Orchid record keeping

[ramp]

Hi all,

After a nearly fatal accident, 2 year ago, I recovred enough to start keeping some orchids again and I'm trying to get back on track.

However, I lost my acces database I used to use.

So I was wondering if someone Has a record keeping database (editable) for PC, exel or access to share free of charge so I can start over again.

Since I'm not sure where to post this, I posted it in the beginner and advanced section. So moderators please move it when in the wrong category.

Thanks already, Marc

[Roberta]

Welcome back, so glad for your recovery.

If you have Excel, it's really easy to set up a spreadsheet. (If you don't have it, you can also get LibreOffice as a free download, its spreadsheet works pretty much the same as Excel, especially for the basics) You just have to decide (as you would for any database) what information about each plant you want to capture. The basics would be Genus, species or grex, parentage (especially for unnamed hybrids). Other items that come to mind are Date Acquired, Place acquired (or source), Cost. Date last bloomed, date last potted. (The advantage of a database over a spreadsheet is that you can maintain history - all bloomings, all pottings. However, not necessary, history can also be captured in a field with date separated by commas, etc. You might want to keep history separate from the current info (so that you can sort by date last bloomed or date last potted) Picture(s) - store a link to to photo, not the photo itself, since embedded objects like photos get stored uncompressed - and get huge really fast. (If you store links in Excel or Access, PM me for a hack to get rid of Microsoft's annoying "Hyperlinks can be dangerous" message... )

Also think about how you want to handle multiples of the same species/hybrid (which may have different acquisition dates, blooming dates, potting dates, etc) I just assign every plant a unique number, which I write on the tag. Then when I want to enter information about that plant, I just seach for the number and easily jump to the record that I want.

You can get fancier from there, adding columns for any other information that you want to keep track of. (Since plants do die or get given away or sold, a date for removal, or just a "removed" flag might be handy)

If you have Access and are somewhat familiar with database concepts, you can use that too - Just a little more complicated, but much more powerful. But while most people have a spreadsheet handy since it comes with basic office suites, Access less common unless one wants it enough to pay extra for it.

[ramp]

Thanks Roberta,

I do have both excel and access.

What I am looking for is a database/spreadsheet That I can start using right away.

Setting it up (as I did in the past) is not an option at the moment since I still have concentration problems due to the head trauma I had, caused by the accident.

So if anyone would like to share their file I would greatly appreciate it.

Regards,
Marc

[Roberta]

Sent you a PM...

[ramp]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Sent you a PM...

Thanks, replied.

[Tony L]

I use a program called OrchidAlbum. Not expensive, easy to use, has fields for everything you want to keep track of. Also syncs between your computer and phone/tablet.