Some years ago I used Lotus Approach for my databases. Since Lotus no longer exists, I now use Excel. I experimented with Access and found it to be a pain and not user friendly, unlike Approach. There was no way to copy my Approach databases into Access, nor, as I have found over the years, into any other pre-made database. Approach could show my data in a spreadsheet format, so I simply copied my info into Excel. I find Excel to be easily searchable and sortable.
John
John and Cheryl Jacobs
COA Silent Auction Chairs 2021/2022
Seffner, FL
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-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Martin Walker
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 5:18 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CONCH-L] document your collection
I am surprised to hear you all discussing Excel for your collection databases databases. If you have Excel then you probably have Access (both being in Microsoft Office's suite of applications).
I was firmly told by more than one IT adviser many years ago that if you want a database use a database, that's what they're made for, not a spreadsheet. Despite that my inclination was to use Excel (as I was far more familiar with it) I heeded their advice and went with Access. After a year I needed an Access expert to work on it, giving it a "more logical structure" (my words!). But he made some amazing improvements, for example by creating a Taxon Table which each accession number references. If you change a Taxon name (as happens quite often!) then all accessions using it will change too. Tag them for printing and, when next doing a label print run, it will generate the new labels needed, and beautifully too, one of its major benefits.
Occasionally I tweak it myself, but I only know enough Access to effect minor changes. Soon I need to find that guy again and get a few more tweaks (10 years later). For example, I want to attach photographs to entries.
I love my database and I think it has more expandability than a spreadsheet would have. I have also been told it is more secure from operator error.
But I love Excel too, for other things I do with it, so I am just throwing this out there!
Regards,
Martin
New Zealand
-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of CONCH-L automatic digest system
Sent: Tuesday, 19 May 2020 4:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: CONCH-L Digest - 17 May 2020 to 18 May 2020 (#2020-97)
There are 4 messages totaling 784 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. document your collection (2)
2. De Kreukel (2)
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Date: Mon, 18 May 2020 12:08:53 +0000
From: Emilio Power <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: document your collection
Excel is very powerful once you learn
how to use it. I print labels for my specimens and also add a mini picture of the genus; Zoila, cypraeovula, Liguus, on the label!
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Conchologists List <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of dseasheller dseasheller <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2020 8:02:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] document your collection
I'm still creating our database, and am using EXCEL. We aren't having problems (knock on wood) because we are just entering data as I complete verifying the specimens, and that takes a lot of time. But I'm happy for all the advice Conch-L people are offering. It's comforting to know I'm not the only one using EXCEL. And your tips may save me a lot of time and trouble. Thanks for bringing this up.
Several years ago I put my Olividae section up on the cloud before everything was verified and entered on EXCEL. I entered the rest directly onto the cloud. Then I tried updating my original from the cloud. That didn't work well. Some columns moved about in the transition, and we have to go back and verify the data is in the correct order.
Now I complete a family before putting it up on the cloud. And yes, I always keep a couple of backups on thumb drives.
Dale F. Snyder,
Arizona State University
On May 7, 2020 at 10:25 AM John Varner <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I have also been re-cataloguing my collection using Excel, and discovered the hard way that Excel is not as intuitive or easily used as I thought. (e.g.: I updated genus/specie names using Worms, then tried to alphabetically sort my 140 species of cones by specie name. The result was a nearly hopeless scrambling of rows & columns that I couldn't undo, and I wound up having to re-enter nearly the entire file of 140 specimens).
Some lessons from my Excel fiasco:
Excel is a more complicated and powerful program than is necessary for cataloguing shells.
Work on a copy, not the original document, just in case.
Back up often, and/or use "Time Machine" or a similar system back up Find out how to use 'sort' and 'filter' options before trying to use them, as empty cells in your catalogue will throw off these functions.
'Undo' only works until you close the program, at which time changes are locked in.
Any input is welcomed!
I am still trying to figure out the best way to attach small file size thumbnail photos of specimens to their entries, but that may have to wait until the next pandemic...
- John
________________________________
From: Conchologists List <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Vicky Wall <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2020 8:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] document your collection
I loved your video! I have been working on my collection's labels this spring, being at home with school closed. I don't know if I'll ever have it in some kind of database but I think I would like that type of "catalog". I can pull the trays but looking them up on the computer would be convenient. If you have any suggestions of collections programs I'd love to hear about them. The simpler the better lol.
