Does anyone know of a software program for personnal model railroad inventory?
I still use Microsoft Excel to make spreadsheets. Rolling stock is easy, and I always bring a paper copy of the spreadsheet to train shows as it helps prevent me from getting duplicate road numbers.
I like the flexibility of being able to customize the columns on my locomotive roster to include CV settings.
Another Excel vote here.
Alrhough with the advent of smart phones, I can one-up Mr.B, by having the online copy on me (via smart phone) with a few taps of my finger.
On rolling stock, I break it down by roadname, type, then road number. (Example: NS - 100T TopGon Coal Gondola - 23164 - BLMA) I then add custom notes, such as any modifications like weathering, and a column for things like custom paint and decal work, upgrades to details, etc…
Motive power I break down similarly, but with less I can organize by roadname and unit number at once, such as NKP765, and add in things like decoder model, and maintenance schedule for lube and clean, etc…
Plus on all entries, I also include a column for MSRP and price paid, if a prototype photo of exact road number is located on a website or my railfan photos, and any known issues.
I also keep in that same file a list of “look for” items, like new releases of rolling stock with preference of certain road numbers, and a active inventory of decals, paints, things like extra couplers, wheel sets, etc…
I’m also an MS Excel user and proponent. It’s very customizable and the inventory spreadsheet is easily accessible from my smartphone when I’m at a train show or my LHS.
Tom
Same here…(Click on the photo to yield a legible image)
…with lots of options on how you want to organise the info. I have several such pages to keep track of freight, passenger, MoW equipment, and locomotives.
Wayne
Wayne
I’m looking to do the same using excel So did you use a preset or did you design your own sheet
Thanks Mike
Count me among those using Excel.
I have a spreadsheet for locomotives, one for freight cars, and one for passenger cars. Each spreadsheet has as many as 30 or more columns of information about each locomotive or car. I “design” the spreadsheets myself, no presets.
Rich
LION was going to suggest Access, but I gues Excell is better. And I do use that more often.
I’m planning to do this project soon, and while my initial thought was excel, I’m going to use google sheets instead because documents can be accessed anywhere and edited in a browser window.
For this I use the free version of DropBox. I’ve been able to share large files and I also keep my JMRI and LokProgrammer rosters on it and I can access these anywhere internet is available.
Good Luck, Ed
Depends on what you ultimately want to do with the information. If you just want an inventory of stuff to keep track of it, for insurance purposes or to take it to hobby shops/shows to decide what to buy, then pretty much any spreadsheet program will work just fine. Some programs work better with mobile applications than others, some have more functionality than others, but for a straight inventory, you aren’t going to use anything but the basic stuff in most cases.
On the other hand if you are going to do a lot more data manipulation and develop an actual application to produce something, then a database type application would ultimately be better.
99% of people will just want a spreadsheet, and MS Excel or LibreOffice Calc will work fine.
I use MS Access, first because I worked with it professionally so I had it and was familiar with it (Access has a steeper learning curve than Excel) and second because I developed a database to generate car cards and waybills. Quite frankly I do dump the tables from Access into Excel for certain types of manipulation and record keeping since in some cases the spreadsheet format is faster for input and the database allows more complicated output.
One more vote for Excel. No particular reason, it’s just something I’ve been using for a pretty long time. Nothing complex about my home made roster, but it does take a little basic familiarity with the program to set up. Nothing major. Here’s a screenshot:
I set this up a while ago to use making car cards and waybills. Just basic info. N Scale car cards rely more on shape, color, and large markings than teeny-tiny-printed reporting marks. Only a small portion of the fleet recorded so far . . .
Hi Clayton,
I use a dedicated model train inventory system called Yard Office. It works quite well, and all the categories have already been set up for you. All you have to do is input the data. You can play with the data just like any other spread sheet program.
https://www.musicmixradio.com/yardoffice/
You can try out the program for free. If you like it there is a $27.00 one time fee. It seems to be more intuitive than Excel or other general purpose spread sheet programs, at least for me.
Dave
My preference would be for MS Access database. Your data is safer if you do sorts or filters, etc. I had Access on my work computer, but on my personal computer I didn’t want to spring for it, so I get by with Excel. I’ll have to look into Sheets for my Google smartphone.
I did that at least 20 years ago, and, if I recall correctly, either designed the layout of the sheet or simply created the columns in widths suitable to the amount of text I’d need to put in each.
I was surprised to be able to transfer the original version from my PC to my Mac, and am still able to add new info to the sheets when I buy or build new locomotives or rolling stock.
I’m nearing the point where I won’t likely be adding much more to it, although I still have a couple dozen freight and passenger cars to scratchbuild, and eight locomotives. When those are done, I’ll print all the info onto paper, as it may be useful if I’m not around when it’s time to get rid of things.
I should probably create something similar for structures, too.
Wayne
I used Excel with ease for cataloging my collection.
Unfortunately, I kept this file on my work computer, and when I seperated from the company it became locked and encrypted. Gone forever.
-Kevin
I also use Yard Office. As previously stated, it is already completely set up for model railroad use with whole libraries of prototype railroads and car types, and also includes pages for operating condition, DCC settings, plus special comments.
I don’t have an inventory system, but also suggest Excel.
Buying 1-2 duplicate cars isn’t too big an issue. You always can slap a different number on a car. It looks realistic too! I don’t have too much concern with that since I have >100 cars. For those with 100s+, keeping track (pun!) is essential!
Yeah, another vote for Excel i guess.
Its pretty straight forward, easy to use, customizable, portable, linkable, printable, etc… Everyones heard of it and not many dont have it. Good program to start off with for a first time.
-PMR
Here is why I recommend Yard Office over Excel:
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There are no parameters to set up. All the categories are already there just waiting for you to enter your data into. You could have half of your inventory recorded by the time you set up your Excel sheets;
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You can store pictures of your rolling stock with their individual files;
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There are huge data bases with things like railroad names (it will even show the railroad’s graphics in each of your listings), car types, car status (i.e. operating, in storage, on the rip track…), locomotive types, DCC settings, date acquired, price paid… and more;
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It is free. If you want to support the software they ask for a one time $27.00 fee. With that you get a whole range of additional features. That is pretty reasonable for what you get IMHO.
I am a computer dinosaur. I hate Excel with a passion! Yard Office was so easy to use that I can’t imagine why anyone would not give it a try regardless of how good your Excel skills are.
[2c]
I have no affiliation with Yard Office, other than as a satisfied customer.
Dave