I am accumulating enough rolling stock that I’d like to keep an inventory on my
Android phone. Failing this, the laptop would be OK.
Can someone recommend an inventory system? I much prefer Linux, but I could use Windows if a Linux program is not available.
Excel. OpenCalc.
Made my own using an Access Database.
I used it to keep the info I thought would be useful to me & not what someone else thought would be useful for me.
Gordon
Google docs
Easy Model Railroad Inventory is what I use on my desktop and transfered to my laptop via a flash drive.
Google “Easy Model Railroad Inventory”
Excel or Word (using tables) works great if you already have it on your computer.
Tom
I use RRTrains. It’s pretty extensive, even allowing you to link photos stored on your computer to the rolling stock.
I use an Excel spreadsheet on AntiqueLaptop. Excel will sort, accept any amount of text in any cell, and will do selective printing, i.e. print out only selected columns, useful for squeezing the report down to 8.5 by 11 inch paper.
This works for me 'cause I happen to have Excel, and I know how to do neat things in Excel. Presumably Linux has a spreadsheet program competitive with Excel.
Hi,
If you have access to it, make your own using Excel. I did this years ago with the old Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet program, and converted it to Excel, and eventually just rebuilt it.
The thing is, building your own allows you to tailor it to your needs, and of course the program allows you to do limitless sorts. I have copied the spreadsheet for my Lionel postwar, HO rolling stock freight, HO rolling stock passenger, and of course HO Locomotives.
Some of the potential headings could be descriptions, cost, purchase date, car build date, maintenance checks, problems, etc., etc.
Just wanted to tack on to alco fan’s post…
For those who would like to use Excel but don’t have it for whatever reason, there is an open-source, free spreadsheet program you can download that’s compatible and comparable to Microsoft Excel. The current version of the program is called “Calc” and it is one of several applications in the “LibreOffice” suite of programs. You can download it for free here: www.libreoffice.org
I have Excel on my new laptop, but on the old laptop I use in the train room, I use LibreOffice, which is not only free but much lighter on RAM usage and disk space (important factors in older machines). Since it’s compatible with MS Office applications, I can do work on my new laptop in Excel, save to a flash drive, then copy it to my old laptop and open/use the file in LibreOffice.
Last night I discovered the car inventory in JMRI DispatcherPro. I filled in the information for my 34 cars (yes, I know: that ain’t nuthin’!).
Today I downloaded and installed Wine and Easy Model Railroad Inventory. It’s anything but easy to use.
I tried to enter preferences but am not able to fill in most of the slots. The program will not accept input.[B)]
Time for a [B].
kevinrr,
Your original post indicated Windows was an option. Easy Model Railroad Inventory is a windows program, try it on the right platform.
Before you say anything about WINE please reread the download page The important portion of the WINE notice is “It has been posted…” No where does it say it was tested or recommended.
That’s just insulting. You’re … kidding … right?!
I followed the link you provided and found this, near the center of the page:
Easy Model Railroad Inventory runs
fine on Linux using WINE 1.4.1
Linux, UNIX (BSD), and Mac OS X
users can use your software simply
by installing WINE
Apparently not anymore.
The entire text is:
| Windows Only - any 32 or 64 bit | ||
|---|---|---|
| Posted on Model Railroad Hobbyist (http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/tracker) 10/19/2012 Easy Model Railroad Inventory runs fine on Linux using WINE 1.4.1 Linux, UNIX (BSD), and Mac OS X users can use your software simply by installing WINE |
As a retired computer professional (programming/systems) I am happy with Excel. I have one for diesels, including data for maintenance, one for foreign rolling stock, one for ATSF rolling stock. All three are easy to update, keeps my info current. I work between the desktop in my office and two laptops, one for travel and one for the layout on site. Update some car records? update on the layout laptop and then copy the files to the other two using my own network.
Works well for me.
Bob
Kevinrr, I started an inventory “workbook” on Excel years ago [when I had a few more than 34 cars 
] I now have LibreOffice, which, all I had to do was copy the file onto LibreOffice from Excel
as others have said on this thread, using any of the spreadsheet programs makes it so you can customize your headings, sort, etc. I have a sheet for each car type, as well as one for my locomotives. The hardest part for me is inputting the new acquisitions, which seems to be expanding about on a monthly basis. I’m presently WAY behind on that.
HI GUYS& GALS
I want to use excel spread sheets for my collection/inventory.
How does one put pictures in the spread sheet in proper aspect !
THANKS IN ADVANCE !
Hi Kevin, (The OP)
I think you are on the right track with JMRI. Getting the rolling stock entered into JMRI is only part of the process. Once cars are entered into JMRI then you are ready for operations. I think this list often overlooks the fact that JMRI is more than a way to program decoders.
BTW, I am not a computer geek, I can barely use one.[swg]
Click on help. Type in Photograph and it will tell you.
A couple of hints. You need to activate the “Draw” toolbar. Do this by selecting view on the main menu. Then select “Toolbars”. Then put a checkmark on “Draw”. Once the Draw toolbar becomes active you will find an icon that inserts picture from file. Click on it and it will let you specify any .jpg file on your hard drive.
Kevin
I use Easy Model Railroad Inventory, output a report to Excel where I can easily make further changes to suit my need, then send that file to ‘Drop-Box’ which I can access via my smart phone.
Regards Rob