I use an Access database

I use an Access database because of some of the "sub data" (related tables) described below.  What you want to accomplish may drive how this gets built.

You can start very simply with Car Initial, Car number, Type, Manufacturer, Date Acquired, Price, Current Value

To which you can add things that reflect modifications such as coupler type, wheel type, motor, decoder

If you want to track the prototype, add such things as Class, Series (the range of numbers), Date Built, Date Retired, Wheel Arrangement

If you want to track work done on the model, it might work better to have a database, since your work could be several entries over time as the model gets upgraded, repaired or painted

If you aren't using JMRI to track CV settings, you could add a table (db) or entries for CV values.

What do you want to accomplish?

By access, do you mean

By access, do you mean Microsoft Excell

MS Access

No, he means Microsoft Access. It is the relational database program that is part of the MS Office suite - Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access.

A basic Excel sheet

could be done in a few minutes.  What information do you want to track?  Determine that, create the columns for the information and plug in the data.  

I've gone back and forth on inventory programs and what to use.  I've used a couple different ones available out there, but I find they are designed for extra things I don't need and are a bit of work to understand and enter stuff in.  Like Milt, I plan to use Access to create a customized database for my inventory, which I can quickly export to Excel to have on my phone when going shopping.

Train inventory

 I use a bound composition notebook. It has 200 pages with 25 lines per page so a lifetime of trains can fit in there. I categorize things  first by scale and era, then sub categorize by type of car. In the proper sub category each car is entered on it's on line by road name and number.then notes about paint job,door type, etc.  model manufacture and model number, etc.  If a car gets sold I line thru it with a sold notation so  I can return and view it's data later if desired. I once set up a computer version of this but decided the paper version is less work and easier to use.....DaveB

What I would like to have is

What I would like to have is a list of my cars, locomotives and shells.  Also on that page, a link to a picture of that item.

DaveB

We are of different generations, that's for sure!  Far easier for me to manage information on a computer.  Edits and additions take seconds and everything is completely searchable with a few key strokes.  

thetramp - Are you familiar with Excel at all?  What you are asking for is very simple to do in Excel, but a little more detail is needed - what information about those cars, locos and shells do you want?  Road name, road number, manufacturer, price paid, estimated value, custom work, etc.?  Nail down those things you find useful and I can quickly set up an Excel sheet for you to fill in.  The link to the photo is easy, but will take a bit of extra manual labour adding it in.

I am pretty good with excell

I am pretty good with excell but don't know how to put a link to a picture. Would need Road name, road number, manufacturer, price paid, normal items.  If you could set up a worksheet and I can add what I would like or subtract what I don't need.

Easy Model Railroad Inventory (EMRI)

I actually really like this program from Bob Langer.  Basically a spreadsheat program but has many features.

http://easy-model-railroad-inventory.rclsoftware.com/

FileMaker Pro

for Mac. Also for PCs.

If you're good at Excel

and all you need is to add the link to the picture, that is pretty simple.  All you do is in the cell you want the hyperlink (likely the simplest is the name of your loco/rolling stock cell), right click and then select "Hyperlink" at the bottom.  Now, just navigate to the picture file on your computer and select it and hit OK.  That's it.

Yes, that was pretty easy. 

Yes, that was pretty easy.  Now how do I rename the link so it won't be so long, with the maker of the car?

I found out to rename the

I found out how to rename the link, thanks for all the help.

ok, time to throw my hat in here

 My day job is as a Database Administrator for a fortune 10 company.  Now then, Excel is not a database program.  Access is.

Moving along, in Access, you can either link, or better yet, embed images into the database.  I have gone so far as to link 2 images to each piece of rolling stock in my access database.  Each individual piece of rolling stock has its own image linked, but then thru Referential integrity, each car is linked to a seperate image for each railroad logo. (Each logo is entered once and linked to all effected cars).  Then from there I can print car cards, each of which has both images on it.

Having a column indicating powered engines allows me to generate a report for all my DCC engine codes, that I can then cut out and tape to the back of my controller.  Other reports can be created for things like taking a rolling stock list to a train show, etc.

