Collectorz.com allows you to use the ISBN to get info:

This and BookCAT look like the best bets to me. BookCAT doesn't allow entering data by ISBN, but it looks to be more powerful and flexible. I'm going to download both of these trial versions and try them out.

Readerware doesn't look like it is flexible enough and doesn't have a lot of fields I would want. BookCAT and Collectorz both have some user defined custom fields and allow rename of existing fields IIRC.

Downloaded the Collectorz software and so far I'm not impressed. I kind of like the main display area, but out of 28 books I had just entered into Readerware using Amazon it only found 3 using the same method. Even though I had it set to include images if available it didn't, but Readerware did. Seems like something doesn't work right with it.

Well, after trying both Readerware and Collectorz, I decided to go with Readerware. Collectorz failed miserably in finding items entered by ISBN, which is a key feature for me (1500+ books, 700 CDs, and 350 DVDs + 60 some Disney VHS). Also, Readerware has a Palm OS component allowing downloading and display on a Palm OS device without resorting to exporting and loading CSV or TSV files. So far, Readerware has found every book but one that we've tried to import using ISBN (and that book returned a false entry from the same series of books leading me to believe that the ISBN was just entered incorrectly on the relevant databases). It has also found every DVD, though I tend to like the DVD Profiler appearance better.

Finally, Readerware has a nice Mac OS X native version so it runs much quicker than other packages running through WIndows Emulation on my Macs. So far, 3.5 out 4 stars for the Readerware bundle. I decided to purchase the full bundle plus Palm OS support for $85 (includes book, music and video cataloging programs).

I finally decided to go with Collectorz. I like the interface MUCH better than Readerware and the program is much more flexible. I've been working with the support people and they fixed a problem with their online query scripts. It found all 13 of the books I tried (up from 6 out of 13 initially). Readerware only found 11 out of 13 (but could input other two by dragging the web link.

Collectorz and BookCAT both had better interfaces and were more flexible than Readerware. Readerware is the most flexible for online querying, but Collectorz is looking good after fixes (BookCAT doesn't offer this). There were certain things I liked about Collectorz and certain things I liked about BookCAT. Readerware was much too inflexible for my tastes and didn't have things I really wanted. Collectorz won me over with it's nice interface, flexibility, the online querying over BookCAT, and its price - $25 compared to $40 for the other two.

If you go to download.com and search for book cataloging system, you will find several different programs

I'm looking for a good database of books I can use to organize my books. Something like DVD Profiler or DVD Aficianado. Anyone know of any such thing?

I'm glad I am not the only one interested. I was actually thinking about posting an inquiry about this too.

From what I have found, there are programs designed to catalog your books, and they range from freeware, to rather expensive.

Unfortunately, what I have found is that all of the programs that contain the features that make it easy to catalog and store (Book adding by ISBN, etc) are commercial. Most of them run around $40, such as Readerware ($40), Homecraft Book organizer ($49.95), and Singlefile ($19.95/year)

I have found a few free ones, but many are lacking in features. Perhaps the most promising one I have found is Book Organizer. Unfortunately, when entering books, one has to enter all of the information by hand. I installed it on my computer just last night, and it seems to be the most complete of the free software I have found.

There are also a few free programs available that run under linux. One is OpenDB, which not only catalogs books, but DVDs, CDs, etc. It also has a few datamining scripts that can retrieve information from amazon.com, dvdempire.com, etc. The program does require MySQL and PHP, as well as a little bit of experience in both. In my opinion though, the database didn't categorize the book selections well enough, and seemed to be somewhat unorganized. You can also log onto their database system that is set up to demonstrate the interface and such from their website.

One other program that I discovered under linux that seems like it could have potential is Bookcase. It runs under KDE on linux. It was recently released on December 3rd, so it lacks many of the important features, but if the implementor follows up on his to-do list, it appears that many of the more useful features will be added.

This is the extent to which I have been able to find a program comparable to DVD Profiler. I do not currently have the money to pay for software, and it isn't that much of a need for me, though I would like to be able to categorize my books, etc. I plan on waiting around to see if any of the free solutions become better developed and add easy ISBN book adding, instead of having to manually enter every field.

muggins, I've used your comprehensive reply and JasonFliegel's post to bump an earlier merged thread which also contains some useful information.

Thanks for the info, muggins, and sorry for not using to pull up the earlier thread. I'll check out some of the options mentioned in this thread.

So, has anybody found any new suggestions to add to the list?

I have been using OpenDB for the past 4 months or so. It seems to work fairly well, except for the lack of charts/statistics options.

I ended up buying Book Collector from Collectorz.com Now that I'm used to using it I'm pretty satisfied. They seem to support it pretty well too.

How about anything for comic books? Anything out there like www.comicspriceguide.com?

Collectorz has a comic book program. I haven't used it, but I love their book collector.

http://collectorz.com/comic/

I know I followed someones link to a program that catalogued comics once, but I can't find it again.


anyone have that link?
Is it as good as it looked?

I have a shitload of comics that I need to catagorize but have never gotten around to it.

thank you,

Nick

It's right above you.

dud, I swear that wasn't there when I posted...

It's been a few months and I am hoping that someone has found something free or a software program that can be downloaded or bought at a one time charge (not yearly). I've been buying a lot of books at book fairs and I'm starting to buy doubles and a few triples.

Collectorz.com is a one time fee with future updates included. I love the program!

i use booxter. it has a really simple interface and is very easy to use, and cheap. get it here for $15: http://www.deepprose.com/

Anyone come across new software lately?

How about what that can sync to a palm pda?

Does anyone know of any software that can be run on a web site that will allow users to register their books online by typing in the ISBN code. Trying to set up an online book club. Thanks for any help, hints or tips!!!

If you're on a Mac, Books looks interesting. It doesn't run on a website, but its data can be exported to html. It'll also autofill data based on the ISBN from Amazon, The Library of Congress, and several other sources. It's also free.

I don't think it will help you, mboogaard, but someone may be interested.

The closest thing I can think of is bibliophil.org, but that's a site not software you get for your own site. His stuff is open source so you might be able to email him & find out about using it on your own site.

HTH

As in using DVD Profiler or something similar to track our DVD collection, what do you use to track your book collection?