Stock database?

[kirky]

I'm thinking I need to catalogue my stock.
Does anyone know of any particular database, software or even just an idea of what might be available in order to do this.

The kind of thing I would want would be a photo of the item, the manufacturer, the item model, eg mk IV coach, the TOC, the livery, the value, the date purchased,  etc etc. For locos I would want to include the chip installed and the number allocated.

The purpose is mainly just to have a record of what I have but also so that I can track repairs etc

I have seen something somewhere, but I think it might be a bit old now. I seem to recall it wasn't really what I wanted. I suppose I could set it up with Exel, but if someone had a template, it would be even better.

Cheers
kirky

[poliss]

Did you look at Yard Office? http://musicmixradio.com/yardoffice/download.html

[EtchedPixels]

I read a few setup instructions for such packages and decided life was too short so I just created a spreadsheet of them in openoffice.

[kirky]

Poliss: I hadn't seen that one before, that's not the one I'm thinking of - might be useful, but on first inspection, looks like it will need lots of tweaking for my UK stock,

EP: that is what I was thinking. So any chance of a (blank) copy of your spreadsheet?

cheers
kirky

[EtchedPixels]

Poliss: I hadn't seen that one before, that's not the one I'm thinking of - might be useful, but on first inspection, looks like it will need lots of tweaking for my UK stock,

EP: that is what I was thinking. So any chance of a (blank) copy of your spreadsheet?

I just stuck the fields I wanted across the top, nothing clever. You seem to want to track rather different things

[tadpole]

I use good old excel. A sheet/tab for each of: locos, multiple units, coaches, goods vehicles, track/accessories.

Columns vary between sheets, but typically: quantity, manufacturer, catalog number, description, livery/era, value, total value, whether it has a box, remarks. Motive power items need an extra column for running performance (score out of ten).

Total up the quantities and values, and carry these forward to a summary sheet, and you know what you need to insure.

[longbridge]

I read a few setup instructions for such packages and decided life was too short so I just created a spreadsheet of them in openoffice.

A quick question EP, I notice you use Open Office, I just reloaded Mint 9 LTE on my computer after having a few bug problems with Mint 12, as you would know Linux OS are now using Libre Office, is it the same Sun Open Office repackaged or a totally new software package?.

[EtchedPixels]

A quick question EP, I notice you use Open Office, I just reloaded Mint 9 LTE on my computer after having a few bug problems with Mint 12, as you would know Linux OS are now using Libre Office, is it the same Sun Open Office repackaged or a totally new software package?.

I'm actually using LibreOffice on the newer box

Rough summary would be

Oracle bought Sun
Lots of the developers found Oracle (and Sun's) controlling habits a pain
They all got together and decided to run off with the code (it being open source anyway) and start LibreOffice

So its basically a version upgrade and regime change...

[longbridge]

Thanks for that EP, certainly looks the same

[kirky]

I use good old excel. A sheet/tab for each of: locos, multiple units, coaches, goods vehicles, track/accessories.

Columns vary between sheets, but typically: quantity, manufacturer, catalog number, description, livery/era, value, total value, whether it has a box, remarks. Motive power items need an extra column for running performance (score out of ten).

Total up the quantities and values, and carry these forward to a summary sheet, and you know what you need to insure.

Tadpole, thats a very good idea;  it hadn't occurred to me to use different sheets for different types of stock - simple but it makes sense. Thanks

Kirky

[grid078]

Its just occured to me that several years ago there was one advertised in the "N-Gauge" journal, it was british based and free, there was a review of it and it did look good, i believe i may have downloaded it at the time, but thats on a long gone pc. It would be at least five if not seven years ago, i`m afraid i can`t remember what it was called though, maybe one of our resident society members can remember, unfortunatley all my old copies of the journal are stored in the loft somewhere, that mythical black hole where everything you own disappears into. Sorry i`m a bit vague.

Stu

[kirky]

This http://www.gppsoftware.com/ViewProd.aspx?P=41582C2324292128 is the one I was thinking of. But at 35 quid its a bit pricey when I can coble together an exel spreadsheet, which is what I have started to do.

Cheers
Kirky

[grid078]

Sorry i need to correct my previous post, after finding and trawling through ten years worth of journals i`ve now realised that the database software was not reviewed in the n-gauge journal, but after searching the online index for modelrail magazine i have found it, the software was reviewed in October 2003, issue 60, page number 68. There is no further info on the index site and all my copies are stored in the garage somewhere. Maybe someone on here has access to said issue and can find out what the software is, where it can be down loaded from and finally if it is still available.

Hope this is of some help to you.

Stu

[polo2k]

Ta da!

http://www.modular-model-railroads.com/2010/09/model-train-inventory-software/

You've got some reading in your future I think!

[grid078]

Thanks Polo, my christmas holiday treat is to get into the garage (ha what a joke, fight my way in) and find my boxes of modelrail and dig this edition out, i`m pretty sure the database reviewed was a british one and aimed at uk modelers, but i maybe wrong, it was certainly free though that i can remember.

  The mags have been kept for reference along with rail, traction and railexpress magazines and some railway modelers for good measure.

Stu