Hello all,
Wondering if there are any good apps or software programs for model train inventory ? I have seen a few on the internet, what is everone using ?
Thanks
Jim
I don’t use a special program. I just use OpenOffice Calc spreadsheets. For those who aren’t familiar with it, it’s OpenOffice’s version of Microsoft’s Excel. It has most of the same features as Excel, but it’s free.
I just set up standard headers for my columns, and I have a sheet for each of the different manufacturers.
Calc allows its files to be saved as Excel, dBase, Text (Comma-Separated Values[CSV]) Symbolic Link (SYLK), HTML, and many other file types. I used to ftp my inventory to my web server, since I have a web-site. Then I could access the information no matter where I was at. Of course now most phones have enough space to copy the files directly to them. My son had an iPhone 5s, and it had a problem accessing the information due to the size of my files. His phone took a bit long when doing searches. Once he upgraded to an iPhone Xs, that problem went away. The increased RAM made a big difference. Now I don’t worry about copying files or breaking them into smaller pieces anymore like I did years ago. One can always use the cloud as long as you remember to sync up to stay current.
In the past, I used different programs. The bad thing is whatever you’re using may stop support, have bugs that prevent you from doing what you need to do, or they may be costly. Using basic spreadsheets, you really don’t have those kinds of worries. They’re easy to search through for the data you need, you can customize them exactly how you need them, and you can save the files to other types easily should you decide to use a different spreadsheet program. Why pay a lot, if you don’t have to?
Note: I corrected the iPhone models, once I checked with my son.
Thank you for your advice, you are correct about the support of some of the commercial programs, once they stop support or go out of business your stuck.
It’s interesting that this question came up. I recently did a search of this very question for Garden Railways magazine. It seems the majority of people use Excel (or a version of it).
There are a number of programs that used to be available, but are either no longer updated or the company is not in business. I found two that are still available:
Easy Model Railroad Inventory: easy-model-railroad-inventory.software.informer.com
JMRI OperationsPro: www.jmri.org
Oddly, I could find no current apps. Woodland Scenics has one but it hasn’t been updated in several years.
I’d love to hear from others about this. It’s a topic that applies to all scales of model railroading.
I use a free apt myself, it’s called " WPS Office " ( www.WPS.com )
I made my own spread sheet. I have broke it down into several pages, I did one page for sets, and broke it down even farther as in prewar, postwar, modern, Williams, MTH, K-Line. Then the next page was for engines broke down the same way.
It would be nice to have all of the information about every item ever made in a program, but I don’t believe there is one.
My son uses a program entitled “Collectorz” to keep track of every single video and PC game he has. It allows him to enter the name of the game. If it’s already in the database, it allows him to select it from a list. If there is something special about the game that is not in the list (like a special edition, pre-release beta, etc.), then it allows him to add it to the database). It also allows bar-code scanning and the entry of pictures. It’s not too bad, but unfortunately it’s only geared for 5 different kinds of collections:
- Books
- Comics
- Games
- Music
- Movies
I only bring this up, because I’m sure there are people here who collect those kinds of things too.
My son just added:
"There is a web based one, windows application, and an app.
I use the application to enter them and the app to view them."
It can be located at www.collectorz.com.
I use a highlighter and go after an old copy of O’Brien’s Collecting Toy Trains Volume 5 to log older equipment as I acquire it. Not the greatest system but it works. [:D] Modern stuff I don’t bother to log when I bought it or how much I paid as for most of it I don’t remember. [;)]
I use a program called Yard Office. Works very well, simple to use. For me anyway…
I don’t keep track of when I bought nor what I paid for anything in my collection. I mainly keep track of what I’ve got to avoid buying multiples of the same item accidentally.
I’d like to know more about this. Do you have a link?
I have it on a Excel Spreadsheet.
I don’t use this, but here is a link:
I think the best one is at Trainzauctions.com
It’s cloud based and free to try. The paid version will import latest auction results into your inventory to give you a current value forcast. https://www.trainzauctions.com/
Thanks John for providing the link.
That’s not always a bad thing…[;)]
Train inventory software currently in late-stage beta testing (and free!)