Computer Software for Colletors

[Buckeye Riveter]

I am looking for software to keep track of my collection of engines, cars, etc.

According to my research, the Spring 1989 issue of CTT had an article about this subject, but as the computer world goes, 1989 is the stone age. (Remember those 5 1/4" floppy disks.) A past post on this forum also broached the subject and the answer was to purchase Access from MS, a very expensive piece of software.

[?] Is there software that one could recommend and why it is your choice?

Thank you for any assistance.

[spankybird]

Hi,

Depending on what you what to do with information after you enter it will depend on what type of software is best.

Access is a database program. It will work well for you once you set up a basic database in it.

I use a data base called Approach. It is made by Lotus. Remember the lotus 123 guys? I do a lot of database programming at work. I fell that Approach is more user friendly than Access.

Not that we need this for what we will be doing, but Approach has a much stronger mathematical programming than Access.

Bottom Line: Approach cost about $90.00, I don’t know what Access cost.

tom

[Big_Boy_4005]

I've seen a couple of different collector database programs marketed. I had one back in those "dark ages" in the late 80's,and think that may be one of the ones that I saw recently.

Really any database program will work, but the ones made specifically for train collecting may have some advantages depending on what information you want to access.

Price guide info, which is constantly changing is one of the features that the specialty software handles best, as update disks can be purchased and the new data applied to the entire collection. The downside is that you pay for the disks, and if they ever stop making them you are on your own again.

Personally I don't worry about value for my trains, and just use Lotus 123. I can keep only the information that I want, and can sort and print lists, so I'm happy with that.

[Chris F]

The only one I remember is TrainTracker -

http://bangzoom.com/index.cfm?parentcategoryid=&productID=10&showDetail=1&categoryID=0|&vendoridtodisplay=0&filterFor=&collection=

A limited version of this program was included with Greenberg's Guide to M.T.H. Electric Trains, 1st Ed. I already had created my own inventory list on a spreadsheet (Excel), so I haven't used the program.

[Trainman52]

]I've been using TrainTracker since version 1.0. It was truly a labor of love for Steve Serenska. When he sold BangZoom several years back, the product IMHO took a nose dive. 4.0 didn't handle the conversion of my old data (from 3.0) well and the tech support for my problem did not exist. 4.0 was an ambitious if somewhat unsuccessful undertaking. The product had a lot of bells and whistles that one could live without. 5.0 uses a different code for the database and is much leaner. The big drawback is the price of the data disks. A full set can set you back a fair amount of change. Depending on the size of your collection and the amount of time you have available, you may consider buying the TM guide and updating the information manually

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well guys, my memory is getting bad in my old age, but now that you have jogged it, Train Tracker is the one that I was thinking of.

I did end up dealing with Steve way back near the beginning, back on version 1. Before the company was called BangZoom, it was REEF Development. I changed computers a couple of times, and never kept current with it, and finally just let it slide.

[nitroboy]

Here is few snapshots of a program I wrote for myself to track my trains. If you like it, I will send you a copy.






Hope these pictures come out.

Dave

[nitroboy]

I guess they didn't. How do you post pictures???

Dave

[nitroboy]

http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=2a716b1b-10f6-fc29-3d16-3c3712887215&size=

http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=316a53c3-4c8e-3ea0-62e2-5a173b205131&size=

Try this

Dave

[nitroboy]

[img.nr]http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Mar/20043157861154069294971.jpg[/img.nr]

[img.nr]http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Mar/20043156704079578737901.jpg[/img.nr]

Now lets see.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Dave, everyone has been having trouble posting photos from the HP website. I really want to figure out how to do it so everyone can have their stuff show without having to move things to a different location. A couple of guys spent hours trying, before giving up.[%-)]

If you want to test if something is working hit the preview reply button, if you don't see the photo its not working. The preview also works for links, and you can test them to.

[Buckeye Riveter]

[tup][yeah]Thanks everyone for their ideas and suggestions. A special tip of the hat to Nitro Boy - Dave for his determination on getting something to post.

As to photos stored on HP's web site not posting, I have seen this before on a yahoo, geocities' free web hosting site. Check the fine print in the terms of agreement to see if they mention connections to other web sites.

Again thank you for your help.

[spankybird]

Hi all,
I have tried to help others with this to no avail. One person that I spent hours with is Jim Duda. He finially gave up and changed sites. Before he did, he posted his photo on his profile page with HP. I don't know why it worked there and not on the general posting?

tom

[Big_Boy_4005]

Tom, on this one Dave used a different site, and did end up with a jpg which did finally show. Last night when I looked, it wasn't visable, then this morning it was, even though it wasn't edited. Strange to say the least.

I still think there is a way to make pictures from HP work, we just haven't found it yet. I know that you and Jim have worked on this for hours. The fact that Jim's photo worked in his profile, and not in posts is very interesting, and may hold the key to the solution. Every problem has a solution, even if we don't know what it is.[:)]

[spankybird]

Hi Elliot,

Well I just have a few less hairs to wash now.

Some how we will find a way to do this.

tom

[Trainman52]

Nice piece of work Dave. Do you have somewhere on the net where you can park this and we can download it from there? Ever think of a table at York?[:D]

[nitroboy]

If anyone wants it, they can e-mail me and I will send them the files. I will try and put it on a web page. I have yahoo mail and you get a free home page, so I will try and put the files there. Rich, thanks for the compliment, if you have any questions about it, let me know. The program is pretty easy for me to change stuff, so if something doesn't suit you, let me know.

Dave

[CSXJOE]

I use Excel along with some other club members.