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Posted by Austin Holcomb (Member # 2507) on June 17, 2012, 11:24 PM:
 
How do you do it? Is it alot to do? How is it organized. Ect..
Looking forward to your opinions
Austin(:
 

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on June 17, 2012, 11:44 PM:
 
If you want, you can download freeware from http://www.collectorz.com/.

You just need to enter the title, and the software will download from available source for all related film infos such has actors, director, year of release, producer, original cover, etc, etc.

Later you can revise it by adding some infos related to 8mm, such number of reels, spool size, sound or silent, or change the original cover with 8mm original artwork, etc.

You can upload the catalog online, so you can still have in touch with your library although you are in different computer.

The freeware can only list up to 100 titles, more than that you have to buy.

cheers,
 

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Posted by Austin Holcomb (Member # 2507) on June 17, 2012, 11:45 PM:
 
Thanks!
Austin(:
 

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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on June 18, 2012, 11:19 AM:
 
I just use Microsoft Excel.

I find it's a good thing to do because every so often I get this sad feeling I've seen everything I have and I have nothing to watch...

Then I look through the list and see that maybe that just isn't so!

("Hmmmm...I haven't seen that one in long time!!")

-Saves us some money!
 

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Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on June 18, 2012, 12:18 PM:
 
I also use a basic microsoft excel sheet, it simply contains from left to right, the title,spool sizes and number of spools, e.g 3 x 400ft ,a "Y" if it has the original box, then the remaining colums are, date cleaned, and date viewed with enough colums to last forever, the clean dates are filled in yellow once its been cleaned and/or viewed and a different fill colour for each year, this way its a good visual look over to see what hasnt been touched for more than a few years. In a large collection its amazing how so many years can go by with titles not viewed for more than 3 or 4 years,
 

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Posted by Jim Schrader (Member # 9) on June 18, 2012, 12:22 PM:
 
i keep a small sheet with each film stating as to when it was inspected last time then that info is put into a excel sheet
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on June 18, 2012, 12:23 PM:
 
I find it easier just recording my collection in a desk diary,and it's
there 24/7,with no fears of it being erased or any of the pitfalls
of the electronic age.Old fashioned,but tried and tested.
 

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Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on June 18, 2012, 12:26 PM:
 
I also use excel.
 

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Posted by John Skujins (Member # 1515) on June 18, 2012, 02:40 PM:
 
I use notepad for my list. It's convenient when I need a quick look during a film festival, for choosing a film or getting the date of a film.
 

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Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on June 18, 2012, 03:31 PM:
 
Oi Hugh, pssssst, ive also got all mine catalouged manually in an A4 note book, fool proof (dont tell anyone though!!!)
If the Pc goes down im insured by Biro ink
 

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on June 18, 2012, 03:44 PM:
 

quote:

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I find it easier just recording my collection in a desk diary,and it's there 24/7,with no fears of it being erased or any of the pitfalls

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Hugh, your catalog still can get erased by water or fire...

If you are worried about getting erased or need an access by 24/7 from anywhere, you can register for a google document account. Then you can have access to any type of your Office document (Excel sheets, power point, MS Doc, Pdf, etc) practically from anywhere as long as there is internet access.

This is like a virtual hard drive and this service is FREE. And this is almost impossible to get erased ...unless google goes bankrupt

cheers,
 

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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on June 18, 2012, 03:52 PM:
 
Then again our collections can also be erased by water or fire!

I think if that ever happened to me I wouldn't have the heart to start over again.

My film list lives on multiple computers: if nothing else when I'm sitting at work, sometimes I like to ask myself "What do I feel like showing tonight?".
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on June 18, 2012, 04:25 PM:
 
We can only hope Google goes bankrupt Winbert,they are not the
flavour of the month in the UK, Seriously,does it really matter
if we keep records or not,like I said in an earlier thread about
favourite films,theres a certain bunch of films I never tire of
watching.There must be scores I've never screened for many
years,so keeping records isn't the most important thing with me.
Nice to know Tom covers his bets though.Theres nothing wrong
with"belt & braces".
 

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Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on June 18, 2012, 04:34 PM:
 

quote:

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I find it easier just recording my collection in a desk diary,and it's
there 24/7,with no fears of it being erased or any of the pitfalls
of the electronic age.Old fashioned,but tried and tested.

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quote:

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"touch with your library"

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Hugh, I love my movies collection so much.

But when I was far from home, looking into all the list is a bit of relieving... ... especially if the list comes with all pictures.

It is sort of like looking to the photos of our loved ones when far from home.
 

