About incomplete files

Amour · Post by **Amour** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 10:47 pm

What should we do about incomplete files ?

1) We keep them in AniDB, but we mark them as incomplete
2) We delete them from AniDB.

I am asking about this because I added files that will probably stay incomplete forever:
http://anidb.ath.cx/perl-bin/animedb.pl ... 74&nonav=1
http://anidb.ath.cx/perl-bin/animedb.pl ... 72&nonav=1

I added comments about those incompleteness, but only few people might read the comments before starting to download. So maybe I was wrong to add the file. Should I delete them ?

Also, how do I mark when an Anime is dropped by a team ? Or when a team is dead ?

Thank you.

DonGato · Post by **DonGato** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:48 pm

Since when we index to-be files?!

Amour · Post by **Amour** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:00 am

Since when do I need to wait days until a download is finished before adding it to AniDB ? I find the links on French releases websites, but I like to merge everything on AniDB because this place is the best.

But for the files above, they were dropped: should I remove them from AniDB or is there any special feature to flag a file as an incomplete/dropped file ?

Skywalka · Post by **Skywalka** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:11 am

The file is not "incomplete".

You think the ed2k link of that file is valid (or at least you think it is). You don't have the file yourself so you cannot add more information, that's all, but an ed2k link describes everything there is needed to compare a file you might have on your harddrive with the one you added - the ed2k link contains everything necessary for that.

If you do not trust the information, don't add the ed2k link to AniDB.

Period.

As for dropped series: request that on the DB change request forum.

DonGato · Post by **DonGato** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:19 am

Mmmm... I thought he was adding the file without even an ed2k hash. :/
Anyway, I would like to hear exp opinion on this.

Amour · Post by **Amour** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:41 am

Skywalka wrote:The file is not "incomplete".

1) In the past, the file was released.
2) The people who had the file complete decided to stop sharing it.
3) Nowadays, nobody shares a full version of the file, and probably nobody will in the future.

I call this an incomplete/dropped file because only a few parts are available on ed2k.

I opened this topic to know what I should do about those files. I could ask a reshare from the team, but what if the team is dead or doesn't want to ? We need to say to people: DON'T TRY TO DOWNLOAD THIS FILE, IT'S FLAGGED INCOMPLETE. Or we can just remove it from AniDB. What is the best solution ? That's my question.

Skywalka wrote:You think the ed2k link of that file is valid

Sometimes, a preview of the file helps. Some other time, you know because you or somebody you trust had the file, but no longer have (was deleted for example).

Elberet · Post by **Elberet** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 1:35 am

Amour wrote:1) In the past, the file was released.
2) The people who had the file complete decided to stop sharing it.
3) Nowadays, nobody shares a full version of the file, and probably nobody will in the future.

I call this an incomplete/dropped file because only a few parts are available on ed2k.

I think the term "dead file" is used more commonly because it describes more accurately that the file is impossible to obtain via ed2k.

Nevertheless... the database merely contains a set of hashes (md5, sha1, crc32, ed2k) that help people who have a given file identify that file by hashing it and comparing that hash against all files AniDB knows about. If someone were to find that file on an old DVD, hash it and ask AniDB about it, AniDB would find it.

That's what AniDB is. It's an index of anime-related files and their hashes so that people who already have the file can easily identify their copy.

Amour wrote:I opened this topic to know what I should do about those files.

Simple: Nothing.

Amour wrote:I could ask a reshare from the team, but what if the team is dead or doesn't want to ?

Keep in mind that you could also send private messages to those anidb users who have added the file to their mylists. But if nobody is willing to share, you can't get it. Still, this doesn't consider AniDB in the least... AniDB is not trying to help you download files, it's only trying to help you manage your collection.

Amour wrote:We need to say to people: DON'T TRY TO DOWNLOAD THIS FILE, IT'S FLAGGED INCOMPLETE.

No, see above. AniDB's purpose is not to promote or help with downloading.

Amour wrote:What is the best solution ? That's my question.

My answer: Retain the status quo.

Amour · Post by **Amour** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 2:02 am

Ah, thank you for identifying the correct term. We call it the language gap, don't we ?

So, about dead files...
I've added some dead files by mistake. Nobody has those files in their mylist/wishlist. And probably, nobody will. As I figured out too late it was dead files.

I will leave them here anyway, and won't delete them. I hope one day there will just be a feature to flag them as dead.

Post by **exp** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 7:29 am

Well,

basically Elberet said it all.

AniDB is not meant to help ppl download files.
The only requirement (and even that one is simply there to prevent exessive growth of the database) is that a file needs to be or have been publicly accessible somehow (it doesn't matter where).
That means any files which were officially released by some group should be added to anidb. It doesn't matter if they're not likely to be ever available on ed2k for download as long as there remains a tiny chance that someone could obtain that file trough any means someday.
(However, personal rips, edits & co are not wanted in anidb as these are really non-public.)

So in your case simply leave the files as they are now.
I'd even say you should remove the comment from those files.
That's beyond the scope of AniDB.

BYe!
EXP

Snakes · Post by **Snakes** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:32 pm

if we take this a little step further, I'd say that you should add the rest those files that subbing group has released (if you know them from those french release sites you mentioned), even if the files may not be available anymore.
after all, AniDB is a database that collects hashes, and the more info (hashes) it has, the better it gets and I think Elberet put it in such a nice way..

If someone were to find that file on an old DVD, hash it and ask AniDB about it, AniDB would find it.

who knows? it might reappear again in the future and I belive it would be nice when that happens the file is known and gets identified properly when it surfaces instead of letting it slip by and disappear forever..

Edit: Blaaargh! BBCodes