Quoting Kevin:

Quote:
Of course my "why use numbers at all" isn't an option I see.

Unlike the "use what is in the set" option, this option was covered in the last poll.  Of the 94 people that responded, only 15 wanted to use "Episode Name (no episode numbering)".

Clearly use a standard for all sets.

Quoting TomGaines:

Quote:
I am for a standard.
What would you do, if the menus used something different than the box or the booklet?
The difference could be as simple as "1) ..." in menu and "#1 ..." on the box.
Also if the numbering used is something like "1x01 ...", it would be waste of the 40 characters limit when we already have the season info in the profile title.
And then there are such extrem cases like Simpsons where they use the production number like "8F06" for episode 8 from season 3.

I want to simply see that when it says cast of episode 6 that it would be e.g. the second episode of disc 2 (to match the disc description field). Also it is good information to see how far along in a season you are.
Now that I am thinking about it, the disc description relation is the strongest arguing point for a standardized episode divider.

Same here I've seen too many differences between menus, booklets, and DVD covers for a single release.  I can see way too many ping pongs where someone feels one part of the data is better than another.  Plus what if one season the DVD release uses one form of number but, changes the next season. 

Real question is what is it the number in the divider suppose to represent and what are we really trying to capture here?

I would go with a single standard, partly due to variances in nomenclature sometimes even within the same release between discs, cover, booklets, and/or credits.  But the main reason is that the more consistent and defined the rule, the easier it is to get people to contribute and avoid ping-ponging.  The databse fields that cause the most bickering are the ones left open to interpretation.

In the rules the numbering method must be specific (sequence on the DVD, air date, production, by season, by entire series run, etc), with my preference being order on the DVD starting over with "1." for each season/set.  "Lost episodes" would be tacked to whatever season set the were released with, as well as any between season specials (UK in particular).

Suppose there is a name and number from the creators?  For instance "Bart the Genius (#7G02)"?  To me that should be "2. Bart the Genius" and ignore the "#7G02" (as it is right now in the database).

If there is no episode name from the series on the DVD or other accurate source, then use the episode number as the name, for example "2. Episode 6-2" for the second episode of season 6 of a mythical series.  That is better than just "2." and keeps things consistent by not switching to "Episode 2"

Please allow me to try to clarify this a little, perghaps someone has.

With either issue in this poll there WOULD be a standard. The first standard would be created by the Rules . The second would follow the disc for the standard, with an exception for shows that do not use an Episodse number.

My problem with the first choice is that it is in direct conflict with the Rules. Which says in the Introduction

"The authoritative source for information submitted should be the DVD itself. "

So the second choice is consistent with the Rule whilst the first choice is NOT.

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Quoting Tracer:

Quote:
Skip,
I think the real problem is what really are you trying to gain from this number.  "As credited" as credited what?  It's not the episode title, it's just a number.  If an episode title is listed in the credits it rarely has a number associated with the on screen title credits.  If your saying take the number from the DVD menu, not all menus have a number assocated with the episode title.  If you say take it from the DVD case yeah, a lot of them do have a number of some kind when displayed on the case but, not all.

Are we going to set some kind of first take it from this, then this, if not there then this?

If your going to say as credited then as credited in the TV credits would probably be no number at all, that would be as credited.

Or are we going to start taking the production episode number usually found at the end credits.

Tracy we have provided for those that do not use numbers, the question becomes those that do. IF they use Roman Numerals then the current plan would be in direct conflict with the Rules, or if they use <gasp>alpha. I will grant you that I have NOT seen a departure from either Arabic or None, but that doesn't mean we won't, in fact someone did bring up the Roman Numerals. I don't think we should run the risk of painting ourselves into a corner, which could cause problems somewhere down the road. The easiest way to avoid that is to use the numbering system that Hollywood put on the disc, UNLESS they did not provide one at all, then we use the exception.

I think being able to use the production number somewhere in the program would not be a bad idea at all, but I don't think it belongs in the divider area.
Skip

OR until you say, you know he's got a point here. God forbid that should happen.        

Skip

There is never going to be a perfect answer, Tracy. The question is how close we are able to maintain the standards, that are already in place. There is going to be an exception to just about anything, in ANY database if you look at enough data. but you try to keep them to a minimum and this one does that.


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