I have seen numerous pre-packaged gun collecting software programs, and don't feel that any of them work well for my purposes. So I would like to design my own program to include both information and pictures of my firearms. What would be best software to do this? Excel? Access? I would prefer a not-too-steep learning curve. Thank you for any assistance.
Developing a gun collection software program
- Thread starter RM
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cslinger
Member
Microsoft Access is really the way to go. If you want me to throw something together for you I can. Just PM me. It will of course, be nothing special but if you tell me what you specifically want I can probably get you a quick shell made for you.
Chris
Chris
TallPine
Member
Either Excel or Access could be made to work, but in neither case would you be designing your own "program" but instead using COTS software
damien
Member
Oracle + J2EE
Actually, this is the way I would do it. Totally free, and these tools can build pretty much any desktop Windows database application imaginable with far better scalability and flexibility than Access or Filemaker:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Visual_Studio_Express
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL_Server_Express
http://www.microsoft.com/express/download/
However, this may be like getting a medical degree to figure out how to treat athlete's foot.
Actually, this is the way I would do it. Totally free, and these tools can build pretty much any desktop Windows database application imaginable with far better scalability and flexibility than Access or Filemaker:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Visual_Studio_Express
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL_Server_Express
http://www.microsoft.com/express/download/
However, this may be like getting a medical degree to figure out how to treat athlete's foot.
jrfoxx
Member
I'm surprised you haven't found one you like or suits your needs.I use Gun Safe v2.8 by Kevin Kelly,and REALLY like it.It allows you to put TONS of info on the gun and any accesories, as well as pictures in ti.Take a look if you havent already.If you have, and didn like it for some reason (realted to the way its organized or such), the author states he used Filemaker Pro v5.5, so since that allowed him to setup a nice,user freindly format (IMHO), with dro-pdown menus, pictures, "fill in the blanks" areas, and open sections for whatever you want, it seems lke it might be able to do what you need, and you can customize any way you want.Just a thought, as I haven't ever used Filemaker Pro, and dont know anthing about it ther than Gun Safe was made with it, and I like Gun Safe, and it sounds like it would allow you to do what your looking for.Looks like Filemaker Pro 9 can be found here, with a free 30 day trial and purchase options.http://www.filemaker.com/products/fmp/index.html
Filemaker pro 5.5 is here (kinda pricey though)
http://store.retrosoftware.net/13713.html
Gun Safe can be found here if your interested.
http://www.somanyroads.org/gunsafe/
I've never used acess, and my Excel sklls are weak, but it seems like you should be able to do whatever with it to (probly just not as fancy looking though), if you can figure out how to do what you want, as I don't find it too user friendy, but maybe it's just me.
Filemaker pro 5.5 is here (kinda pricey though)
http://store.retrosoftware.net/13713.html
Gun Safe can be found here if your interested.
http://www.somanyroads.org/gunsafe/
I've never used acess, and my Excel sklls are weak, but it seems like you should be able to do whatever with it to (probly just not as fancy looking though), if you can figure out how to do what you want, as I don't find it too user friendy, but maybe it's just me.
Aguila Blanca
Member
Alpha 5. MUCH faster learning curve than Access, a lot cheaper ... and you don't have to deal with Microsoft.
www.alphasoftware.com IIRC
nmGunCollector
Member
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What, you don't like mine? 
NM Gun Collector Software (http://www.nmcollector.net/nmguncollector/index.htm)
Free NM Collector JE (http://www.nmcollector.net/JE/)
Their not perfect but tell me what you don't like about them and I will see what I can do.
Clay
NM Gun Collector Software (http://www.nmcollector.net/nmguncollector/index.htm)
Free NM Collector JE (http://www.nmcollector.net/JE/)
Their not perfect but tell me what you don't like about them and I will see what I can do.
Clay
cleardiddion
Member
Ooo....I think I could use this in my programming class.
nmGunCollector
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sithanas
Member
I encourage FileMaker if you're new to DB work.
If not (and I'm going to start a holy war here) and you want to get serious, I'd recommend PHP+MySQL.
If not (and I'm going to start a holy war here) and you want to get serious, I'd recommend PHP+MySQL.
If you don't write it all in C or assembly, they you are weak and not deserving of firearm ownership. Please turn over your guns to the real men.
No seriously. Don't use Excel or Access. If you go that route at least do it in Open Office.
A super nerdy way would be to setup a mysql server, with a php front end running on apache.
I'm not really being any help here am I?
NavyLCDR
member
+1 for the database portion of Open Office.
Also, don't forget to add in there the ability to track favorite reloading recipes for each firearm as well
Also, don't forget to add in there the ability to track favorite reloading recipes for each firearm as well
Halo
Member
Oooh I like this idea. I drank the AMP kool-aid.
glockman19
Member
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I use MS Excel & Access
What is it that you really want?RM said:
"I would like to design my own program" says that you are going to WRITE the program, not be a user-only. When you mention Excel / Access and learning curve, you relegate yourself to being nothing but a user rather than a programmer.
Department of redundancy department: What is it that you really want?
ya.. I guess that was my question.
If you want it for personal, smaller scale use then most of the guys in here are right. Open Office Calc or <cough> excel <cough> would work.
If you want something tweakable to EXACTLY what you want, then creating some kind of database with a decent customized front-end is the way to go.
Do you want to be able to put a thousand guns in this thing, each one having 20 attributes of which any can be searched along with any other? Details man details.
I'd be happy to help you make it. Ahh, nerdiness and guns coming together.
Personally I just took my list of guns along with serials and descriptions and put it in an Open Office Calc sheet and printed it off, stored it with pictures of them all.
Ohh ya.. and what Pat-inCO said.. if you want to write something, then there is no "not steep learning curve" unless you do it in VB of some crappy language like that <ducks>.
nmGunCollector
Member
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Waitone
Member
Some ask Microsoft if they have a template in the file somewhere that would inventory and track firearms. 
Blackbeard
Member
How much info do you want to track? Is it just what firearms you have, or do you want exact round counts by caliber, weight, velocity and date fired? What's your data model?
If it's just an inventory list of firearms, then one Excel sheet will do just fine. Otherwise Access isn't bad for most home-grown apps, especially if you're not IT-inclined.
If it's just an inventory list of firearms, then one Excel sheet will do just fine. Otherwise Access isn't bad for most home-grown apps, especially if you're not IT-inclined.
bnkrazy
Member
I've written a simple program to track all my valuables. I've thought about polishing it for the commercial market but I just don't have the time. Plus, as mentioned there are tons already available that already do it. I also recommend any database software as a simple solution. Google Docs spreadsheets would work well for this and are available anywhere you can find an internet connection.
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