AQUILA
MediaManager (2011) - Help
INDEX
v Installing Aquila MediaManager
v Contact
v Disclaimer and software license
Aquila MediaManager is a Microsoft Visual Basic application for Microsoft Windows and a product of Micbasoft, South Africa. With Aquila MediaManager the user can catalog all songs that are contained on various artists albums (any media), as well as his/her entire CD, Video Disc (DVD/Blu-Ray/etc.), Vinyl, Cassette, MP3 and Video collections. The user can also create wish lists and reports of search results, entire collections and statistical information, which can be saved in Excel, Word or Text file formats and printed.
Aquila MediaManager can be used free of charge for a period of 15 days, after which a software license must be obtained on www.aquilamediamanager.co.za/download.
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INSTALLING AQUILA MEDIAMANAGER
Download the software to your desktop or temp folder. Open the folder, and double-click on "setup.exe". The application will install on your computer and automatically run after installation. If setup detects the absence of the minimum requirements on your computer, setup will abort. Microsoft Access 2007 is required for Aquila MediaManager to function. The current version of Aquila MediaManager had been tested on Windows XP (Service Pack 3), Vista and 7.
If an older version of Aquila MediaManager was previously installed on your computer, use the “Programs and Features” function in Windows Vista and 7 Control Panel (“Add or Remove Programs” on Windows XP) to uninstall the older version before installing the newer version.
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Open a database by selecting the database from the dropdown menu on the main window. The database will open, whether it contains data or not.
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Custom databases allow the user to create a database that can be altered to suite his/her specific database requirements, and can be used for any subject including non-multimedia. The custom database is not as functional as the main databases, e.g. it cannot be used in conjunction with Batch Editor, but it can be searched, documented and printed. The custom database can also be edited by adding more columns, or changing the database or column names. For editing columns, click on the column data row (even if it is highlighted), then check the box “Edit selected column information”.
The user will use custom databases at his/her own risk, as data can be lost by deleting the entire database or one or more columns.
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The specific database has to be open to manage its records. All database records can be added, edited or deleted from the main window, except for converted audio and video files (mp3, wma, etc.) which can be added only from the Compressed Media Manager.
Multiple compressed media audio and video records can be deleted on the main window by activating the Batch Delete function. Select all or some records, and delete. Deleted records cannot be recovered.
When adding various artists’ compilation media, it is best to first add the disc, vinyl record or cassette data to the specific databases before adding the tracks to the VA Compilation track index. This will prevent various versions of the album name, as the album name will be available in the Album field.
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To prevent the risk of losing recorded data, Aquila MediaManager has currently no function to erase entire main databases (VA Collection Tracks, CD, Video Disc, LP, Cassettes). Only the compressed media audio, video and reject databases, as well as wish list and custom databases can be erased. Records of main databases can be deleted one at a time.
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BACKUP AND RESTORE DATABASE FILES
Aquila MediaManager has two major database files in Microsoft Access format which contain the entire database collection, including all resource lists. WARNING: These database files should not be tampered with; else it can render Aquila MediaManager useless. Both these files can be saved in a user selected location for backup purposes by clicking on the Database Backup icon on the main window or Options panel, or by setting one of the auto backup options. The backup files can be restored at a later time if required, but all new information in the current databases will be lost.
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The export function refers to the creation of reports in one of three available formats, namely Word, Excel and Text file formats. You can export all records or only selected records (only Batch Editor and Compressed Media Manager results) to a chosen document format which can be saved or printed out if hardcopies are required.
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While adding records to various databases, the disc, vinyl or cassette quantities can be selected. The purpose of this is for statistical information. Box sets always contain more than one media; therefore you may want to count for example all 10 CD’s of a specific compilation set. In the case of Video Disc or Original Video Cassette databases, more than one film or program can be recorded onto one media for example on both sides of a disc; in which case the first record will indicate the disc quantity as 1, and the rest of the records will indicate the quantity as 0.
While adding a record which has a Distributor or Label that is not in the resource list, add the information to the list immediately without cancelling the record adding procedure by clicking on the “New” button next to the dropdown box.
Film ratings selections will be saved temporarily and will only be saved permanently to a record by “Adding” or “Updating” a record.
