Collection cataloging Software

There have been a few discussions on train catalog software, you can try a search for something along the lines of train inventory or train catalog or just software and some they should turn up. I would offer some links, but I can't remember any specific threads.

I think the general consensus was people mostly use Excel to track their trains, a few use Filemaker or Access or something else they have created themselves. I have looked at a few specific programs for this purpose and RR Trains 2000, Yard Office and Easy Model Railroad Inventory looked promising, but didn't really do all that I wanted them to do so I ended up using Filemaker. I am not completely happy with my own either, but I keep fiddling with it and it is getting better little by little, maybe someday...

You might take a look at RR Trains 2000, Yard Office and Easy Model Railroad Inventory, they were all fairly nice programs, one may be just right for you. If you find some of the other threads here on the forum, there may have been some others mentioned, but I can't really remember if anyone really liked any of them?

Thank you sir.. I have run a few searches on here and came up with some different options.. The newest thread I found was from 2011 so I was just looking to see if there has been any up dates I missed... Thanks again

It seems that a couple of time a year this comes up.

I use SQL Server (because I can, not because I have to.. I wish)

Most use either Access or Excel

The Apple guys use the equivalent tools / apps

There is Collector Dash, where your inventory is kept on-line.

I'm one of those who uses Excel - mostly by default.  I had intended to switch to Bento (I'm a MAC guy) but about the time I got interested in that, that piece of software went away and Filemaker looks to have both a steep learning curve and a high price.  Given what I use a catalog of my collection for - mainly to keep track of what I have so I don't buy (accidentally) something I already have (which I have done twice now) and to track some of my planned repairs and upgrades - Excel works well enough that finding something better just doesn't have much priority for me.  I've set up a master spreadsheet that includes everything I think I want to track - ranging from type of loco or rolling stock to road name, condition, price I paid (or estimated for things I still have from my childhood), etc.  My excel workbook has several tabs, each of which is a different sort of the master list (a sort by road name and a sort by type of car or loco, as two examples).  Where this gets to be a PITA is when you add new acquisitions or otherwise make changes - it means changing the master list and then either resorting or editing each tab.  Maybe there's an Excel poweruser out there that describe a better way to manage the sorts.  Pivot tables maybe??  I've used Excel for many years as a scientist, but never got beyond the simple stuff and using visual basic, etc.

I had another program. Took a lot of time to enter then one day about five years ago... out of business.

So I went back to Excel. Didn't have the patience to try another. 

Yard office works pretty good for me.  Plenty of remark fields.  You can insert multiple pictures of the item and even pictures of the road logo.

I had some problems initially settting it up on WIN7.  I sent some emails to the help and the author Jeff Wright responded quickly.

I was pretty short with him but he was very patient and everything is running smoothly. 

http://www.musicmixradio.com/yardoffice/

I use Railbase from Albion Software.  If you ever plan on running operational trains instead of constantly in a circle, it integrates with their Shipit software.

http://www.albionsoftware.com/index.html

Excel (actually the freeware OpenOffice spreadsheet) does everything I need to keep track of our collection.

When I go to a show I can easily export the latest version to a mobile device to use as a reference.

You are welcome. There have been several more recent threads since 2011, if I find any I will post links. I just can't remember the titles for search criteria, or who started them? Maybe someone else will remember and post some links.

Some others have provides some more programs here I see. I have also looked at the Albion program some time ago, but don't recall much about it. It was geared toward operations as the poster stated, which would be handy if you do any of that.

I am in the same sinking boat with TrainMinder and am in the process of transferring my 300+ inventory items to a spreadsheet.  Not fun.  I was able to "export" a few of the fields from TM by printing it to a text file and then importing that into a spreadsheet, but the "export" is missing many of the data fields.  Report printing was always one of that program's shortcomings.  I tried to access their database files directly to get an export, but they are password protected.  Has anyone tried to crack these files or know of another way to export the complete collection data from TM?

Prof T..

If you know the back end database for Train Minder I might be able to help you export the data

John G,

I'm not sure how to tell what back end they are using.  The database export (back-up) is in the form of a .zip file with 2 .db files in it - one appears to be the main holdings file and the other one an images file.  I'm not even able to extract the files from the .zip without the access passwords for the files. If you have any advice or suggestions, I'm all ears.

I have never used TrainMinder so take the following with a grain of salt..

If you were given an activation key try that as the password. 

You could try and contact the company and ask them for the pw or to decrypt the file for you (you do not know unless you ask).

Just remember to be nice

I use paper and pencil with eraser in case I sell something. Easy and simple. I don't need another job.

Great idea on the license code, but that didn't work either.  I tried contacting the company, but they are completely unresponsive.  Thanks for the ideas!

Another Excel user here.  I looked at a few commercial packages and none were quite right for me.  How one structures the Excel sheet makes a big difference.  I have made several versions to solve various problems.  Have pictures hyperlinked to spreadsheet.  Updating values is a problem no matter what format is used.

Bill