More numbering options?

Hey, Andrei. I've been using this software for a while now. I'm up to nearly 2,000 albums...with plenty more to go. Thanks again!!! This software is amazing! But, I had one question, though. When I go to View>Preferences>Numbers>Automatic Numbering>Style...I get 4 choices...Number, Category+Number, Artist Letter+Number, & Title Letter+Number. I'd like to add one more option to the mix. I'm sorting my albums into separate boxes. Each box is getting it's own number to identify it. It could be a shelf that has it's own number. (This is gonna look like a stack of archival "cold case files" in a minute...) What if there was a Number+Number option? Say for instance...you have a bunch of boxes, and each box held about 150-165 albums, or so, and you wanted to find the 90th album in Box 12, or the 1st album in Box 9, you could have an automatic numbering sequence that goes like this...For each box, you could have a number 01-, 02-, 03- (and so on), followed by another number like 001, 002, etc., so the 1st album in Box 9 would read 09-001, and the 90th album in Box 12, would read like 12-090, or 12-0090, however many numbers you assign, 2,3,4, or more. 12 would indicate the box or shelf, and the 090 indicates placement in the box. I'm thinking of the old platterpaks that held 45 RPM's. There were divider cards individually numbered. This is like the digital version of that. Any thought on this, as not everyone categorizes their collections in the same way? I guess I could always give each box a letter to identify it, too, or eventually separate by category. Right now, I'm just listing everything, and I plan to sort, purge, and whatnot later. It just would be nice to maybe have more options for numbering, or customizing the numbers...Also, what if I am numbering every single item in my collection, but I want to have separate databases for each format (or maybe category). Once I'm done with the LP database, and say I have 10,000 albums, and I want to start the 45' or CD database, and want to continue on from 10,001, is my only option to enter the numbers manually, if I don't want to start with 0001 again? Maybe it's not feasible, and I can probably work around it, but it's just a little annoying for my situation. It's a work in progress for me, I know, but I'd appreciate any thoughts on the matter, if anyone has any...

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Originally Posted by vinylmaster

Hey, Andrei. I've been using this software for a while now. I'm up to nearly 2,000 albums...with plenty more to go. Thanks again!!! This software is amazing! But, I had one question, though. When I go to View>Preferences>Numbers>Automatic Numbering>Style...I get 4 choices...Number, Category+Number, Artist Letter+Number, & Title Letter+Number. I'd like to add one more option to the mix. I'm sorting my albums into separate boxes. Each box is getting it's own number to identify it. It could be a shelf that has it's own number. (This is gonna look like a stack of archival "cold case files" in a minute...) What if there was a Number+Number option? Say for instance...you have a bunch of boxes, and each box held about 150-165 albums, or so, and you wanted to find the 90th album in Box 12, or the 1st album in Box 9, you could have an automatic numbering sequence that goes like this...For each box, you could have a number 01-, 02-, 03- (and so on), followed by another number like 001, 002, etc., so the 1st album in Box 9 would read 09-001, and the 90th album in Box 12, would read like 12-090, or 12-0090, however many numbers you assign, 2,3,4, or more. 12 would indicate the box or shelf, and the 090 indicates placement in the box. I'm thinking of the old platterpaks that held 45 RPM's. There were divider cards individually numbered. This is like the digital version of that. Any thought on this, as not everyone categorizes their collections in the same way? I guess I could always give each box a letter to identify it, too, or eventually separate by category. Right now, I'm just listing everything, and I plan to sort, purge, and whatnot later. It just would be nice to maybe have more options for numbering, or customizing the numbers...Also, what if I am numbering every single item in my collection, but I want to have separate databases for each format (or maybe category). Once I'm done with the LP database, and say I have 10,000 albums, and I want to start the 45' or CD database, and want to continue on from 10,001, is my only option to enter the numbers manually, if I don't want to start with 0001 again? Maybe it's not feasible, and I can probably work around it, but it's just a little annoying for my situation. It's a work in progress for me, I know, but I'd appreciate any thoughts on the matter, if anyone has any...

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I also have the same request as the OP.



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Hey VM...

Just a suggestion while you are waiting for a response from Andrei....

