Software

Downloaded the Lignup Stamps Collector Pro software. Have been using it for several days. Works on my Mac and seems to be very user friendly. I have been looking for a simple inventory that would run on my Macbook. Been pleased so far. Just thought I would pass this along to all Mac users.

Tommy

Does the software accept imports from other software such as Bento?

Does the software include catalog numbers?

Sorry for the delay in a reply. You have to add your own numbers, but it does have a drop down menu for various catalogs such as Scott and Stanley Gibbons. You can import or export data. But I don't know how to do that. I don't have a previous program so I am starting new. Might want to check out the web page. Thanks.

This appears to be a generic database application that has been customize to support stamps (or any other hobby). It does not have catalog numbers or images (you add your own). On the up side, this means that downloading and installing is done in short order since there aren't thousands of images to deal with. By adding your own images you can actually use your own stamps which makes it useful in event of fire or lose of collection.

But I have the same concerns with this application as with EZ Stamp. It appears to use an encrypted database which is not open to other data sources. (Yes, it does have an export feature but this is not the same as an open data source which can be accessed in real time by other applications.)

I do not put much weight in the list price of these apps generally they are quite reasonable. Instead, I consider the time spent doing data entry as the biggest investment. It is not unreasonable to assume that you will end up with hundreds, if not more, of hours invested in data entry. Given this, it become paramount that you are able to access and use your data that is contained in the database if the application 'goes away' one day. (For example, the company goes belly up, or stops keeping it up to date with the latest operating systems, or gets sold out to another company one day.) It is for this reason that I recommend only those apps which support an open data source such as StampManage (i.e SQL port). This makes migrating to another app quite easy and straight forward if something happens to the original developer or company; preserving my investment in data entry.
Don

That's always the pain with these apps. Without catalog numbers and images, you're going to spend a LOT of time doing data entry. I tried to use Datacrow with the stamp plugin,and found the entry time to be vast.

I did talk to the author of Datacrow and asked if he would be willing to modify his import function to allow the "Picture" field to contain a URL and that when doing the import, it would download and and import the pic automatically. He liked the idea and said he would add it to a future version.

I already have a spreadsheet with Scott Catalog numbers, so all I would need to do is to add a column full of URLs and do an import.