A good inventory program does NOT have to be specifically made for model railroading equipment... but... it certainly helps cut down on customization of fields. The TreasureSoft company used a basic shell inventory program with modifications for different types of collectables (Sports Cards, Beanie Babies etc). I was quite surprised when it was not supported after a couple of years in existance. I figured that something that could be used over several different interests would have enough of a following to be around a while. I'm guessing that the designer of that program may have run accross the same difficulties that TrainCat had when the Windows Operation System changed from XP to Vista. IIRC... FoxPro and Access are 'relational databases' [well actually Access definately is]. We had FoxPro as a basic program within Window XP Professional at work with an important database built around it. The IT guys said that FoxPro was unstable and needed constant upkeep because of corruption of data. They decided to create a new database using Access and moved as much of the data from the FoxPro based application. That Access based application has worked fairly well despite having several upgrades from the former Windows XP Professional to the current Window 7 OS. Of course... alot of stuff is done behind the scenes by the IT 'gurus' and I wouldn't know everythng that they've had to do to keep the application running. So short of having to hire an IT 'guru' to keep my train catalog running... I would have to rely on patches from a software company to keep something working... and that's where these programs may not be able to keep-up with the technological advances every few months.
Some time ago I "built" a db for my trains inventory in Access 2000. I didn't use it much but it certainly had the ability to meet my every need. Still, to get the max use out of a Relational db you really need to know how to create queries. Good luck in your search.
Hmmm... Building web applications is part of my day job. If I built this as an SaaS (software as a service) application, it could possibly be supported by advertising (and before I hear people complaining about seeing ads, you're quite welcome to pay me instead!), and it would be available to use anywhere you have an Internet connection (would also be pretty easy to make mobile-compatible). And for the safety-net of "what if you fall under a bus, will all my data be lost?" question, it could also easily have a Excel-compatible spreadsheet export function with all of your data (maybe even a "download all images as zip" function, too). I'll have to think it over. If only there were more hours in the day... NOTE: And I've been thinking a bit more about this. Folks, give me your feedback on willingness to pay for this service (i.e.- would you pay, and what would you think would be a reasonable price to pay), and maybe potential advertisers (fifer, wig-wag, etc.) could let me know if targeted advertising to users based on their specific equipment roster (scale, type, roadnames, etc.) might be interesting to you. Who knows, if there's enough actual interest, maybe I'll just have to make it happen.
Not to keep harping on it...but this program is so easy to use a caveman (me !) could do it. The whole program and data file will easily fit on a jump drive (about 1 woo woo woo)...which is where I store mine...and it's free. Oh..and did I mention It's Free :tb-cool: .
Free is good... but... I agree that FREE is good... if the program has the functionality you would like to have. Some are happy with just a spreadsheet listing of their collection and there's nothing wrong with that simple solution. I'd rather pay for something that is 'not just another list'. I found a database that was supported at least thru the Vista Windows edition... and it looks very nice... has picture upload function which is a BIG plus for me. BUT... I just don't want to trust the website and the 'testamonials' from unknown sources. Here's the link: http://www.mt-ac.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=35 If anyone on this board has used or is currently using this product... please give us your opinion of its capabilities. Has it been updated to Windows 7 yet???? PS: Found this site with information on software available for model train collectables. http://www.modular-model-railroads.com/2010/09/model-train-inventory-software/
Just to clarify my post above the references to "Free", my plan would be to make it a free service, supported by advertising (precise target marketing for advertisers, since you have specific information on a modeler's preferences by their inventory), with the possibility of some extra features (maybe images?) for an additional fee (monthly, yearly, not sure). I'm just testing the waters to see what there is and what people want.
Filemaker Pro. Not cheap. Very good relational database that’s been around for a long, long time. Originally for a Mac, but I’m sure now offers a windows version. You get to set up all data in whatever order and view you’d like to have it in. Will do searches looking for multiple pieces of data, photo’s, etc. Whatever YOU want you can set it up. I have the entire 1989 SP loco roster with over 2300 loco’s and some 15 separate fields of data on each engine. Works great!
I'd be interested, especially if it's free. But I'd have to think about what features would entice me. And there's probably a level of extra feature that I'd be willing to pay for. Advertising supported would be fine, as long as it's tasteful and reasonably unobtrusive. Trainboard's ads don't bother me at all, and I find that I actually read them (and click through), while certain image-hosting sites with large numbers of pop-ups and pop-unders and so on are a real turn-off. One feature that would be nice, but would require a certain amount of cross-platform cooperation would be a certain level of integration / data-sharing with apps like JMRI or the MRICF. I'm talking where the roster is hosted in one place, and the other apps can pull from that data, either with a single click, or fully automated. Not downloading, mangling, and re-uploading CSV files.
