What Do You Want In A Collection Inventory Program?

[Sph1nx]

I briefly mentioned in another thread that I'm working on an game lisiting database / inventory sysetm.
While there are loads of great methods for this both offline and online.... none of them do it the way I'd really like it to or lack some features I'd like to see.
I'm mainly doing this for myself, but I'm going to make it public because presumably some people will have use for it. (This is an online syetm btw)
Here's my main features:
1. I don't like how some systems add games. Type in title...search..click title..click add. Not here. Click on the system and go to town with the check boxes. Cart? Click. Manual? Click. Box? Click. Anything else? Type in the accomplying text feild.
2. The abilty to create reports. One click... "Create Listing For System X" either in html or txt format. What to know what your missing? click "Create Missing List For System X"

Anyways these are the two main things that don't make me happy in current system. Yes I know some do either or both... but I feel it could be done in a more productive manner.

The point of this thread?
Anyone have any suggestions on what features they would most like to see in such a system? I'm sure there's a few great ideas I haven't though of and I'd like to make this system as versitile as possible.
Any input would be kindly appreciated. Thanks.
And I apologise for spelling errors above.. it's 4:30 am. -_-

[hydr0x]

you should really browse throught the collecting forum, anotherfluke, me and some others already talked quite a lot about this topic, the topics should all be on the first 5 pages so it's not too much work to find them (or just try to search for "database" in that forum maybe)

i'm not in the mood to answer what i want right now ;) but i will do that later, promised

[Garry Silljo]

I want COMPLETE games lists for all systems that arent still producing games of course. Also, I would like that imports and Domestic being seperated and not in one list like IGN does with Nintendo/famicom games and such. As for search methods, I like the click on a system, then click domestic or import, and then like you mentioned, go crazy with the check boxes. You can half it go cart, instructions, box. Or you can add a box that just says complete. Make sure that you add a box called extra for games like Star Tropics that had that letter you submerger in water, or games that come with big huge maps.

Good luck on this project and I hope my suggestions help. I'm sure you'll do well no matter how you decide to go about it.

[Ed Oscuro]

Sounds a lot like Fatman Games' system. I'm also not quite sure if this is online only or offline/online...does one input the games offline and they're uploaded online? Hmm.

I'd like to see:

Compatibility with popular spreadsheet proggies/hopefully Save As

Field for part number/serial number (note that these are different)

Some sort of support for print stuff (guides, ads, etc) and schwag

Ability to edit a list of games/add systems yourself, for your own use

[ddockery]

I personally like Cart Commander a lot, and if more lists were released it'd be perfect. It even lets you make reports in HTML, so it does everything I need.

[ianoid]

Online updatability- as new games become available, the program updates itself.

Checklist format.

Lots of statistics- by company, by year, by genre, by release wave, whatever. This could be modifiable. (Create different statistics- like 'black box NES'.)

Game ratings importable.

Turn off/on different columns if you use them or not.

Export to excel, definintely.

Palm/Pocket PC format saves and automatic updates with cradling.

Screen shots and cover shots.

Inclusion/exclusion (like exclude PAL or exclude multicarts or pirates or include them all. For example, I'd say exclude Sachen in my NES list.)

An easy to use import utility, for example if you wanted to import lists from DP.

[Jaker]

The only thing I want is the ability to check off multiple games at a time, so it doesn't take you 5 minutes per game to put in the information. That is why I dont organize my collection with a excel or EGM.

[Ze_ro]

I never found most of the cart inventory programs out there to be very useful... they always seemed limiting in obscure ways... like only having specific fields, or not letting me do anything to keep track of hardware. I prefer to use something like a spreadsheet where I can do pretty much anything. I've been thinking of redoing my entire collection into an SQL database, but it'll be a while before I get around to doing it.

--Zero