Nice project, Rick! I have an Access db that was initially almost as ambitious, but I not longer keep it up so religiously -- it takes a whole lot of work to do that, and I have dropped the commercial aspect of my operation. Most hobbyists will probably want something simpler, but really serious hobbyists need to use a system almost as detailed as the one Rick describes. A collection without complete data is more like an aggregation of things, just a bunch of orphans. A serious collection needs a detailed provenance for every item in it. The data is what gives the collection value. I can send out an empty copy of my Access database to anyone interested. Jim Shields At 05:43 PM 11/26/2011 -0800, you wrote: >Easy for you, LOL. > >Actually I am developing a PHP/MySQL database, hoping to get it on line at >some point, but I have a way to go. > >Randy > >On Sat, Nov 26, 2011 at 5:28 PM, Richard Haard <richrd@nas.com> wrote: > > > So far as maintaining growing records there are many, many ways to 'skin a > > cat'. Here is mine: > > > > My database system has evolved over time. It is a Filemaker Pro 10 > > application I wrote. It is a searchable database that is easy to use, > > intuitive and works on Mac and PC by multiple users simultaneously. I plan > > to eventually present my record keeping system to plant propagators and > > will have copies to share by spring. > >...... ************************************************* Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://www.shieldsgardens.com/ Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA Lat. 40° 02.8' N, Long. 086° 06.6' W