[78-L] Cataloguing software, and necessary data fields (l. weiner)

[Larry Weiner]

I'm a PC person, and so my thoughts will reflect that perspective.

I (as a former software designer - now retired) tried building (in MS 
Access) some cataloging software that would suit my needs.  That was 
about 20 years ago.... and I'm glad I gave it up..... too much work 
involved in building "personal" software.

So about 8-10 years ago I started looking around at what was available 
and tried a number of different packages.  The one I settled on (and 
still use) is called CATraxx (www.fnprg.com) and was developed by 
someone in Oslo, Norway.  It is relatively inexpensive, has a large user 
community (and internet base user forum), and has a very dedicated 
developer.  Change requests are frequently incorporated into releases, 
and new features added periodically.  It uses the MS Access (jet) 
engine, for the database, but you do NOT use (or event need to own) MS 
Access to update the database..... that is all handled through a very 
nice user interface.  There are many, many user definable fields in 
addition to fields that have already been standardized for describing 
"record" collections (records, CDs, tapes, Mini Discs, etc)... you can 
store digital photos of the record (labels, covers, liner notes, 
etc).... reference MP3 files where that music might be accessible (on 
you computer).

The database is essentially 2 levels deep. Albums (at the highest level) 
and tracks (an album may have 0-to-many tracks associated with it).  
I've added Martix Number as a User Defined field.

The CATraxx includes a good report writer and search capability.

Rarely does a piece of software do nearly everything I'd want it to do 
..... but this one comes darn close.  You can download and try it out.

Larry Weiner
larry at larryweiner.com

PS:  I'm not financially associated with the company  :~).

So what can't it do..... well:

1).  Much of my music collection is from Eastern Europe..... (read 
NON-English alphabets here).... and it would be "nice" if the user had 
the option to enter some of the information in the native alphabet (eg., 
Bulgarian, Russian, former Jugoslavia etc).... rather than having to 
figure out an appropriate orthography in English letters.

2).  It would be really nice if an entire database could be web enabled 
for retrieval purposes ....... so that discographies could be available 
and shared  "on-line" but protected from updating.




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Message: 9
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 14:43:55 -0700
From: "Stephen Davies" <SDavies at mtroyal.ca>
Subject: [78-L] Cataloguing software, and necessary data fields
To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
Message-ID:
	<OFC4D30123.AE0795D5-ON87257519.00743AB5-87257519.00778D22 at mtroyal.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Folks,
        can anyone recommend a good cataloguing software for my record 
collection?
        Now that I've passed #200 in my acquisition of 78's (total worth 
approx. $15, I suppose), and as I speculate on getting a home computer to 
dub and clean up the sound, it's time to think of something better than 
the MS-Excel spreadsheet that I've been using to record my holdings. 
        I don't want to use an online service, but I'm interested in 
knowing if anyone subscribes to one for this purpose, and what they think 
of it.
        Which data fields are required for entry for each side?  Here's my 
guess:

Personal inventory # * Artist * Song title * Composer / Lyricist * Mx# * 
Label * Label # * Recording date * Release date ??? * Condition * Notes (a 
catch all field) *

- Stephen D
Calgary