Dacal Technology DC-300 CD Library II

[Alpha179]

I just picked up three Dacal DC-300 CD Librarys to try and tame my DVD collection.

What I would like to do is to have Xlobby send the command to eject the correct DVD when I select an offline movie. i.e. disk id for The Matrix is 378, I would like the DC-300 to eject that disc. It uses a simple db and software package to control them.

On a related note, What software should I use to capture the commands that a software package sends, like in my DC-300 problem. What should I use to capture the command that the database and software sends to the physical devices. I am also interested in learning how to capture commands insde a software package. That way I can do a lot of what I would like myself and not bother you with trivial things that would not be a mainstream feature.

Thank you,

Alpha179

[rhitt]

Good news is I'm currently doing this with Xlobby and the 150 units using DVD Profiler, the Dacal software and Girder. Pretty slick you click on the play button within the skin and it announces, locates and spits out the correct DVD... The kids love it.

Bad news I am leaving for HI for training this Sunday for 11 days and won't be able to post or write up anything until I get back. If you can wait and/or you can't solve this any other way I would be glad to assist.

For how much and where did you get the 300 unit??

hittr

[Alpha179]

Great News. There is absolutely no problem waiting for a couple of weeks.

The DC-300 only holds 150 discs just like the smaller one, but has a keypad and led window for offline disc retrieval. They cost me 440 for the 3 of em. I was waiting to order more until I found out if they would work with Xlobby the way I wanted it to. Once I have these up and running I am ordering 9 more. That should keep me for a couple of months.

[rhitt]

You're worse than I am. I'm controlling three units right now. I looked up the information for the DC-300 and it looks like the same software, which is key. So I'll come up with a write up and post something back when I return.

If any one else is interested I also have some custom integration for pre-movie manager that I could peice together as well.

hittr

[Alpha179]

rhitt, any update on this? I havn't played with girder yet as I haven't needed it till now. What I have done is add the collection number to the offline-movie screen, which helps a liitle.

Is there a way to have xlobby do something like this:

if x is > 0 and =< 150, then x = x; returns x from 1 to 150.
if x is > 150 and =< 300, then x = (x-150); returns library 2 and x from 1 to 150.
if x is > 300 and =< 450, then x = (x-300); returns library 3 and x from 1 to 150.

I know the syntax isn't worded correctly but I hope you understand the ghist of it. Basically, I want to divide my offline collection into groups of 150 and add the library. I know this is possible from outside of xlobby, just wondering if it can be done on the fly from inside xlobby.

I am using DVD profiler to cataloge my entire collection.
Alpha179

[Alpha179]

Yes I do have a large collection. I get 50-60 DVD's each month (Retired and nothing to do). I looked into putting everything on hard drives but doing the math: 1800 disc x 4.5 gb / 200 gb = 40.5 200 gb hard drives. That would be a hugh drive array and cost would be quite high.

I looked at crazypc when I ordered the first 3, but their shipping was really out of line ($45 per unit). I see that they have it down to $15 now so not a bad deal.

I was hoping to do it on the fly or on the import. I could enter it in by hand but that would take a bit of time, and would need to be done again next time I updated the list.

The door is spring-loaded. An internal mechanisim that ejects the disc, also opens the door. A robot arm like the ones in Radio Shack could remove the disc and set it in the tray. That would be an interesting setup!

I'll get the pics you wanted posted in the next day or so.

Alpha179

[rhitt]

OK. Let me set this up first on how I do things, which definitely is not the most straight forward or even the best way to go about it but it works for me.

At this point I have three Dacal DC-101 units. Each unit is assigned it's own single digit, at this point, number. Each unit has 150 slots so all the slots in the first unit are referenced as 1001-1150, each slot in the second unit is referenced as 2001-2150, etc...

When I get a new DVD from the store I enter it into DVD Profiler, which then following an export gets it into Xlobby. What ever name is returned from DVD Profilers database I have to scrub for any extended punctuation and preceeding the's. I don't like have 50 movies under "the something" to wade through in the Xlobby interface.

Then I find the next available slot in the DC-101 software and enter the title exactly as it is entered in DVD Profiler.

The DC-101 software must be running in the background and can be minimized, you may want to setup an event to fire it off if it isn't already running when you enter the DVD section of Xlobby so the whole thing doesn't fall down at this point.

The event for Play within my DVD section of Xlobby is the following
OS, Execute File
C:\program files\girder32\event.exe
movieselect 18 1 "movies>title%" -silent