So far, I'm thinking car images might be the "pro" feature (since it requires significant extra coding, storage, and extra bandwidth both ways), but I'm open to ideas. As for the advertising, it would definitely be unobtrusive and only specifically related to railroading and the hobby. (Railpictures.net, are you listening?) I want the advertising to support the site, so the more specific to the train hobby, the better. And NO POP-UPS OR UNDERS (I DESPISE THEM!). I'd have to see what their data models are like (for example, do they have an API and/or XML specifications?). Worst case, I could build in some overlays to create ready-to-go CSV files for them (so you don't have to futz around with it). Thanks for the feedback!
Yaay. JMRI's is XML, and the DTD is available in their SVN tree. MRICF takes a CSV file upload. The trick of course, is they're all different... The other feature I'd really like is a good maintenance logging feature. That might even be a pay thing. So I could mark a car as a bad order, list the parts needed to effect the repair, give it a priority, log the change in a history, that sort of thing. And then run a "shopping list" report on payday so I can see how many replacement couplers or new trucks or whatever I need to pick up. Plus be able to go back and see the history of the work that's been done. Third thing that comes to mind is some way of tracking provenance. A significant fraction of my inventory was a gift of one sort or another, and I'd like some sort of field to indicate who gave it to me and when, maybe purchase price if it was a purchase instead of a gift. This could be part of a generic extensible "user data" field type facility.
I use the free version of Yard Office and love it. Thanks for the tips regarding problems when, and if ever, I upgrade to Windows 7 from XP. Cheers, Ted
Layout inventory software Does anyone know of good inventory software? I'm looking for software that I could input all of my car numbers and engines in, and from that, generate switch lists, or train documents to show set offs and lifts, things like that. Thanks in advance.
Have you looked at "Easy Model Railroad Inventory". It may do what you want. It's available at .... I can't post the link because I have not been a member long enough. Use your friend Google. It should be easy to find. Company name is RCL Software. - pete
Here's the link for the web page mentioned above http://easy-model-railroad-inventory.rclsoftware.com/index.htm
You may also want to look into the Operations feature of JMRI... it does much of what you mention, quite well IMHO, and is being rapidly developed with new/additional features and improvements with every release. Takes a little bit to set up, especially if you have a large layout, but you can incrementally add locations, cars, routes, and trains as you go.
We had another similar thread a few weeks ago... There are some comments and other possible options than the ones listed above... http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine...nt-Roster-Inventory-Software-Suggestion/page2
One thing all of the MR Databases I have seen have in common is they present me with too much info to fill in all at once. I know someday I may want to be able to note the model of trucks on the boxcar, but when I am initially entering data, I really don't have time for that. I would like to see a three level collapsible input screen for new data. Simplest would have just the basics. For rollingstock, which I have the most to enter, Car type, Road Name, Road number and possibly color. Level 2 would have more details to add... like MFG, Wheel Type, Coupler type etc... Level 3 would have Value, Date purchased, Status, etc. I KNOW many programs do not require all fields be filled in, but being able to configure what I want to see on the input screens would really help make it easier to get it all started. Maybe just "More/Less Info" arrows and the ability to save in that configuration for next use would work.
Thats what I like about RRTrains...you input as much or as little as you want. You can always go back later in "edit" and add...subtract a whole lotta stuff. Categories are customizable too. Oh...and its FREE. JMO http://www.gregorybraun.com/RRTrains_ss.html
Personally, I'd stick with Excel for much of this. I mean someone could create an excel template with the common items wanted and some drop down lists, host it somewhere, even here and then nobody else would need to do the work. After that point, in the year 2011, I'd go to a SaaS MySQL/PHP/Javascript solution. Yeah, you'd be storing your info online, but really, it's not like this is financial info and it would, potentially give you access anywhere, with your phone, tablet, etc etc. On the other hand, as the next step free answer, I'd probably look at a database template for Libreoffice or something like that. It requires more effort to install, but it's free. Some of the options I see online look interesting, but I'm leery of stuff like that because of OS support issues. Excel, Libreoffice, SaaS all don't likely care if you're running XP, Vista, Win7. Heck, the SaaS and Libreoffice options won't care if you're running Linux.
Most of the RR Database programs I have tried do allow you to not fill in any numbe ro ffields. That was not exactly my point. I would like to see someone make the data entry pages HIDE the more in depth fields from the users unless they click <more>. I would also like to see 2 or three levels of this sort of action with the ability to save the data entry screen in the format I prefer. As an alternative, it would work to be able to hide and unhide fields in the tool bar so they did not show in the data entry scren if I did not want them to.
