Modernizing my record keeping

[SGT Singer]

I'm not sure if this is the correct part of the forum to post this, but here goes- I invite the admins to move it if necessary.

Anyway, over the last several years, I've moved a lot, and have found it difficult to maintain consistent record keeping in any one place. I'm not one of these old guys with a reloading log that has been sitting on the bench in the same place for the last 30 years. I like my computer, and my iPhone and all that other stuff. So, today, I started off building an Excel spreadsheet to log all of my reloading and casting data. I'm no Excel wiz, and what I really wanted was an automated form to fill out for any given loading session. So, I built the spreadsheet, and then got completely hung up on the form that would be connected to it.

Back to the drawing board: Next, I decided to really join the 21st century, and use Google Docs. I built myself a form so that I can enter stuff in from my computer, or my phone, whichever device I have nearby. This automatically generates a spreadsheet to store all responses, so that it's fairly easy to look at all of the collected data, or a portion of it (say, I just want to examine the history of my .44SPL loads, or everything I've done with a given bullet... you get the idea).

I'm not exactly the world's most experienced reloader, so I'm just using this log for my own purposes, but I'm passing this info on, because I'm sure that some of you are old friends with similar experience and choose to share your data.

With this kind of a record keeping setup, I can control who has access to my data. For me, it's just me, but it would be just as easy to share the form, and the database it generates with any number of friends. That way, one person in Seattle could easily, and in real time, share loading or casting data with his good buddy in Miami.

If this is old news to people, then I apologize, but the idea hit me like a brainstorm today, and it ended up being rather easy to develop this system, so I thought I would share.

[nicholst55]

I'm interested in more info on the Google Docs version, but I know next to nothing about it. Could you shoot me a PM with more details, so we don't use up a lot of bandwidth on something that may not interest anyone else?

Thanks in advance!

[williamwaco]

I'm interested in more info on the Google Docs version, but I know next to nothing about it. Could you shoot me a PM with more details, so we don't use up a lot of bandwidth on something that may not interest anyone else?

Thanks in advance!


Me too.

[beagle]

You were on the right track with the Excel spreadsheet. I had one I started in Lotus, then converted to MS Works and then to Excel. Excel is easily sortable by caliber and bullet.

I then print the page by caliber and carry it to the shop for inclusion in my bench loading folders with the metal strips.

After every chronographing session, I update and reprint the new data and replace the pages in the book.

With a little spreadsheet design, you can include all data to reconstruct and load, the av velocity, SD, results and gun in which it was fired. OAL is particularily handy. This will all fit on an 8 X 11 sheet when printed in the landscape mode./beagle

[Jammer Six]

Huh. I built a Filemaker database for mine.

I could build it so it runs on either Windoze or the One True Computer.

I'd be happy to send a copy to anyone who's interested. Then you could yell at me about what I need to change.

[SGT Singer]

Jammer,
If I had file maker, I definitely would have gone that route. I too prefer the One True Computer. I've still got some tweaks to make on my cloud version, including figuring a way to auto generate load lables. But then if I didn't like constanly tweaking stuff, I wouldn't be rolling my own, so it's all good.

[dromia]

I'd be interested in more information about this as I am moving more to cloud computing after losing my hard drive and external hard drive back up within the space of 48hrs.

It would be good if you could share your process and experiences here on the forum as that is what its here for.

[Maven]

Two suggestions: make this a tutorial and then make it a sticky!

[Shiloh]

My bride has started making an Excel spreadsheet for me.
Need to pamper her to finish it.

Shiloh

[williamwaco]

Huh. I built a Filemaker database for mine.

I could build it so it runs on either Windoze or the One True Computer.

I'd be happy to send a copy to anyone who's interested. Then you could yell at me about what I need to change.


Do I need to own filemaker to run it?
Or is it a standalone application?

One more question?
What is the "One True Computer".
I tried to Google it and just wound up right back here.





.

.

[mmorris]

One more question?
What is the "One True Computer".

That would be the Macintosh :coffeecom

[aarolar]

Id like some more information on this as well I think I have the ability to do this but what all do you put on the spreadsheet and how do you organize it.

[Ben]

I made this on Google documents.
All you have to do is " fill in the blanks " with your data :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/003-15.jpg

[Jammer Six]

The One True Computer is a Mac. :)

I can build a standalone application that will run on either machine, you don't need to own Filemaker.

Now you guys will have to give me a day or two, I didn't really expect any of you to want the datatbase. I'm not sure why I thought that...

I'll build a Windows version and a Mac version, and post back here when it's ready.

