RE: INVENTORY PROGRAMS?

BNSF1079 May 25, 2000

  1. BNSF1079

    BNSF1079 Guest

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    Hello All ,
    i have a question for anyone and everyone ,
    i like so many railroaders have amasted a large collection of rolling stock as well as loco's . i want to hear from anyone who has or knows of a good program to track of all this equiptment! so let me hear from ya'll !

    KEVIN
    C.E.O.
    PLUM-A-NEARLY RAILROAD INC.
    bnsf1005@gte.net
     
  2. Patrick

    Patrick Guest

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    Hi Kevin,

    If you have access to Excel I would suggest that you use it. MTL uses an Excel spreadsheet that carries data on their rolling stock that you can download on the net as an example of an inventory sheet layout. I download and copy information from their spreadsheet into my rolling stock inventory as I purchase one of their cars. I carry my list with me to make sure that I do not purchase a car that I already have. Not that many cars, just a short memory. Anyway, one suggestion for you [​IMG].

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    Residing in BNSF's St. Croix Subdivision near Trempealeau, WI
     
  3. Mark Lewalski

    Mark Lewalski E-Mail Bounces

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    Hey Kev,

    There was (is) a program advertised in MR and maybe RMC that was specifically designed to track your rolling stock inventory. I know that I can find it in our club library tonight when we meet. See you then.

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    Enjoy!
    Mark
     
  4. Ratcals

    Ratcals TrainBoard Member

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    Try this it's free. I've read on other boards that it is quite good. And best of all it's free. It's a database file that works with Access97. Apparently there are issues when trying to download it. However the site administrator is extremely helpful in getting you up and running. I personally haven't used it yet. However, I am currently working with the administrator to get it working. Here's the link <A HREF="http://www.trainweb.com/snch%26ts/software.html">

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    Mark
     
  5. Ratcals

    Ratcals TrainBoard Member

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  6. Ratcals

    Ratcals TrainBoard Member

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  7. BC Rail King

    BC Rail King E-Mail Bounces

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    Dun Dun Dun, I do something simple,

    I made a thing on Microsoft Word, and just still all the details in there, and that way it is easy to view it! I don't bother doing everything they harder way,and I also like doing it with word as I have me logo on the same disk that I have my roster saved on.

    Another thing I do is make a few pages for my RR, and stick it in my track side guide [​IMG] It is fun, and it gives you a reall RR feel. And, it is a quick referance to what you have, I may not have ALOT, but it is enough that some times I see cars I didn't know I had, lol.

    I am only at 91 cars
    10 servisable locos
    7 coaches
    1 sleeper
    2 observation
    1 dome
    2 buisness
    1 Cafe Lounge

    Happy Railroading!

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    TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King
    TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info.
    To send a general TRAIN! E-Mail send to
    BCRailKing@Canada.com
     
  8. Cateau

    Cateau E-Mail Bounces

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    I personally use MSExcel. To me it's an easy and powerful way to manage your data and gives you data tools like searching, sorting and filtering plus the ability to use macros.

    I have a different tab(sheet) for each type of rolling stock (ie loco, flatcars, tankers, etc).

    Plus you can export the data into almost any format that can be picked up by another application.

    I use this in conjunction with a Palm Pilot program call MobileDB from Mobile Generation Software. Export the spreadsheet, run it through a MobileDB converter, sycnup and I now have my database on my Pilot ready for the next shopping trip [​IMG]


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    Cateau
    *BNSF*
     
  9. Grantha

    Grantha TrainBoard Member

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    There seems to be some consensus that a spreadshhet is the best way to track your rolling stock.

    If you don't have access to Excel, you may want to try the spreadsheet in the StarOffice Suite from Sun Microsystems. It's a freebie from Sun and the spreadsheet is compatible with Excel. You can't get a better spreadsheet or wordpro for the price.

    I don't want to be a fireman forever either. [​IMG]
     
  10. chessie

    chessie TrainBoard Supporter

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    I use MS Excel97, and have used the Micro-Trains database as a good starting point. I like to take their database, highlight (in color) the cars I have, "hide" the cars I have no interest in, then leave other "desired" cars with their information. Leaving the other cars unhighlighted serves as my "wish" list... I can print a copy and take it to any shows. (Since I hide a bunch of cars I have no interest in, the entire remaining database is not too many pages to print and stuff in my pocket before heading off to a train show... It is important to know the year a given M-T car was produced when evaluating the sales price (price guides help too); for example M-T produced UP cabeese in their stock # 50100 in 8 different road numbers from 1978 to 1997. I'd really be mad at myself if I picked up one at a show for $25, only to find out it was the '97 version and still generally available when I got home! You can add additional sheets to the workbook to contain locos, other cars, etc, or combine them all into one and sort by manufacturer.

