| Author |
Message |
    
David Cooper (Dave)
Level 2
Username: Dave
Post Number: 106
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 01, 2011 - 09:10 am: | 
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Hello One and all
Having put together a modest collection of Dinky Toys I decided it was time to create a record of them. There are a number of data bases out there for PC (Windows) but for those members who, like me, use an iMac as my main computer, I can recommend the Bento data base (by Filemaker) program. I have the Bento 3 version. This enables me to enter data (descriptions of my individual models) together with a photo and to view the data base as a list or form. It is useful for insurance purposes should the worst happen. You can update information of individual models as it becomes available (usually from the club). It provides easy, immediate access to the information too. *I should point out that I have no connection with this company.
How do other members keep a record of their collections?
Dave |
Bob Barnes (Raab)
Level 5
Username: Raab
Post Number: 519
Registered: 05-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 01, 2011 - 10:07 pm: |
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Hi Dave
I use Excel and have created a multiple page layout (i.e., Dinky Toys, Dublo, Books, brochures, etc. about 15 pages). I can send you a copy if you would like. My spreadsheet does not have a link to my photos. I have thought about a conversion to a database program and I would select one of the free SQL Servers programs (MYSQL (open source), SQLExpress (Microsoft), DB2((forget other part of name),IBM). The SQL database programs are more common and used by a very large number of people and companies.
Bob |
David Cooper (Dave)
Level 2
Username: Dave
Post Number: 107
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 02, 2011 - 10:57 pm: |
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Hi Bob
I'd like a copy please. I did use a Microsoft database on my PC for another collection of models but found it was impossible to hyperlink the record with a photo. I daresay there are other databases that have this facility.
Here's what the Bento program looks like.
 |
Wim van den Berg (Dr_dinky)
Level 3
Username: Dr_dinky
Post Number: 186
Registered: 11-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2011 - 02:34 pm: |
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Hi Bob, could you send me a copy too?
mygr8star@tds.net
Thanks!
Wim |
Luis Ramon Rossi (Drrossi)
Level 3
Username: Drrossi
Post Number: 319
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2011 - 05:22 pm: |
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Dear Bob,
What a wonderful job !!!!!
could you send me a copy too?
doctorluisrossi@gmail.com
Regards and thanks
Luis |
Jan Werner (Janwerner)
Level 6
Username: Janwerner
Post Number: 1200
Registered: 05-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2011 - 08:04 pm: |
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Dear all, I do not use a data base programme. My core record of the collection is my Dinky Toys catalogue, an ordinary MS Word file (now approx 600 pages, 250.000 words, 500 entries, excluding introductory texts, schemes and explanations), because the very large text contents and its layout is important to me.
There is one broad division into British and French Dinky Toys. Within that division the entries (the models' pictures, descriptions and textual comments) are ordered numerically, according to the Dinky Toys catalogue numbers. Indeed, one model entry contains a header, a photo of the model, a 'technical' description and an essay about the model of some 100-1000 words including references to catalogues and literature.
MS Word has sufficient (that is, for me) indexing facilities. So every item entry's name and catch words within the descriptions is indexed by me alphabetically, also by class of model, and chronologically, by date of acquisition. More indexes could be considered, but this is enough for me. One print on the index button produces these indexes, at the end of my catalogue.
Both in printed form and 'online' all kinds of searches are easy and very quick. The last catalogue print-out was in 2000, since I made printed supplements every year. Online the catalogue is virtually, not always completely, up-to-date.
Because often time is wanting to work on the catalogue I have another MS Word file, just to keep things up-to-date, a very simple chronological journal, in order to quickly register mutations in the collection, as acquisitions or sales are concerned, with their fundamental data.
The basic large photo files of the collection items are organized within a separate photo file, their order based on the names of the files, starting with the usual Dinky Toys catalogue numbers.
A very interesting subject, hope to see more contributions on this!
Kind regards, Jan Werner |
Bob Barnes (Raab)
Level 5
Username: Raab
Post Number: 520
Registered: 05-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2011 - 10:56 pm: |
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Dave
Send me you email address so I can send it to you. |
David Cooper (Dave)
Level 2
Username: Dave
Post Number: 107
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2011 - 10:06 pm: |
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Hi Jan
I too used a word program on my old PC to keep a record of my Brooklin Models collection. I created an index on word 97 and hyperlinked each "record" in the index to a folder containing a file/files describing the model in detail. I kept photos in a separate folder.
When I bought an Apple iMac none of this worked. It was some time before I discovered the Bento program which, I understand, is only available for Apple computers. I still have my detailed photos of my DTs in a separate folder as only one photo can be included on a form (one disadvantage) and I do have several photos of each model. Each photo file is prefixed by the number (e.g. 621 Three ton Army Wagon) and each record has the model name and the number at the end (e.g. Three ton Army Wagon 621) As you say using a Word program does enable many pages of notes to be recorded and accessed easily.
Dave |
David Cooper (Dave)
Level 2
Username: Dave
Post Number: 108
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 04, 2011 - 07:47 am: |
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Hi Bob
My email is deejay.cooper@btinternet.com
Dave |
Bob Barnes (Raab)
Level 5
Username: Raab
Post Number: 521
Registered: 05-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 04, 2011 - 08:10 pm: |
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Bento is definitely for the Apple environment. I just looked at their web site.
Bob |
Bob Barnes (Raab)
Level 5
Username: Raab
Post Number: 522
Registered: 05-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 04, 2011 - 08:07 pm: |
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Afternoon
For those who requested it, I emailed the spreadsheet today.
Bob |
Jan Werner (Janwerner)
Level 6
Username: Janwerner
Post Number: 1201
Registered: 05-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 04, 2011 - 07:16 pm: |
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Thanks for the comment Dave. Apple, Apple iMac, PC, new software versions, it's a complicated, ever changing world. They are blessings in many ways, but things change while you're painstakingly working on them!
Kind regards, Jan Werner |
David Cooper (Dave)
Level 2
Username: Dave
Post Number: 109
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 04, 2011 - 09:20 pm: |
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Hi Bob
Many thanks for your email and attachments. You have my assurance that it will not be distributed or passed on in any way.....and yes, Bento is very much for the Apple world but it does pretty much the same job as the Microsoft database and it is nice not to have to worry too much about viruses. As Jan says it's a changing world. Perhaps one day we'll see a computer program that cat can do a whole house inventory in seconds at the press of a button. What a boring world it would be.
Dave |
Don Becker (Ayedoc)
Level 2
Username: Ayedoc
Post Number: 16
Registered: 05-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2011 - 03:14 am: |
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Bob,
Email address - ayedoc@cox.net
Sorry, Don |
Don Becker (Ayedoc)
Level 2
Username: Ayedoc
Post Number: 17
Registered: 05-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2011 - 03:08 am: |
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Bob,
Sorry to jump in late on this. I was in SF for a sailing match race regatta and I'm sure I drove past you on the way up and back from Newport Beach. I have been using a Word format to keep track of my Dinkys and would like to see your Excel program as well if not too late. Thanks. |
