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Contributor top-tips

A list of tips, tricks and short-cuts that will be useful when adding, updating and correcting data on the site (Most of these have been submitted by the site's most experienced and knowledgeable Contributors)

Tips and Tricks (By Section)

Firefox Add-Ons
Finding Information Quickly
Submission Tips
Sprinklr Tips

Firefox Add-Ons

A list of add-ons for the Firefox browser that can speed up the submission process for Contributors.

Fox-Replace

  • This Firefox add-on allows the bulk replacement of text in web pages (editable text boxes/cells etc). It works brilliantly within the submission system, especially if you want to change or correct dozens of pieces of data/character names. Get it Here


Finding Information Quickly

Reduce the time it takes to find information with this list of time-saving tips.

Precise Text Searches


Quick Access to Update Forms

  • If you want to update data presented on subpages (like Goofs), I find it easier to open the corresponding subpage and click the Edit Page button there (which will show only the corresponding update form) than click the Edit Page button on the main page to find the form there.

  • If you have to use the general Update page (for data that don't have dedicated subpages), start typing the name of the needed section to automatically jump to it (such a function is available in most browsers).


Submitted by: Chicago_gangster


Quickly Find Data in Popup Lists

  • The Quick Find function mentioned in the previous tip is also useful for finding data in various lists that pop up in the update forms (like attributes, jobs, locations of filming/birth/death, names that pop up when you click "Click here to copy existing credits from the series or other episodes", etc.)

Submitted by: Chicago_gangster


Submission Tips

Tips about everything related to submitting data.

Tips for adding new in-development/in-production titles

If you are interested in adding a new, in-development title to IMDb, and are not directly involved with the production, please only include the information you know is true. Please avoid speculating any rumored actors in the cast or guessing its release date, this information can be added later after they're known. There are some reliable online resources and trade publications (for example: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline.com) that are helpful references to verify the information you're submitting. Our editors will require you to include a source in order to confirm each submission, and a direct link to a reliable online source about your title will help ensure your submission is processed smoothly. Be sure to cite any links or news articles as your source in the required "Miscellaneous Link" section of the submission form and indicate if you are involved with the production or not. If the project is not yet in the pre-production stage and you are an IMDbPro subscriber, you can select a more accurate in-development status (pitch, script, treatment, etc.) for your submission.

Submitted by: 
Eric Greene

Titles: How to add more than the default number of data for all lists

  • If you need extra slots over the default allowed number (i.e. more than 25 Stunts credits, or more than 30 Thanks credits), you can enter the update via a URL like this:

    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=ttNNNNNNN:stunts.add.40/thanks.add.50

    This example (replace the text in red with the tt numbers found in the title's URL) increases the number of Stunts slots to 40, and the number of Thanks slots to 50. You can adjust these numbers, add more departments or data types, or swap in a different department or data type, as you like.

    Then check the To update data for categories that aren't listed above box at the bottom to get the normal form defaults for the remaining departments/data types.

    Alternatively, use this URL - https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=ttNNNNNNN:crew.add.40 - which expands every crew department to 40 slots (again the number is adjustable).

  • Submitted by: MayorDefacto and gromit 82


    Additional URL examples:

    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=tt0534701
    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=tt0534701:cast
    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=tt0534701:cast.add.6
    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=tt0534701:cast.correct
    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=tt0534701:cast.correct.1
    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=tt0534701:cast.migrate

    Full list of title-related IMDb section names:

     Cast and Crew
    cast
    crew

    animation_department
    art_department
    art_directors
    assistant_directors
    camera_department
    casting_department
    casting_directors
    cinematographers
    composers
    costume_department
    costume_designers
    directors
    editorial_department
    editors
    location_management
    make_up_department
    music_department
    producers
    production_designers
    production_managers
    script_department
    set_decorators
    sound_department
    special_effects_department
    stunts
    transportation_department
    thanks
    visual_effects_department
    writers
    miscellaneous

    Company Credits

    production_companies
    distributors
    sales_agents
    special_effects_companies
    miscellaneous_companies

    Basic Data

    certificates
    color_info
    countries
    language
    release_dates
    running_times
    sound_mix
    series_end_year

    Plot & Quotes

    outlines
    plot
    synopsis
    genres
    keywords
    quotes

    Fun Stuff

    trivia
    goofs
    soundtracks
    crazy_credits
    alternate_versions
    movie_links

    Links to Other Sites

    title_urls_msc Miscellaneous Link
    title_urls_off Official Sites
    title_urls_img Image / Photos
    title_urls_snd Sound clips
    title_urls_mov Video clips
    title_urls_com External Reviews
    title_urls_tra Trailers
    title_urls_pos Posters

    Box Office and Business

    business_bt Budget
    business_ow Opening Weekend
    business_gr Gross
    business_wg Weekend Gross
    business_ad Admissions
    business_rt Theatrical Rentals
    business_pd Production Dates
    business_sd Filming Dates
    business_cp Copyright Holder

    Technical Info

    technical_met Film Length
    technical_ofm Film Negative Format
    technical_pfm Printed Film Format
    technical_rat Aspect Ratio
    technical_pcs Cinematographic Process
    technical_cam Camera
    technical_lab Laboratory

    Other Data

    akas Alternate Titles
    locations Filming Locations
    inproduction Production Status
    taglines Taglines

    Other Corrections

    title_correct Title Correction
    episode_correct Episode Title / Number
    tv_series_year TV Series Year Range
    complete Cast / Crew Verification

    Names: How to add more than the default number of data for all lists
  • If you need extra slots over the default allowed number (i.e. more than 25 Stunts credits, or more than 30 Thanks credits), you can enter the update via a URL like this:

    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=nmNNNNNNN:stunts.add.40/thanks.add.50

    This example (replace the text in red with the nm numbers found in the person's URL) increases the number of Stunts slots to 40, and the number of Thanks slots to 50. You can adjust these numbers, add more departments or data types, or swap in a different department or data type, as you like.