**and awesome choice for your "feature shell".....that was a beautiful whelk! Vicky
On Thu, May 7, 2020 at 7:17 AM John Timmerman < [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
A short video posted on the Cape Fear Museum website outlining documenting your (shell) collection. It’s the video titled “Document Your Collection” as part of several videos about how to do a home museum.
https://www.capefearmuseum.com/programs/create-an-exhibit-at-home/
John Timmerman
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Date: Mon, 18 May 2020 15:15:37 +0200
From: "Paolo G. Albano" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: De Kreukel
Dear Conch-lers
can anybody provide a scan of the following papers to me?
L. v. Gemert, 2007. De bibliografie van Carl Friedrich Jickeli (1850-1925). The bibliography of Carl Friedrich Jickeli (1850-1925). De Kreukel, 43(6): 73-79 [biography, bibliography, portrait].
L. v. Gemert, 2007. De schelpenverzamelreis van Carl Friedrich Jickeli naar de Rode Zee in 1870-1. The shell collecting expedition of Carl Friedrich Jickeli to the Red Sea in 1870-1 [English summary]. De Kreukel
43(1): 153-192 [biography, bibliography, portraits].
Thank you and best regards,
Paolo
--
gmail-univie
Dr. Paolo G. ALBANO, Ph.D. Researcher Department of Paleontology, University of Vienna Geozentrum, UZA II Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna Austria E-mail (institutional): [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> E-mail (private): [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> Tel: +43-1-4277 53562 Skype: pg.albano You can follow me on ResearchGate <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paolo_Albano/?ev=hdr_xprf>, Google Scholar <http://scholar.google.it/citations?user=DZ4zNfQAAAAJ>
Lessepsian migration project: Historical ecology of Lessepsian migration <http://www.univie.ac.at/lessepsian/index.html> COST Action: Advancing marine conservation in the European and contiguous seas <http://www.marcons-cost.eu/> Personal web-site:
http://homepage.univie.ac.at/paolo.albano/
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Date: Mon, 18 May 2020 15:28:31 +0200
From: Sylvia op facebook <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: De Kreukel
Dear Paolo,
I forwarded your question to Leo van Gemert
Kind regards,
Sylvia van Leeuwen
Van: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Namens Paolo G. Albano
Verzonden: maandag 18 mei 2020 15:16
Aan: [log in to unmask]
Onderwerp: [CONCH-L] De Kreukel
Dear Conch-lers
can anybody provide a scan of the following papers to me?
L. v. Gemert, 2007. De bibliografie van Carl Friedrich Jickeli (1850-1925). The bibliography of Carl Friedrich Jickeli (1850-1925). De Kreukel, 43(6): 73-79 [biography, bibliography, portrait].
L. v. Gemert, 2007. De schelpenverzamelreis van Carl Friedrich Jickeli naar de Rode Zee in 1870-1. The shell collecting expedition of Carl Friedrich Jickeli to the Red Sea in 1870-1 [English summary]. De Kreukel 43(1): 153-192 [biography, bibliography, portraits].
Thank you and best regards,
Paolo
--
Dr. Paolo G. ALBANO, Ph.D.
Researcher
Department of Paleontology, University of Vienna
Geozentrum, UZA II
Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna
Austria
E-mail (institutional): [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
E-mail (private): [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Tel: +43-1-4277 53562
Skype: pg.albano
You can follow me on ResearchGate <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paolo_Albano/?ev=hdr_xprf> , Google Scholar <http://scholar.google.it/citations?user=DZ4zNfQAAAAJ>
Lessepsian migration project: Historical ecology of Lessepsian migration <http://www.univie.ac.at/lessepsian/index.html>
COST Action: Advancing marine conservation in the European and contiguous seas <http://www.marcons-cost.eu/> Personal web-site: http://homepage.univie.ac.at/paolo.albano/
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 May 2020 12:51:05 -0400
From: David Campbell <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: document your collection
Excel is useful for lists and will probably be maintained well into the future. Beware of the "make anything that could conceivably be some sort of a date into a date, destroying the original data" "feature". For example, if you had a collection lot and entered the length as 9-11, intending 9 to 11 cm, Excel will change that into Sept 11 2020 unless you have specifically prevented that ahead of time, either by typing it as
'9-11 or by setting the cell format to be text.
>
>
> *-- Dr. David CampbellAssociate Professor, GeologyDepartment of
> Natural SciencesBox 7270Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs NC
> 28017*
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End of CONCH-L Digest - 17 May 2020 to 18 May 2020 (#2020-97)
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