Remember that this was developed for me to use, and it never occurred to me that someone else would see it. That said, I'd like to know what you guys think it needs.

[hporter]

Jammer Six,

I would be interested in seeing your database as well. I have been using Filemaker for my load database for several years. I keep the file on dropbox in the cloud, and I can open it on any of my computers quite easily.

I use only mac's at home, but PC's at work. I can make Access do just about anything I need to, but Filemaker is still a little of a mystery to me. I am to used to thinking in terms of queries and reports, if you know what I mean.

My Filemaker database has a bullet table, a powder table, caliber table and load table. I even put the Lee volumetric powder table in as a look up to tell me where to start with my auto disks.

I bought the pro version of Filemaker to be able to export standalone programs too. Trouble is I always end up wanting to modify my table structure which of course means that I have not done a good enough job on the front end.

In the end, the real benefit for me is that I print out little 2x4 inch sticky labels from my Dymo label printer to stick on the reload box to remind me what is inside and when I loaded it.

Long story short, I would like to learn a little more about Filemaker and how to improve my database.

[imashooter2]

The One True Computer is a Mac. :)

I can build a standalone application that will run on either machine, you don't need to own Filemaker.

Now you guys will have to give me a day or two, I didn't really expect any of you to want the datatbase. I'm not sure why I thought that...

I'll build a Windows version and a Mac version, and post back here when it's ready.

Remember that this was developed for me to use, and it never occurred to me that someone else would see it. That said, I'd like to know what you guys think it needs.

I'd like it to have fields for cartridge, each component, mold, alloy, lube, ambient conditions, firearm, group round count and size, a free form field with 1K characters or so for comments and the ability to attach JPEGs. I'd like it searchable for mold, cartridge, powder or firearm. With printable reports would be great...

...and if it could wash my car, that would be great too.[smilie=1:

[Jammer Six]

Speaking of labels, I had an eye-opening experience a few years ago. Or rather, an eye-opening sequence of experiences.

There I was, snug in my shop, pouring Titegroup into brass and stuffing boolits on top. Life was good.

Then one day, things went to hell in a handbasket. First, I had a heart attack. Then I had a bypass. Then my wife started to limp, and ended up with a new knee. Then my shoulder started acting out, and I ended up back in surgery.

When I got well, and when she got well, we decided to tear our house apart. Because, well, it turns out that you could die.

So we tore our house apart, and put it back together. That took a while. I ran the crews, I'm a retired general contractor. Because I'm such a stomp-down expert, we only changed our minds about what we were doing 14 times. Three of those times involved moving everything out of one room or another. One of those times was my shop.

So you don't get bored, I'll short circuit the whole miserable story and get to the part about the guns.

When I got back to my bench, and decided "hey, I'm going to reload some boolits tonight!", a little over four years had passed. My equipment was scattered across three rooms on two floors. One of my Dillon boxes had been commandeered to hold electrical wirenuts.

It was at that point that I added the ability to print labels to my database, and set some new rules.

Nothing except brass comes in or goes out without a label. Nothing. Powder and primers stay in their original packages, the machine gets labels for what it has in it. Any boolits that leave their original packaging go into a tupperware dish that gets a label. Parts get labeled. Notes get taken when the Square Deal is torn down. I even label the large pistol primer tubes, so I don't have to squint to tell them apart from the small pistol primer tubes. (When I set things back up, I spent some time wondering why the small primers were acting all higglty-pigglty before I remembered that there was a difference in primer size.)

Because it could be YEARS before you get back to your bench, whether you plan it that way or not, and believe me, you won't have any idea which boolit that is, what's in these loads, or where the rest of the caliber conversion kit is.

I'm not complaining. Heart attacks will cure you of other, lessor complaints. I'm not even unhappy about how my reloading gear was handled-- I got a new, bigger, much gooder shop out of the deal. And I could have paid some guy to be careful with my equipment or packed it up myself, but I didn't. I said "everything south of this line goes into boxes. No exceptions. I want an empty, swept floor when we're done." And that's what they did.

So now everything gets labeled.

Because I want a fighting chance if I ever have to re-build my systems again. For whatever reason.

You might not have heart disease. You might not be married. But I promise you, life can take you away from your bench for a long time, and it can happen so fast that you won't realize what's happening until you're trying to figure out where all your dies went.

[williamwaco]

That would be the Macintosh :coffeecom


OOooopps!

I am not Apple literate.



.

[mmorris]

OOooopps!

I am not Apple literate. .

Computers is computers :mrgreen:

[Sonnypie]

Computers is computers :mrgreen:

No they ain't!
For example, the wife's Ipad doesn't like my fingers.
Ever try to run a carn sarned piece of pasture patty that can't see your fingers???
Neither of MY pc's have ever done that.

