Forum - View topicKeeping a database
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kittytreats
 Posts: 6 Location: Columbus, Ohio |
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I always run into a problem with buying manga that are long running series. For example I accidently bought two of the same book of Fruits Basket. Almost bought vol. 10 of X/1999 twice! *laughs*
So far I'm making a list in my Tungsten C's memo pad. It's easy add to a text file on the computer and then just upload it easily to my palm. What do you usually do? Or maybe I'm just too scatter brained 
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Tamaria
 Posts: 1512 Location: De Achterhoek |
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In most cases, I know exactly what I do and don't have. I know I own Monster up to 11, I know I need to find Planetes 2, I know I want to start Red River and have already found 9, 10 and 12 cheap. There is only a small section of my manga shelves I don't know by heart (seriously, I can find manga blind folded, I'm three volumes off at most).
However, I do keep some neat lists. There is a wislist with all the manga I still want, I always take it with me whenever I go to Boekenfestijn (loads of manga for €1,95 a volume). I also have a spreadsheet with all the manga I own, sorted by language and title. Last there is a spreadsheet with an overview of my orders at various stores and a buying-plan with releasedates. ... That's kind of insane, isn't it? |
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Agoston
 Posts: 225 |
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I keep an excel spreadsheet just to keep track of how many volumes I have in all, but all my manga is in my room spread across 2 bookshelves (but the second is almost full). I keep a wishlist on the computer for mangas that just catch my interest but I don't know enough about to start.
Once I start a manga I usually buy at least one volume of it per week, so I don't tend to forget which volume I'm on. |
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kittytreats
Posts: 6 Location: Columbus, Ohio |
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Tamaria: wow you're very prepared. I used to be like that when I was first getting into manga. Now I'll only buy every once in awhile. I need to finish my X/1999 collection, even though the story isn't finished :/ I actually got rid of a lot of manga like Fruits Basket. It takes up a lot of room! So I"m always looking for omnibus books
Agoston: Sounds like spread sheets are the way to go! That's a good idea, buying one per week. Sometimes when I'm shopping I run into sales so I'm kicking myself for not having my list on me. Thanks for the reply
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Mushi-Man
 Posts: 1537 Location: KCMO |
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I try to keep a list of what I have and what I've read. But you got to stay on top of it or ells you'll get lost. I've been using that list like a life line for a while and from time to time I would forget to update it. Then I get all confused and I have to go back and double check like 20 times until I'm sure about were in the manga I am.
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stuckinfresno
 Posts: 223 Location: Fresno, CA |
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Like the others here I use Excel to keep track. I have one list that contains all of the volumes I want and also lists release dates. (I'm obsessed.) The second list contains all of the volumes I have and a marker that indicates when the series end.
Side note checking out the release dates is just as much of a pain, but also beneficial. I have discovered omnibus releases and box sets (which saves you cash) on series I wanted because I do this. It is a total pain to keep updating the spreadsheets at times, but in the end really worth it. I freely admit that I have over 1,000 vol of manga - like I said I'm obsessed, but it is the product of years and years of collecting. So organization really helps. Fortunately I haven't bought the same volume twice yet, but I have passed up buying a vol I actually wanted because I couldn't remember if I had it or not. This kills me because I do bargin hunt. Also if the thought of Excel puts you in a coma many websites offer online libraries. One of my main websites justmanga does this. I'm assuming that it is just as tedious to enter all that information. (However, I do know that if you buy from justmanga and have the library function active they update the list for you based on purchases from their site obviously.) |
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_Emi_
 Posts: 498 Location: Langjökull |
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But you can only add what Justmanga has on their site and they carry none of Last Gasp's or Drawn & Quarterly's titles. Art books are also a no go. It's also no good if you would also like to have a virtual library of your non-manga books or non-English manga releases. For keeping a database I prefer LibraryThing. You can add manga (English or not), art books, novels, what have you. |
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Not a Jellyfish
 Posts: 539 Location: Boston, MA |
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I use Excel as well. But generally, I always know what I have and what I don't have. I've only rebought a volume of manga once. Any other doubles I have were given to me. I also always buy in order. That way it's easier to keep track of. For new releases, I work in a bookstore, so I just preorder everything I need and keep track of it on my order screen.
Glad I'm not the only one with an excel spreadsheet. Now the question is just how detailed do you guys keep yours? Mine has Title, total volume count, volumes out, tally of volumes, publisher, author/artist. 
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stuckinfresno
Posts: 223 Location: Fresno, CA |
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To answer your question - your's is more detailed than mine. For my wants list I have: Title which includes vol number, release date (either an actual date or available), retail price, and any notes on the series. The notes section usually states final vol, large sized (if the manga is printed larger than a standard sized vol think Yagyu Ninja Scrolls or anything Del Rey), and other odds and ends I use. I note the size because I have a thing about online ordering. If the books are large than usual they can get bent in shipping if it is the only one. I'm picky I know.  As for the owned list I have: Title, vols owned (in the form of 1-?), completed which is a check mark if it is, and final vol number.
I try to keep it simple because I'd go crazy with any more info. Also a note to _Emi_ I was not aware of how the system works - so thanks for the info. I'm not very good with web based archiving so I tend to avoid it. I prefer my own system on the old Excel program. Thanks again, I'm sure others will appreciate it too. |
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kittytreats
Posts: 6 Location: Columbus, Ohio |
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Everyone has a lot of good ideas! I forgot about online sites where you can keep track.
Not a Jellyfish: In response to your question about how detailed. So far I keep Title, volume #, Company/Artist/Author and ISBN number if available. Right now I"m using a program called Digital Collection for my pda. I like it because it allows me to export the file to memo, html and csv so I can load it into a spreadsheet
_Emi_: I like looking at others collections, I'm sure that website will become handy. I like how you can see members collections on ANN. stuckinfresno: I need to make a wants list! Sounds pretty useful because of knowing how many volumes and versions of books there are to a series. Especially release dates. I agree with omnibus and boxed sets. I try to buy most of my anime that way too. |
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Not a Jellyfish
Posts: 539 Location: Boston, MA |
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I have a completed check mark and a notes column, too. But since that's all for personal stuff, I didn't list it. Seems we're about the same on it though. I put notes on print editions and print runs in mine, or notes on the creator if they're a favorite of mine. kittytreats: I've considered putting the ISBN in mine, which I imagine is made much easier by using an online database. But I just find that it's not really necessary. With the internet if I ever needed the ISBN, I could find it again. But I don't imagine I'd need it. Except for a select few, that I will probably add once I update. |
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