Merging KMA Files from Backup DVD

[dguillot]

I backed up (copied files to DVD) the songs that I imported from my CDG's. To verify that it worked, I copied the files from the DVD to the 'song directory' on a second computer (with Hoster 3.303 installed). The second computer had 37 songs imported from CDG's. I copied 16 from the DVD into the 'song directory'. I used the Tools/Merge KMA Files, and sure enough, it found 16 new titles and reported that it added them to the database. I opened Hoster, but it still only listed the 37 original songs. I inspected the 'songs.mdb' file and it only had 37 titles in it (the original, none of the copied files). I deleted th edatabase (after saving a copy elsewhere), let it recreate the database after pointing to the directory with all the songs (53 of them, with correct file sizes), and again, only the original 37 showed up. I verified the database table had only 37 entries, although the counter in build routine message box showed 53 (gotta be quick to see it). So I blew the database away again. Copied the database file from the first computer (that the DVDs were made from) to replace the database on the second computer. BTW, the 37 song db was 70K, the db from the second compter was 1.5M. Opened Hoster and still only the original 37 showed up. I rebooted the computer several times through all of these tries, just in case it needed to reload something from the registry. This made no difference. What I can't figure out is, why does it keep coming up with only the original imported 37 songs (after using the merge routine on the 1.5M db file it was back to 70K). I searched the registry to see if there was a link to an old file, but couldn't locate one. Wahat am I missing? I have RTFM'd until I'm cross-eyed as well as the help forum. I don't seem to be able to what I need to solve this problem. I am using W2K+SP4. I believe I've documented the problem completely enough to aid in getting a resolution. If there is more info needed, please ask.
Thanks in advance, Doug

[MTUSUPPORT]

Doug,
I just tested the Merge command and it is working. What I did was Deleted my Songs.mdb. So that I had no songs in the system. I then Imported 1 cd with 12 songs on it, into a Folder Called OriginalDiscID1. I now have 12 songs with Book ID 1 in my database.

I then Deleted my Songs.mdb and moved this above created directory, so it would not be found by Hoster. I then Imported another Disc with 12 songs on it as BookID1 into a directory named Duplicated BookID1. I then closed Hoster, Deleted my Songs.mdb database. Now I moved this folder, so that it would also not be found, when I open Hoster back up. I then Opened Hoster, went to Build Songs Database command. I then set the Folder to the 1st folder listed above, OriginalDiscID1, and told it to build the database. I now have 12 songs in my database, that are BookID 1.

Now I go to the Merge KMA Files Command, and set this folder to the Second directory of Duplicated BookID1. I now click on Merge Files. It now tells me that it is merging 12 songs into the database, and when it finishes I now have 24 songs in my database.

I have noticed if the songs are already in the Database, with the same DiscID it will not merge them, and it will come back and tell you that there are no New Entries. When it merges the files, it then writes the new BookID back to the .kma file, so the statement below could be your problem.

Now, when you copy files from a DVD or CDR, the files will be set to Read Only, you might need to remove this attribute on the file. You do this, by right clicking on the Files, or Folder that you have copied from the Disc. Then Left click Properties. Remove the Check from Read Only.

Let me know what you find.

[MTUSUPPORT]

I just tested this again, also setting the Files to Read Only, as if they were copied from a CD or DVD. This will tell you that they were correctly built into the Database, but in actuallity, they were not. So this most likely is your problem.

Please make sure you check to make sure the files are NOT Read Only.

[dguillot]

Bryan,
You nailed it. That's exactly what it was. The question now is, if Hoster is only reading the files, why should this make a difference? Is this because of the BookID implications when encountering duplicate ID's?
Thanks for your help, I never would have thought to investigate this.
Doug

[mikedomi]

because as a read only hoster can't rewrite the merg bookid's

[MTUSUPPORT]

Dguilliot,
Yes, this is because the files were written to the CD.

We are now adding more error checking to the code to allow us to change the file from Read Only, with your permission, to allow it to programatically write to the file.

This is needed to write the new BookID into it.