    Then check the To update data for categories that aren't listed above box at the bottom to get the normal form defaults for the remaining departments/data types.

    Submitted by: MayorDefacto and gromit 82



    Additional URL examples:

    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=nm0001675
    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=nm0001675:actors
    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=nm0001675:actors.add.6
    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=nm0001675:actors.correct
    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=nm0001675:actors.correct.1
    https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=nm0001675:actors.migrate

    Full list of name-related IMDb section names:
    Name Updates

    name_correct Name Correction
    name_split Name Split

    Filmography

    actors
    actresses
    crew

    animation_department
    art_department
    art_directors
    assistant_directors
    camera_department
    casting_department
    casting_directors
    cinematographers
    composers
    costume_department
    costume_designers
    directors
    editorial_department
    editors
    location_management
    make_up_department
    music_department
    producers
    production_designers
    production_managers
    script_department
    set_decorators
    sound_department
    special_effects_department
    stunts
    transportation_department
    thanks
    visual_effects_department
    writers
    miscellaneous

    Biographical Information

    bio_rn Birth Name
    bio_nk Nickname
    bio_db Date of Birth
    bio_dd Date of Death
    bio_ht Height
    bio_bg Biography
    bio_bo Books About This Person
    bio_bt Biographical Movies
    bio_pi Portrayed in Other Movies
    bio_ow Other work
    bio_tr Trivia
    bio_qu Real Life Quotes
    bio_sa Salary
    bio_sp Marriage Details
    name_relation Family Details
    bio_tm Trademark
    bio_it Press Interviews
    bio_at Articles in the Media
    bio_pt Magazine Pictorials
    bio_cv Magazine Cover Photo

    Links to Other Sites

    name_urls_msc Miscellaneous
    name_urls_off Official Sites
    name_urls_img Image / Photos
    name_urls_snd Sound Clips
    name_urls_mov Video Clips

    Other Data

    gender Gender

    Contact Details

    direct Direct Contact
    client Client
    roster Company/Employees

  • Don't Delete Email Acknowledgments
    • Don't delete the email acknowledgement that you are sent after submitting data until you are sure that your submission has been accepted or rejected. That receipt is the only record of what you submitted (Your Update History does not provide complete information about what you have submitted).


    Submitted by: Steve Crook


    Quick Check/Recheck
    • An alternate way to submit a page (which in the case of updating data is equivalent to clicking the "Check/Re-check" button) is to press Enter either after clicking on a check-box/radio-button (while there's a dotted border around it), or after setting focus on a one-line text field (such as Credits or Movie Connections). Thus you don't have to scroll to the bottom every time.


    Submitted by: Chicago_gangster


    Using Title/Name/Company IDs
    • If you're linking to a title/name/company from one-line text fields (such as Credits or Movie Connections), you can copy & paste the tt / nm / co alphanumerical identifier from the URL instead. (They'll be automatically transformed into the right format on the next step.) This is useful if you view titles in a different language (than the original) and for TV episodes, which don't display their titles in the database format on the front pages. (Also, I think it's much easier to select the identifier by double-clicking on it in the browser's address bar than select the clickable title/name by dragging the mouse while holding its button.)


    Submitted by: Chicago_gangster


    Auditing Credit Lists: Using the 'Correct All' Link
    • When auditing a title, I start with this really useful 'Correct all data' link. I then use the 'forgotten anything' checkbox to open Cast for update, along with any other sections I think I will need, and then select Correct All for them. Once this is done, it is possible to 'check off' each item as I scroll through the on-screen credits by changing the item to Keep, correcting it, or adding a new credit. Once the credit roll has ended (and the title credits have been checked) anything left in Correct mode with no changes made was not on screen and thus needs to be deleted, or have uncredited attribute added (as stated in the Correcting Existing Credits submission guide).


    Submitted by: David-537


    Supported Character Sets
    • The character set of all primary titles and names is ISO-LATIN-1 (ISO-8859-1). Original titles/names using other character sets (ISO-LATIN-2, Chinese pictograms, Cyrillic letters etc.) must be transliterated to ISO-LATIN-1.
      For alternative titles, we also support Cyrillic KOI8-R, ISO-LATIN-2 and Greek ISO-8859-7 character sets. See for example this title.
      We are making slow and steady progress on Unicode support. Note that until every single part of our system supports Unicode, none of it works. Unfortunately, we don't have a timetable that we can share, but please be aware that we are working on it.


    Sprinklr Tips

    How to get the best response from posters on Sprinklr.

    • Be Patient
    • Many queries to Sprinklr are about why recent submissions have not been processed yet. Give the IMDb time to process your submission as described in the email acknowledgement.


    Submitted by: Steve Crook


    • Be Nice
    • You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Civility costs nothing - being rude to other users will only put them off helping you.


    Submitted by: Steve Crook


    • Submission Reference: Use it on Sprinklr
    • If you are enquire on Sprinklr about data you submitted, please provide your submission reference number, along with details of what data was submitted. Most of the people who answer questions on Sprinklr can't access the details from the submission reference. It's usually best to copy the details of your submission from the email acknowledgement.


    Submitted by: Steve Crook



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