IMPORTANT IMPORT CONFLICTS: warning pop up when importing

[nohayo]

OK 1st I have to apologize for my really basic questions! But you'll have to excuse me I'm still novice at this

This warning pop-up has got me puzzled!

1. sometimes it says "your library already contains category", does that mean that I am importing that same category that I already have or could it be that they just have the same names but the content is different? Are all the downloads on the download page named differently?

Also, the ones that are already in the program, are they the same as the ones by brillkids in the download section?

2. sometimes it says "your library already contains word file", still the same question, could one file be named the same but have different content? or whatever has the same name has thh same content so I don't have to import that word file again?

3. I tried renaming this word file anyway and then see through the program if it repeated but something really wierd happened...it was cloud so i renamed it cloud1, then the popup came back again saying I already have cloud3 word file... I hadn't named it 3 anyway..
so i just clicked cancel...but now i am confused if i have done something wrong? How do I properly rename it?

4. What is the difference between skip and cancel?

Thanks !!

[KL]

I believe the import function is the area which has the most bugs left to be discovered. (I just discovered one myself earlier today!)

The time when bugs are encountered is typically where there is a conflict when you import a file.

There are 3 types of potential conflicts when you import a .cat file:

1. Category name

This is when there is already a category created with the same name as the one you're importing. eg., You already have an "Animals" category, and the imported file also calls its Category as "Animals".

2. Word file name

This is when one or more word files in your imported Category has a name which already exists in your Word Library (could be anywhere in your library and doesn't matter whether it's in a Category that has the same Category name or not). For example, you are importing a word file called "animals_dog" (which has the word "dog"), and you already have a word file in your library called "animals_dog".  Note, it doesn't matter that your "animals_dog" word file uses a word "doggie" and not "dog" - it is the word file name that matters.

3. Media file name

This refers to the attached media that comes with the word files.  Eg., the word file "animals_dog" has attached to it a picture file called "dog1.jpg", and there is already a "dog1.jpg" file in your Media Library folder.  This folder is in C:/.../My Documents/BrillKids/Little Reader/Media Library", which is the folder used to contain all the pre-installed media files (.jpg, .mp3, .swf, etc.), as well as all the extra media that comes from imported stuff.



So, if you import a .cat file, you have to remember that you are typically importing 3 different things:
1. The Category
2. Word File(s) that come with the Category
3. Media files that come with each of those word files (assuming the media files were included during the original exporting of the .cat file).

Therefore, there are 3 potential levels of conflict, and each time a conflict happens, it will pop up that WARNING dialog box to ask you what you want to do with the conflict.


Let's go through the 3 types again:

1. Category name

This is the most harmless of the conflicts, and possibly the most common, because we will typically name our Categories with the same names, like "Body Parts".  So, if I already created a "Body Parts" Category and import your "Body Parts" Category, I will get this first conflict.  Now, if I want to keep your Body Parts separate from mine  :tongue2: , then I would choose "Rename", and call your Body Parts something like "Body Parts (John Doe)".  However, if for example I know that you have different words and it would expand my Body Parts Category, I would simply choose "Replace", and that should result in all your new body parts words being imported into my original Body Parts Category. So previously I had eye, ear, nose, mouth, but yours had hand, fingers, foot, toes.  If I choose 'replace', then my Body Parts Category should now have all those words: eye, ear, nose, mouth, hand, fingers, foot, toes.

If I choose "Skip", then the whole Category is not imported, and if there are no other Categories in the .cat file (.cat files may contain more than 1 Category), then the import process ends there.

2. Word file name
For this conflict, typically the situation is something like this: You created a word for "toes", and named the word file as "toes1", and somebody else happen to name it the same way.  However, the pronunciation files, pictures, sound(?!), video(?!!) you attached to your 'toes' word file are probably going to be very different from what the other person attached to her 'toes' word file.  If you REPLACE, then your 'toes' word file will no longer have all your pictures etc. attached to it. (Note, your media files will still be in your Media Library, just that they are no longer linked/attached to the word file "toes1".)
So typically, where this happens, you would want to choose "rename".  You can then view the media used in the imported word, and if you like them, you could edit your original word file, and add the pictures from the imported word by looking into the Media Library folder where thsoe pictures have just been placed.

If you choose "skip", it will not import this word file, and proceed to the next word file in the Category.  If you choose Cancel, it will stop the whole importation process.

FYI, one feature we've been mulling is to have a "Combine" function, where you combine the attached media of both word files, so that if you original had 2 pictures attached, and the imported word had 3 pictures, after "combining" you would have 5 pictures attached to the word.


3. Media file name
This is the hardest to decide.  Following from the previous example, there is a conflict with toe1.jpg.  The problem is that it's hard to tell if it's the same picture or not.  If it is, then it's best to just 'replace' or 'skip', because if you 'rename', you will end up with 2 identical pictures in your Media Library being called different names.  But the safest thing to do would be to 'rename'.

