Does anyone know of a software program for personnal model railroad inventory?
I still use Microsoft Excel to make spreadsheets. Rolling stock is easy, and I always bring a paper copy of the spreadsheet to train shows as it helps prevent me from getting duplicate road numbers.
I like the flexibility of being able to customize the columns on my locomotive roster to include CV settings.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Another Excel vote here.
Alrhough with the advent of smart phones, I can one-up Mr.B, by having the online copy on me (via smart phone) with a few taps of my finger.
On rolling stock, I break it down by roadname, type, then road number. (Example: NS - 100T TopGon Coal Gondola - 23164 - BLMA) I then add custom notes, such as any modifications like weathering, and a column for things like custom paint and decal work, upgrades to details, etc...
Motive power I break down similarly, but with less I can organize by roadname and unit number at once, such as NKP765, and add in things like decoder model, and maintenance schedule for lube and clean, etc...
Plus on all entries, I also include a column for MSRP and price paid, if a prototype photo of exact road number is located on a website or my railfan photos, and any known issues.
I also keep in that same file a list of "look for" items, like new releases of rolling stock with preference of certain road numbers, and a active inventory of decals, paints, things like extra couplers, wheel sets, etc...
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
I'm also an MS Excel user and proponent. It's very customizable and the inventory spreadsheet is easily accessible from my smartphone when I'm at a train show or my LHS.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Same here...(Click on the photo to yield a legible image)
...with lots of options on how you want to organise the info. I have several such pages to keep track of freight, passenger, MoW equipment, and locomotives.
Wayne
I'm looking to do the same using excel So did you use a preset or did you design your own sheet
Thanks Mike
Count me among those using Excel.
I have a spreadsheet for locomotives, one for freight cars, and one for passenger cars. Each spreadsheet has as many as 30 or more columns of information about each locomotive or car. I "design" the spreadsheets myself, no presets.
Rich
Alton Junction
LION was going to suggest Access, but I gues Excell is better. And I do use that more often.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I'm planning to do this project soon, and while my initial thought was excel, I'm going to use google sheets instead because documents can be accessed anywhere and edited in a browser window.
NorthsideChi I'm going to use google sheets instead because documents can be accessed anywhere and edited in a browser window.
For this I use the free version of DropBox. I've been able to share large files and I also keep my JMRI and LokProgrammer rosters on it and I can access these anywhere internet is available.
Good Luck, Ed
Depends on what you ultimately want to do with the information. If you just want an inventory of stuff to keep track of it, for insurance purposes or to take it to hobby shops/shows to decide what to buy, then pretty much any spreadsheet program will work just fine. Some programs work better with mobile applications than others, some have more functionality than others, but for a straight inventory, you aren't going to use anything but the basic stuff in most cases.
On the other hand if you are going to do a lot more data manipulation and develop an actual application to produce something, then a database type application would ultimately be better.
99% of people will just want a spreadsheet, and MS Excel or LibreOffice Calc will work fine.
I use MS Access, first because I worked with it professionally so I had it and was familiar with it (Access has a steeper learning curve than Excel) and second because I developed a database to generate car cards and waybills. Quite frankly I do dump the tables from Access into Excel for certain types of manipulation and record keeping since in some cases the spreadsheet format is faster for input and the database allows more complicated output.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
One more vote for Excel. No particular reason, it's just something I've been using for a pretty long time. Nothing complex about my home made roster, but it does take a little basic familiarity with the program to set up. Nothing major. Here's a screenshot:
I set this up a while ago to use making car cards and waybills. Just basic info. N Scale car cards rely more on shape, color, and large markings than teeny-tiny-printed reporting marks. Only a small portion of the fleet recorded so far . . .
LINK to SNSR Blog
Hi Clayton,
I use a dedicated model train inventory system called Yard Office. It works quite well, and all the categories have already been set up for you. All you have to do is input the data. You can play with the data just like any other spread sheet program.
https://www.musicmixradio.com/yardoffice/
You can try out the program for free. If you like it there is a $27.00 one time fee. It seems to be more intuitive than Excel or other general purpose spread sheet programs, at least for me.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
My preference would be for MS Access database. Your data is safer if you do sorts or filters, etc. I had Access on my work computer, but on my personal computer I didn't want to spring for it, so I get by with Excel. I'll have to look into Sheets for my Google smartphone.
mikeGTWI'm looking to do the same using excel So did you use a preset or did you design your own sheet
I did that at least 20 years ago, and, if I recall correctly, either designed the layout of the sheet or simply created the columns in widths suitable to the amount of text I'd need to put in each.I was surprised to be able to transfer the original version from my PC to my Mac, and am still able to add new info to the sheets when I buy or build new locomotives or rolling stock.
I'm nearing the point where I won't likely be adding much more to it, although I still have a couple dozen freight and passenger cars to scratchbuild, and eight locomotives. When those are done, I'll print all the info onto paper, as it may be useful if I'm not around when it's time to get rid of things.
I should probably create something similar for structures, too.
I used Excel with ease for cataloging my collection.
Unfortunately, I kept this file on my work computer, and when I seperated from the company it became locked and encrypted. Gone forever.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I also use Yard Office. As previously stated, it is already completely set up for model railroad use with whole libraries of prototype railroads and car types, and also includes pages for operating condition, DCC settings, plus special comments.
