Step 1
No ASP yet, just preparation.
You might like to start by following any popular naming convention for the filenames of
your mp3s, like "Artist Name - Song Name.mp3". No apostrophes if you want to keep things
simple when you handle the names as strings later on. There is freeware/shareware available
that can speed up this task considerably, I'm using
The Rename.
Store the files in a directory stucture of your choice using the names of artists, albums
and movie sountracks as directory names. Throughout the storing and naming process use
only alphanumeric characters, spaces, underscores and brackets.
...Then
Choices.
I have to say I have become dependent on a Perl method
of listing directories to text files because while it's listing files, a new "index of
artists" page can be generated for the "body" frame of the front page.
However, here's the alternative DOS method I started with originally...
The DOS (simplest) Way
From the root of your MP3 directory tree type:
DIR /S > MP3.TXT
...and produce an accurate text file of all the track names and their paths.
Open it in any text editor and save it with a new name, then do some
searching and replacing.
Things like:
Volume in drive E is MP3_1
Volume Serial Number is 08F5-1C2D
...and
Directory of E:\60s Plus
...and
. <DIR> 15/10/00 6:46 .
.. <DIR> 15/10/00 6:46 ..
...leaving one long continuous list that has this format:
GARBAG~3 MP3 3,580,365 15/10/00 22:33 Garbage - Wicked Ways.mp3
GARBAG~4 MP3 3,881,295 15/10/00 22:33 Garbage - Push It.mp3
GARBA~10 MP3 3,577,857 15/10/00 22:33 Garbage - Special.mp3
This list can be imported into a spreadsheet app and have the columns you don't want
removed. Create a list with just 'Artist' and 'Title' columns, no ' - ' seperator
or '.mp3' extensions. Add the 'Location' column and paste the path from the original
directory listing for each group or gategory, (there will be as many paste operations
as there are directories).
It should end up like this:
When you're happy save the sheet.
Import the spreadsheet into your DB app and save it. This is the basic database to be maintained
and added to as your collection grows. You might want to develop more functionality, like adding
notes, dates and cross-references but for now you just need a database to read from an ASP page.
Make this file a DSN via the Windows Control Panel, ODBC Data Sourses (32bit) applet and you're
ready to access it in your pages. This DOS listing may be a little slow but it's an excellent way
of becoming very familiar with your own collection's specific needs before moving on
to a scripted method.
As my own collection grew, I changed to a PERL method of creating the
formatted CSV list, (which works from within MS Access).
This method creates a fresh "live" list each time, but means no other data can be stored in
the table.
- 1st) The Perl script is run to create the list.
- 2nd) A macro in MS Access is activated which deletes the entire MP3 table.
- 3rd) Then the macro copies an empty duplicate MP3 table and gives it the same name as the deleted one.
- 4th) The same macro then imports the CSV text file to the newly prepared MP3 table.
Previous | Next
Back to chipwork.com.
|
