1. IMO the number one choice is your spreadsheet program. You can include exactly the information you want about each coin. You can easily add or delete information columns. With a good spreadsheet (like Excel) I think you can even link to images. You can make it what you want. 2. Database s/w (flatfile or relational) More powerful than a spreadsheet but much tougher to learn. People get one (MS Access) when they buy the heavy duty MS Office. I personally wouldn't go out and buy one if you don't have already. 3. COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) I really only know this type of s/w from the philatelic side, but I suspect it's about the same. You take what they give you. You don't have to fill in all the spaces, but it's tough if the space you want doesn't exist. If you want to include something (country, topic, etc.) that doesn't exist then you have as much work to do as in 1. or 2. And the ones that include catalog values are like the Red Book, out of date quickly and only one update a year. BOTTOM LINE: Why do 2. or 3. when you probably have the s/w to do 1. already.
Actually the very OS that you are using at the moment. I'm just catagorizing them by country, era, denomination. I then name them accordingly to the year and let it arrange. Tada. Not too difficult.
how do you download them onto your computer? the first one says i have to have some sort of disk, and the second one i can't find the free version.
I created a MySQL database and and some basic web pages using PHP. While this does require some basic I.T. knowledge, it is within reach of most everyone. After all, I did it and I am far from the smartest guy on the block. I just used a relatively inexpensive book on PHP and MySQL.
Excel. Think of this. You buy a progam and use it for your coins. Then something happens to your computer and poof all is gone so you go nuts looking for that program to put back in the new computer. Next you go somewhere and want to look up something. You could download your Excel info to one of those little memory sticks that plug into a USB port and use almost any computer on Earth. Almost everyone has Microsoft Office with Excel. IF you use a different program for your coins only you can use it. Also, Excel is so common you could always fine people to help you with any problems. I know I have. Need an answer? Just email everone you know and you'll always get an answer if it's Excel.
I created my own Microsoft Access database. I use it as a worksheet, but it is quite useful that I can create my own SQL queries. I know another free program, but it is in Spanish. You may download from : http://www.numisma.org I was thinking about developing some enhanced program, with a lot of information. I had some ideas about it, but very few time to develop good quality software.
Used to have an Excel spreadsheet for that, but now I use NumisDat from Gietl-Battenberg. That is a "collection database" in German (based on 4D, I think). http://www.gietl-verlag.de/buch/Numisdat.pdf Costs €29.80 and allows you to have several different collections, you can add images, literature, addresses, and so on. For Windows XP/Vista and (more importantly ) Mac OS X. My main problem is that I'm lazy when it comes to adding new coins and information ... Christian
:thumb: I purchased and added my inventory into "CoinManage". After about a year, I am now back to using MS Word for my collection. may not have all the bells and whistles like CoinManage but sure is easier to update and manage.
I've heard that from numerous individuals. I'm not an Access database smart person though so I stick to Excel. But many have told me Access is much better for what I need for a coin program. Also, I never tried using Word for a coin program. Something to look into.
Thanks for all the options. I need something easy. Don't know the first thing about exel/databases/speadsheets. I'll look into that coin manage thing to see if I can use it. Not to computer smart, really not at all. I DO know how to type and use a mouse thats about it. But thanks again for all the input you've all been very helpful.