Hornblower
MisterBeasley I still use Microsoft Excel to make spreadsheets. Rolling stock is easy, and I always bring a paper copy of the spreadsheet to train shows as it helps prevent me from getting duplicate road numbers.
Yeah, another vote for Excel i guess.
Its pretty straight forward, easy to use, customizable, portable, linkable, printable, etc.. Everyones heard of it and not many dont have it. Good program to start off with for a first time.
-PMR
Here is why I recommend Yard Office over Excel:
- There are no parameters to set up. All the categories are already there just waiting for you to enter your data into. You could have half of your inventory recorded by the time you set up your Excel sheets;
- You can store pictures of your rolling stock with their individual files;
- There are huge data bases with things like railroad names (it will even show the railroad's graphics in each of your listings), car types, car status (i.e. operating, in storage, on the rip track....), locomotive types, DCC settings, date acquired, price paid..... and more;
- It is free. If you want to support the software they ask for a one time $27.00 fee. With that you get a whole range of additional features. That is pretty reasonable for what you get IMHO.
I am a computer dinosaur. I hate Excel with a passion! Yard Office was so easy to use that I can't imagine why anyone would not give it a try regardless of how good your Excel skills are.
I have no affiliation with Yard Office, other than as a satisfied customer.
I use RRTrains 2000. It was written by Gregory Braun, but his website isn't around anymore, but you can download it from RRTrains 2000 ver 2.7 The nice thing is that you can insert images of your roster, which would come in handy for insurance purposes.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
Yard Office sounds great, however, I have one problem with it. Some day the program might no longer be supported, and you could eventually lose access to your data. Excel will always be updated and supported.
MidlandMikeYard Office sounds great, however, I have one problem with it. Some day the program might no longer be supported, and you could eventually lose access to your data. Excel will always be updated and supported.
Hi MidlandMike,
That possibility certainly does exist, but I'm not sure that there is a huge risk of that happening. As far as I know, the data base and the program are stored in my computer. Normal backup procedures should protect the data from being lost.
I am an absolute computer dinosaur, and I am too lazy and too old to learn all the intricacies of Excel. I can barely manage to get out a simple spread sheet using it. For those like you who are obviously fluent in Excel, creating an inventory program would be easy. For me it would be a nightmarish exercise in frustration. Yard Office solves all of those challenges, and if the program goes 'Poof', it really isn't going to bother me that much. I set it up more for the benefit of anyone who has to dispose of my collection rather than for myself.
Cheers!!
I use Easy Model Railroad Inventory. It's free and very easy to use. Categories are easy to setup and use, you can add photos, generate reports, etc. You can also easily keep track of your library. Everything can be exported to Excel as well. It takes some time to setup your inventory but I think it's well worth it.
Gonna date myself here.......
My first lasting MR inventory/maintenance log was done with Lotus 1-2-3. When Excel came along, I converted to it. Having used both at the office, it was no big deal to develop a listing that could be easily sorted and customized as my needs changed over the years.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I use Excel. I know how to run it, having used it at work for many years. I own a copy. It is very flexible. If you later decide you need an extra column for another piece of data no problem. Just add it and everything works. It will sort on anything, rapidly. I use one worksheet for each type of rolling stock, locomotives, boxcars, cabeese, tank cars, passenger cars and so on. Makes it easier to find stuff that way.
For each piece of rolling stock you want to record the road name, the serial number, the maker of the prototype, the maker of the model, date acquired, cost for a minumum. I also record length in scale feet, any kitbashing or super detailing, any work that needs doing like Kadee couplers.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
dstarr I use Excel. I know how to run it, having used it at work for many years. I own a copy. It is very flexible. If you later decide you need an extra column for another piece of data no problem. Just add it and everything works. It will sort on anything, rapidly.
I use Excel. I know how to run it, having used it at work for many years. I own a copy. It is very flexible. If you later decide you need an extra column for another piece of data no problem. Just add it and everything works. It will sort on anything, rapidly.
hon30crittermodel train inventory system called Yard Office
Hi Dave (and anyone else with Yard Office or tech knowledge):
I recently took your advice to try the Yard Office spreadsheet. I find it very easy to use, but there are some nuances. The program's link to the author's website has me buffaloed. I am wondering: whether there is a user group somewhere?
A second issue is that I believe this app is derived from Excel(?), so it runs fine on my Edge (Microsoft) operating system, but I'd like to try it on my new (Microsoft-incompatible, but cheap) Chromebook (so I can carry it around to the hobby areas). It appears this may possible by using Office 365 in a browser, but I am new to this.
Any helpful suggestions will be appreciated by me (and perhaps by others).
Jim57
PM Railfananother vote for Excel i guess. Its pretty straight forward, easy to use, customizable, portable, linkable, printable, etc.. Everyones heard of it and not many dont have it. Good program to start off with for a first time.
Not a big fan of much anything to do with computers, but Excel has stood the test of time. I started my spreadsheet of motive power and rolling stockwhen I went back to school in 99. Had to take a compter basics course and I made my first version for my semester project. Been using it ever since, including after my conversion to using Apple stuff. It's likely the oldest file I use regularly.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Several posters have commented about photos.
Excel can have photos, too. It's fairly simple to add photos of your cars to the other information.
York1 John