"APPLY TO ALL"
If you check this box, then you will be telling Little Reader to use the same action for the rest of the conflicts that may occur.
The important thing to note here is that, at least for Build 1.03 and before, this applies across all 3 levels in the above example.  So if you choose to 'replace' the Category name, and choose to apply to all, then all word file conflicts and all media file conflicts will also be handled the same way.

I think the "apply to all" function should only apply to that level, and we will probably change that for the next build.


So, there are a lot of conflicts that can appear, and also a lot of different ways you can handle conflicts.  With all these permutations, it is only too likely that the programming has not dealt with all possible scenarios, and this is where the bugs will occur.

I hope the above explains what is meant to happen upon an import conflict.  Please try it out as much as you can, and please report all bugs in as much detail as possible!

Thanks!

KL

[KL]

Thanks for the great questions, Nohayo.  Funnily, I was just about to create a new thread on the subject of import/export, and just did:
http://forum.brillkids.com/little-reader/important-import-conflicts-please-help-to-debug/

Please let me know if this answers your question, and let me know whether it is working the way it should be.

Re your other questions:

- The Categories that came preloaded in Little Reader can also be found in the File Downloads section.  Check the Category description to double-check.

-

it was cloud so i renamed it cloud1, then the popup came back again saying I already have cloud3 word file... I hadn't named it 3 anyway..

Now this sounds VERY weird, and should have happened.  Can you please try to reproduce this error and give us a step by step?  eg., Which Category did you import? Try to see if this happens with another conflict word, or only just with "cloud".

- Skip means ignore this conflict, proceed with next.  Cancel means stop the whole import process.

KL

[nohayo]

OK KL now I get it I will try it out again and tell you... I think the "combine" and the separating of the "apply to all" would be great!

Is there any other way to make this simpler in the coming versions?

[lawrencelb]

Perhaps when the system alerts you to a potential conflict (at whatever level) - it could be programmed to then enter a split screen that could show you (in a preview fashion) on one side what you are about to import and compare it (on the other side of the split preview) to what it would be replacing.  Knowing nothing about computer programming, that may not be remotely possible.  If it were possible, though, it may make the process more user friendly.  Personally, I think I would be so wary that I might be replacing something that I didn't intend to that I might end up just cancelling out of the whole import (and not getting the great new content that was potentially out there!).  Hope this thought makes sense.

[nhockaday]

yeah, that would be cool. I think we should have some way of adding a file (instead of replacing it)even if it already is on little reader. For example, I previously uploaded the word sandwich in my food category, then Lappy also added it. When I downloaded her category, I skipped the word so it did not replace mine, but now I don't have her "sandwich" with her pronunciations to use if I choose to.

[lawrencelb]

Nhockaday -
I think KL was saying that in that instance you could rename it (prior to skipping it) if you wanted to also keep her file for "sandwich".

[nhockaday]

yeah but then I'd have to rename it. It would be easier not to

[KL]

Well, that would be the perfect instance of using "COMBINE."  You still have your 'sandwich' but it will now have both sets of pronunciations, pictures, etc. within that ONE word file.  If you were suggesting having 2 word files (like 2 instances of "food_sandwich"), then things could get messy and confusing real fast, which is why we make you make a choice.

Looks like we'll have to move this "Combine" feature up the priority ladder.

But in the meantime, one way you could avoid this problem is to use a different naming system for all your self-created files.  You didn't have to name it "food_sandwich", but instead could have called it something like "food_sandwich-nh" - ie., tagging on "nh" to every one of your own file names so that it's much more unlikely that anyone would have named their file as such and hence reduce chances of conflict.

Same goes with naming your own media files.

In fact, I'll make this TIP #2!

Perhaps when the system alerts you to a potential conflict (at whatever level) - it could be programmed to then enter a split screen that could show you (in a preview fashion) on one side what you are about to import and compare it (on the other side of the split preview) to what it would be replacing. 

Yes, I know exactly what you are talking about, and in fact, this suggestion is already on my list of 'future enhancements'.  At the very list, you will get a message telling you about the difference in file details, eg., which is newer, what file size, date created, etc.  We'll see what we can do.

KL

[nohayo]

OK I got the hang of it now I think

But how do i check the category description KL? I tried but couldn't figure itt out myself ! 

Thanks a million!!

[KL]

When you click on a Download, there's a description there telling you about the Download. And what SHOULD be there is a list of all words in that Category. Actually, seems like some people have not been doing that. I think we need to get a post up about that.

[nohayo]

Oh you mean from the website download page! OK I get it I thought there was something I could click from inside little reader itself, while importing... you know without having to open the download on IE. But that's fine for now , I remember from another thread that you guys are working on this for the future right?

Thanks a lot KL !

[lawrencelb]

Thanks KL for the feedback on my suggestion - it seems there isn't anything you've already got on your list! 

The tip about tagging our personal creations is a brilliant one - I think this will solve LOTS of potential conflicts when importing others' files!  Yea - Karma point to you!   

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