Attached Link: http://mystic-nights.com/poser/downloads/Utilities/Poser-Database/index.html

I have built an Access Database to track Poser and other 3d Items. It will track purchases, free downloads, projects and renders, Vendors, Merchants, Categories, Formats and more. You can add an image of the Product and Project/Render. There are 4 reports available with mutiple filtering capabilities. There is also a windows program developed by a member at another board to scan your folders and create a CSV file to import into the database. I am offering this as freeware. Info, Screenshots and download link are at the link above.

It looks like a great idea. I'm having trouble importing the information from the Poser Products Database Companion 1.0, however. Nothing seems to happen when I go through the import files sequence. I have to admit, no one could be a bigger dummy when it comes to Access.

Be sure you placed the database and all sub-folders in this folder. C:Program FilesPoser-Database The import function looks for the CSV file in the C:Program FilesPoser-Databaseimport-data folder. Let me know if that helps.

I did that, and then I did import (and it appears nothing is happening when I do import). When I look to do a report, there is nothing listed even though there is a file in the folder. I can get the files to list on a table when I open up Access by itself, but not through your program. I must be missing a step. Of course I'm trying to do this at 4:30 in the morning with almost no sleep, so that's probably not helping. Even if I have to do my entries manually, I still appreciate what you did to create the database.

Yikes, something happened. I suddenly have over 25,000 records. :( Does it replace duplicate records or just keep adding to them? I don't think even I could have bought 25,000 items (though that would explain why I'm so broke).

Message edited on: 06/28/2005 07:00

Okay, I think that's exactly what happened. I must have scanned my main file multiple times because I thought nothing was happening when I hit "import." I am now the proud owner of over 5,000 records. This isn't a good thing is it? Still puzzling out why the report shows zero items. Hmmm...I'm perking up now that it is 5 am. That's what three cups of coffee will do for a person.

Well, updating the product area is super easy (thank you for the hyper link feature...it makes finding the readme file very easy). Does the report function need a price in order to work? Unfortunately some of my purchases are lost to the mists of time (and others are subscription types, like PoserWorld). Still perplexed by the report feature. Maybe I'll leave that for another day since I have to go to work now. Still and all, a handy little utility...even for one as dense as I am. Sigh.

Okay, this is cool. The database has a Project feature so you can run a report of files you used for a specific project. That does work for me. (Is there a way to expand the product list beyond five?) I love this because I lose track of the different products I use in a render.

heyas; whassa access? do i need to own some program to work this thing? thanks :) and if it counts freebies, im sure 25,000 is a moderate estimate ;)

Access is the database that comes with the Microsoft Office Suite. Not free, alas.

I don't understand this....it says it will "track" purchases, free downloads....How does it track them and how does it know whether an item is a purchased item or a freeware item?

It's not an automatic system. You either manually input the information or import data into the database. The tracking that is done is that you choose to input. I think if you look on the website, it will be clearer than my weak explanation. What this does is give you the ability to sort or search your files once all the information is gathered. It might not be useful to everyone, but I can see how it would be very helpful for my very confused self.

ahhh, I think I understand...I have to add all the info for the dozen's of CD's of stuff I have and then I can do a search and find them....LOL..it'd take me weeks to do that...LOL I use WhereIsIt.....http://www.whereisit-soft.com/....that catalog's what's on my CD's. No doubt it's not nearly as thorough, but I don't have to add the information myself..it just scans the CD and adds the file names and makes thumbnail pics...it's been a God send to me for finding some freebie I download 2 years ago...smile

It's not completely manual, or I wouldn't have been able to develop a database of 5,000 entries in about 10 seconds. It may not be the right thing for everyone...I want to play with it some more before I decide how I feel about it. If I had been more awake when I tried it, I think my initial trial would have gone easier. :)

The forms for running reports have filters that you can filter down a report. As an example you could run a report looking for only certain Merchants, Categories etc. For the Product Reports you need to go to Data Entry/Edits and for each of your entries add Category, Vendor, Merchant, Format, Usage Allowed, Cost Type. If one of these fields is left blank then the report doesn't pull that product, because the filter looks for something to be entered in that field. Tip: If you are unsure on some of the entries. For example you may not know the Vendor or Merchant you could go to the Maintenance pages and add a new entry such as "Unknown". As an added note, if you using the import feature from the CSV file, you could open the CSV file and for the Categories mentioned above enter the word Unknown in those columns. That would allow all reports to be available and you could go back later and edit the fields. Be sure to add the word Unknown in the Maintenance pages. Then just import the CSV. For CD's you can scan the CD Drive with Poser companion and then import the CSV file. The database also tracks a running total of money spent if you enter the cost and displays an image of the product. For the Projects section it can track projects, items used in the project and an image. There are other features also as you can see from the screenshots. There is a help file included with the zip files that gives info on setting up and using the database.

You actually expect me to read a help file? ;/ Can you expand the project report to accept more than one item??? I see why my report didn't run....I didn't understand about all the fields needing to be entered. I actually think this is a cool little database, and I thank you very much for sharing it. :) Maybe I'll even read the directions tonight. :D

For the Projects pages if more fields are needed than 5 I could edit the database tables and form to increase the number. Let me know what you think.

For the Project Reports there are 2 reports. One is the Run Reports button which is a plain text file listing them line by line. The Run Report With Images list one project per page plus a lot more detailed data on the project.

I think I could use a few more.

I look at this way:

At least two figures....(I don't do pin-ups)
which means usually two hairdos
and two textures
Maybe a pose (or two)
two costumes (not necessarily from the same source -
I don't do nudes)
a background
Some props
Lights

That's more than five on a very simple scene.

I don't know how flexible the project tracker is but I'd think you'd want a few more fields, or at least the ability to add them.

wondering if it's possible to provide a release of your database in MySQL format? or a quick hack export of the table structure.. ( for us mac users w/o MS Access ) thanks!

MySql format. I will look into that. I have a couple of programs to export to MySql. Then I would need to build PHP pages to access the tables. Of course you would have to have local server software with PHP and MySql installed. I use Indigoperl on my computer as a local server for testing. It is a free download and comes with Apache, PHP and Perl. You can get MySql free from their website.

I really like your program. I have needed this for a long time, I tried to make one myself a while back but gave up on it, I never could decide on what type of fields I needed. I only have one problem: I like the pretty lady that's there when you open the database but my wife doesn't. anything I can do about it?(LOL).

You can zip it up and send it to me at webmaster at mystic nights dot com. I'll go into the form designer and remove it for you. Want take me but a minute.

"Then I would need to build PHP pages to access the tables. Of course you would have to have local server software with PHP and MySql installed." I don't know if PHP has an interface to ADO but using that would allow you to keep the .mdb format without requiring Access. If you use vbscript/jscript for the scripting, everyone with Windows has a local webserver already.

Thanks, but I don't think it'll be necesary. She realizes that I didn't put it there and it's part of the program. I appreciate the offer. Great program, Thank you.