[Boatanchors] on topic, looking for software

[J Forster]

Robert,

The functions for a BA inventory are so simple, even Excel can do it. You can format
cells as Date, Number, Text, or Currency. You can sort Text or do arithmetic on cells
or sort by dates. Sorting can be done in tiers (e.g.:  Maker, then  Model Number, then
Serial Number). You can do similar sorts on Word Tables.

That's basically all you really need.

Also, Excel is a lot easier to use than 123 or dB3, just as Word is easier to use than
WP. Basically it's the more modern UI.

I have no love for Excel, but it is a fast way to do the job.

FWIW,
-John



WA5CAB at cs.com wrote:

> Having been a DB programmer for 40+ years, this subject is an ancient pet
> peave of mine.  The subject of inventorying our radio collections has come up
> literally hundreds of times over that 40+ years and for about the past 15 years,
> instantly everyone starts blathering about something they've done with Excel.
> Before that it was Lotus 123 or a few other long ago and now defunct
> spreadsheet programs.  Spreadsheets are moderately good for number crunching.  They
> are basically worthless for database use.
>
> There are, if you don't own a large mainframe, two major database packages
> left on the market,  both of which run on Windows PC platforms.  dBase and
> Access.  dBase is moderately expensive but clearly superior to Access.  Both have
> steep learning curves and no one is going to write a usable ap from scratch in
> either one in a day or even a month.
>
> Sorry, I said it was a professional pet peave.
>
> Robert Downs - Houston