keeping collection organized?????

I use CD Trustee. A newer version is also available where you don't have to scan the records as you chose directly from the accessible database making it better if you have a collection of vinyl LPs, so long as the recording was also issued on CD.

It's all in my head.

i use an excel spreadsheet that i download to my ipaq. i then take my ipaq with me when i go shopping for cd's and albums (a couple times a week) to verify if i have the album/cd or not before purchasing. I also have a list of music that i want to purchase, so if i see it, i buy it. the columns in the spreadsheet are: artist, album/cd name, type of music (jazz, new age, rck, etc..), and format (cd,sacd,album,dvd). another plus, i can sort by any column to find something fast.

I started writing it all down on some graph paper, but that got all washed-up - it got wet in the bathroom when I left it on the floor there (I'd brought it in there to do some critical editing during a lengthy session on the crapper and forgot about it when things got ugly). Next I tried putting all the info in my Palm Pilot, but that only lasted a week when I left it on an airplane and no one returned it.....back-up, back-up, back-up! I tried the Excel spreadsheet after that but I forgot my password and can't get past the startup screen now. It's in there somewhere, all neat and tidy in zeros and ones...really it is. Once I remember that password I'll probably be able to find where I left the disc for Eva Cassidy Live at Blues Alley....I have the jewelcase, but the disc went AWOL. It's all in the spreadsheet you know, so nothing to worry about. Everything's under control. Nothing to see here! You can all go home now. C'mon, get along with all of youse! Nothing to see....

Marco

PS Once I get that f&*%ing password and get my spreadsheet back I'm going to have the whole damn list tatoo'd on my left buttock so I'll never be without it again!

I bought an Expedit "organizer" from Ikea with 13 x 13" square cells there.
My near 2000 record collection consists of groups that I specify in the label sheet in nearly each of the cell.
CDs I simply keep in my head. Not too much of the new music deserves to rest in my collection.