Talk:Main Page

Screencap Legality

How do you know whether uploading screencaps violates copyright or not?

Pretty sure it is okay because no one has hunted us down to sue us, but anyway, as long as you don't claim it is your work and credit only yourself, you should be okay. -GM

One thing I would advise you to do is not upload screenshots from pirated copies of movies that haven't been released yet on DVD and Blu Ray. I imagine that if someone working for one of the studios saw that, they would be very upset. They'll know the shots came from a bootleg if the movie isn't out on DVD yet, and they might just throw the book at us. Avoid this at all costs. -MT2008 02:30, 4 November 2008 (UTC)

Forum

Are we ever going to get the forums back up?

No, really, I miss the forums so much. It'd be nice to have the chance to talk to each other again, especially since we have so many new and very productive users who can make good use of it.

Merging articles

Is it possible to merge an article with a pre-existing article? Every time I try to do this with particular types of guns, I get an error message that says, "A page of that name already exists, or the name you have chosen is not valid. Please choose another name." For instance, if I wanted to move the HK91 article under the H&K G3 article (since the HK91 is a G3 variant, I don't think it needs its own page), I can't do this.

Can someone please answer my question?

Please?

To merge an article, take the article, copy all the information and put it on the new page in the format you wish to make. You can also do this if you wish to change the name of a page. Take the page that you copied everything from and delete everything on that page. Write on that page this exactly(minus quotes):

"#REDIRECT (then use double [ ] brackets) and write the name of the page EXACTLY AS IT IS. Screw up the name and it'll redirect no where.

Example

1. "#Redirect [[M16 rifle series]]"

Note:How I made it look finished is what it should look like. Not what it looks like when in the editing of the page. Hope I helped. -Gunmaster45

The IMFDB Essentials

Is there any way to remove this feature at the top of the page, or at least present it in a format that is less of a hog on system resources? I find that it slows things down for me an awful lot.

Let there be backups!

Ok, I've installed ruby on our dedicated server, signed up for Amazon's s3 storage service, and customized a ruby backup script to automatically backup the database and all image files at 4am pst and upload them to our s3 folder. The process really bogs down the box for a good 10 minutes, so I'm thinking once every 24 hours is fine, but I may go to once every 12 hours eventually... Thanks for putting up with the ups and downs during this time of transition.

Best, Chris bunni 05:17, 20 March 2008 (UTC)

---

This is truly ridiculous...how could such idiocy possibly occur? I lost not only my account, but all of the work I did. I put in so much time to improve this site and work on pages, only to see all my work lost by incompetence. Clearly, you people are not responsible enough to properly back things up, so I can no longer trust you with my contributions. I will no longer be contributing to this site.

My sincerest apologies

Your feelings are completely warranted, and I can only offer my deepest apologies. I will be posting our new backup procedures and details on the dedicated servers I am in the process of purchasing and bringing live shortly. You trusted me with your work and I let you down, for this I am truly sorry. All I can do is assure you that we have learned from our mistakes and an event such as this will never happen again. WikiSysop 10:37, 14 March 2008 (PDT)

Welcome to our new server! This is the first of many steps I am taking to ensure we never lose data again. The site used to be hosted on shared hosting overseas - we now have a dedicated server housed in a colocation in San Jose, CA. Dedicated servers don't come cheap, but your time, effort, and contributions are now my number one priority.

I'm still transferring the images that have been uploaded over the last couple days, don't worry they're not lost!

Very Bad Things have happened. Our main server went down as well as our secondary server which was housing the daily backups. The last backup file we were able to successfully access was from December 21, 2007. I am heartbroken to say we have lost the last 10 weeks worth of edits - I don't know what to say to all the users except that I am incredibly saddened by the loss of all of our efforts and that I will take all steps in my power to make sure this never happens again. Now - all of your work from the last 10 weeks is not lost! If you know a page you worked on is missing go to google and search imfdb.org along with the name of the page you want back, for example "imfdb.org Terminator 2" and you will most likely find google still has a cached copy! Click on the "cached" link in the bottom of the listing and you'll be able to copy the text! Now, the screenshots for the last 10 weeks are completely gone - and I am going to do my absolute best to create new screenshots for as many pages as is humanly possible. I'm still uploading screenshots from the backup so you'll notice a lot of broken images for the time being.

Also, all users who have joined in the last 10 weeks have lost their accounts - please sign up again! And if you know a page you created or worked on is gone please search for it in google and recreate the page with the cached text.

If you don't want to go to all that trouble, just leave a note on my talk page with the page that is missing and I'll do all the legwork and get new screenshots!

Also - I'm working my a** off downloading as many pages still in the google cache as possible - you'll start seeing those show up later tonight.

I'm so sorry guys - I'm going to make this right. WikiSysop 18:51, 13 March 2008 (PDT)

The McUzi

It wasn’t until I read the ‘Raw Deal’ article on the “fake Uzi” that I realized Hollywood was dressing MAC-10s up as Uzis.