Most records can display a cover art image on the main Database Manager by adding an image during record addition or during updating.
Notes and lyrics can also be added for selected record types.
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To edit or delete a record, it has to be clicked even if it is highlighted. WARNING: There is currently no undo function for deleted data.
In the case of more than one misspelled or incorrect data, each record can be updated at once by using the Batch Editor. Open the specific database containing the incorrect data, then on Batch Editor, simply search for the category containing this incorrect data. From the results listed, select all or only some records, supply the correct data that will be used to replace the incorrect data, and click “Update”. Only one category can be updated at one time.
By double-clicking a record in the results list, the applicable incorrect data will be copied to the textbox where it can be edited.
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Create wish lists for multimedia you would like to obtain in the future without forgetting the title or artist information. Lookup wish list items to determine if the titles had been obtained, and automatically have it removed from the wish list (Wish List Eliminator).
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Catalog or stock numbers are used to identify media which is important in the event of loss. If catalog numbers cannot be found during record addition, the record can be updated in the future by searching for all records that have no catalog numbers (on the Options panel).
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The statistical function lists quantities of various categories which can be printed out. Various predefined searches can be conducted on the Statistics form.
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Resource lists assist the user while adding or editing information to a record. List Manager allows the user to add, edit and delete these list items. New resource lists cannot be created.
The <deleted> item in the resource lists cannot be edited or deleted, and is used by Aquila MediaManager to indicate when a list item that had been used in one or more records, was deleted by the user. By editing a record containing the <deleted> item, a new item can be selected to replace the <deleted> item.
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The cassette-to-disc function merely indicates which cassettes had been replaced by a disc version.
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The Compressed Media Manager allows the user to import downloaded or ripped media information by making use of file name data or metatag data (if it exist in the track).
List file names by searching for specific file types in folders on your computer. The user can select any or all the found files to be imported to a database. Before importing, various filter options are available to alter the file name depending on the file name format, in order to gain a specific result during importing.
The recommended file format before importing, is “Artist – Title” (artist>space>hyphen>space>title). If Aquila MediaManager does not recognize the file name format, even after altering the file name, the item will not be imported to the Compressed Audio or Compressed Video databases, but listed in the Rejects database instead.
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On the Database Manager for most media types, the genre for a record can be looked up on the internet by clicking the “internet” button next to the Genre dropdown box.
By right-clicking on a record on the main window, a context menu is accessed which allows the user to copy artist/title or album information, and to instantly lookup an artist/title combination on the internet.
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For any comments, suggestions, or bugs, contact us by clicking on the main window menu Help>Feedback. Any decent comments will be welcomed to help us improve Aquila MediaManager to become more user-friendly and by adding functionality at our discretion.
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DISCLAIMER AND SOFTWARE LICENSE
“This software” refers to the Aquila MediaManager Windows-based application.
This software is provided by the owner, copyright holders and contributors “as is” and any express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are disclaimed. In no event shall the copyright owner or contributors be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of substitute goods or services; loss of use, data, or profits; or business interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of this software, even if advised of the possibility of such damage.
This software comes with absolutely no warranty and we are unable to guarantee that this software will run on your system free of error or that we will be able to provide support or help if you run into problems running it, and therefore are used at your own risk. A help file is available to describe the functions of this software and how it should be used. If you find bugs or any inconsistencies; or for any comments on upgrading Aquila MediaManager, use the Feedback form to contact us.
You may use this software for personal use only and may not distribute or make copies without the permission of the copyright owner.
You are granted a 15 day trial period from installation during which this software will be fully functional. On expiring of the trial period the functions of this software will be disabled. A license key can be obtained online at http://www.aquilamediamanager.co.za, which you should use to activate and unlock the product.
This software can be updated at the discretion of the copyright owner at any time and made available to valid license holders free of charge for minor updates.
The latest version of this software is tested on the Windows XP (Service Pack 3), Vista, and 7 operating systems running Microsoft Office Professional 2007 software licensed by the Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Office Word and Microsoft Office Excel software are required if you want to save your data in one of these file formats and Microsoft Office Access software is required and essential to use this software, for all data is saved in an Access database file.
Any icon images representing logos of other licensed software are specifically linked to the related software.
All rights reserved.
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