Ken:

There have been at least two major threads in the Contrib. Disc. Forum on how best to fix the problems with designating case type.  I refer you to those threads for reference.  Below is the suggestion I made, which everyone (who has expressed an opinion - from all the different camps) so far has agreed eliminates the problems.  Method 1 is the preferred way and least intrusive from a programming standpoint.  I have added a few case types I missed first time around, as well as a number in the list.  That number could serve as a case type identifier as far as the data value that is stored in the DB, with the English text next to it for screen display.

The only thing that this depends on is that the user must decide if the DVD unit in hand is or is not a boxset.  Since a boxset has been defined as "two or more movies, or a season's worth of TV episodes" in its most basic form, that should not be a problem.  This also eliminates the arguments over whether or not a TV box set IS a boxset, because it relies on the actual physical case type and not someone's personal preferences.



Method One                                                              Method Two

BOXSET (Movie or TV)                                            Alternate Method:
                                                                            Add a checkbox to indicate [x] Boxset
1. Keepcases w/Slipcover                                                      Then pick approp. case type
2. Keepcases w/Sleeve                                              1.  Keepcases w/Slipcover
3. Thinpaks w/Slipcover                                              2. Keepcases w/Sleeve
4. Digipak w/Slipcover                                                3. Thinpaks w/Slipcover
5. Digipack w/Sleeve                                                  4. Digipack w/Slipcover
6. Custom                                                                5. Digipack w/Sleeve
                                                                              6. Keepcase
SINGLE TITLE                                                            7. Thinpack
                                                                              8. Digipack
7. Keepcase w/Slipcover                                              9. Custom
8. Keepcase w/Sleeve                                                10. Steelbook
9. Keepcase
10. Digipak
11. Thinpak
12. Custom
13. Steelbook

Method 2 would work as well, but with the checkbox to indicate a box set it would require a field change in the record structure.  Method 1 requires only an expansion of the current list setup and some format tweaks for display.

Skip also came up with a couple idea on how this setup could facilitate the ability to add reissues of a title where the UPC and disc are the same, but the case type has changed, among others.  I urge you to adopt this in the next version.  I believe it will require minimal changes, and maximum effect on fixing the source of controversy that currently exists.

Quoting surfeur51:

Quote:
There is of course another solution, much more simple , and already suggested by some users :

Add a check box for "Slip Case" : the case type should be whatever the "inner" case is and then if there is an outer "covering", check the "Slip Case" check box.

That is essentially what I said in Method 2.  But that is not the easiest because it requires program changes from Ken to make it work.  Method 1 does not require any programming changes.

Quoting surfeur51:

Quote:
There is of course another solution, much more simple , and already suggested by some users :

Add a check box for "Slip Case" : the case type should be whatever the "inner" case is and then if there is an outer "covering", check the "Slip Case" check box.

This I can support, but again, the current system (with Ken's announced changes and further clarification) is absolutely clear to me, so I don't think it's really necessary. IMHO, with the announced changes and a couple of lines in the rules, we're done.

Also: Ken made a conscious decision to eliminate the term "box set" from the case types field, as it was cause for much confusion. Whatever happens, let's not reintroduce "box set" in any way in this department - it's a type of profile, but it has absolutely nothing to do with packaging (simply because a "box set" can be packaged in basically ANYTHING). I counted the words "box set" in Rifter's proposal 7 times, and that worries me no end... 

Quoting hal9g:

Quote:
Quoting surfeur51:

Quote:
There is of course another solution, much more simple , and already suggested by some users :

Add a check box for "Slip Case" : the case type should be whatever the "inner" case is and then if there is an outer "covering", check the "Slip Case" check box.

I prefer this solution.

Naturally, you pick the one that is the hardest to implement.  Why am I not surprised?

Quoting Rifter:

Quote:

Naturally, you pick the one that is the hardest to implement.  Why am I not surprised?

Implementation is not my problem. 

I picked the one that will allow us to most accurately profile the packaging (case type and "slip case" if present).

....

Quoting hal9g:

Quote:
Quoting Rifter:

Quote:
....

Well done!

Oh, just shut up.