Anyone make a list of their collection?

My model railroad catalog

 Instead of a "database" I have created a "catalog" page for each model.  I actually build a "web page".  The web page is then linked to an index page (which itself is linked to another index).

 This Model Railroad Catalog can be expanded indefinitely.

This allows me to have both text and photos in one place. My web page looks just like a regular catalog page with information about MSRP and date of production, etc. The nice feature is that the catalog page is in full color. The photos can also be shown as "thumbnails" which can be linked to full size photos as needed.

All the web pages and indexes are linked using "hyperlinks" so that a person can "browse" the catalog.  This catalog can also be uploaded to the web if necessary.

 A nice feature is that I can add links from each photo to a page with "prototype" photos which are depicted by the model.  I can also link to an information page which can include the price paid, date purchased and a cross-reference to a storage container number or location.

 The attachments show two different examples of a web page in my O scale catalog.

for a simple inventory tracker I just put my trains in an excel spread sheet.

Not sure if it has been brought up before but just wondering how many people have thought or have made some type of list of all of their inventory including make, model number, pictures, msrp, ect. of everything in their collection. I thought it might be a good idea to start making one for insurance/personal information. Any thoughts? 

A list is a must if you want to insure your collection. It would also be helpful for your family when the time comes for them to liquidate your stuff. I don't think all the fields you list are necessary. For example, MSRP isn't particularly meaningful to me, condition and current value is. I guess that I'd include a picture of each item if I was starting my inventory today.

All of my collection has stickers placed in hidden locations or string tags with an inventory number that matches up with my records. Multi-unit diesels and steam engines /tenders have the same number so they won't be accidentally separated in a sale.

I'm in the midst of using a freeware database application especially designed for model train collections called "RRTrains2000". It doesn't have pre-compiled lists, but it (usually) remembers entries so you can add repeating data from drop-down lists.  It supports linking to photos (albeit one per entry) stored on the same device, and recording of obscure info such as wheel type, truck/coupler type, length, weight height, lighting, loads, command control assignments, purchase info, value, acquisition date, etc. About the only things it doesn't record are UPC codes and reporting marks.

So far I have about 350-ish items added, with an unknown quantity of partially filled-out 'placeholder' records that I'm slowly completing as I locate missing info. Pieces that have complete records are tagged as such with Post-Its indicating photographed, inventoried, and measured/weighed.

I didn't take the Excel route because none of my computers came with MS Office applications pre-installed, and they cost more to add than I was willing to spend for the use I'd get out of them.

---PCJ

There is another thread currently going on titled "Database" with discussion on / the feasibility of scanning the box bar codes with a smart phone to populate a collection list.  One forum member is working on creating such an app. There is advice in that thread as well regarding databases to use for cataloging your items.

I have been using Collector-Trains for several years now. Just point and click what you have.

http://collector-modeltrains.com/dash/home/

Scott Smith

I started long ago with a DBase database; I converted it to an Office Access database and still keep that up to date. Recently I started to make pictures and based on that a catalog for parts of the collection:

http://traincollectors.co.uk/d...-tcs-document-folder

Regards

Fred

Excel.  Let's you sort the data or print data quickly for different queries.  

YES!

Ron

I have been using Train Tracker for about 20 years now.  May not be the best, but I like it.  Everything in my train room is listed in it.  Prints out a nice report.

Karl

I use a simple Xcell spreadsheet; works well.

I agree that Excel is the way to go.  For my European items I include a column that enables me to convert from pounds or euros to dollars. I also keep track of the original cost of each item.  The beauty of Excel is that it is easy to perform arithmetic operations.

My train insurance is linked to my homeowner's policy.  I send a revised report every year to my agent to adjust my insurance coverage.

It's a real pain to enter the data, but once you complete the task you will be happy you did.  And you can store the results on your iPhone or iPad.

Lew Schneider

Excel spreadsheet

been using excel spreadsheets for about 12 years. I use it for work, so it was easy for me to to apply it to the hobby. Just last year I started adding images, see the pdf sample attached, or the small jpeg image.

Tim

I have a yellow tablet, a No. 2 pencil and a light blue highlighter.  John

bill pierce posted:

Excel spreadsheet

Ditto.

KD

I just have a simple word file list on my Mac that is broken into postwar and modern items. No photos or pricing as of yet. 

Excel here too.

I see just about everyone does this for their trains, but does anyone do it for your buildings?  Building costs can add up and I would not want to try coming up with a cost to replace them, might be a shocker!!!

bmccarron posted:

Not sure if it has been brought up before but just wondering how many people have thought or have made some type of list of all of their inventory including make, model number, pictures, msrp, ect. of everything in their collection. I thought it might be a good idea to start making one for insurance/personal information. Any thoughts? 

This comes up every few months or so. The general consensus seems to be using Excel. A few, including me, use Microsoft Access or other relational database for more flexible reporting and image handling. I put a front-end on mine as a tool for a database class I was teaching at the time. One of these years I'll put some code behind it to speed it up and make adding images more efficient.

