Anyone make a list of their collection?

I have used Train Tracker 5.1 for years.       Only problem is I can not print out the reports cause my printer will not work with Win XP Pro   ( Virtual) which is what Train Tracker uses!    My machine is running Win 7 Pro.    I am too lazy to switch to Excell.  Both sons tell me to do it but the data input is huge for my needs and size of HO, O gauge and other stuff I have in it.     The outfit that continued with Train Tracker I  could not get it to work on my computers at the time and they were not as responsive as I would have liked..        

Len B posted:

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.

Would you consider posting a 'Cloned' file of your Filemaker database I could try? I also use Filemaker, but I am no expert when it comes to creating the databases. I have one I use that I hacked form one of their Starter Solutions, but always looking for improvements. Mine is kind of over-done, but you are welcome to a 'Clone' of that as well, if you are interested.

I use Access, and I write every detail, whether it smokes or has a custom load on it.

rtr12 posted:

Len B posted:

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.

Would you consider posting a 'Cloned' file of your Filemaker database I could try? I also use Filemaker, but I am no expert when it comes to creating the databases. I have one I use that I hacked form one of their Starter Solutions, but always looking for improvements. Mine is kind of over-done, but you are welcome to a 'Clone' of that as well, if you are interested.

Hi Rtr, I'm in the middle of an upgrade to FMP 14. Happy to share when I am finished. I will send to your listed email.

Len

Thank You! I will watch for it. I only have FMP 13 though, probably won't be upgrading to 14.

Thanks for all the replies! Started putting together my list today and should keep me busy for a while.

I use MS Access, but with my lack of understanding of Access, I could have just used Excel.

if you get TCA insurance you will fill out inventory sheets, a good way to keep track of things

Bob C.

I keep putting this off but did start over the weekend ...

I plan to use Excel but I have also looked into using photos as well like these.

I've kept a spreadsheet with inventory and values since getting back into the hobby 27 years ago.

Curt

Call me old school, I hate Excel. I'm still using Lotus 123. Almost everything on the layout is in the database and has a car card for operation. The problem is, all the pieces that aren't on the layout still need to be entered. Something like 60% - 70%.

For insurance purposes it is best to have photographs as well as a list.

Bob C.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Call me old school, I hate Excel. I'm still using Lotus 123. Almost everything on the layout is in the database and has a car card for operation. The problem is, all the pieces that aren't on the layout still need to be entered. Something like 60% - 70%.

At least you didn't say VisiCalc.  

Yeah Len, I remember the name VisiCalc, though I never used it. In my mind 123 was the best product of its type, then IBM got it, built it up a little, then dropped it like a hot potato. I was smart enough to pick up one of the last versions on disc. I even have it on floppy, which is really obsolete! The first thing I do with a new computer is see if it will load.

I also use 123 to do other layout related activities, like keeping track of progress on a multitude of projects.

Excel 

pictures in an Excel spreadsheet?  no problem here...

cheers...gary

I started my list more than a couple of decades ago using the inventory program that came with Quicken.  It wasn't until about 10 years ago that I started to track what I actually bought and realized the Quicken program is setup for insurance coverage and not real good for research.  Another problem is Quicken no longer maintains its inventory program, and there was no way, until very recently, to export it to another program. 

Several years ago I also started to put my stuff into Excel because that is what I used at work, and am now maintaining both systems.  Quicken has everything and I use Excel to track passenger car, head in car, express car, cabin car and engine type with car/cab number so as not to duplicate them.  Excel also gives me data points I use for discussion on the forum (type, number of, etc).  Problem is Excel is not great to work with and its easy to delete items by mistake.

I should have gone to a regular database type system a while ago but have too much in these to bother transferring to another system now.  Since the amount of stuff I buy each year is approaching zero, these should be good enough.  The Quicken file will be what my heirs will want.

Excel for me too.

Everytime I make a purchase, it only takes a few seconds to type it into the spreadsheet.

Donald

I've used VisiCalc, Lotus 123, and various versions of Excel in that order. I don't recall there being a big difference from one product to the next. I guess ones experience would vary based on the features being used.

Balshis posted:

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.

 

I know about open office (had installed it on a relative's PC I was setting up), but hadn't given it any thought for my purposes since I already had the freeware application specifically set up for model railroad inventory. Now with 350-ish records out of maybe 700+ pieces entered in RRT2000, I considered it to be kind of late to start over with a spreadsheet application.

---PCJ

I made a list with excel.  I just put model number and car numbers on the list.  All my rolling stock is MTH Premier.  I also made a list of all the MTH Premier Rolling Stock with car numbers in just the road name I decided to stick with.  Both lists come in handy at train shows when I find something I might want.  Helps prevent duplicates.

Thanks for the replies. I started putting my list together the last few days with brand, item number, road name, model,msrp, price paid, catalog year, and quantity. I figured if I'm starting one I might as well put as much info on as I can. Someday I will hope to put pictures in it.

pictures are a good idea if you can swing it.

Bob C.

I should have gone to a regular database type system a while ago but have too much in these to bother transferring to another system now.

I know that MS Access can import Excel files. I moved data back and forth between Excel and Access for years while I was analyzing information. I expect that most other database software packages can do the same.

Phoebe Snow Route posted:

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.  

Brian,

  Thanks for sharing your spreadsheet format. I thought I would end up using a yellow legal pad too, but your spreadsheet was nicely arranged so I might give that a try.

  Tom

C. W.,

Thanks.  Problem is the majority of all my train related items are in Quicken.  A relatively new program, Attic Manager, was made to import Quicken Inventory.  I have the program but not yet used it; it looks very basic.  It also looks like it will export to Excel, so this could be a round-about way to get it into Access, which I also have.

With Excel, I used different sheets for different types of items and was not consistent with the column names.  May be hard to easily export, so I recommend folks who use Excel be consistent with their sheet column headings.