How Do You Catalog Your Collection?

[Cryptic33]

Ok, my thoughts:

I have started a spreadsheet but I always find topics like this a bit frustrating. Let me explain, I am not knocking anyone but I always think of the poor chap who doesn't really know where to start and even some people who are experienced with computers don't always have the ideas for creating a database from scratch. On that basis, would a few of you mind sharing a screen shot or two and TrekMD, can you find a link to the template you mentioned please.

A picture tells a thousand words and we may be able help many members who are less technical. Maybe we can agree on minimum details (headings) and I am very happy to create some templates if decent ones don't already exist. The video is very interesting but the sites and apps referred to seem more geared to large collections. I am thinking of the little man here. Thanks in advance for any (visual) suggestions. This is a cool topic

[TrekMD]

OK, the template I found was something I found to keep track of DVD's; however, it can be easily edited to make it into a video game spreadsheet.  Heck, you can add even add more tabs and keep track of other stuff (that's what I did).  Below is a screen capture of the blank original template and I've added the file to the post so you can just download it here.

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[Cryptic33]

Thanks Trek, that looks ok and is a good starting point for anyone wishing to catalogue thier collection.

As it is quite basic, I will add it to my list of things to look at as I have some ideas for this.

What have the rest of you done? Especially with Excel as I am very interested in how others use spreadsheets for their collections. Incidently, screen shots can, of course, (don't mean to sound patronising) be "cropped" so as to exclude any details of your system eg the task bar, menus etc.

Has anyone tried Access? Here is a template from Microsoft which, at first glance, looks fairly good. I understand that many people steer away from Access though it is not such a bad programme once you get used to it. Certainly, I would suggest using TrekMD's spreadsheet template for first-timers but this does give us all another option.

[TrekMD]

I originally wanted to use Access but I didn't find a premade template.  That one looks like it would work well as it does include a lot more detail. The spreadsheet is more basic but, like I said, it can be edited and it is easy to use.

[Cryptic33]

I originally wanted to use Access but I didn't find a premade template.  That one looks like it would work well as it does include a lot more detail. The spreadsheet is more basic but, like I said, it can be edited and it is easy to use.

Quite.

It should be noted with the Access template that it should be saved first and then opened, else you get an error

[bogstandard]

There's boxed stuff not for play.

Stuff in the living-room for play.

A new category is stuff for display since I'm prepping to make YouTube videos.  Boxed games like Action 52 and Princess Rescue, my Neo Geo and Turbo Graphics-16 etc..

[TrekMD]

There's one thing I don't believe I've mentioned.  The cloud is your friend with this stuff.  Once you have whatever file you use to save your listing as well as pictures, use free space from Google Drive, Box, or Dropbox to keep your stuff stored someplace other than your computer.  You can just keep your files in folders from any of those services on your hard drive and they will automatically sync. 

[guest5239]

I use an excell Spreadsheet that I need to update

[Cryptic33]

So, would anyone else like to share a screen shot or two of what they use as this helps others to see how a layout may be improved. Even if you only show headings, it all helps. Thanks in advance

[stonemonkeylives]

I use an excel spreadsheet and also a collection app on my phone, just so I can make sure I don't buy duplicates.

[Cryptic33]

I use an excel spreadsheet and also a collection app on my phone, just so I can make sure I don't buy duplicates.

Ahh, what app is that? Sounds like a great way to get started with a small collection like mine or to break a larger collection in to manageable chunks.

[stonemonkeylives]

It's called My Game Collection on Andriod, link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... 7Qb584H4DA

It is handy for when I'm not buying a bundle but looking at individual games when I'm out and about as I can't always remember what I have.

[TrekMD]

That app looks good.  Can you import your list from Excel?

[davyk]

I've used Collectorz.com software for years. It has gone cloud now but I still have the client version which is very good.

[stonemonkeylives]

That app looks good.  Can you import your list from Excel?

Not what I found as of yet [emoji29] They do let you import from collectorz though and a couple of others. Just none I use lol.