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Software Suggestion

badpenny

Deleted Upon Request
Hello,

I am looking to catalogue my collection of CD's and DVD's to save buying them again in error.

I want to do this on the computer but don't want to spend money on a dedicated piece of software for such a small task.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.

thank you...
 
I used the database program of Microsoft Works to catalogue my books, though I don't think they do it anymore.

Microsoft Excel is more than adequate for a simple spreadsheet. If you haven't got that LibreOffice is a free piece of software, the 'calc' part of which is compatible with excel spreadsheets and if you want something more complicated it includes a database program as well.
 
Most software available has some freeware counterpart. The problem with freeware is that some of the software labelled that way is either trial (limited version) or malicious (contains either advertising or virus). For this job you can find either :-
1. office suites that will have a database like the old Microsoft Works (not much better than a spreadsheet) as well as spreadsheets that you can sort easily into whatever order you want
2. dedicated CD/DVD cataloguing software that may even acquire track listings from your CDs
3. external catalogues on music/film sites (example https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/whats-in-your-collection ) this only works if you've got a solid internet connection.

The virus problem in software can usually be averted by using trusted sources that filter out such things. Some will also try to screen trial software although that isn't always successful
https://download.cnet.com/1770-20_4...e,Linux&searchtype=downloads&licenseType=Free should be a list of free CD/DVD cataloguing software but, reading the reviews, some are definitely trials and others are related software.
The problem with such things is always going to be what you want it for. If it's just to stop you buying another copy, then a simple spreadsheet list should do although there are some flaws to that. If you want to be able to find a particular song but can't remember who sang it or on which record, you'd do best going with the online system or one of the specialist CD catalogues but even they aren't going to be perfect.
I have a few records in my collection that were re-issued with a different title and occasionally a different track list and occasionally there are artists who have issued several untitled records over a period of time.
Note: the software that builds track lists from your CDs won't work with vinyl and may occasionally mis-identify records.
 
Like MWS I use works 9, may have to shop around to obtain the cd (try Amazon), also it has a good word processor besides data base and spread sheets. In my case my documents are 'read only' and cannot be altered/amended without my Works 12 software installed, don't know why ??? so in my case it is essential to have works installed. Eric
 
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I really don't think it is a good idea to create anything NEW in Works.

Microsoft stopped making it and selling it ages ago so there is no support or any guarantee it will work on future versions of Windows.
 
guilbert, you now have me worried, does that mean if I do a full recovery (which I occassionally do) and my works 9 CD was corrupt all my files (1.32 MB) will be 'read only' or is there some other software that I can utilise ?? Eric
 
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