In ‘The Dog of War’ the mercenaries are supposed to be using Uzis. However some are using MAC-10s and some are using MACs dressed up as Uzis. The actors seem to change weapons randomly. For example, as the climactic battle begins Tom Berenger is using a real Uzi and Christopher Walken is using a silenced Uzi. However in the final minutes both are using McUzis. This is made painfully clear as Walken holds the gun to his face when reloading.

There are real MAC Uzi hybrids. These are civilian versions of the Uzi with a .45 barrel, bolt and a MAC-10 magazine well to accept the universal Grease Gun magazines.

The Hollywood guns are merely MACs with Uzi parts added on.

I would see to real reason to make a gun like this accept that the filmmakers wanted to use Uzis but ran out. Much like ‘Planet of the Apes’ when the studio ran out of ape costumes they simply used paper mask. If you look closely at the audience of Heston’s mock trial.

I captured some great stills to add to ‘The Dogs of War’ article.````

Does anyone knows?

Why the Call of duty:world at war page is broken?
Sick-vice 17:13, 2 October 2008 (UTC)

I figured it out - it was the special character at the end of Gunto, it's not supported under the current database config, I'll work on that... bunni 01:37, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

moved from main page

We're on the new server and still working the bugs out - email me at cserrano@gmail.com if you're having any issues editing or logging in. The backup file is from early September 30, so most of yesterdays edits are missing - sorry GunMaster45 I'm working on it! bunni 17:03, 1 October 2008 (UTC) GunMaster45 I've recovered the latest version of the Street Kings page - anything else we're missing? WikiSysop 21:18, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

I had the R9 pistol which I had uploaed today but I redid it. Will the pictures remain fuzzy and pixelated or is that just temporary? (Hopefully) -GM

If you find something missing from the old server you can still access it here 66.79.167.132/~imfdb/index.php?title=Main_Page WikiSysop 20:55, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

I had just uploaded some pics of the AR18 from Terminator and the Street Sweeper from Total Recall. Can you get them back, or should I upload them again? Also, MPM2008 uploaded some new gun pics, and I don't think he'll appreciate their loss.

How do i "screencap" a movie?

How do i screencap a movie?:
Sick-vice 12:41, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

That is a vague question, sir. Do you mean, how do you take screenshots of guns in movies, or do you just mean how do you upload them onto IMFDB?

I mean taking screenshots.:

Sick-vice 13:44, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

Ah, OK then. We all have our own methods of doing so. Personally, I play my DVDs using VLC Media Player, which has a Snapshot feature which lets you take screenshots when paused, and then it saves them automatically as JPEGs or PNGs to a designated folder of your choosing. However, that's ONLY when I'm screencapping movies I own on DVD. I also rent and download movies using iTunes which I might screencap for IMFDB pages, and I can't play those with VLC. In those cases, I just hit the "Print Screen" key, paste the image into MSPaint, and then crop away the iTunes browser so that only the movie image remains. Then I save them to my HD in a designated folder. Once I've acquired enough screenshots for a movie, I use "Upload file" to put them on IMFDB so that I can use them for pages I edit. -MT2008

First and most importantly, you need a DVD drive in your computer to watch the movie. I watch mine on Windows WinDVD system, which has a built in "screencap" button by pressing P, which saves them all in WinDVD file. I take those files from the folder, which are all saved under BMPs and re-save them as JPGs using Corel Paintshop. If they are widescreen, I use crop to cut them out. I then upload them to the site and post them. Now that I've read MT2008's method for iTunes, I can screencap Shoot 'Em Up which wasn't compatable with my WinDVD system, but worked on my other DVD player which had no screencap button. Hooray! -GM45

And also you can use the program I use which is CyberLink PowerDVD which also has a built in Screenshot button. First the screenshots start out as BMPs, but then I use Irfan View to save them as JPGs to a different folder. And if they are widescreen, I use Windows Photo Gallery to crop off the black bars. You should also check out Gunmaster's and MT2008's methods because they might be better.--Alienqueen11 18:02, 4 October 2008 (UTC)

Uzi PAge

I was looking through the pages and the Uzi page wasn't working last time I checked. -GM

How do i screencap from a television?

Like if i wanted to screencap some video games?
Sick-vice 22:30, 10 October 2008 (UTC)

You probably need some high tech gizmo. Usually people who screencap TV use DVR and record TV on DVD, then upload them on the computer. I've never done it but it may work for VGs. -GM45

Personally, I'd recommend maybe trying an emulator to play said game on your computer (assuming your PC is fast enough to handle the software and game). I've been thinking of redoing the Goldeneye 007 page for a while using Project64 (which has a screencap feature), because I can play that game at high resolution even on my laptop.

The Kentucky Flintlock Rifle page.

The page is a mess.
Sick-vice 18:26, 11 October 2008 (UTC)

Not anymore, I fixed it. -GM

Excellent. BTW, LMO has pics of the one from The Patriot. -MT2008

That pic looks nice but it doesn't need to be uploaded until someone screencaps the movie, and if that doesn't happen too quickly, I'll rent it and do it myself. -GM

A forum going?