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Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on June 19, 2012, 03:19 PM:
 
I'm a little like you Hugh, to be honest. I don't have the time to spend cataloguing and listing, etc. I don't think my films are as precious to me as they are to some on here. I make sure my prints are inspected, cleaned and well-stored, and that's about it. If I have time I may write the title on a list I keep in a drawer somewhere.
On the other hand, for someone with a very large collection , I guess a more organised list might be necessary.
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on June 19, 2012, 03:30 PM:
 
Oh Michael, a sane man at last.I can see Winberts point,but like
you Michael,they are there to be viewed when I want to view them
and I have a list of them,if I sell any then I cross them off.As for
Google or any other of these time waster firms being involved,
why? I know titles I own,so little chance of buying twice.When
you're on a scaffold flogging away,there's little time for fiddling
with your aps or anything else for that matter.
 

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on June 19, 2012, 04:01 PM:
 

quote:

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I know titles I own,

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Hugh, maybe because you are mainly collecting features which their titles are easily to be remembered (because they were discussed in many occasions, many places and we spend more money on them so we always remember it).

But for collectors who focus on short like me, keeping the records is important to avoid buying multiple items. Look at Tom & Jerry list which come to 110 titles. I hardly remember the titles because many of them do sound alike. For example:

- Salt Water Tabby vs Timid Tabby
- Puss 'N' Toots vs Puss Gets the Boot vs Polka Dot Puss vs Heavenly Puss and tents titles with "Puss"
- Mouse Trouble, Mouse Comes to Dinner, Mouse For Sale, Mouse in the House, Mouse in Manhattan and all titles with "Mouse"

etc..etc..

This is also the same case with "Bugs Bunny" with too many "Hare" in the title.

This is so confusing and not to mention their French/Germany titles counterpart which totally different sound for the same film.

As they were purchased around $12 - $18, we struggle to remember them compared buying features that we never forget where our $150 went to...
 

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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on June 19, 2012, 04:10 PM:
 
I doubt I'd be bothered with it if it wasn't so easy, but I started it when I had about 50 films and every month when I get one or two more I just add them in while I'm on the computer anyway. (I work at a PC and spend easily 30 hours a week here...)

Time per month? 2 minutes?

One great plus is when I'm compiling a show I just copy and paste the information into another list that goes with me to the shelves and then sits on the table while I'm running the machines. In the heat of battle it pays to have a plan!
 

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Posted by Martin Davey (Member # 2841) on June 19, 2012, 04:38 PM:
 
In fact it is when you collect a lot of shorts that having the information to hand is very important. You are not going to forget if you have a feature of GWTW, but what about all the laurel and hardys, the tom and jerrys, donald ducks, trailers etc. It is good to be organized. The worst thing is to stand at a dealers table holding a L & H film, and thinking....have I got this already?
By having a proper database, rather than a couple of bits of paper, you know what you got. I am able to find out instantly what tom and jerrys I have got, and which ones are in scope for example, or if I do need a sound copy of a silent print, without trying to memorize 1000s of titles. Or is that railway film available in 2rls rather than a cutdown I already own? Or do I have that on super 8 or 16mm?
This is what the 21 century has to offer.....
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on June 19, 2012, 07:06 PM:
 
I have a fair assortment of 200's through to 400's and multi reel
films and foreign versions,and never have I had to think if I had
or didn't have a particular title.The only reason I have a list is
that I use it like a catalogue,instead of standing in front of shelves
trying to make a viewing choice,and it's a sickener for Google,
cos' I don't need 'em,and that's my 20th century logic,beats 'em
every time.A bit like dvds,none of those are listed,but I know the
titles I've bought.I think you lads rely to much on computers.
 

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Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on June 19, 2012, 08:42 PM:
 
For me it would be kind of odd to spend my entire working day using a computer very easily and effectively, and then revert to quill, ink well, parchment and candlelight just because I've gone home.
 

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Posted by Laksmi Breathwaite (Member # 2320) on June 19, 2012, 11:43 PM:
 
Hey I agree Hugh not this Lad. My movies are all in my head and up right in boxes so my friends read the titles and they can pick. I must have countless VHS, dvds,Bluerays, Super 8mm films none of those are listed,but I know the
titles I've bought or have. I guess I have a brain like a computer. And I can see some in boxes or on my shelves. But Austin why do you want to know about cataloging ? You only have a few films and you are a young collector with little money and only toys to trade. Any you guys want to donate to Austin's collection with any films you can spare?
 

