Tool / parts store / database?

Have you thought about a cardfile/roladex (sp?)solution? The original MSFT Cardfile is long gone but there are modern equivalents (azzCardfile, Rdex). Depends if it suits your mindset of course.

I use them for all sorts of things, but not for the kind of unstructured data that appears in my storage list.

Glad you tried my suggestion! The variant - my house wiki - works equally well for me, and it has enough formatting to be useful.

No, not till you just mentioned it anyway. ;-)

I think that whilst it would tell me what I'd put in Box 1, I'm not sure how easy it would be to search for say 'Padlock' within all the boxes, compared with an electronic version?

I'll grant you the Rolodex would be fairly robust but there is probably a good reason why people only really use them for linear alphabetical / numerical lookups. ;-)

Thanks for the in-the-box suggestion though. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

Ok.

And thanks for the suggestion. Because I'm not much into 'Office' type roles I've not (till today) really investigated Google docs (or anything). I've used Dropbox quite extensively and many for collaborative type folder sharing (my mate with the 3D printer), camera uploads, and putting photographs on my Mums iPad (without requiring any interaction by her).

I just used Chrome to create a shortcut to the Google Doc on the phone home screen and think I have enable offline copies / working as well.

I'm about to populate the first storage box for real so I'll let you know how I get on. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

p.s. As an aside I *think* the data input on my S7 isn't as accurate as it was on my much smaller S3. I don't know if it's not calibrated properly of if the particular glass screen protector I have on is affecting is negatively but all I know is I seem to make far more typos on the bigger screen than I did on the smaller one? ;-(

FWIW, I've set the default font larger on my Boxes doc so whist that make it easier to read on my phone, it doesn't mate it easier to enter the data accurately. GI=GO. ;-(

A spreadsheet can be quite adequate for simple database needs, you can sort and search them. Back in the 80s I was using the one in MS Works to manage an address list.

Yup, a very limited range of fields in boxes.

Adequate possibly, ideal, probably not.

Ideal though if you want to automatically sum all the house numbers. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

They are electronic! Just a way of keeping lists really.

I was just thinking of how 'simple' the old card index system was and how good it was at it's job, as long as it's job was just to 'index' stuff (and as long as you put the card back in the right place) ;-)

Yeah, I guess a 'list' is really all I am looking for but with the ability to search. A box could be represented by a name / card and the contents could be the address, so as long as the address side of the data entry was open format etc?

I tried Rdex but couldn't see how to create a new database so is it an Android GUI for files created by azzCardfile?

Cheers, T i m

En el artículo , Andy Burns escribió:

Like others have said, I use text files. Ultra-portable and easy to search. Not really practical for long or complicated lists, though.

En el artículo , Graeme escribió:

The killer app (that arguably kicked off the PC industry) was Visicalc for the Apple II. People bought the machine just to run Visicalc.

And later on, Lotus 1-2-3 for the PC.

In message , T i m writes

It was said earlier that a database is for data and a spreadsheet is for calculations, and I'm not going to argue with that, but I just find spreadsheets handy for both, probably because I am familiar with spreadsheets.

Point taken, but nothing set is set in stone. Infinitely variable as you go, without having to change any data input.

Indeed - but the same would be true of a text file. Text length is text length, whatever you use to display it.

Example. I was using a simple Notepad txt file to record the names of films and TV progs I have on home made DVDs. I then extended that to include those still sitting on my hard drive. Then those on 'proper' DVDs. That meant two columns (title and format), so I copied the lot to a spreadsheet, so, when adding, I can then sort them into alphabetical title, format etc. Additionally, I then added a 'year' column for year of release. That is handy where two or more versions exist. I could easily add columns for genre, director, star or anything else, and sort by any column(s).

Yes, that is the bottom line. I use spreadsheets because I am comfortable doing so, and don't really feel the need to start learning how to make a database, even though I know it would be better in some situations.

Agreed. I think that must be a trait of most of us here. My accumulated 'junk' is a source of constant frustration and amazement to my ever loving Wifey, but if something needs fixing and I have whatever is needed I'll usually go straight to it in the shed, even though I may have had it for 20 years.

No they are different products. Rdex has Android and Windows versions and can move data from one to the other. Disadvantage is that it can't handle images. azzCardfile handles images fine, but no Android version (yet), only Windows.

What you want can best be done with a relational database but whether it is worth the effort is entirly your decision.

To achieve the end result you would have to plan the tables and the realtionships then move it to the cloud. I woud suggest start with Acess in Office 365.

Use these links to get the steps to get the end resut on your Android device.

If the OP has not used spreadsheets much, he REALLY doesn't want to start looking at relational databases.

Although I can still remember some of the WordStar commands....

Was it the likes of Alt+F for the File menu ...

I loved Wordstar at a time when many office users preferred Wordperfect and I think the latter was suited to office people whereas WS was more suited to tekky people?

e.g. I think WS opened up to the main menu (where you would typically open / edit an existing document) whereas WP opened into a blank document (ready to type a new letter). ;-)

Wasn't it with WS6 where they made the install floppies copy-protected in the hope they would cut down piracy but they found it cost them a loss of sales because people couldn't then share it with their friends / family / co-workers?

Cheers, T i m