along with the files (granted, not all VDJ fields have equivalents as ID3 tags) ?

Patrick
 
Hey Patrick sorry to hear that.

What I do is backup my HD any time I change or import new media, including the XML file of the drive affected by the change, this way you are current with the backups to minimize the type of disaster you are experiencing.

Joey...
 
Thanks Joey,

The good news if that I did a backup before my massives changes, the bad one being that I wanted to wait until all edits were done before starting the backup.

Anyway, what caused the damage is the fact that VDJ considered all files from the restored backup as new songs. Thsi is what I am trying to understand and avoid happening again. Maybe I need to get back to the manual and check the XML files structures as I lived with the idea that there was only one XML file for all drives stored on the My Documents folder.

Patrick
 
Hi Patric

All you need to do is copy all the files to the new drive and also copy the XML database from the old drive in the root directory to the new drive root directory and that's it, it's like cloning the original drive.

Good Luck

Joey...
 
I don't believe the XML file saves cue info, tags, etc. It is just the search database. I have moved songs where I saved a cue point from one hard drive to a new hard drive, and the cue points stayed there without copying the XML file.

I think your folder tree in VirtualDJ should be identical to Windows Explorer or whatever is similar for MAC without using Virtual Folders. I only use Virtual Folders for temporary purposes, such as where you have specially requested songs for a particular gig which I delete after the gig. I also have playlist files under the Playlists section of the folder tree.

You should have identical folder structures on another hard drive as backup. I have been using this great free backup program called SyncBack - http://www.2brightsparks.com/downloads.html. Scroll down to SyncBack Freeware V3.2.19.0. It allows you to easily backup and synchronize hard drives so that your files on the hard drives are identical. So heaven forbid one of your hard drives crashes, you have everything backed up on the other hard drive. I have 3 backup sources -- desktop hard drive, another external hard drive, and internal hard drive on my Denon HD2500. The backup time is amazingly fast with SyncBack, and is much quicker than just copying the files using Windows Explorer.
 
ok im going to pick up a external hd today...so what im not understanding is the xml and copying from all the searching i been doing...so somebody please explain with a lil more detail please...i want to copy from my gig machine all my songs videos cue points and what ever related to vdj ....
 
Mistah_P,

When going from internal to external your best bet is to move the files from within VDJ. That way the cue points and all other data saved in the DB by VDJ will be moved also.

Cheers,

Roy
 
Roy,

so how do i do that...give me the moving files for dummies..version..

JP
 
I'll have to give it a go and get back to you. I just heard that this feature had been added.

BRB...

Roy
 
Right,

Done it...

1. Go to the folder in the browser you want to move. I did a sub-folder but I am certain it will work on parent/root folders.
2. Right-click on the folder and select "Move-to" from the menu
3. A popup drive/folder dialog will appear and then simply select the new location

Done.

I also made sure I chose a folder that had extended file information in the database such as cue points, and when I reloaded them aftre the move, the cue points were there.

Cheers,

Roy
 
is that a copy or a move? im not at home yet..but im headed there so i guess ill wait and ask when i try it. lol...
 
You can do either ;-)

Roy
 
Hey JP

1. Open explorer find your main music folder right click and drag to the new drive and sellect copy.

2. Do this procedure for your Videos, and other files you need backing up in case of a failure.

3. Go to C:\Documents and Settings\"your name"\My Documents\VirtualDJ of your boot drive and find VirtualDJ Database v6.xml or VirtualDJ Database v5.xml depending on the version you're using and copy that to the new drive, and that's it.

4. if you need to restore just make sure you copy the XML file back to the VirtualDJ directory as above.

5. If you need to backup an external drive the file copy procedure is good, but in an external drive the XML file exist in the root directory of that drive, so you would have to copy it back to the root of the drive you are restoring if you ever need to restore from a backup.

Example E:\VirtualDJ Database v6.xml or VirtualDJ Database v5.xml depending on the version you're using.

Good Luck

Joey....
 
Joey,

Yes you can do this in explorer, but you will lose all the extended info in the database as VDJ uses the path & filename as the key.

If you move the folder using the new menu options in VDJ, not only will it move the files, but retain the database info such as cues etc.

Cheers,

Roy
 
Question: isn't all that infomation in the XML File?

Joey...
 
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