Inventory of vinyl - what software do you use?

Quite a few responses here, and some very good ideas. I am going to try the two "specialized" programs mentioned here first - Music Label 2007 and the Gracenote AV Cataloger. Both companies offer free trials of their software, so there is nothing to lose. If neither of them are sufficiently customizable, I will probably give Excel a try. (I am surprised that more people haven't gone with Access or another database application, but if Excel works, that's fine with me.)

I agree that backups are essential - you must have been heartsick, Dan_ed. I try to back up about once a week, but if I put together this database/vinyl catalog, I will back it up separately to a DVD disc as well.

Styx - I don't know anything about programming, so can't do what you did, but I will add some of the categories you listed to whatever program I end up using.

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions.

Holly

I use CDTrustee for both CD's and records. For CD's, you can just slip one in and it will automatically cross-reference a web-based datbase and fill in all the data. I find that it will locate about 24 of 25 CD's successfully. For records, I use the artist and title to search one of several databases until I find the one of interest, then fill the fields. In the event of a CD where there are extra tracks or they are in different order, it is eay to change Same with realese number, etc. Easier than typing EVERYTHING into a database worksheet. Now, if one is ONLY interested in LP title, such is not a big deal.

If someone would develop an electronic database for LP's that is comprehansive as the ones for CD's, I'd love to find it.

"Using a spreadsheet you construct from scratch is a horrible idea. Why would you want to type all of that in when it has already been done?"

Has it been done? I bet not. If so I sure would like to know where I can find it. I believe the topic was vinyl inventory, not CD. The programs mentioned here seem to be useful for a CD database, but limited or nonexistant for LP's. And of the databases that do exist for vinyl do they differentiate all of the different labels and pressings of a specific title? Even if it did, by the time you search through several data bases to find your specific pressing and then fill in the fields you probably would have spent much more time than it would have taken to type in the information yourself. No matter what you do inventories require work and spreedsheets are a useful tool.

I guess it depends on what you are trying to accomplish with your inventory. The reason I like a spreedsheet is because it gives me the ability to arrange my collection alphabetically and it's all on a single page I can easily scroll through and print out if need be. Having a separate screen shot for each title is just not useful to me and requires too much work to look through.

Fully agree with 4 yanx. I use CDTrustee for all CD's and records as well. It not only fills in a relational database, but alows searches on many attributes, produces reports, CD covers etc. The functionality is way beyond what you can do in Excel. It is a 10 year product with strong support and continual improvement.

I created my database in MS Access. It was easy to set up and I've added several fields over the years.

I also purchased a data program for my Palm Pilot that could import from MS Access and keep an updated copy of my record data base with me at all times. It comes in handy when I'm browsing record stores.