Don't settle for Excel, go to Access

Hi, I am new to this site and

Hi, I am new to this site and can't figure out how to start my own discussion on the forum so I am doing it here. I have a question, I am looking for a locomotive but I cannot remember what kind it is. It looks similar to a GP20 except it has 3 axles on each truck instead of 2. Anybody tell me the kind of locomotive it is? thanks

With all due respect, James

From the OP's questions, it appears he has no knowledge of Access, so I wouldn't send someone down that road when they have no experience and probably don't understand what relational database and referential integrity is.  From what he asked, Excel will do just as he needs.  If he's not satisfied with his Excel sheet, he'll come and ask more questions and then we can support him if he wants to go to Access.  

loudcry -

On the right side of the screen is a link called "Make a new Web Post" - click it, then click the "Topic" link.  Fill in the subject line "Looking for what a loco is called" or something like that, select "locos and rolling stock" from the drop down list and fill in your question in the box below.  Once done, click the Submit button at the very bottom and you'll have your own post for people to answer.

One more question.  How to go

One more question.  How to go to that link without going thru the internet - just go to the picture on your computer.

I have Microsoft Office Home

I have Microsoft Office Home and Student and it does not have access.  It has word, excel, powerpoint and onenote.

Try Excel

Try Excel.  you can import pictures of your stuff to go along with your description.  As you go along your inventory will morph into other things as your paint inventory, pictures of your layout,  calculations, etc. 

There is a app for both apple and android that will allow you to show  your Excel spreadsheet on your phone or pad.  (Actually any Microsoft application).  The name of the app is WPS Office by Kingsoft.  It is free.  Install on your phone and/or pad.  I use Dropbox so I have WPS connected to Dropbox.  The Excel file is created on my laptop.  A copy is put in my Dropbox file on the laptop.  Dropbox is also on my phone and pad.  Now I can see the Excel file on my phone or pad.  Very handy.

MLee

"We are of different

   I think it's more just a matter of what I need my inventory to do. I can write new stuff into the book as fast as I could open a program to type it in and the number of cars is never going to be so great that it is hard to find any of them. I might have about 1000 entries  in there now but over half have been sold and crossed out over the years and the remaining cars are split into O,S,HO,Sn3,HOn3,TT,and N scales so not a lot to keep track of at any given time. As a surveyor I spent many years keeping field notes by hand so using a note book for the trains seems very easy to me.....DaveB

this is probably the best application for what your lookin for

http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/page/freeapps

​its a app by woodland scenics to organize materials for layout from rolling stock locos everything. Great inventory tracking for layout.

Once upon a time

I had a boss who was trying to use Excel as a word processor.  Called me to help her trying to make the text do something or other.  Excel couldn't do it BECAUSE it is not a word processor.  How many people put screws in with a hammer?

Something similar will crop up here.  Part of my daily job is to help people that are using the wrong tool, start to use the correct tool to get the actual job done.  It is an ongoing battle and changing them early is to everyones advantage.  If someone wants a copy of my Access database with the parts already built to pick up images, they are welcome to it, give me a few minutes to make a copy, wipe my data and ship it to you.

And using Excel to pick up images is already going down the wrong path.

But

In a place of work, you can go by and help those who aren't familiar with the tool and they can call you when they want to do more or have an issue.  Not nearly as easy for someone across the internet.  I've seen far too many Access databases be used by one person for years and then that person leaves and nobody else has a clue how to use it and it is a mess.

It also depends on how you define "correct tool."  I would agree that for many things, as a programmer myself, a database is the best tool for me because I have them and know how to use them.  That doesn't make it the best tool for someone who doesn't even own the tool, nor has any idea how to use it.  If you simply want an inventory list of what you own, Excel will give you that without any difficulty.  If, down the road, you obtain Access and learn how to use it, it really isn't that difficult to move it to Access.  Some work, yes, but not a show stopper.

I think one thing people that have specialized skills need to be cautious of is that just because they have the skills and knowledge to do something the "best" way, doesn't mean it is the solution for someone without those skills and knowledge.  Sometimes the simpler, less robust solution is the best one.