Thanks: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 8 of 8
Thread: Inventory Software For PC
-
14th June 2022, 03:54 PM #1GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2005
- Location
- Helensburgh
- Posts
- 7,695
Inventory Software For PC
Has anyone used any inventory software for a PC that holds all the files in one file on the PC?
I have inventoried all my workshop equipment/tools and want to include photos of each item. I can do that in a spreadsheet easily enough but if I want to back it up the live link in the spreadsheet will no longer work in the back up because of the change in the drive address.
I don't want to use an online app as it is only as good as the life of the company supporting it.
I could create a separate photo folder and include it with the spreadsheet but my OCD sort of rebels against that idea and I would have to label each photo via the cell location.CHRIS
-
14th June 2022 03:54 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
14th June 2022, 05:22 PM #2SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Feb 2016
- Location
- Perth WA Australia
- Posts
- 834
Hi Chris,
Depending on your requirements, Excel is by far the best application for this purpose. Particularly from an ease of use and cost perspective.
If you're running a medium to large business then there are other applications that you could consider but these are pricey to setup and essentially provide you with the same functionality of Excel. Albeit more robust and user friendly platform.
The way i'm currently doing my inventory is similar to yours, but the photos are in the spreadsheet rather than in a separate folder. The spreadsheet can get quite large depending on the quality of the photos but is manageable. You can also add hyperlinks to photo location if you want to cut back the file size.
In terms of creating backups, i create duplicate files. Ie create a copy and save it in dropbox or similar. That way you can have a file if you need to go back in time or if your current live file gets corrupted.
If on the other hand you need a platform where you need to change details regularly (ie daily) then there are loads of applications even mobile apps available depending on your budget.
-
14th June 2022, 05:57 PM #3GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2005
- Location
- Helensburgh
- Posts
- 7,695
The hyperlink won't work if I back everything to another drive? I already have done the the spreadsheet and there are just over 400 items with quite a lot to be added so I can see it being over 500 items. How do I insert the photos into the spreadsheet because I was advised this can't be done for that many photos, from the little I looked at inserting a large amount of photos would be unworkable if they were visible when the sheet was opened. I just tried it while typing this post and I can't see how that is workable in my case. This is only for my personal tools and will always be separate from any business activities. I have kept an inventory for some years after a mate had his workshop emptied while he was on holidays and he could not remember even half the stuff that was in it when he claimed for insurance and when you accumulate stuff over a lifetime and get old the chances of memory working on a scale of nought to ten is about -20.
CHRIS
-
14th June 2022, 06:15 PM #4GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
- Location
- melbourne australia
- Posts
- 2,675
-
14th June 2022, 09:47 PM #5Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2004
- Location
- Orange, NSW, Australia
- Posts
- 35
Do you have Microsoft Access? It has a template called Asset Tracking. It may be overkill, but it allows you to records things like manufaturer, condition, purchase price, etc and images.
Asset Screen.jpg
You could also try using Microsoft Word (or any wordprocessor) using a two column table with one column for written details and the second column to insert the picture.
-
14th June 2022, 10:14 PM #6SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Feb 2016
- Location
- Perth WA Australia
- Posts
- 834
You can insert photos just like word. Personally I use screenshots rather than the actual photo as it reduces image size.
I also create separate tabs to make things easier to manage. Eg machinery, hand tools, technology, jigs etc. I'm sure you can break it down further if required.
If you have OneDrive/dropbox you can also create a URL to the online location and insert the url into a cell.
At the end of the day many ways to skin a cat. Unfortunately you've already done most of the work so any advantages from going with an application will require you to redo what you're already done.
Access also works, but isn't as user friendly as Excel.
-
14th June 2022, 11:14 PM #7
Excel and Snipping Tool. At work I built an Excel spreadsheet running around two-dozen seperate sheets detailing various spare parts and consumables held in our inventory; many of them have tiny snipped photos next to the description. To see the picture more clearly you just grab a corner and expand it. I have the spreadsheet saved into my work OneDrive profile which allows me to share it with others.
Snipping Tool is dead easy to use; it is literally draw a box around a picture on your screen and copy and paste. You can highlight, draw lines, rotate, crop and shrink/enlarge.Nothing succeeds like a budgie without a beak.
-
14th June 2022, 11:33 PM #8GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2005
- Location
- Helensburgh
- Posts
- 7,695
Thanks for all the interest and suggestions so far. I have broken the spreadsheet into different categories and I am now finessing it with stuff I know I haven't included and stuff I removed because I sold it. Breaking it down revealed a few problems I did not see and it is definitely the way to go.
CHRIS
Similar Threads
-
Workshop Inventory Software
By Chris Parks in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORKReplies: 36Last Post: 19th August 2017, 12:35 PM -
Inventory 1835
By pmcgee in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWEREDReplies: 10Last Post: 5th May 2013, 10:38 PM -
Increasing Inventory
By Les in Red Deer in forum WOODTURNING - PEN TURNINGReplies: 9Last Post: 14th January 2012, 10:15 AM -
Inventory
By 44Ronin in forum WOODTURNING - PEN TURNINGReplies: 18Last Post: 30th March 2009, 03:30 PM -
Red Cedar Inventory
By Bob Whitworth in forum FORESTRY MANAGEMENTReplies: 5Last Post: 10th March 2007, 10:44 AM