Hi Everyone , thanks in advance for any and all replies Does anyone know where one could get excel templates for US Coins ? I could take the time to create a Sreadsheet for all the different coins , Was hopeful that someone might know of a resource to save some time . Thanks Capeangler
Excel is pretty easy to learn, it shouldn't take long to make your own. Maintaining a database is another story.
Jim, I wouldn't mind a copy of that in excel. I have my coins cataloged in a excel spread sheet now but do not like the layout. I'm sure the software has a much better layout.
It is pretty easy to create your own. Mine has columns for; Year, Denomination, Grade, Date bought, Price Paid, inventory number.
In most regards a database is easier to work with than a spreadsheet. However, you need a database front end In any event http://www.mysql.com/ and http://www.gnome.org/projects/gnumeric/ and http://www.openoffice.org/
mrbrklyn, Thank for providing the links. For people with little PC experience excel is probably the way to go unless a DB is built for them. Experienced users can navigate a DB without issue where others may see them as overkill and too complex. A database is more powerful and once the structure is set it can be easier to find relevant information - but not as simple as excel is for simple data entry. I have used both MS DBs extensively(Access & SQL Server) and I would still recommend excel for the simple stuff. openoffice would give the general user the excel capability as well as the DB component. Best column descriptions and a meaningful order is what I am looking for. Once I get something setup in excel that I like I will build a DB in access and I will be glad to offer it with a web form for entry and some basic reports to anyone that wants them. Darryl
DB's (such as MS Jets) are not a real databases. The MS SQL database engine is a clone of Sybase, expensive purposefully difficult to use. For more on what makes a database Google RDMS and ACID for further information. That being said, as a general rule novices find databases easier to understand than spreadsheets, especially one like excell. MYSQL is especially convienent to learn learn. If you can read on a 5th grade reading level, you can learn to use it. Nothing however needs to be built if one uses the database driven program that Heritage ( http://coins.heritageauctions.com/common/MyCollection/MyCollectionList.php ) provides free. Overwise, I submit those links only for the possible usefulness of anyone who would like to have a RDMS or a spreadsheet application to help keep track of their collection. All those tools are Free Software and free to download as well. Ruben
Ruben - I was sincere when I said thank you for providing those links including the one to Heritage. As for the rest lets just agree to disagree - I have enough professional experience as a senior product manager of large software applications with embedded databases (both proprietary and public) to understand what a database management system is. The fact that you know what Jet is probably means you have an Engineering background as well. We could go round and round for ever on the nuances of the different options and microsoft's credibility and intentions. I did not mean my comments as criticism towards your suggestions, just that I feel a spreadsheet is easier to understand and use. Setting up forms, quires, and reports will take even a more skilled user more time than a simple spreadsheet will. With Calc or Excel, there is no learning needed. It is as simple as it gets. I think that is all that "capeangler" and I are looking for. What fields should I include, what is the best order, what are some of the options within the fields that I should remember. Jim and Collect4fun were on the right track for at least what I am looking for. So - Peace my friend - and thanks for the suggestions.
