I would like to know if there is any computer program that I could use to inventory my locomotives, rolling stock, detail parts, and buildings. If any knows of a computer program that I can use, I would greatly appreciate any help with this
I believe there are several thatadvertise in the magazines but you can do the same thing in any spreadsheet or database. The hardest part is starting with either one. A database allows you some features a spreadsheet wouldn’t because you can use search features with multiple fields. So if you have the date you bought the car or last did maintenance on it you could do something like list all boxcars that had maintenance prior to 12/31/2000 and it would produce a list for you.
I use MS Excel
I use Railbase by Albion Software. It allows to establish standards for locomotives and for rolling stock. You can establish maintenance schedules for each. There is a section for recording DCC information, prototype info, modeling info as well as cost and current values.
Ken
Actually Excel has this feature as well, you don’t need a database program to for a simple thing as an equipment roster. The Filter Function is great for locating anything you need, even allows for date searching and only shows those that meet the rquirements for that column. Using 2 or more columns, you can easily get it down to handful of rows that you want.
Jay
I use an Access database for my inventory. Much the same as Excel but I can use different queries for different information & separate information when I see needed.
This way if I want to see what locomotives I own, I won’t see anything else but locomotives on the list.
Access also allows me to send information to Excel & Word.
Gordon
speardsheet will do wonders.
I use MS Excel also. I can tailor the columns and sheet to meet my needs. Plus I can make worksheets based on groups, like home road locos, home road rolling stock, other rolling stock, and I keep one with my road’s number plan as a reference.
I use MS Excel, and one cool thing about it is the “Conditional Formatting” feature, as it allows me to set it so that the column for roadname formats differently for my Norfolk & Western locos than it does for others. For instance, if I type in “NW” as the reporting marks, then the cell formats with a black background, with white all-caps text, thus replicating the F6 NW paint scheme! For other roads, I can set up other conditional formats, which produce a cell with the right background color and text color. This makes it visually simple to locate my rolling stock by roadname; I could also do the same thing with other categories.
Excel is VERY versatile, and you can teach it to do all kinds of tricks. Of course, a pre-made database product would be more user-friendly, but once you reach its limits, you’re done. If you teach yourself to use Excel (and maybe Access, I don’t own this to know how it functions), you’ll be constantly discovering more and better ways to use it.
Shenandoah Software makes two programs that are meant to be used together: one is an inventory program and one is a shipping program. With the 2 of them you can have your inventory as well as generate car cards and waybills for operating sessions. I have not used it but have downoaded the trial versions. I was led to the site by several other model railroad sites that use the programs to generate the data for their operating sessions. The site is http://members.aol.com/Shenware/
I use Excel as well. I like the flexibility of making the format whatever I want. I also have a column for links to a photo directory of my equipment.
Warren
I have no problem with Excell but the information in a databaseformat makes for easier reports and multiple searches. Since what is being created is a database my leaning would be toward a database program but for this purpose it may be splitting hairs. Most computers today come with Microsoft Works ( except Apple) which is more than adequate for either the Spreadsheet version or the datdtbase version. Office is an expensive outlay for the purpose that the average homeowner/model railroader may not have purchased but will certainly do the job also.
You make a good point. Office is expensive. I use it because I had it already. Works is much less expensive and would do the job.
Warren
…Same here, on all points…
Another thing in your customized spreadsheet…you can put in $ values, can come in handy on a floppy in your offsite insurance and/or estate files…if you keep it updated.
regards,
Mike[:)]
There is a program called “Railfan Express” which is an excellent model railroad data
base program. You only need to download it at www.scotware.net to try it. If you like it
the enhanced version is only $20.00.
Jack