Topic: recording data forms & database program

[cybergaloot]

Anybody know about a database program where you can enter in info about your recordings so they can be searched in different ways such as by date, artist, venue, event, gear, etc.? I guess it could be done in Excel but that's not very elegant. I'm also looking for some sort of data form I can fill out in the field. Anybody already made one they are willing to share?

BTW, I didn't know which section to post this in. My apologies if it needs to go somewhere else.

[Brian Skalinder]

Since you're looking for a computer program, I thought it best to move the post here -- it's kind of a catch-all for all things computer-related we do as part of our hobby.

In the past, I've used TapeTracker and WinTaper.  I'm guessing both are now in their terminal release.  Now I just use my own Access DB.

[cybergaloot]

Thanks, Brian. I wasn't sure where to post this. I'll see if I can find those programs and see if they are what I'm looking for. Actually, I'm not 100% sure what I want. After a couple of years of taping, I'm starting to get a bit of a reputation in the local circles and the blues circles and people are asking for things that have slipped off the edge of my memory. I need to get back to writing things down and then making them searchable.

[admkrk]

there's always db.etree. it can be a pita adding new shows to but it's still maintained and you can save your list as a .xml or some kind of data base file. come to think of it i need to organize my tapes since i suck at making databases, might try updating the list i started long ago.

can't remember if i tried the ones brian mentioned? stopped keeping track as i said long ago.

[Əkoostikal]

there's always db.etree. it can be a pita adding new shows to but it's still maintained and you can save your list as a .xml or some kind of data base file. come to think of it i need to organize my tapes since i suck at making databases, might try updating the list i started long ago.

That is what I use and I find it works pretty well for me..... You can export to excel but when you do it adds tons of columns with every single detail (most of which I do not use)..... These can be hidden in excel so if you print your list you can have whatever format you want, but everytime to update the list you will have to export a new spreadsheet and go through all the BS again.....I wish I knew a way to make a template or something that would do this automatically. I rarely expert to excel so it's not a big deal. I do love the .db services though. My most visited website. They only thing I wish the .db could do would be to filter your list by source instead of just show. If it can I have not figured out how yet....lol

[dgale]

A MS Access database would be the way to go to be able to search by fields.  Excel is more limited in terms of searching and more of pain to enter things.  For Access, you need to set up a data entry template but from there it is easy to enter data and then Query it, as well as export as needed to any other MS Office software.  As a newly converted Mac user, I no longer have the luxury of Access in MS Office for Mac (why is that??) but for PC users it would be the way to go.  I always found db.etree too slow and cumbersome to use.

[greenone]

FWIW, db.etree is great but not queryable on all fields. You can also only export as .csv. I suppose you could use it as your customized front-end for inputting shows and whatnot, then play around with the csv exports, but chances are if you can diddle around with csv's, you can probably roll your own db with Access, mysql or what have you.

[bgreen]

You can also input your sources to LMPP ( www.livemusicpreservationproject.com ) after you have an account set up, but we only list shows that are in the lmpp database (which requires you to submit an ID), or sources that have a shnID at etree. We doi this in an effort to try to get more folks to ID what they have, so far, it's worked out well.  You can also add you etree list to LMPP simply by putting in SHNID's and it will be added.

Basically, we made it a little simpler. After the source is entered to LMPP, or the shnID is entered, you have one comments box to fill out, the rest is pulled in automatically and filled.

If anyone would like to see somnething added here that will make it better for the taping community, drop me a line and we can talk about it. Were small and very flexible right now 

Here is a good example of a user who has used it extensively.

http://www.livemusicpreservationproject.com/template.php?menuMain=%20userSources&rid=rid49e7484a1ab6f

If you need/want to see the whole schebang, click on the shnID or LMPP ID link and it will display everythig.

[boojum]

Can't you build a template in Excel and use that, just filling in the blanks on what you are looking for?  I have not worked in Excel in a long time but seem to remember that.

Otherwise find a DB2 open source package and write your own queries.  After you enter all the data.   ;o(