How to Use a Database
to Catalog Your OTR Library

If you have your OTR cataloged in a database, you can see some other .dbf files of various program logs, and check your data for accuracy. If you are new to computing, or aren't aware of the advantages offered by using a database (or spreadsheet) program to log your collection, read on!

Objective: After you finish studying this page, you will know how to start a rudimentary database using many popular spreadsheet programs. Similar concepts can be used for various database programs, but the concept is easier to visualize if you start with a spreadsheet program. Also, many PCs and Macs are sold with bundled spreadsheets, so you will be able to implement these concepts almost immediately, without findng new software.

Required Software: Your PC or Mac may already have some quite adequate software with which to catalog your OTR collection. Check your files to see if it has either database software or a spreadsheet program already installed. Almost all computers that come with bundled software have some kind of spreadsheet program, which can be a fairly adequate means of cataloging your software. If such software does not exist on your hard drive, check your favorite shareware sites (or use the software search engine at this site) to look for "spreadsheet" or "database".

Starting Steps:

1. Determine Number of Fields:
   Once you have found the software (whatever it is), you can perform some generic steps to set it up to hold your OTR programs. The first decision to make is "how many fields". A "field" is a chunk of discrete information about one of your tapes. For instance, the title of the program can be a field. I believe the minimum number of fields is five (but you can have more, if you wish):
   1. Tape Number
   2. Side of tape (A or B)
   3. Program (series) Name
   4. Show Title
   5. Show Broadcast Date

   Assuming you are using a spreadsheet, each field is equivalent to a column in the spreadsheet. All five of these fields, taken together, comprise a "record" (techno-talk for a single line in your database). Your spreadsheet/database would then consist of a bunch of records (lines), each describing one show, and each having five columns.

   Some additional fields might be:

   • Stars
   • Sponsor
   • Netork
   • Source of original tape
   • Whether program is on cassette or open reel or CD or CD-ROM
   • etc

2. Enter Field Names
   Once you have determined what info you want in each record, the next step is to enter the field names into your spreadsheet or database program. Lets assume you are using a spreadsheet. Simply type the names of the fields (or a unique abbreviation of the field names) into the appropriate column in the first row of the spreadsheet, as illustrated below.
   
   

3. Change Column Widths
   You will probably see that the columns are too wide or too narrow for the field name or the contents of that field. For instance, "Tape Number" may require four characters, "Side" would only need one character, but "Program Name" might need 40 characters. You can easily adjust "column width" to your preferences by using the appropriate commands in your spreadsheet program. Your result might look something like this:
   
   

4. Format Cells
   A spreadsheet "cell" is the little block in which your data appears. To keep things simple, most cells in your spreadsheet can be left in "default format". This usually defaults to "text". There is one field whose cells should be reformatted, however. The field that holds dates should be set up in "Date Format". This will allow you to sort on dates later. If you wish (and if your "Tape Number" field does not contain letters of the alphabet), you can format that field as "Numeric". Instructions on how to format a field will be found in the HELP section of your spreadsheet program.

5. Add the Data
   Now comes the tedious part: typing in the data. If you have a lot of tapes, it will take a fair amount of time. You might employ your computer's cut-and-paste capabilities to automatically copy repeated information. For instance, if you have 300 Suspense tapes, there is no need to type "Suspense" 300 times in the "Program" field - let your computer do that for you. Do NOT use quotes (ditto marks) to indicate "same information as that on the above line". If the information is indeed the same as found on the above line, cut and paste it, or leave it blank for a mass cutting and pasting later! If you have 300 Suspense tapes, you will find that you can cut and paste the contents of a single field into the other 299 with one operation and just a few mouse clicks.

6. See the Results
   Once you have entered all the data, spreadsheets (and database programs) will allow you to look at it in various ways. You can sort [all or part of] the spreadsheet on any column(s), so you can group all "Suspenses" together - by broadcast date or show title or tape number, as an example. With each of your tapes numbered, and recorded in your spreadsheet, there is no need to reshuffle your shoe boxes full of tapes to keep all programs-with-same-names together; your software can sort the names, and you can sequentially add to your tape numbers, ignoring the titles of the shows or in which drawer they are kept.

Eventually, you might decide to change software. If you started with one of the more popular spreadsheet programs, you will be pleased to find that it probably can export data to almost any other spreadsheet or database. No need to re-type all the data!

You will find that sending your data to other folks using spreadsheet or database programs is relatively easy too. Most spreadsheet/database programs understand ".dbf" format, and can export/import to that format. If you want a text file representation of your data, you will find several methods of writing one, from the relatively complex "Report" generated by your software, to a fairly simple ".txt" file format, using delineator of your choice (a "delineator" is a symbol that separates one field from another).

Once your data is organized by the spreadsheet or database program, you won't have to worry about mistakenly ordering duplicate tapes, or thinking you have a tape when actually you don't! Just check your database before a trade or purchase, to find what you have and what you need. No more manual sorting through 3x5 cards and deciphering illegible scribbles at 3AM. Shucks, that takes part of the fun out of collecting .

With a (very) little bit of extra programming, you can even compare your database against somebody else's, and get a "difference file". For instance, if somebody had a large collection of "Escape", many shows of which duplicated yours; and you wanted to find which shows you didn't have, running the "difference engine" would result in a third file, consisting only of those Escape shows NOT in your collection. You could then concentrate on just those shows rather than 50 lbs of extraneous material.

For a series of well-done databases, take a look at these OTR .dbf files

Logs Page.

The Original Old Time Radio (OTR) WWW Pages
-
Copyright © 1994- Louis V. Genco
webmaster email