But... to each his own. :takinWiz:

[Sonnypie]

I bought a chronograph that plugs into my PC (https://www.competitionelectronics.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=21&category_id=7&vmcchk=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=79).
Sure drew a lot of looks seeing the shots instantly show up big screen on the PC sitting on the next bench.
Sure brought my record keeping into the new millennium.

[7of7]

Jammer,
Excellent points.. Guess I have some labels to make.. a whole bunch of them..
I have one of those Brother label makers.. I guess I should get it up and running on my mini laptop.. so I can take it to my garage/shop with me... and start working on the labels..
Currently, I just put the date and powder info on the ammo. All my brass, is in a couple of drawers, and packaged in 100 pieces.. Makes it easier for loading, cause primers and bullets are packaged the same way... (in my case, the primers are.. as I make my own bullets... jacketed and cast)
Going to have to come down your way and check out your 'system' of labelling..
Anthony


Speaking of labels, I had an eye-opening experience a few years ago. Or rather, an eye-opening sequence of experiences.

There I was, snug in my shop, pouring Titegroup into brass and stuffing boolits on top. Life was good.

Then one day, things went to hell in a handbasket. First, I had a heart attack. Then I had a bypass. Then my wife started to limp, and ended up with a new knee. Then my shoulder started acting out, and I ended up back in surgery.

When I got well, and when she got well, we decided to tear our house apart. Because, well, it turns out that you could die.

So we tore our house apart, and put it back together. That took a while. I ran the crews, I'm a retired general contractor. Because I'm such a stomp-down expert, we only changed our minds about what we were doing 14 times. Three of those times involved moving everything out of one room or another. One of those times was my shop.

So you don't get bored, I'll short circuit the whole miserable story and get to the part about the guns.

When I got back to my bench, and decided "hey, I'm going to reload some boolits tonight!", a little over four years had passed. My equipment was scattered across three rooms on two floors. One of my Dillon boxes had been commandeered to hold electrical wirenuts.

It was at that point that I added the ability to print labels to my database, and set some new rules.

Nothing except brass comes in or goes out without a label. Nothing. Powder and primers stay in their original packages, the machine gets labels for what it has in it. Any boolits that leave their original packaging go into a tupperware dish that gets a label. Parts get labeled. Notes get taken when the Square Deal is torn down. I even label the large pistol primer tubes, so I don't have to squint to tell them apart from the small pistol primer tubes. (When I set things back up, I spent some time wondering why the small primers were acting all higglty-pigglty before I remembered that there was a difference in primer size.)

Because it could be YEARS before you get back to your bench, whether you plan it that way or not, and believe me, you won't have any idea which boolit that is, what's in these loads, or where the rest of the caliber conversion kit is.

I'm not complaining. Heart attacks will cure you of other, lessor complaints. I'm not even unhappy about how my reloading gear was handled-- I got a new, bigger, much gooder shop out of the deal. And I could have paid some guy to be careful with my equipment or packed it up myself, but I didn't. I said "everything south of this line goes into boxes. No exceptions. I want an empty, swept floor when we're done." And that's what they did.

So now everything gets labeled.

Because I want a fighting chance if I ever have to re-build my systems again. For whatever reason.

You might not have heart disease. You might not be married. But I promise you, life can take you away from your bench for a long time, and it can happen so fast that you won't realize what's happening until you're trying to figure out where all your dies went.

[crawfobj]

Keeping an eye on this thread. You guys are making my spiral notebook look pretty antiquated, but it's worked for me so far.

I did finally set up a spreadsheet to inventory the contents of the safe and another to inventory my powder supplies and applicability across calibers. (I've received powder from family members and others who have gotten out of reloading, so there's stuff there that I did not purchase.)

Haven't yet inventoried projectiles, etc. but I do have a handheld label printer that comes in very handy for labeling ammo cans, etc.

Off topic a bit, but... My long guns are stacked in my safe pretty tightly, each in its own gun sock. I got fed up with trying to identify what's what by feel, so I stole an idea from a local pawnshop and got some of those Tyvek wristbands. Now each long gun has a color coded tyvek band around the barrel with a printed label stuck to it to identify what it is. I used 3colors - one for shotguns, one for rimfire, and one for centerfire, but I may get some more colors at some point and do by action type or something like that. Found the tyvek wristbands on fleabay - you can pick quantities and mix & match colors too.

[Jammer Six]

I've made my database available.

So as not to hijack this thread completely, I started another thread:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?p=1551473#post1551473