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Microsoft Excel for LP, CD, Tape inventory?

Do a lot of people use these spreadsheet type programs that are (or have been in the past) included in software packages that come with home computers for this purpose? What are the downsides to using this type of computer program for a music media database? We recently catalogued a ton of old VHS tapes going into attic storage with this program on my wife's laptop and it seemed like a natural for this application without having to go out and purchase another software pkg. Thought I'd better ask around though as I'm no computer science major and wouldn't want to wind up with something that might delete 20 or 30 hours worth of keyboarding if someone sneezed the wrong way!...
lg1
guinness
48 posts
 
I agree with Osgorth and Rushton's advice. I use Excel, never really tried to master Access although I did the conversion once which was very easy. The main reason I haven't switched to Access is cost. Microsoft markets MSOffice as standard and professional versions (among others). Access is only in the more costly professional version. Since my music collection was the only application I need Access for, I don't feel the cost and potential need to purchase future Office upgrades justifies the need.

Relax, have a New Glarus Bourbon Barrel Bock and listen to Hawkwind...
bpwalsh
1,207 posts
 
Guinness, a solution to the cost issue is to use Open Office which includes their database program, Base. OpenOffice.org software is free and very robust. Download it and you won't look back.
fmoyer1212
1 posts
 
I think I have looked at all the record collecting software, and can't find anything that serves the needs of a serious classical music collector. I want software that allows for searches -- that will, for example, list all of my recordings that contain Mozart Piano Concerto in C, K. 467, which on different recordings is called "Concerto in C Major for Piano and Orchestra", "Klavierkonzert C-Dur KV 467" , "Piano Concerto No. 21", "Elvira Madigan Concerto", etc. A serious collector will have hundreds of Mozart recordings, so these different spellings make searches nearly impossible. There needs to be some software that links to a database of the major classical repertoire and "translates" these different "spellings" into one so that searches can be done. Has anyone seen any software like this? Thanks for your help.
ssmaudio
71 posts
 
@fmoyer1212, I had the same problem. This is a workaround, not a solution.  I ripped all my CDs and let Roon go at them. Roon’s database is the best I’ve seen, especially for classical.  And it lets you search by composer, artist, label, year and just about anything else. 
This doesn’t work for an LP collection particularly, and I just have up on my LPs. 
You’d think that by 2021 you’d have better databases that allow translation like you want. Unfortunately Roon still doesn’t do that. 
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