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    Invelos Forums->General: General Discussion Page: 1  Previous   Next
book software question/opinions
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLJG
Registered: March 14, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United States Posts: 950
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So, after being a loyal Profiler and having it addicting me cataloging, I've decided I really need to move on to organizing my books.  While I'd love to use a a BookProfiler (no, I'm not asking if there is one! lol), I've been searching for a good program to do this.  I've ended up trialing Readerware.

While I basically like it, and like the fact you can use a cuecat to enter in ISBN's, it's not the most user friendly program I've used.  It's ok, but I seem to have to backtrack a lot.

My main question is, has anyone else used this or is using it?  What's your opinion?  Is it worth the investment?

I've also looked at Bookcat but I've already ruled that one out...Any other programs worth taking a look at?  My goals are to have a program to catalog my books, hopefully by inputting the ISBN and being able to download the majority of the profile, be able to use a scanner to do so and for the program to be easily used and arranged to suit my needs.

Thanks!
Lori
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantW0m6at
You're in for it now Tony
Registered: April 17, 2007
Australia Posts: 1,091
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Collectorz.com have a book program.  I can't say much about it, because I chose to go with BookDB2 (about 1/3 or just under of my books are pre-ISBN).  BookDB2 doesn't do what you want, but the Collectorz program might.

Book Collector
BookDB
Adelaide Movie Buffs (info on special screenings, contests, bargains, etc. relevant to Adelaideans... and contests/bargains for other Aussies too!)
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLJG
Registered: March 14, 2007
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United States Posts: 950
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Thanks!  I've heard about Collectorz, but didn't realize they did books too.  That one actually is looking like the way I'll go, at this point.  It has a lot more of what I was looking for.

Lori
Lori
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantAetius
Registered: July 12, 2007
New Zealand Posts: 3
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It's strictly online, no software to download, but you can try librarything.com.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLJG
Registered: March 14, 2007
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United States Posts: 950
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Thanks for the suggestion. I played around with that one and while I liked aspects of it, really needed something that could be both online and offline.  I ended up going with Collectorz.com and have been fairly happy with that so far.

Thanks, though. 
Lori
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
Don't be discommodious
Registered: March 13, 2007
United States Posts: 21,610
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Tere are numerous book programs out there, but there is NOT a Book Profiler which combines both a user-built database and a local collection. Collectorz is close, it contains aspects of what we do, but it's data is downloaded from a variety of Online sources, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Library of Congress, etc.And there are books that are NOT listed in ANY of their sources...believe it or not.

Skip
ASSUME NOTHING!!!!!!
CBE, MBE, MoA and proud of it.
Outta here

Billy Video
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLJG
Registered: March 14, 2007
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United States Posts: 950
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Oh, I believe it as I've had to input quite a few of my own already.  And add to that the fact that the covers are very likely to be wrong.  I'm sad to say that it took me about 500 books in to realize that even though the ISBNs matched, more than likely the covers didn't.    (I had basically gotten rid of the cover view while inputting for more screen space).  I also spend about 3-5 minutes per record fixing the errors that were made through Amazon or elsewhere.  I doubt I've had more than 20 (out of 1000) books with the right page numbers!

Until now, I've never realized how much I've taken our accuracy for granted.  While this is a database compiled by humans and we all DO make mistakes, we're pretty good at checking and rechecking the data.  Collectorz does not do that.  It's dependant on other websites which don't double and triple check either.

But still, the program allows you to create your own profiles, even up to the point of adding books that aren't actually published, quite easily.  They even have fields that you can redefine to your needs and fields you can rename if you end up not using them.  You can sort practically any way you want.  It's fairly easy to figure out and use.  I tried one program in my quest for a decent book profiler that you literally had to take 3 steps every time you wanted to edit a profile!  Then you went back to the beginning after you finished, so good luck trying to find where you stopped.

Until Ken unveils BookProfiler, this is probably the closest it comes.  Though, I have a feeling that as long as I could inport my current list, I'd switch in a heartbeat to BookProfiler.    Ken has spoiled us all, I think, with a high functioning collectors program! 
Lori
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantbobb
Registered: March 14, 2007
United States Posts: 489
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Quoting LJG:
Quote:
So, after being a loyal Profiler and having it addicting me cataloging, I've decided I really need to move on to organizing my books.  While I'd love to use a a BookProfiler (no, I'm not asking if there is one! lol), I've been searching for a good program to do this.  I've ended up trialing Readerware.

While I basically like it, and like the fact you can use a cuecat to enter in ISBN's, it's not the most user friendly program I've used.  It's ok, but I seem to have to backtrack a lot.

My main question is, has anyone else used this or is using it?  What's your opinion?  Is it worth the investment?

I've also looked at Bookcat but I've already ruled that one out...Any other programs worth taking a look at?  My goals are to have a program to catalog my books, hopefully by inputting the ISBN and being able to download the majority of the profile, be able to use a scanner to do so and for the program to be easily used and arranged to suit my needs.

Thanks!


I had used Wakefielsofts's BookBag, (I don't recommend this for serious book collectors.) till I discovered Readerware. Having the ability to search Library of Congress, The British National Library, and numerous booksellers really helped catalog my over 3000+ library. (Some of which are over 50 years old. Thats where the two National Libraries come in to play.)

If I can be of any help PM me, or check and ask on the Readerware forums.

Bobb
Do Cheshire Cats drink evaporated milk?
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantCary B
Registered: March 17, 2007
Posts: 43
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Your missing the best one:  http://www.fnprg.com/bookcat/
I've tried all of them, and this is the most versital.
 Last edited: by Cary B
DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantbobb
Registered: March 14, 2007
United States Posts: 489
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Quoting Cary B:
Quote:
Your missing the best one:  http://www.fnprg.com/bookcat/
I've tried all of them, and this is the most versital.


I use their "Softcat", but feel "Bookcat" fell far short of what Readerware offered.

(Your mileage may vary...)

Bobb
Do Cheshire Cats drink evaporated milk?
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLJG
Registered: March 14, 2007
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United States Posts: 950
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I actually tried both Bookcat and Readerware.  Liked Readerware to a point, but found it annoying to have to go back and forth all the time.  To edit a book, it seemed like there were 4 or 5 steps.  I did like that it would grab the approx. value of your book from Amazon...while not 100% accurate, at least it gave an estimate.  The one I chose doesn't do it automatically, though it has the field for it.  But Collectorz also grabs from quite a few places of the web, too.  Amazon, B&N, LoC, among others.

The time consuming part for me is making sure that the information is correct from what is downloaded.  A lot of mine are pre-ISBNs and quite a lot don't even have LoC numbers in them, so it's a matter of hunting down which version is mine.  Up to 1146 today!  (shudders to think how many more are left...)
Lori
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorPantheon
Registered: March 14, 2007
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United Kingdom Posts: 1,819
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I've been using Collectorz for years and have found it to be the best one.

I'm quite anal when it comes to my data input and I like the amount of fields in Collectorz. It's annoying that the correct covers aren't always downloaded and I've found that the amount of pages in a book is never accurate - but other than that I love the program.
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