G'day Kay,

Sounds great!
Can you come over my place and help me.
Only problem is I live in Australia! Ha!

Have started putting mine into a MS Access database.
It is slow progress though.
Very flexible with fields as you say - GREAT!
I certainly think a database is the way to go!
Can't get the photo's to work though. Very frustrating!

Simon
Melbourne, Oz
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I have cataloged my collection as well. (I used to be a librarian!).  I saw
early on that it would all be a jumble if I didn't have some system.  I put
mine on a database using Microsoft Works.  You can set as many categories as
you want, and the computer can sort by each category. (Family, Genus,
Species, size, where I bought and cost, Description:location etc - as much
info as you want to put). You can be creative and tailor it exactly as you
want.  You can go back and add categories too.  I assign accession numbers
to each shell.  When I get a new shell I just add it to the data base, then
it is photographed with the number/name so I also have a visual of the
shell.  I print out the data base and photos and store all this info in a 3
ring notebook, so when I go to buy or bid on a shell, and I can easily see
if I already have that shell.  It also is a way to ENJOY my shells without
physically taking them out. My collection is stored in zip lock with the
number, and organized by family: Volute, Murex etc. in drawers: those floor
standing plastic 3 or 4 drawer organizers.  I can label the outside of the
drawers.
I have shown my children this organization method so they can have some clue
what it is all about if something should happen to me.  I also have a quite
a few shell books, and Rice's Prices for them to consult.  I mark those
books with the shells I have in my collection.
Kay

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