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General Philatelic/Supplies, Literature & Software : Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

 

Author
Postings
wfcauthor

27 Jan 2014
08:06:17pm
Ive used several different packages designed for stamp collecting over the last six years and wasn't satisfied with any of them because I'm such a stickler for details. So, since I work in software as a solutions architect and my partner is a software developer, we decided to develop something for my collection that would understand philately at a level that I want in order to truly catalog my collection (which spans twenty countries and many different types of stamps and non-stamp material from the US).

A year later I've got a growing reference database and a mostly usable inventory, catalog, and want list piece of software and I've learned a lot of things I didn't know about many different areas of collecting - but its what I don't know about what and how people collect that makes me wonder if my system is of use to others. I have a strange feeling this community might have some opinions about that. If you had a package that served as a catalog and inventory manager, what would you want it to do? What features would be most important to you? What collecting areas would it cover?

Oh, and since I've got absolutely zero interest in making a few bucks off the software, my plan is to give it away to the community (except when licensing information from people that demand to be paid).

Ok....go.
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larsdog
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APS #220693 ATA#57179

27 Jan 2014
10:25:47pm
re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

I personally don't use any software to inventory my collection, per se. I have scanned my entire collection and posted it to a web site (see bottom of post for link). There are some areas that are not up-to-date because I find it much more rewarding to chase after my needs and have discussions like this as opposed to scanning pages and posting to a web site. However, when I finish a particular section I am motivated to scan it and publish it.

For image processing, I use Fireworks. I use pre-printed White Ace pages for the most part, but have created my own templates for printing pages on White Ace blank pages when my needs were not met by the pre-printed pages. For web publishing, I use Dreamweaver. For my "want list", I use an Excel spreadsheet. The only information I have about what I paid is in the form of paper receipts tucked away in a file. I haven't seen a need to digitize that.

As far as catalog numbers, I submitted the web site to Scott for review and was able to arrange licensing for me alone. I'm not at liberty to discuss the particulars, but any individual that wants to publish his or her personal collection online should contact Scott for permission to include the catalog numbers. This is one example where it's easier to ask for permission than forgiveness!

Lars

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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

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FrankyB
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27 Jan 2014
11:40:28pm
re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

I am I need of this type of software. One thing I would like is to be able to indicate how many copies I have, or at least to be able to indicate I have doubles instead of just one. Good luck

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wfcauthor

28 Jan 2014
12:41:02am
re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Lars,

Great point about licensing from Scott - they are very particular about this and very actively enforce the rules around their intellectual property.

From what I understand, Amos is the only worldwide catalog publisher that will license reasonably. I've heard that SG, Yvert, and Michel all won't allow their numbering to be used except when there's an offer to sell that particular item. I've also heard that building any kind of cross reference is something of a no-no as well (although it seems as though Colnect does what it wants...)

Anyone had any experience with the other catalog companies with regard to licensing or publishing using their numbering?

Mike

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larsdog
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APS #220693 ATA#57179

28 Jan 2014
10:16:07am
re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Mike,

I do want to stress one point regarding Scott. I approached them to ask permission before publishing my web site and I had a very positive experience with them!

Lars

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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

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Les
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28 Jan 2014
11:13:10am
re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Depends on what software you are using for your database management. If you have written your own software and do not use a commercial database manager, you are good to give it away. However, I think that if you are using Access or Oracle or Delphi as your database manager, then you might have a problem.

Most of the commercial Philatelic software packages use Acess.

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wfcauthor

28 Jan 2014
11:44:29am
re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Les,

Good point.

The application is developed in the OSX framework, so it only runs on a Mac for the time being (we're going to release slimmed down iPad and iPhone software too). Because we are licensed from Apple to develop on the platform, we can put it in the App store at whatever price we choose, and can use in-App purchases if we need to sell licensed data.

