Inventory Program and Advice

I use Excel

Second vote for excel. allows you to customize and organize based on any characteristic you wish. It's a job

Mike

Third for Excel. Super simple... even I can do it!

I use Excel as well

I do as well. I also link the entry to pictures of the item.

Excel as others have said.

I use Yard Office and really like it for the capability to add images which makes it more enjoyable to flip through. There is a free version available and to get the premium version is a modest one time cost. It also exports to excel which is great. I upload the excel files to google drive for viewing when I'm out and about away from my desktop computer ie at a train show.

https://www.musicmixradio.com/yardoffice/

I use a database which is just a fancy spreadsheet.  If I want to know how many beer themed reefers I have, it is an easy search.  If I want to know how many beer themed Atlas 36' reefers with a primarily red body I have, it is just as easy.

The issue for the OP (as he knows) will be putting his large collection into the inventory program.  A lot of data for each item will take time.  Maybe build the inventory sheet with all the data points you want to define the item (I have 18), but initially fill in the main ones like manufacturer, product name, type, etc.

Having many data points is not an issue when you buy a new item and put it into the spreadsheet as soon as you buy it.

I use a simple list on MS Word.  I can just write what info I want and not have to keep up with columns.

Charlie

I use spreadsheets in  OpenOffice or LibreOffice -- both are free alternatives to Microsoft Office and are compatible with MS Office 99.99% of the time (I've only run into incompatibility with some very complex Excel spreadsheets with tons of macros).  Before you start, it is best to make a list of the data points or information you wish to track.  Common things are manufacturer, SKU #, description, item type, road name, road number, price paid, date of purchase, place of purchase, condition, current/replacement value.  There are many more things you may wish to track.

Andy

Search the forum for "inventory" - there are several recent threads discussing pros and cons of various methods.

I started my inventory of HO models back in the late 1980 using EXCEL. I've been very happy with it and it gives me a lot of flexibility. I can sort by road name, engine type, freight cars by road or type or size (40' or 50'), manufacturer, list price, my costs, current value, etc. It's almost endless on how one can search and sort - all depends on how much data one loads into the spread sheet.

I did the same thing with my railroadiana collection of lanterns, china, timetables, calendars, passes, photographs, silverware, etc.

When I got into O Gauge some 15 years ago, I just copied the same format.

I know there are software programs that better address this and includes adding photos. But for me, Excel worked great and it was free with my computer.

RAY