Re: arsclist Cataloging Software

[<stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Considered reply will follow...but avoid FileMaker! I'm not sure what
formats it imports, but nothing imports FileMaker (ditto MS Access, but
so many people use Access it can be exchanged between users and
cover most of the cataloguing population.
I'll try to get RJ Knox, who is trying to write the ultimate archiving/
cataloguing app for sound recordings, to join us (he's on 78-L)
...stevenc
----- Original Message -----
From: "Graham Newton" <gn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Doug Williams" <doug.williams@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 8:29 PM
Subject: Re: arsclist Cataloging Software


> Doug Williams wrote:
>
> > As a private collector I am in the process of researching programs to
use
> > to catalog my collection.
> As am I.
>
> > What programs are available to use for private collectors?
> I have been using an old DOS program published by Ashton-Tate, a sub-set
of
> dBase, called Rapid File.  It is deadly simple, flexible and readable by
most
> current database programs since it follows the dBase formatting.  Although
> it still works satisfactorily for most of my purposes, I would like to
> upgrade it to something newer with all the windows features that aren't
> available to a DOS program.  The program "FileMaker" seems to be a
> possibility, but the learning curve is steep, and even though it has many
> nice features in it, you almost have to be a programmer to make the best
> use of it.
>
> > I've gone the shareware route and found SOME that might fit the bill.
> I haven't seen anything that was flexible, simple, and intuitive... like
> Rapid File is.  My ultimate test is "can I use this right off the bat
without
> having to read the manual or go through a heavy learning process
(excepting
> using on-line help as needed)", all presuming it has the features that I
need.
>
> For a few years, I have been ruminating on and off as to what was needed
to
> catalog the approximately 1/4 million records my producer partner has, and
> so far after many long conversations on the subject, we are still at a
loss
> of just how to attack the problem, and not sure of exactly what features
we
> need to incorporate at the outset.
>
> The "keep it simple" maxim is still at the top of the list.
> That is, something that is simple to raise in the first place, preferably
> using summer student key entry labor, easy to add to (attached label
photos
> perhaps) or alter the fields used, and a format that can be merged with
> other available data collections if need be.  There should be no
> proprietary formats that restrict it's use, and this alone rules out some
> programs that are repeatedly offered on eBay.
>
> Comments are welcome.
>
>
>
> ... Graham Newton
>
> --
> Audio Restoration by Graham Newton, http://www.audio-restoration.com
> World class professional services applied to phonograph and tape
> recordings for consumers and re-releases, featuring CEDAR processes.
> -
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> from the author of the post.
>

-
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Copyright of individual posting is owned by the author of the posting and
permission to re-transmit or publish a post must be secured
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