I don't know if there is but I'm not the first one to think that a forum for us all to chat in would be a great idea. Unless there is a section of this place that is like a forum site for us to chat with?

We used to have one before the Great Crash months ago, but it's gone and hasn't been re-upped since. I agree it would be cool. -MT2008

Call of Duty 4 pictures

I've got good pictures of guns for Call of Duty 4, but i don't know how to upload them, anyone knows how to email me at r1c0ch37@gmail.com

All you have to do is go to "Upload file" under the "Toolbox" section in the left-hand column. -MT2008

What are those numbers?

to the left of the usernames on the recent changes page?
Sick-vice

I'm a little confused what you mean but unregistered users have numbers instead of a name. -GM

I think he means the numbers in parenthesis, in which case, it's the number of text characters added or subtracted by that particular edit.

Protection Log?

Is something wrong with the site. Why are all the pics being fixed with "([edit=sysop:move=sysop])" for a protection log? I know little about that technical stuff, is someone removing the pics or are they just being protected from over-uploading crappy pics over? -GM

They're being protected. Some asshole came in earlier today and kept trying to replace MoviePropMaster's pics with stock 'Net images, and kept doing it even after he was asked to stop. MPM's pics are our pride 'n joy...Alienqueen and I agreed not to let them get screwed with anymore. -MT2008

Yeah, that's reason why I did it. I just wish I had my ability to block users back, and then I wouldn't have had to set up protections. I told that guy not to upload over MPM2008's images and multiple times and he didn't listen.--Alienqueen11 03:20, 23 October 2008 (UTC)

Mod vs Admin

What's the difference?

Flannigan

on the Snatch page- I know it already says that the .50 is a 357, but also another way of finding out is that .50s fire 7 rounds where as in the film Bullet tooth tony fires 8 in every mag. so it must be a 357.

Retrieved from "http://www.imfdb.org/index.php?title=Talk:Snatch"

Deleting old files

As y'all can probably tell, I have been on a huge deleting spree recently. I've been getting rid of files that weren't being used for whatever reason or another. Some of them were gun images that have since been replaced by MoviePropMaster's images, others were old screencaps that have been replaced by newer ones (like all of my old Hard Boiled shots, which have since been replaced by GunMaster's), and some were those images of weird experimental guns uploaded by Cutaway that don't appear in any movie and thus have no purpose on this site.

I realize, of course, that this by itself won't relieve the strain on the servers; it's inevitable as this site grows. But it seems like a worthwhile thing to do. If anyone of the Admins are interested in helping out, please go to "Special Pages" and click on "Unused Files" (at the top). If you see something that might be worth keeping (i.e. Choi's screencaps from The Killer which haven't been put on the page yet), leave it alone, but if you see gun images that obviously have no use or screencaps that you know have been replaced...ditch 'em.

Thanks. -MT2008

Good Work, MT2008. I'm sure it'll give us more server space, I'll be sure to delete some myself. One question, if we get rid of the old files, will this site load faster?--Alienqueen11 02:13, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

Beats me, but I'd have to guess...not noticeably faster. It will at least give us more space for uploading newer files. However, IMFDB is constantly growing, so it's inevitable we'll reach our limits eventually. You'd have to ask Bunni when that will be. Anyway, I'm off to the pub now. I will be back later to continue. MT2008 02:20, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

Go right ahead, you deserve a break. I'll get rid of as many as I can, I'm also seeing alot of screenshots nobody bothered to use, it makes me wonder why people upload them if they're just going to sit there for a year and gather dust. And, I'm also going to screencap Four Brothers and Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) soon, so you can look forward to seeing them completed.--Alienqueen11 02:27, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

Growth analysis

Anyone know how much IMFDB has grown since it's inception? It's hard to tell how much detailed info is being packed into the site, but it seems like a steady daily stream. Is there some sort of growth chart? Just curious MoviePropMaster2008 07:24, 5 November 2008 (UTC)

Fictional Firearms

I propose that we denote pages for 'fictional' firearms with parentheses "like Non Guns" so that they are in a different grouping than real guns. GM has made pages for the fantasy weapons of Hellboy II and that made me think about custom pages for the Morita Rifle (Starship troopers) or the M590 (Space:Above and Beyond) or the Blade Runner Pistol or any of the Star Wars guns (versus other types of Sci fi weapons, these should be guns). Even though THESE fictional guns are based on real guns, they can have their own pages with links to the original weapons page. Regardless, I think that guns that aren't real should be separated, lest they confuse users. Thoughts anyone? Thanks in advance.

I agree. I was kinda turned off when I saw the Aliens Resurrection page. None of those guns were based off of real firearms or even guns dressed up to look like futuristic guns.

Flannigan

Can Someone please upload some pictures for these films-

                                                       Blue Streak
                                                       3000 miles to Graceland
                                                       The Mask
                                                       Ray Part 1,2 and 3 thankyou

MoviePropMaster2008 18:45, 13 November 2008 (UTC)