Mike

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amsd
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Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads

28 Jan 2014
02:03:46pm

Auctions
re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Franky, not saying that you SHOULD, but you COULD use your catalogues for this kind of thing. I have, where i check off what i have in the used or mint column, and add D for damage, P for pair, B for block, C for cover, or just / for have. if you change catalogues ever year AND you're a WW collector, this is probably way more work than you want, but i collect only a few countries and change catalogues every four years, so it's not onerous.

David

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"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"

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wfcauthor

28 Jan 2014
11:53:19pm
re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

I'm always a fan of using whatever works for people - and I know that quite a few people do use their paper catalogs that way. Some, like Durland for example, even come with nice convenient check boxes.

For me, the software is not only for keeping track of my stamps - it is the catalog as well. In my case, many specialist catalogs all put together.

Mike

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Revstampman

29 Jan 2014
10:16:54pm
re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Just slightly off topic. But, not totally. Do you know any software that works well for making / authoring a stamp catalog? I used Word but was not completely happy with the results.
As for your software question. I would love a program that allows me to assign my own numbering system.

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wfcauthor

30 Jan 2014
10:34:22am
re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

For your catalog - depends. Are you thinking in terms of traditional print or electronic distribution? For traditional print, Word is not enough - but real print layout software is a little expensive and there's a learning curve (InDesign is the leader). If you are thinking of distributing electronically, there are a lot more choices. When you don't have to worry about cramming things together because of page count concerns, it becomes much easier to hook in a database of information and automatically generate a catalog according to a fairly standard page layout. I was planning to make that a feature of my software - filter on the area you want to generate and the information to include, and pop out a catalog.

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auldstampguy
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Tim
Collector, Webmaster

30 Jan 2014
07:26:50pm
re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Mike,
I'm a Mac guy and would love to try out your software if it could be arranged.

Regards ... Tim

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"Isaac Asimov once said if his doctor told him he was dying, he wouldn’t lament, he would just type a little faster. "

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Author/Postings
wfcauthor

27 Jan 2014
08:06:17pm

Ive used several different packages designed for stamp collecting over the last six years and wasn't satisfied with any of them because I'm such a stickler for details. So, since I work in software as a solutions architect and my partner is a software developer, we decided to develop something for my collection that would understand philately at a level that I want in order to truly catalog my collection (which spans twenty countries and many different types of stamps and non-stamp material from the US).

A year later I've got a growing reference database and a mostly usable inventory, catalog, and want list piece of software and I've learned a lot of things I didn't know about many different areas of collecting - but its what I don't know about what and how people collect that makes me wonder if my system is of use to others. I have a strange feeling this community might have some opinions about that. If you had a package that served as a catalog and inventory manager, what would you want it to do? What features would be most important to you? What collecting areas would it cover?

Oh, and since I've got absolutely zero interest in making a few bucks off the software, my plan is to give it away to the community (except when licensing information from people that demand to be paid).

Ok....go.

Like 
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
larsdog

APS #220693 ATA#57179
27 Jan 2014
10:25:47pm

re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

I personally don't use any software to inventory my collection, per se. I have scanned my entire collection and posted it to a web site (see bottom of post for link). There are some areas that are not up-to-date because I find it much more rewarding to chase after my needs and have discussions like this as opposed to scanning pages and posting to a web site. However, when I finish a particular section I am motivated to scan it and publish it.

For image processing, I use Fireworks. I use pre-printed White Ace pages for the most part, but have created my own templates for printing pages on White Ace blank pages when my needs were not met by the pre-printed pages. For web publishing, I use Dreamweaver. For my "want list", I use an Excel spreadsheet. The only information I have about what I paid is in the form of paper receipts tucked away in a file. I haven't seen a need to digitize that.

As far as catalog numbers, I submitted the web site to Scott for review and was able to arrange licensing for me alone. I'm not at liberty to discuss the particulars, but any individual that wants to publish his or her personal collection online should contact Scott for permission to include the catalog numbers. This is one example where it's easier to ask for permission than forgiveness!

