Vinyl Catalog of Records

[gvasale]

JoeE: I never said I could do all the things you're referring to. If I didn't make those limitations clear, I'm sorry. I did say I'm not an IT person.

But it sill lets me have a place for lots of data rather than having a separate page to be searched.

Alphabetical order is really all I need. True, I can't readily differentiate between location in the first column and address, quite a few cells over to the right.

But, It still allows me to catalog quite a bit of information and find a lot just by using the alphabet.

For example, Boston has the highest density with twelve entries, and they all show up easily on screen.

I believe you are right WRT databases, but I'm just trying to use what I have, and I have to leave it at that.

[JoeE SP9]

I'm sorry. I sometimes am too emphatic. My attitude about using the right tool for the job extends to everything I do. A spreadsheet, although it can be made to (after a fashion) work as a db is a perfect example of using the wrong tool.

It's probably just as much the fault of many IT people as well. Many of them haven't the faintest idea how to set up a database. I bought the original release of Access in 1992. The package came with 5 1/4" and 3 1/2" FDD's. Having a relational database to keep track of my music collection was something I'd been looking forward to. For years I'd used 3 x 5 file cards. I moved to PFS First Choice (using MSDOS) when it was released. It was a flat file based system and not a whole lot better than file cards. I was able to purchase the first version of Access for the dealer price of $35. I taught myself Access Basic and wrote the original version of the db I still use today. It has been changed and modified over time. An Access db is very easy to modify

It's probably Ver 7.5a.31 by now.

I don't understand what you mean by "a separate page to be searched". To search for anything in any field on a database form (my picture) you highlight the field, click on search and enter the word or terms of what ever you're looking for. Click one more time to initiate the search. It will then search the entire database for the search item.

When I finish the Open Office version I'll be offering it free to anyone who wants it. Everyone should be able to run it. Open Office is open source freeware.

For those not familiar, Open Office is a free down loadable open source alternative to MS Office. It's a full featured suite that reads and writes Excel, Word and Powerpoint files. Don't want to pay Microsoft? Give it a try!

[gvasale]

JoeE: Thanks for the suggestion of the freeware. I'll go to the library where there's free wireless and download it.

My remark about searching "a page at a time" was in relation to another member saying that he use MS Word, which as far as I know is a word processing program.

Again, thanks.

[Brianev]

Hi all. Thank you all very much for your contributions and help. I have downloaded quite few apps to play with, and have been using both Excel & Access just to see how they compare. The vinyl mountain is huge and I am not looking forward to doing it all. I managed to clean & catalogue section "W" today as its the smallest box I have........that has 60 albums, so an all day job. I also made up some newer tabs that I can actually read, I reckon I should be finished somewhere around 2090. Must admit some of the cleaned Wings albums sounded really great.
Brian

[davidsss]

Joe, you are correct that a database will make for a better, well, . . . database.

If you want to store all of your information (including things like pressing, catalogue number, track listing and the like) and be able to create relationships between the data then a database is invaluable.

I do use a large proprietary database at work (unfortunately it is crap, but that isn't because it's a database, it's because it is crap!) and for the purpose we use it for we need a big complex database. I know how a well designed database can operate and it is impressive. However, for keeping track of my records, I just want to be able to make a list with some details. I want to be able to see what I have and I just want the country of pressing and a few other details. For this purpose Excel is great. I can also print the list out easily (I know, Access can do this too). If I wanted to go further I would have to learn a database, probably Access since it is on my computer.

I will say that the day that the Excel spreadsheet is no longer enough or becomes inconvenient, I'll look at databases. For the moment it does what I want even though I know it is not really designed for the purpose I am using it for.

DS

[JoeE SP9]

Having taught courses in programming and application usage I have extensive knowledge of spreadsheets and databases.

A properly constructed database not only works better than any spreadsheet based system it's actually much easier to use. The relationships are set when the database is written. The end user doesn't have to become involved with setting up any relationships. When properly designed and written a database is a turn key operation. You merely enter the data. The listing (called reports in a database) of anything and everything in almost any fashion should be built into the database. If it isn't, the databse hasn't been written properly.

I'm an advocate of using the right tool for the job. Excel (or any other) spreadsheets are not the right tool for any kind of database work.

For what you do and want to do a database can do a better job than a spreadsheet. That's a fact!

[davidsss]

Aah, but Joe, I don't want a database, I want a list. Excel is great for lists.

DS

[JoeE SP9]

Aah, but Joe, I don't want a database, I want a list. Excel is great for lists.

DS

One more time: Excel or any other spreadsheet application are designed to manipulate numbers not abstract data. That's a fact.

With a database you can list anything in any order. Databases are simply better at listing things because that's what they're designed to do. In database terminology a list is called a report.

As I've said several times; "You can make a spreadsheet do all kinds of things it wasn't designed to do". You can also make chickens seem to dance by applying electric shocks to their feet.

It's been my experience that as soon as someone is shown how much better the proper tool works they abandon using a "screwdriver as a hammer".

[Audio_Man]

A database is the way to go. However database tables can be incorporated into a spreadsheet and vice versa. I use Lotus Approach and the DBF files it uses can be interpreted by open office and opened in the spreadsheet program. It therefore should be possible to combine simple spreadsheet tables converted from Excel into a relational database written in Open Office. Would recommend the user friendly Lotus if it worked on the Mac as it can still be obtained for little money. Of course Open Office is free and works on all platforms.

[djw.lp]

Hey all,

Regarding the Excel/DB debate,... yes technically a DB can dance, but if someone wants to use Excel - then that is their choice. A larger issue from my perspective
is what data to store, and where can you find the data?
I have considered writing an application for the web, using Google's application interface with GQL (?) But then where can the data be found? Personally I have a small LP collection, and very few CD(s). I would appreciate any links to raw data on LPs from the group. Even an excel sheet from an extensive collection would be a start. But there must be open data bases out there somewhere,..?

Having found the data - then the question "what features for the program are most desirable". A personal list in Excel which can be sorted goes a very long way toward serving an individual, but may not extend well for everyone. One feature I would like would connect review literature references to the entries,...

Well anyway - that is my two cents on the topic.

Cheers
Dan

[JoeE SP9]

CD data is readily available from several online resources. I've never tried looking for LP data on the web. I wrote my original DB version years before the web and online database resources existed. By the time online databases became available 95% of my 3500+ LP's and (my then) 900+ CD's were already entered in my database. It's easy enough to manually add new additions.

[Ottermel]

Joe,
Is you data base backed up on a regular basis or you just do it after a number of entries?

[JoeE SP9]

I usually wait until I have half a dozen or more new entries before adding them and backing up. Backups are kept on two separate external HDD's and on DVD-ROM. I'm a retired IT guy. I know the value of backing up data.