Does anyone have a good system for keeping stock in check. I like to keep all the boxes for coaches and wagons etc, locos are not a problem. I thought of putting numbers underneath coaches etc so I know what goes in which box. I bought a couple of s/h coaches that were numbered like that, but has anybody got a better system.

A spreadsheet chris . From left to right: model manufacturer. Model number on the box . Number of loco. Number if coach or wagon. Date released. How many have you got ? So for example @lil chris .... steam loco no 1. Released by farish. Number on box. Number printed on the loco . Number of items. Brainfart here. I think need excel spreadsheet

Thanks Chris @crewearpley40 I am not very good with spreadsheets, plus I don't think I have excel anyway,Microsoft stopped giving things like that away ages ago. Maybe there is a free one somewhere I can use, or just write it down myself in a list.

Chris. I just spent a couple of hours and making noted in a block of a4 pad using those headings as I'm not au fait with computers

Download Libre Office - it's free. If you are feeling flush you could make a small donation to them.

I use Model Train Catalogue software for a database of all my stock. It is very reasonably priced.
Colin

Sounds like a couple of issues there:

1) tracking actual stock items
2) keeping track of what goes in which box

For the former l also have a spreadsheet. I use Google Sheets, which is free, and means I can easily update it on any device (such as my phone). Trouble is that it's presently out of date, but I can't remember how much by, so I kinda need to get everything out to work out what's missing! Definitely some 66s and some container flats not on there.

For the latter then yes stickers or writing numbers seems to make sense. I freely admit on wagons where I've got a long rake with a few running numbers I make zero effort to keep the correct ones in its box, so some sort of numbering or colour coding would help that.

MS Access database with each item logged with a photo (well a low resolution scan), a unique id which matches a tiny label stuck to the underside, and various details such as make and model, price paid and when etc.



All locos live in their original boxes where possible, I slip a label with the id number and photo in the side of the box so they are easy to find when stored upright in transport cases.  Rolling stock mostly lives in custom made stock boxes, so at some point I tend to revisit their original boxes where they exist and add a paper slip with info similar to the locos. That'll be a huge job though, I've got black sacks full of empty boxes stored away in the garage rafters!

micro$oft used to include the ideal tool,cardfile but as usual with anything remotely useful its no more.

QuoteMS Access database

Indeed a database is the correct tool for the job,however the learning curve can be a bit steep.If you want free the libre office version is called base

Quote from: themadhippy on November 08, 2020, 08:17:45 PM
Indeed a database is the correct tool for the job, however the learning curve can be a bit steep.

Before I moved my inventory to Access it lived in an Excel spreadsheet with much the same info including the scanned image.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, nejee20 hit the nail on the head with 2) that is what I want. I did start to right things in a book but I have kind of got behind. I made a log of the loco's but did it on a verticle page and left myself short of room, I re did that last night the landscape way using two pages and making the boxes bigger. The only thing I am worried about sticking labels on is if they fall off which they have a habit of doing under the baseboards. Thanks Nick that ms Acess system you have looks brilliant but probably behond me. I am also reluctant to have prices anywhere, swmbo might realise how much I spend on this railway...lol. I have OpenOffice, not sure if there is a spreadsheet on that but thanks everyone for the suggestions. Keep Safe everybody.

OpenOffice's spreadsheet app is called Calc if I remember correctly.  We tried a few of the alternative office suites at work for a while but settled back on Office 365 for best compatibility with other software packages we use.

I have no problems with the labels falling off the underside of stock. I use a tiny string of Revell Contacta adhesive. I stopped using superglue years ago as that did tend to go off over time.

QuoteI have OpenOffice, not sure if there is a spreadsheet on that

it should be there,its called calc

Just found a spreadsheet on Openoffice so I may try that has well has labeling. Thanks to Buffin for the tip.

I use an Excel spreadsheet with columns for the info I want/need. It's easy to know which loco goes in which box but not necessarily the same of coaches and wagons so I now add into the sheet all their running numbers. It also helps me avoid buying more due to brain farts unless I want to buy more I've also added in filters for livery so I can see my coaches by e.g. maroon, green, choc & cream etc. I added a column recently to show where the nearest shed is for a particular type of loco so I can justify one being on my location