Does anyone keep an inventory of their fleets, both rolling stock and locos? I have tried to put together a little database to track what I have and what I want. I have a PalmPilot and have decided to use a product called HanDBase from DDH Software (DDHSoftware.com). Listed below are the fields that I have decided to track. Suggestions and Questions are welcome. <UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Manufacturer <LI>Manufacturer SKU <LI>Railroad Name <LI>Car/Engine # <LI>Type - Engine: Diesel, Steam, Electric, Trolley <LI>Description <LI>DCC Equiped - Yes or No <LI>Decoder Type <LI>Decoder Address <LI>Scale <LI>Track Gauge <LI>Owned - whether or not I own it yet <LI>Date Acquired [/list] Let me know what you guys think and what you guys do. Bry
I do have a rudimentary list of all my locomotives and freightcars, but I am not organised enough to have a lot of detail I do keep a file card for each locomotive, with all the work which needs to be done on it. Like details, repaints, decoder fitting, ditch lights, etc. Trouble is I never seem to have the time to do any of the work As more locomotives are acquired, the card stack gets thicker But then I am concentrating on the layout for the time being, before getting down to serious locomotive work.
I keep a list of Locomotives and Freight Cars on WordPerfect. Freight cars are kept by Initial, Number, Length & Type (i.e. 40' SD Stl. Box, 40' SD ARA Box, 36' Wood Reefer), Manufacturer, and a single letter denoting whether the car is (S) Scratchbuilt, (K) an assembled kit, (Y) a RTR car that has been modified (from repainted to totally rebuilt), or (N) ready to run unmodified car. Locomotives are kept by Initial, Number, type: (S) steam, (D) Diesel, (E) electric, wheel arrengement (i.e. 0-6-0 if steam, B-B if Diesel or electric), Model (i.e. PRR B6sb if steam, GP9 if diesel), Manufacturer of mechanism, Manufacturer of superstructure and then a single letter designating whether a locomotive is (S) scratchbuilt, (M) modified, (K) Kitbashed - two or more models combined, or (D) detailed. At last count I have 209 N scale freight cars and 23 locomotives and power units completed.
I got a data base named "My Database" with the intent of keeping a Loco and Car log. It has a sorting system by fields. The trouble with it is it seems to only sort by the numbers supplied with the data base. Each page starts over with #1 at the top. When I tried to use it for my VCR tape library, it was useless. I set mine up basically like Gregg's which was OK for locos, but wont work on a tape with several titles on it. I haven't found any type of a form that will allow making a list of items as you come to them, then sort alphabetically, or by type, or by 'need repair'. It would also need a means of inserting another loco or Tape without re-asigning all the numbers.
I keep track of everything on a datbase called Mitrains. I do a lot of database work at my day job, and this database is well designed and very user friendly. I don't have stock in the company, but I definitely recommend it. The company, Shenandoah Software, is at: http://members.aol.com/Shenware/
I started to write a program in Visual Basic for this purpose. Unfortunately, it has been setting on the back burner for a while since I have begun working on the new layout. Some times you just have to keep track of your priorities.
Bry, I've been a computer programmer / analyst for the past 39 years, and as such been able to write my own inventory applications. I decided too late to build a inventory and it took me two months to enter all my items. I didn't notice any prices on your list of items, or did I overlook them? I have the fields you've mentioned (minus DCC) plus others: purchase price, quanity if like items, proto builder,class,series and type codes,construction material(plastic,brass), modifications made, coupler type, on model number, manufacturer model code, manufacturer name and addr, status(own,sold,destroyed...etc). Also keep inventory on major structure models, electronic items and such. I run reports on items in any field sequence showing total inventory cost and item counts. I added an export file with HTML table code, ready to load into my Web page. I plan to rewite the code into 'Perl' language when time permits. Then I can run it on my PC instead of at work on Unix box. Learned one thing, you must log the items into inventory as soon as you purchase. A week, month later plays havic on the memory. A well kept inventory can be used for insurance purposes as well. ..Eddie
My first attempt in 1966 was limited to 80 characters since it used IBM punchcards but with lots of codes it contained both cartype and load type, lenght in 10 feet intervals. prototype era (decade) and a few other things needed to make switchlists and other funny things. Then it lived as a batch tapeoriented system on IBM mainframes for many years until it was transfered to a MS WORKS database some 15years ago. Today it is MS Access databases and a little Visual Basic interface. As noted in an earlier post the most important thing is to add any new stuff as soon as possible. One early feature was to print lables to put on the boxes so it was easy to identify wich locos and cars that had been entered into the system.
