Collection management software

[matt12046]

I recently came to own a metric ass ton of books and I need a way to keep them all straight. I was looking for a software (preferably free) that can pull info from the internet and keep track of what I have. Any ideas?

[Swndlr]

Just make a Google doc?

Excel, tho its not free, but if youre in school you can probably get it for free off of them someway somehow

[dalekphalm]

I recently came to own a metric ass ton of books and I need a way to keep them all straight. I was looking for a software (preferably free) that can pull info from the internet and keep track of what I have. Any ideas?

Well you can do it a number of different ways.

 

Ghetto: Excel spreadsheet (please don't do that)

 

Proper: Database

 

Do you have access to Microsoft Office Professional? If so, you could use Access, which allows you to create half-decent GUI "forms" to manage the database after creating it.

 

For free, you could install SQL server, and create an SQL Database (MySQL, etc).

 

But that assumes you know how to create databases.

 

There are probably programs you can download to manage it all for you that already have a backend database built in.

[DigitalHermit]

The easy way: Calibre

 

The Hard Way:Koha

[matt12046]

Proper: Database

 

Do you have access to Microsoft Office Professional? If so, you could use Access, which allows you to create half-decent GUI "forms" to manage the database after creating it.

 

For free, you could install SQL server, and create an SQL Database (MySQL, etc).

 

But that assumes you know how to create databases.

 

There are probably programs you can download to manage it all for you that already have a backend database built in.

 So let's say I were to go the db route. As it happens I do have access to Access but I'm a little light on the sequel knowledge. I'm guessing I could just download the workbench, find a tutorial and get crackin? 

[Mindstab Thrull]

PS: There's also packages like OpenOffice and LibreOffice that are much cheaper than MS Office - hard to beat free, yanno They do include a spreadsheet and a database application (as well as a bunch of other ones), so those are options as well. But the best way to do it is some kind of database. 

I don't know if this is still true but I know you used to be able to convert an Excel table into an Access database. You might be able to do that as well. 

[matt12046]

The easy way: Calibre

 

The Hard Way:Koha

I completely forgot about Calibre... Thanks for that. 

[dalekphalm]

 So let's say I were to go the db route. As it happens I do have access to Access but I'm a little light on the sequel knowledge. I'm guessing I could just download the workbench, find a tutorial and get crackin? 

Pretty much.

 

You'll want to make sure you properly compartmentalize the database in separate tables. Most people new to Database design make the mistake of just making a super giant mega table with everything in one table (they treat it like an Excel spreadsheet).

 

Grab some tutorials and go nuts I'm sure there are actual tutorials on making an Access database specifically for book/library catalogs even.