Hey AltoRetrato,

I guess IMDB changed something again. I cleared the highlighted database and tried to do a new refresh, but no highlights.

I am on the latest Chrome version (Version 126.0.6478.127 64Bit), Tampermonkey 5.2.0, Scrip version 1.5.3 with no changes.

Maybe u will have some time to have look.

Best regards

Please, a minute of silence for this Titanic moment: the script hit the IMDb iceberg and sank! 😔

It's Dead, Jim!

Remember when I said that IMDb is changing the way lists are exported?

The script IMDb "My Movies" Enhancer was created in 2008, and since 2011, the "highlighting" data came from downloading the IMDb lists via export links.

If you open the JavaScript console in your browser(Ctrl+Shift+J) and "Refresh highlight data", you'll see many 404 errors like "Error 404 downloading https://www.imdb.com/list/ls0000xxxxx/export".

The export links are "Gone with the Wind" - IMDb just blew them away!

Basically, before today (or whenever IMDb changed the list export system), there was a single URL to export each of your IMDb lists, and the script downloaded and used the data from them. Now, those URLs don't exist anymore, rendering the script unusable as it is. Exporting IMDb lists is now more complex and, most importantly, seems to be slower. So, even if I manage to use the new export system, the script could become almost unusable, especially for users with many large lists. Additionally, there could be other limits implemented in the new export system (e.g., a max total number of lists being exported at once or per day / week / month) that would only become apparent after spending time implementing the required changes.

Back to the Future

I also mentioned I had ideas to revamp the script and reduce the number of refreshes - or even remove them entirely! I could also take the opportunity to implement new features I've always wanted, such as new highlighting styles, personalization without users editing the code, and many more. The downside is that implementing those ideas requires writing a brand new script (or browser extension) from scratch. At this moment in my life, I just don't have the free time to do it, and frankly, neither the motivation to do more work (and more sophisticated work) for free (including constant maintenance).

I currently see the following options moving forward:

1. If anyone has a good idea for a simple and fast workaround, I could patch the script to bring it back from the Land of the Dead.
2. Ask IMDb to bring back those export links (That was a joke - Haha - Fat Chance)
3. Use a crowdfunding platform (or some other means) to cover the development cost of a new script / browser extension.
4. Hope someone else rolls up their sleeves and do the dirty work for me.
5. Do nothing. It had a good run, and all good things must come to an end...

Any other thoughts?

Thank you for your feedback.

I completely understand what you mean. IMDB doesn't make it easy with all the changes in recent years (many of which have been rather bad).

Unfortunately, I don't know much about the whole thing, so I can only imagine how much work it is.

Your script has been the best IMDB feature for me in recent years. I can see directly in the overview of an actor which movies I have seen and which I still want to see. It's so easy with your script. There is simply no alternative. Without your script I would have to click on each movie to see if I have it in a list or not.

Since IMDB makes little sense to me without your script, I would definitely be willing to support you for your work on it.

However, as you say, the reprogramming will take some time. So I will have to do without your great script for a long time.

I hope there will be a solution so that it is not really the end.