Eddie, I purchased "MY DATABASE" program to sort my (Huge) VCR Tape collection. It went fine until I came to tapes that had things like wrecks, antique tractors, family, classic autos, and some snow plows working, all on the one tape. The database assigned numbers to each line in their formats, so I only had one line to enter all that was on the tape. If it ran down onto the next line, it would not sort. There was no provision for me to assign sorting numbers as I needed them. I started over, made columns for each subject (across) so I could sort by subject, then found I was only allowed to sort by one of three columns, one of which was their numbers in column one. What I need is a blank format that I can sort by however many columns are across, by the column. That way, when a tape has six or seven subjects, each is listed in its column. Tapes with only one subject will only have one column filled in. I can then assign a number as I go, and attach a lable of that number to the tape when I please, because the numbers do not have to be consecutive for my use. They will only be used for library identification. Is such a database available? It would also work for Locos, cars, records, CD's, photos, VCR's etc.
I never thought of this...Never needed more then my fingers and toes to coount all of teh important stuff(motive Power). It might be a good idea now that I have real stuff! I can barely count all of my heavy steamers on my fingers any more!
I use an inventory program by Southview Software. It sorts by up to 8 fields and prints reports the way you design them. Best thing is, it is only $10(usd)! Check it out at Southview Software. One small confession: I wrote the program! [ 16 February 2001: Message edited by: mdrzycimski ]
I made a list of my father's vast fleet of locomotives and rolling stock. I put everything in Corel Quattro Pro spreadsheet. I don't know the first thing about spreadsheets and stumbled along. The end result is good but I cannot re-arrange info or pull certain fields like manufacturer or coupler type. Looks impressive though.
I used Microsoft Excel and made 3 chart lists so far. They print out like this: Steam Loco List-- Item#.Wheel...RR...Eng#.MFG...Run.Cuplr 001...4-8-8-4.UP...4005.Rivar.yes.Mantua 002...0-4-0...Read.205..Cox...yes.X2F The problem is I can find no way to sort to find all engines with Mantua Couplers, or all that need repair, or whatever. It is a spread sheet thingy but how to sort it in seven different columns is not clear. It totally sorts any one column, but none of the rest of the needed info goes with it. Totally screwed up now. It put the wrong coupler on various engines- and like that.
Wayne, That is a real problem with sorting columns on excel. To sort the whole database you must select all columns then sort by individual columns. The other way you can do it is by filtering the columns to bring up for example only kato locomotives. just select a row above your first data entry then go to data and select auto filter.
I'm using HanDBase on my Palm Pilot as well. I keep changing the fields around as I have not yet found the way that works best for me. The best part about it is that it's at my finger tips when I am at the hobby shops. Right now I have seperate databases for models, detail parts and supplies. One of these days I'll link them in Access so I can list what detail parts are on what models
Hello yankinoz, Welcome to Trainboard You are certainly organised! It must be great to be able to take your inventory to the model shop, easier than me taking my folder
Welcome abord Yankinoz. How does it feel to live in OZ? I have a separate sheet for locos, freight cars, pass cars, MOW, and VCR Tapes. I want to be able to call up all the ones that have an odd coupler, or that need repair, etc. Then I'll know what number to look for. Each car is numbered the same as it is listed. The problem so far is, only the column being sorted moves, not the listing along with its number. So it scrambles all the data.
Glad to be here! (both Australia and Trainboard that is.) Keeping on topic - yes having the list with me while at the hobby shop is fantastic. Particularly with supplies - (quick answer, do you have signal red, caboose red or both in your workshop right now? I know I have signal red only) Straying a littleā¦ My wife and I have fallen in love with Sydney Australia and are planning to stay here permanently. Hopefully the Australian Government sees things the same way! We should know in a couple of months. You'll here more from my about Oz in the future
well, being a novice computer user I used a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet fields for manufacturer, Powered or Dummy, model of loco, steam or diesel column plus a section for notes. I sort the rolling stock by manufacturer, car type, road name, size. Also sort Containers,semis, and MOW equip. this way too.