.

I am only slightly more advanced than Rattler. I add a picture

I have mine in an excel document listing by Manufacturer and model number. 

I've used MI Trains for the last 10yrs. 

Yes this does come up often on here and the majority of responders seem to use Excel.    

I use Excel also and about 5 years ago started adding linked photos of items already listed.  When I get something new I take its picture and add the item and its photo link to the spreadsheet.

But I realize Excel isn’t for everyone.

Bill   

Timothy Sprague posted:

been using excel spreadsheets for about 12 years. I use it for work, so it was easy for me to to apply it to the hobby. Just last year I started adding images, see the pdf sample attached, or the small jpeg image.

Tim

I also use an Excel spread sheet, but the idea of adding the photos is a good one.  I'll be doing that too!  I also have two spread sheets.  You never know...  One with prices paid and a column with what they're worth (going down all the time) and another with no prices listed.  They includes manufacturer, car number, number on the item and condition.  

poniaj posted:

I also use an Excel spread sheet, but the idea of adding the photos is a good one.  I'll be doing that too!  I also have two of them.  One with prices paid and prices of worth (going down all the time) and another with no prices listed.  You never know..

Jerry:

Why not just put the prices in hidden columns then you would only need to maintain one spreadsheet?

Bill

I also use Excel, have done so since 1999.  I do have separate files for different purposes.  I keep two different files of photos, one when the item is purchased (with jpg number, in chronological order) and a second with pics in manufacturer/catalogue number order.  In Excel, I have each item listed by  maker with cat. no., description, box/master, value, number of items, IM (jpg) number reference.

I find it very easy to add to as necessary, access and acquire information, revise as needed.

Jesse  TCA

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I guess I have missed other peoples posts about this subject because I come on here quite often and don't remember coming across this. I am glad to see that there are a good handful of people that keep a record of their inventory and I will definitely be starting one for myself. By chance anyone use google docs/spreadsheet?

My list includes make, item number, and original cost.

Rick

In the excel list I like to see: Category (engine, accessory, caboose, etc) , model number, date purchased, Description, OB for original box, price paid, price I sold it for.   If you want no prices then do not include them in the print area.

No column for value, since it cannot be determined until the item is sold.

I only track my engines as a up grade them to TMCC.  I use a excel file.

Like a lot of others here, I also use excel - partly because I already have it and know my way around using excel pretty well.  I thought about a database tool, but just about the time I thought I'd try it, Apple stopped supporting Bento and I didn't want to fight my way up the Filemaker pro learning curve.  I have several columns of information and have created several worksheet tabs that are basically different sorts on those columns (like road name, type of car or loco (flat, gon, etc.).  The only disadvantage of this is 'version control' - I often add items to the master list before I go through and update the various sorted lists, so I've found that the best way to do this is to have one of the cells near the top of each spreadsheet reserved for the date of the last update.

Adding a link to photos is a good idea, as several others have mentioned - I haven't yet figured out how to do that (or how I want to do it...).

In my Excel format item(s) listing, the value I include is representative of as new price/replacement value, as this is what would be necessary for insurance purposes.  This listing is easy to upgrade / update when necessary.  My inventory lists also include vehicles and buildings/accessory items as they, too, are part of the complete collection.

Jesse    TCA

RailRide posted:

I didn't take the Excel route because none of my computers came with MS Office applications pre-installed, and they cost more to add than I was willing to spend for the use I'd get out of them.

---PCJ

Open Office costs exactly nothing.  Its spreadsheet application works just fine, and will save files in Excel format.  Works under Windows, OSX and Linux.  I haven't used MS-Office for ten years.

Excel has done the job for past 15 years. no images but that's a thought.

A real challenge on the images since photo-mat is gone LOL

I've always used Excel and it works pretty well for me plus it's easy to modify.  Attached is a copy of my spreadsheet.  

I used Excel for a while and agree it is one of the easiest answers for keeping a simple list of what you own; it's certainly a good starting point if you already have the application.  After a while I wanted to do things like easily cross reference items in my collection based on different types of information, prevent duplicate entries, perform automatic updates when things change, create picture catalog views, etc. While these things can be done in Excel, the process became less straightforward as my needs and collection grew. This pushed me to create a more sophisticated database using FileMaker. I probably could have used one of the commercially available solutions mentioned here on the Forum, but I already own FileMaker and didn't mind the effort involved in building my own solution.

I use Excel for all of my collections. It is easy to use and the file sizes are small. I started taking pictures of everything, but that was not practical for me as I have way too much stuff to take pictures of, so I quit shortly after I started. I use enough columns with descriptions and color code them to make it easy to identify each piece.

Yes, several lists and even then I end up buying something I already have.

bigdodgetrain posted:

for a simple inventory tracker I just put my trains in an excel spread sheet.

I did the same-simple and effective.