I use the location field under the properties/library tab. I seems to be a free form field so you can enter info in anyway you want... 0001-0001 for box 1 slot 1 for example. Then when you select the browse by location option you should see you albums sorted how you have stored them.. but yea you would have to enter this manually. Not sure how you could make this automatic though.. you know if there were 10 people storing their albums that way there would be 10 different ways of sorting them into boxes ;O)

But this works for me in finding what DVD data disk I have stored my MP3 album and what DVD bulk storage case that DVD is in.

Fred

I understand what you're getting at, Fred, but yeah, I was looking at something along the lines of a new option in the automatic numbering window, and something more automatic, but if I have to enter the information manually, I'll do it, because I find it easier to sort albums that way...It's just...Do I have to, if there's an option not to? And I pretty much know the answer. It's just a "pet peeve" tweak I'd like to see...maybe on an upcoming version, eh?;)

With all the ideas Andrei is getting, there's probably no shortage of thoughts on how he could improve things a bit...For the most part, I'm happy with the software, but you notice things from time to time that you might like to see different...I'm still learning, and finding out new things all the time...

Hmmm.. I am curious as to how it could be automatic. I mean how would the software know that you are storing the album in the second box of blues albums in the the 64th slot? Do all of your boxes/containers have the same number of slots? What about box sets how would you store them?

Could you give a clear example of the process of entering a new album and how you would see the automatic part functioning?

Keep in mind that Andrei isn't writing the program for just you. Anything that is implemented has to be as flexible as possible. As soon as you make an option function only one way there will 20 users who want it function differently.

Reading what I just typed possibly sounds sarcastic.. ;O) It's definetly not meant to be. I am curious to know how you see this being implemented because it would be a useful function to many of us.

Fred

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Originally Posted by frederf

Hmmm.. I am curious as to how it could be automatic. I mean how would the software know that you are storing the album in the second box of blues albums in the the 64th slot? Do all of your boxes/containers have the same number of slots? What about box sets how would you store them?

Could you give a clear example of the process of entering a new album and how you would see the automatic part functioning?

Keep in mind that Andrei isn't writing the program for just you. Anything that is implemented has to be as flexible as possible. As soon as you make an option function only one way there will 20 users who want it function differently.

Reading what I just typed possibly sounds sarcastic.. ;O) It's definetly not meant to be. I am curious to know how you see this being implemented because it would be a useful function to many of us.

Fred

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I guess this wouldn't be an option that would work for everyone (I do know Andrei isn't writing the program for only me), since everyone is sorting things their own way. I'll admit it up front. All I can tell you is how I view it, since my mind kinda works weird that way. Here's what I'm thinking, weird as it may be: So far, most of the boxes I'm working with are all about the same, they each hold about the same amount, according to the manufacturer of the boxes...give or take about 150-165 albums...yeah, it's gonna be less, if I'm filling a box full of Reader's Digest collections, 78' album sets, or Longines Symphonette Sets (unless I note EACH record in the set as a separate entry). For most individual albums, the boxes hold about 150-165 albums (some are thicker, some are thinner...In one box, you could have a K-Tel album next to some expensive 180 gram vinyl, depending on the genre, artist, a lot of other things. If you were storing albums in DJ crates, Supreme crates, milk crates, whatever, it might be significantly less...I'm basing this on capacity generalizations, of course. Maybe there are boxes that can hold many more albums, and there is that, too. If you were...say...using a number to identify a section of shelving (maybe 4 foot or so, for example...could be longer), each shelf could go to 300, 400, 500 (or more) albums, maybe. I've never seen a box that could hold 1,000 albums yet. The number+number option could maybe work like this...Right now it gives you the option to catalog an album with a number, be it a 2-digit number, a 3-digit number, 4-digit number or whatever (00 to 99, 000 to 999, 0000 to 9999). Remember, I'm only talking about the Number option here, not Artist+Number or Title+Number. What if the Number option had it's own box, or it could stay like it is (Number, Artist+Number, Title+Number, etc.)You could say...have a second number box (Number+Number, Second Number, or whatever you want to call it...I'm just giving my own name to it.) that could also give you the option of a 2-digit, 3-digit, 4-digit number...The first number box would be like a Box Number, or Shelf Number. The second number box would be like a Placement Number (on that particular box, or shelf). I could see that number maybe showing up automatically on screen as a hyphenated number (7-10, 09-456, 065-3700, 1000-5601, for example...whatever combinations of numbers you choose...Maybe the numbers could represent symbolically a genre, if you wanted...the first number 01 could be for all rock albums,, 02 could be for jazz, 03 for soul, you could configure that anyway you wanted, it doesn't even have to be a 1 or 2-digit number...You could sub-categorize things, and if you had a big enough collection, go past 100 (01- acid jazz, 02-traditional jazz, 03-jazz fusion) Maybe the first number symbolically represents an artist (01-All Ellington albums, 02-All Miles Davis, 03-All John Coltrane...This might be more in alphabetical order, of course...or not...it's up to you!) Anyway, the second number could go anywhere from 0 (1 digit) to 9999 (4 digits). After that, maybe you'd have the option for more digits (A large enough collection could go to 10 digits...wow is all I can say there!) So, say I fill my first box up with albums 01-001 to 01-165 (basing this again on the generalization that each box is the same size and holds about this much, give or take). If it's a shelf, I could add more. That second number, remember, could go all the way up to 9999, or more if I wanted. When I start filling the next box (02), I might have to change that number manually (right now, I just go to Location, and add another box number...Maybe the second number would show up as a separate column...or appear as all one hyphenated number), or click on it from a drop down menu...maybe there would somehow be a "change number" checkbox that would automatically change it to the next number in my sequence (02, 03, 04, and so on...). The SECOND NUMBER I might have to type in manually, or if say I left that as a 3-digit or 4-digit number, 001 or 0001 for example, each time I added an album, it would (like automatic numbering is now for the Number option) automatically go up one number-002, 003, 004 or 0002, 0003, 0004 and so on...