The movieselect event within Girder is what performs all the magic and is pasted below within the entire CL Lib group. Let me know if you have any questions or run into any problems.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Girder><Group Name="CL Lib" Identifier="67" Enabled="TRUE"><MultiGroup Name="Open/Close CL Lib" Identifier="68" Enabled="TRUE"><Comments>TryIt</Comments><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><Command Name="Open CL Lib" Identifier="69" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>TRUE</Topmost><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>2</ActionType><ActionSubType>14</ActionSubType><sValue1>C:\Documents and Settings\HITT HTPC\My Documents\Batfiles\CD Manager.lnk</sValue1><iValue2>10</iValue2><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3></Command></MultiGroup><MultiGroup Name="Select" Identifier="73" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><Command Name="Wait" Identifier="16179" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>TRUE</Topmost><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>1</ActionType><ActionSubType>7</ActionSubType><iValue1>400</iValue1><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3></Command><Command Name="Select Search" Identifier="16348" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Target_name>CD Library DC 101 Application</Target_name><Target_class>TMainForm</Target_class><Target_exe>CDLIB.exe</Target_exe><CTarget_class>TPageControl</CTarget_class><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>FALSE</Topmost><MatchBy>135</MatchBy><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>3</ActionType><ActionSubType>3</ActionSubType><iValue1>1</iValue1><iValue2>524308</iValue2><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3></Command><Command Name="Wait" Identifier="16180" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>TRUE</Topmost><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>1</ActionType><ActionSubType>7</ActionSubType><iValue1>400</iValue1><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3></Command><Command Name="Clear" Identifier="16349" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Target_name>CD Library DC 101 Application</Target_name><Target_class>TMainForm</Target_class><Target_exe>CDLIB.exe</Target_exe><CTarget_name>Clear</CTarget_name><CTarget_class>TButton</CTarget_class><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>FALSE</Topmost><MatchBy>199</MatchBy><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>3</ActionType><ActionSubType>3</ActionSubType><iValue1>1</iValue1><iValue2>786455</iValue2><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3></Command><Command Name="Wait" Identifier="15956" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>TRUE</Topmost><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>1</ActionType><ActionSubType>7</ActionSubType><iValue1>400</iValue1><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3></Command><Command Name="Enter Selection" Identifier="15800" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Target_name>CD Library DC 101 Application</Target_name><Target_class>TMainForm</Target_class><Target_exe>CDLIB.exe</Target_exe><CTarget_class>TEdit</CTarget_class><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>FALSE</Topmost><MatchBy>135</MatchBy><OneMatch>TRUE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>TRUE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>3</MatchNum><ActionType>6</ActionType><ActionSubType>34</ActionSubType><sValue1>[pld2]</sValue1><sValue2>TRUE</sValue2><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3></Command><Command Name="Wait" Identifier="15910" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>TRUE</Topmost><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>1</ActionType><ActionSubType>7</ActionSubType><iValue1>600</iValue1><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3></Command><Command Name="Select Movie" Identifier="15909" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Target_name>CD Library DC 101 Application</Target_name><Target_class>TMainForm</Target_class><Target_exe>CDLIB.exe</Target_exe><CTarget_class>TDBGrid</CTarget_class><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>FALSE</Topmost><MatchBy>135</MatchBy><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>3</ActionType><ActionSubType>5</ActionSubType><iValue1>1</iValue1><iValue2>1966191</iValue2><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3><lValue1>2201</lValue1><lValue2>322</lValue2><lValue3>29</lValue3></Command><Command Name="OSD" Identifier="16399" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>TRUE</Topmost><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>48</ActionType><ActionSubType>1</ActionSubType><sValue1>Now locating "[pld2]"
Please wait</sValue1><sValue3>|-64|700|0|0|0|0|0|65280|0|0|0|1|0|64|128|4|4|8421504</sValue3><iValue1>584746312</iValue1><iValue2>65535</iValue2><iValue3>16711720</iValue3><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>TRUE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3><lValue2>4587958</lValue2></Command><Command Name="Announce Movie" Identifier="16398" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>TRUE</Topmost><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>116</ActionType><ActionSubType>9</ActionSubType><sValue1>1 2 3 4 . Now locating [pld2] please wait</sValue1><sValue2>Microsoft Sam</sValue2><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3></Command><EventString Name="EventString" Identifier="17893" Enabled="TRUE" Invert="FALSE" Device="18" IrStr="movieselect"></EventString></MultiGroup><MultiGroup Name="Test" Identifier="16347" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><Command Name="Check for Window Existence" Identifier="16351" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Target_name>CD Library DC 101 Application</Target_name><Target_class>TMainForm</Target_class><Target_exe>CDLIB.exe</Target_exe><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>FALSE</Topmost><MatchBy>4</MatchBy><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>4</ActionType><ActionSubType>13</ActionSubType><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3><lValue1>73</lValue1><lValue2>16353</lValue2></Command><EventString Name="EventString" Identifier="16352" Enabled="TRUE" Invert="FALSE" Device="203" IrStr="movieselect"></EventString></MultiGroup><Command Name="OSD" Identifier="18011" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>TRUE</Topmost><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>48</ActionType><ActionSubType>1</ActionSubType><sValue1>Now locating "[pld2]"
Please wait</sValue1><sValue3>|-64|700|0|0|0|0|0|65280|0|0|0|1|0|64|128|4|4|8421504</sValue3><iValue1>584746312</iValue1><iValue2>65535</iValue2><iValue3>16711720</iValue3><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>TRUE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3><lValue2>4587958</lValue2><EventString Name="EventString" Identifier="18012" Enabled="TRUE" Invert="FALSE" Device="18" IrStr="movietest"></EventString></Command><Command Name="Check for CD Lib" Identifier="18313" Enabled="TRUE"><StateCount>1</StateCount><StateBegin>1</StateBegin><StateCurrent>1</StateCurrent><StateInvert>FALSE</StateInvert><OSD>FALSE</OSD><Target_name>CD Library DC 101 Application</Target_name><Target_class>TMainForm</Target_class><Target_exe>CDLIB.exe</Target_exe><Submatch>FALSE</Submatch><Topmost>FALSE</Topmost><MatchBy>4</MatchBy><OneMatch>FALSE</OneMatch><UseVar>FALSE</UseVar><MatchHidden>FALSE</MatchHidden><MatchNum>1</MatchNum><ActionType>4</ActionType><ActionSubType>13</ActionSubType><bValue1>FALSE</bValue1><bValue2>FALSE</bValue2><bValue3>FALSE</bValue3><lValue2>68</lValue2><EventString Name="check cd lib" Identifier="15953" Enabled="TRUE" Invert="FALSE" Device="18" IrStr="check_cd_lib"></EventString></Command></Group></Girder>