    If you like/use MS Access97, the link to the software program by Bruce Conklin is a great alternative. He is very helpful too. In Access, it is easy to create or modify a database to suit your needs.
     
  11. BNSF1079

    BNSF1079 Guest

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    O.K.! i want to find out more about this micro-trains database , as most of my rolling stock so far is theirs , so how do i down load this / will it fit on a floppy ? wasn't there a program here a while ago called rail something? has anybody ever heard of that one ? i can't seem to figure out the spead sheets everyone keeps talking about ! so keep the ideas coming !
    Kevin
    C.E.O.
    Plum-A-Nearly Railroad Inc.
     
  12. chessie

    chessie TrainBoard Supporter

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    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BNSF1079:
    O.K.! i want to find out more about this micro-trains database , as most of my rolling stock so far is theirs , so how do i down load this / will it fit on a floppy ? wasn't there a program here a while ago called rail something? has anybody ever heard of that one ? i can't seem to figure out the spead sheets everyone keeps talking about ! so keep the ideas coming !
    Kevin
    C.E.O.
    Plum-A-Nearly Railroad Inc.
    <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    Kevin,
    You can download a copy of the Micro-Trains database from their website at: http://www.micro-trains.com/database.htm It is available in a zipped and unzipped version. You must have Excel to use it, since it is a sreadsheet. The download will easily fit on a floppy disk and should not take too long, depending on your Internet connection (I just got RoadRunner high speed cable Internet access, and downloaded the entire non-zipped program almost as soon as I clicked on "download"). The database is usually updated by Micro-Trains every month, so you might as well wait for the June update that is usually posted with the new monthly releases.

    Chessie
     
  13. Mark Lewalski

    Mark Lewalski E-Mail Bounces

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    Hey Kevin,
    The name of the company with the inventory/operations program is Albion Software. The program is loaded on the PC upstairs at the club. When I talked to one of our members last night, he said that it was a database program with the possibility for very detailed field entries. You might want to check it out since our club owns a copy.

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    Enjoy our hobby!
    Mark
     
  14. Mark Lewalski

    Mark Lewalski E-Mail Bounces

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    Kevin,
    Also, my view on producing a list of ANYTHING you might want to inventory. MSAccess is a database program that is tailor made for inventories (i.e. databases). You can sort and sub-sort on the same list. You can arrange your printouts in numerous ways. You can make actual fields for entering data. I have used it for videos, compact disc etc. with great results.

    MSExcel on the other hand is a spreadsheet that has limited sorting and (to my knowledge)no fields in which to enter data. It makes a good LIST of stuff you have but does not prompt for data input and is not necessarily a good program for inventory.

    By the way, I'm not touting MS it's just what I use. There are plenty of other database programs out there.



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    Enjoy our hobby!
    Mark
     
  15. BNSF1079

    BNSF1079 Guest

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    Hello Railfans,
    just a quick note , i now have a huge headache ! i now know why not many railroaders do this !(inventory) , i have managed to get the loco's done useing micro soft word , but MAN, Do I have the rolling stock , so if you don't hear from me in a couple of days please send a e-mail to make sure i am still alive and not bured in all the cars some where !

    Kevin
    C.E.O.
    P.A.N. R.R. INC.
     
  16. Ratcals

    Ratcals TrainBoard Member

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    I now have a fully functioning copy of the Access file I spoke of earlier. It's very good and easy to input information. The author has given permission to freely distibute so if anyone is interested email me.

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    [​IMG]Mark
     
  17. BNSF1079

    BNSF1079 Guest

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    well just to let every one know i have went on line and bought a program for the inventory program it is about $39.99 and seems to be prety good when it gets here i will let you know what i think about it , every one has said it is great as you can load images as well as put in your own , so if you want to check it out it is at :

    http://www.dodie.com

    Kevin
    C.E.O.
    Plum-A-Nearly Railroad Inc. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/River/8880/plumrrincindex.html

    "The Best Little Gulf Coast Railroad !"
     

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