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Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on June 20, 2012, 12:46 AM:
 
I couldn't possibly remember everything, and I think having a catalog is a great idea, because not only can you keep track of what you have but where and when you got it, how much you paid for it, when you use it, what condition it is in, when you repaired it, when you sold it on to someone else...I like to use Filemaker because it is easily modifiable to include what you want. If Austin started cataloging when he is beginning it will only be easier in the long run....I will say though that catalogs can also be detrimental, since i was cataloging my projectors as well until my wife said "YOU HAVE 38 PROJECTORS?" so I stopped cataloging them....That was almost 5 years ago. I don't want her to know how many I have now...




 

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Posted by Austin Holcomb (Member # 2507) on June 20, 2012, 12:50 AM:
 
Ive started getting color and sound. My collection is growing.
Austin(:
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on June 20, 2012, 04:02 AM:
 
It's come to something when some folks need a computer to let
them know when they last watched something.By the time you
have finished with all the fine detail,tapping in film stock,directors
etc,it's time for bed.I think I would rather like Laksmi be watching
the film than doing all the pointless stuff,that's when it starts to
become a fixation.
 

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on June 20, 2012, 07:12 AM:
 

quote:

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My movies are all in my head and up right in boxes so my friends read the titles and they can pick. I must have countless VHS, dvds,Bluerays, Super 8mm films none of those are listed,but I know the titles I've bought or have. I guess I have a brain like a computer.

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Laksmi, how are you sure that (if) you have either in your collection:

- Mouse Trouble, Mouse Comes to Dinner, Mouse For Sale, Mouse in the House, or Mouse Cleaning?

- or is the Mouse Trouble you have(or Mouse Comes to Dinner, Mouse For Sale, Mouse in the House, Mouse Cleaning) sound or silent?

- or is the Mouse Trouble you have(or Mouse Comes to Dinner, Mouse For Sale, Mouse in the House, Mouse Cleaning) perfect color, faded color or B/W?

- or is the Mouse Trouble you have(or Mouse Comes to Dinner, Mouse For Sale, Mouse in the House, Mouse Cleaning) from MGM, Walton, Film Office or Red Fox?

- or do I have Mouse Cleaning or Tom et Jerry font le ménage (which is actually the same film)

and..... the combination of the above confusion:

- or Do I have Mouse Trouble or Mouse Comes to Dinner, Mouse For Sale, Mouse in the House, Mouse Cleaning which is from MGM, Walton, Film Office or Red Fox, and does it have perfect Color, faded or B/W, and it is Sound or Silent, and .... a Ha... I found a new title "Tom et Jerry font le ménage" ?

It is waste our time to remember it and will be really helpful if we have the list.
 

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Posted by Austin Holcomb (Member # 2507) on June 20, 2012, 07:15 AM:
 
I see how that can get very confusing
Austin
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on June 20, 2012, 07:20 AM:
 
Quite simple Winbert, I don't know about Laksmi,I don't collect
that many cartoons.Problem solved,and anyway a notepad
solves that quite easily.
 

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Posted by Martin Davey (Member # 2841) on June 20, 2012, 07:47 AM:
 
If you do collect a lot of shorts it is not a 'problem solved'. Are you saying that you just forget most of your collection exists to avoid cataloging/remembering them. You need an electronic database for that information, which solves the problem very easily.....or carry around a very big and heavy notepad around with you that cant be updated in a practical way.
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on June 20, 2012, 08:11 AM:
 
Martin,ever heard of alphabetical order.We are talking amateur
film collectors here, not the BFI.like I said,problem solved.Do you
list every book or dvd you own.Common sense dictates no,you
know what you've bought or should do.I've never bought the
same film or dvd twice by mistake,and no thanks to computers
or anything else.
 

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Posted by Laksmi Breathwaite (Member # 2320) on June 22, 2012, 01:50 AM:
 
Hey I have a lot of Cartoons but I know what I have. I like Hugh have never bought a film in any media I allready have.
 

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Posted by Martin Davey (Member # 2841) on June 22, 2012, 03:16 AM:
 
Hugh,
I am sorry that you find technology so threatening, as very comment from you in this thread seems to indicate.
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on June 22, 2012, 08:52 AM:
 
Martin,technology isn't so much threatening, as to be seen as
the be all of everything.Things do get done in this world without
a computer being involved,Indeed when a machine has to inform someone when was the last time they viewed a particular print
I think things are being taken a bit far.It's like personal organisers
that were all the rage,then some folk need organising,as coherent
thought,memory and the ability to think on ones feet seem old
fashioned.
 

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