I guess I'm trying to get out of having to manually enter in each number (Yeah, I know...Good luck with that...and yadda, yadda...Being a little sarcastic here...). With a big collection, it's nice to have that automatic numbering feature, though. The computer software figures it all out, so you don't make mistakes (say type in the same number for 2 different albums, etc.)

Also, what would be nice is...Sometimes people are organizing as they're going...You might not fill up a whole box, and have to use a few "spacers". What would be nice is...You could say fill up half of box 1, then fill up half of box 2...Go back to 1...and say you're at Album 091, when you added a new album to that box, it would automatically number it 092...kind of pick up where you left off, if you know what I mean...That info would be saved, and the automatic numbering would continue on, if and when you decided to come back to that box. Also, for each box, once you filled up a box, you could still have the option to renumber, now that everything is in alphabetical order (or whatever order you have things put in).

Remember, with the Number option we have now, you can still have things automatically numbered, and you can still renumber things at any point. It would be nice to have a SECOND NUMBER BOX that would do all those things, too, and the whole number could look like this 01-001, hyphenated, or 01 001, no hyphenation, when viewed or read onscreen, like I said. I don't know what way would be better...

All these little quirks would have to be worked out, hashed out...Maybe some input from other members of this board would be nice. maybe a poll box like some web sites do, where say an idea could be presented (on most other sites, they ask a question of the day or something, and everyone votes on a multiple-choice answer), and everyone votes on it...a different idea each week, say...Ideas that get the most YES votes vs. NO votes would be the ones Andrei could consider for the next version. Andrei could post an idea...You guys like this? We vote, like a suggestion box, and ideas with more yesses than nos are implemented...It's democracy at work, people! It would be only fair, since there are a LOT of ideas that could be considered.

I'm not saying my way is the only way, or even the best way. I'm just putting in my two cents (for what that's worth nowadays...LOL) of what I, personally, might like. I don't vouch for anyone else, but that's what is so great about these boards. Everyone has an opinion, and the more voices that are heard will hopefully lead to a better product down the line. when Andrei creates a new version, we can all test it out, and then, if there are any bugs, point them out. Of course, always back everything up. When you get to a certain point, you don't like to lose data any more than you like to do things manually that you could have done automatically (if you so choose) For me, I have to do this typing in stages, as I can get a cramp if I go on too long, and sometimes, you want to do just that. Like I did here (LOL)!

Anyway, my idea...good idea? bad idea? implementable? not implementable? Things you'd add? Things you'd change? Don't worry...I won't be upset if you guys aren't sold on it. And I don't know if all makes sense to everyone. Heck, there are Rube Goldberg contraptions that might work better than this!!! It's only my "pet peeve", as I said. No one else's. My own "Dewey Decimal System" for music, as it were (Somehow, everyone has accepted the one for library books). And we all do things a different way. I'm just adding another voice to the mix. In the end, it may take longer to do things if I keep doing them like I'm doing them now, but I'm good, no matter what...90 percent happy is better than 0 percent happy!!!:D

Let me know what you think...I won't get mad! We all want one thing, which is a better product, right?