Lars

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

stamps.colp.info
Members Picture
FrankyB

27 Jan 2014
11:40:28pm

re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

I am I need of this type of software. One thing I would like is to be able to indicate how many copies I have, or at least to be able to indicate I have doubles instead of just one. Good luck

Like
Login to Like
this post
wfcauthor

28 Jan 2014
12:41:02am

re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Lars,

Great point about licensing from Scott - they are very particular about this and very actively enforce the rules around their intellectual property.

From what I understand, Amos is the only worldwide catalog publisher that will license reasonably. I've heard that SG, Yvert, and Michel all won't allow their numbering to be used except when there's an offer to sell that particular item. I've also heard that building any kind of cross reference is something of a no-no as well (although it seems as though Colnect does what it wants...)

Anyone had any experience with the other catalog companies with regard to licensing or publishing using their numbering?

Mike

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
larsdog

APS #220693 ATA#57179
28 Jan 2014
10:16:07am

re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Mike,

I do want to stress one point regarding Scott. I approached them to ask permission before publishing my web site and I had a very positive experience with them!

Lars

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

stamps.colp.info
Members Picture
Les

28 Jan 2014
11:13:10am

re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Depends on what software you are using for your database management. If you have written your own software and do not use a commercial database manager, you are good to give it away. However, I think that if you are using Access or Oracle or Delphi as your database manager, then you might have a problem.

Most of the commercial Philatelic software packages use Acess.

Like
Login to Like
this post
wfcauthor

28 Jan 2014
11:44:29am

re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Les,

Good point.

The application is developed in the OSX framework, so it only runs on a Mac for the time being (we're going to release slimmed down iPad and iPhone software too). Because we are licensed from Apple to develop on the platform, we can put it in the App store at whatever price we choose, and can use in-App purchases if we need to sell licensed data.

Mike

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
28 Jan 2014
02:03:46pm

Auctions

re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Franky, not saying that you SHOULD, but you COULD use your catalogues for this kind of thing. I have, where i check off what i have in the used or mint column, and add D for damage, P for pair, B for block, C for cover, or just / for have. if you change catalogues ever year AND you're a WW collector, this is probably way more work than you want, but i collect only a few countries and change catalogues every four years, so it's not onerous.

David

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"

juicyheads.com/link. ...
wfcauthor

28 Jan 2014
11:53:19pm

re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

I'm always a fan of using whatever works for people - and I know that quite a few people do use their paper catalogs that way. Some, like Durland for example, even come with nice convenient check boxes.

For me, the software is not only for keeping track of my stamps - it is the catalog as well. In my case, many specialist catalogs all put together.

Mike

Like
Login to Like
this post
Revstampman

29 Jan 2014
10:16:54pm

re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Just slightly off topic. But, not totally. Do you know any software that works well for making / authoring a stamp catalog? I used Word but was not completely happy with the results.
As for your software question. I would love a program that allows me to assign my own numbering system.

Like
Login to Like
this post
wfcauthor

30 Jan 2014
10:34:22am

re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

For your catalog - depends. Are you thinking in terms of traditional print or electronic distribution? For traditional print, Word is not enough - but real print layout software is a little expensive and there's a learning curve (InDesign is the leader). If you are thinking of distributing electronically, there are a lot more choices. When you don't have to worry about cramming things together because of page count concerns, it becomes much easier to hook in a database of information and automatically generate a catalog according to a fairly standard page layout. I was planning to make that a feature of my software - filter on the area you want to generate and the information to include, and pop out a catalog.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
auldstampguy

Tim
Collector, Webmaster
30 Jan 2014
07:26:50pm

re: Philatelic Software - Thoughts?

Mike,
I'm a Mac guy and would love to try out your software if it could be arranged.

Regards ... Tim

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Isaac Asimov once said if his doctor told him he was dying, he wouldn’t lament, he would just type a little faster. "

mncancels.org
        

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