In another thread titled "What do you use for logging practice, load, etc. data?", I posted an Excel spreadsheet I had developed to track my rounds fired, results and basic shooting results. For a couple months now, it's served its purpose well but has shown me that I actually want a more comprehensive system.
I'm retired with a fair bit of time on my hands and my mind tends to revisit things others might consider "settled issues". Since posting my spreadsheet a month or so ago, I've come across 2 programs of possible interest to others: "Shotworks Pro" and "Gun Manager" which are "full" applications that include weapon inventory, ammo inventory and even some shooting results categories. Being cheap, I downloaded the demo and/or free version of each and have been "exploring"/evaluating both in comparison to my Excel spreadsheet.
Part of my comparison methodology has to do with being somewhat experienced with MS Access/SQL database designs. As I looked at both programs, I like how each is designed in some ways and believe that they might be over-engineered or over-complicated in other ways. I certainly don't like the inability to re-size their screens.
Another consideration is that Excel is great for quick and dirty flat-file work, but Access has the ability to "relate" different flat-file databases/Excel worksheets to each other in a more attractive format and a "turnkey" fashion. So, I've begun developing an MS Access application to combine "the best aspects"(what I like) of each of the above programs with what I like about my Excel spreadsheet.
Why post this as I'm certainly far from finished with my database?
1. I'm curious if anyone else has used the above 2 programs and, if so, what they liked about them and what they didn't.
2. I'm also curious about whether anyone has used any other "turnkey" systems, what they are, their pluses and minuses and what they cost.
3. Finally, I'm curious to find out if anyone else has designed a true database (not Excel/Apple spreadsheet) system that covers weapon, ammo & accessories inventories, ranges used, range results, weapon/accessories maintenance & modifications, and purchases/sales/disposals of weapons & accessories... If so, would they care to share their design details with me?
Like I said, too much time on my hands.