Now that's how you make a request ;O)

It all makes sense, and I think that if implemented the automatic part should have a button to turn iton or off.

I guess that if you already have a boxes full of albums already sorted like you want and are entering them by box into OCD that auto numbering would be fine. But my approach when first entering my collection.. was grab a stack and start entering them and worry about organizing them later.

How do you handle adding newly aquired albums into your boxes? Say you just bought 5 Allman Brothers albums at a garage sale.. you aren't just addeding them to the last box that has room are you? Wouldn't they go in the first box with the A's.. moving the last five albums to box 2.. and the last five albums in box 2 to box 3.. etc? That is what I do, but I don't use boxes.. I have them on a shelfs so it isn't a problem until the shelf fills up.

So I can see you point where you are initially entering you already sorted collection into OCD.. but not for ongoing maintenance.. so have the option switchable would be handy.

I am curious to see what Andrei thinks about this...

Fred

Hey, Fred. I've been adding the albums as I go along, too...I've been grabbing a stack, and I just keep going. Eventually though, it'll be like that scene in "High Fidelity" where John Cusack's character does his Great Record Reorganization. Very anal on my part, but as The Byrds say, "I'll feel a whole lot better" when it's done!!!

Right now, I'm going over my entire collection. Cataloguing everything!!! then, I have a decent supply of boxes...granted, I'm starting with albums I don't listen to as much...those will be stored away...then, on to the stuff in regular rotation that get shelf space...next, each box will represent a general genre...metal, rock/pop, classical, country, jazz, r & b/soul, soundtracks, compilation albums, etc., etc....maybe a specialty box for things like disco singles, K-Tel albums, or Beatles and Beatles-related stuff...I may have more than 1 box per genre, as I might have 5 boxes worth of classic rock, and 1 (if I'm lucky) for reggae (again, those garage sale finds are hard for me to pass up, too!!!;o)).

After the genre separation (which is harder for some artists who don't fit into a genre...Would "Satan Is Real" by The Louvin Brothers fit into a country box, gospel box, or is it more "novelty" for the cover art? Would an album of Beatles songs by country artists be more country, Beatles-related, or is that like a compilation album? Some stuff is tricky as I don't know whether to label them "instrumental", "jazz", or "new age"...), then each box will be filed alphabetically, as that is easier for me, at least for the albums, and a lot of times, when I'm looking for a certain mood, I like to play similar songs in the same genres, and don't like hunting for music.

The thing is, and this is tricky, is that I have to leave a little room for (like you said) new acquisitions, or at least, albums I haven't catalogued yet. Yeah, if I fill up these boxes, I'll have to move everything over. I have most of the items that have been on my want list (of course, I don't rule out a few additions on occasion). It's all such a work in progress, but I'm confident that with OrangeCD, everything will be easy to find in no time. That Location box is a lifesaver. No more wondering if I have a double copy of an album anymore when I can just look it up in the database, and find it in an instant!!!

As you said, with new acquisitions, it's always a problem of ongoing maintenance, and having to renumber everything, but a switchable on/off function would be a pretty cool idea. I'm curious as to what Andrei thinks about this, too...if it's not too much to ask;o)

Wow... ;O)

Well if it were me starting off today.. I think I would just start entering them as I grab them... Put them into the next available slot in the current box... record that spot in OCD and then just rely on OCD to tell me where a particular LP is when I want it. It may be a pain to have to boot up the PC to find an album but it would require the least amount of thought about storage....

At least that would get the collection in the system. You could then organize the boxes later if you see a need.

Fred

Oh, I'm adding them as I go...to start. All the other stuff will come in stages later. Wait till I catalogue the 45's and CD's...I've got another set-up for that!!!:D I guess some of us are crazier than others (of course, speaking personally here LOL...)!!!

I'm up to 3,000 and still going. I'm numbering everything manually, but I'm still wondering if Andrei has any thoughts on this...

I'll keep going, but it would be interesting to see some of the recommendations here implemented in some form down the line...Judging from the recent posts, there are a lot of good ideas out there, and much enthusiasm for the product...