XML Submission to Redump >THE FUTURE OF REDUMP.ORG DUMPING< @iRobot

[user7]

Imagine a future where - instead of inputting the data manually into the submission template - most of it was done for you? Don't believe it? Well the future can be NOW!

Recently DICUI implemented a "!SubmissionInfo.txt" output file when dumping, this file aggregates all data that needs to be submitted:

Code: Select all

Title: (REQUIRED)
Disc Number / Letter: (OPTIONAL)
Disc Title: (OPTIONAL)
System: IBM PC Compatible
Media Type: CD-ROM
Category: Games
Region: World (CHANGE THIS)
Languages: Klingon (CHANGE THIS)
Disc Serial: (REQUIRED, IF EXISTS)
Ringcode Information:
    Mastering Ring: (REQUIRED, IF EXISTS)
    Mastering SID Code: (REQUIRED, IF EXISTS)
    Mould SID Code: (REQUIRED, IF EXISTS)
    Additional Mould: (REQUIRED, IF EXISTS)
    Toolstamp or Mastering Code: (REQUIRED, IF EXISTS)
Barcode: (OPTIONAL)
ISBN: (OPTIONAL)
Error Count: 0
Comments: (OPTIONAL)
Contents: (OPTIONAL)
Version: (REQUIRED, IF EXISTS)
Edition/Release: Original (VERIFY THIS)
Primary Volume Descriptor (PVD):

0320 : 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  20 20 20 20 20 32 30 30                200
0330 : 35 30 33 33 31 31 31 31  36 30 30 30 30 08 32 30   5033111160000.20
0340 : 30 35 30 33 33 31 31 31  31 36 30 30 30 30 08 30   05033111160000.0
0350 : 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30  30 30 30 30 30 30 30 00   000000000000000.
0360 : 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30  30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30   0000000000000000
0370 : 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................

Copy Protection: (REQUIRED, IF EXISTS)

Cuesheet:

FILE "MIDWAY.bin" BINARY
  TRACK 01 MODE1/2352
    INDEX 01 00:00:00

Write Offset: 0

DAT:

<rom name="MIDWAY.bin" size="291314016" crc="e4e8c5e1" md5="9f654fd921e7bd7e4bf3278717a51a66" sha1="804c46bab96faf1e6341de5448ac036f48c57c5d" />

That's right, all that info that's inputted here was done autoMAGICally!!! (sure there's still some physical data that needs to be entered).

Well what if we could auto input this into a redump.org submission in "ADD DISC"? WELL SOON YOU CAN (pending iRobot/etc adds the feature).

darksabre76 is ready to code an xml output with all the info, and we just need redump.org to accept submission via this xml to auto-fill this info. No more hours of manually entering data, no more second checking to see if it's correct, NO MORE HUMAN ERROR!!1

[darksabre76]

So, as the coder (of the 3) who is being called out here, I'd like to ask for clarification with a bit of back-explanation:

In most APIs that I've personally used, the data format that is expected has been ironed out by the group who created the API. This means that in most cases, as a programmer, I'd expect things like the XML structure to be a known thing and at least a DTD or XSD would be available for what is expected (including what is optional or required).

If this information could be provided, it would be semi-trivial to add another output format alongside the submission info that DICUI currently outputs. It raises a few more issues on our side (including pre-filling any required information), but that is not that big of a deal.

If this functionality can be exposed, we will do our best to conform to whatever standard is put forward so that dumpers can submit the standardized information in a more consistent way.

[F1ReB4LL]

But you still need to fill all those fields by yourself via some offline form. What's the real difference?

[user7]

you still need to fill all those fields by yourself via some offline form

Incorrect, to clarify DICUI fills in a LOT of the data for you, for example:

• *PVD data
  *size
  *checksums
  *cue
  *version number for PS2 games
  *DMI/PFI/SS

It can also do system (specified during system input in DICUI) and format (CD-Rom / DVD-5, DVD-9).

That's a lot of tedious work which can be flubbed if you're adding disc after disc. It will shave a lot of time off the process and increase accuracy if we could just upload an xml of this data output by dicui.

[rosewood]

Of course some kind of sanity check needs to be implemented on database side and/or mandatory user input fields on DICUI side. You'll end up with a lot of Klingon releases otherwise...

[user7]

An XML will only include data gleamed from discs, users will continue to input the other data.

[Billy]

This would greatly help with submissions, especially when users like I who are inexperienced at dumping certain games (like IBM PC ones) feel that manually submitting is a burden  on my time and adds pressure to a task that's meant to help preserve games.