Run Multiple Copies - One for each Collection

Did you know you can easily run multiple copies of NM Collector Software at the same time? This is useful if you like to have a separate copy for each of your collections.

Please click Run Multiple Copies - One for each Collection for detailed step by step instructions including screen captures.

Thanks and feedback is always welcome.

NM Collector YouTube Channel makes support much easier for all of us!

Often times email is not enough for adequate support.  However, telephone and instant messaging also leave a lot to be desired.  Videos seem to fill the void because a person can see what they need to do by simply watching the video.  If they don't get it the first time they can replay the video until they do.

I used to provide videos directly from my own web site but they did not work for everybody.  However, YouTube does work for everybody so I migrated my videos to there.

Check out my YouTube Channel for useful videos to help you better understand how to "install" (no installation required really), use and backup NM Collector Software.

NM Collector Software Version 2.4.0 Much Faster

NM Collector Software Version 2.4.0 now available for download. Large collections will see an order of magnitude improvement in response times with this new release.  The database interface for Version 2.4.0 of NM Collector Software was rewritten to maximize performance.

Here are some results of a performance comparison of Version 2.4.0 with the previous 2.3.1 release.
Notes:

• Not all possible combinations of  (Computer | Data | Program | Operation) were tested
• However, performance benchmarking is not yet complete.  As more tests are conducted the results will be posted here.

Observations

In general, overall performance is improved for any size database. However, the bigger the database the bigger the performance improvement. In version 2.3.1 performance degraded exponentially as the database size increased to the point that it became essentially unusable for large databases. In version 2.4.0 performance degrades in a linear fashion resulting in orders of magnitude performance improvements for large databases.

Benchmark Computer Setups

The following two computers were used for benchmarking:

Computer 1:

• Toshiba Satellite Notebook Computer with AMD Dual Core M300 2 GHz Processor
• 32 bit Windows 7 Home Premium
• 3 Gig Memory

Computer 2:

• HP Pavillion Computer with AMD 64 X2 Dual Core 4200+ 2.20 GHz Processor
• 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium
• 3 Gig Memory

Benchmark Data Setups

The following two databases were used for benchmark testing:

Data 1:

• Just under 500 items
• Most with one to four pictures each
• Pictures stored in the database (not the file system)

Data 2:

• Just over 150 items
• None with pictures

Benchmark Program Setups

The program was run under the following conditions:

Program 1:

• Executed from hard drive

Program 2:

• Executed from USB flash drive

Benchmark Results

Test Combination (Computer | Data | Program | Operation)	2.3.1 Times	2.4.0 Times
1 | 1 | 1 | load program	52 minutes	11 seconds
1 | 1 | 1 | close program	31 minutes	23 seconds
1 | 2 | 1 | load program	15 seconds	7 seconds
1 | 2 | 1 | close program	7 seconds	4 seconds
2 | 1 | 1 | load program	50 minutes	20 seconds
2 | 1 | 1 | close program	30 minutes	29 seconds
2 | 1 | 1 | tree indent
2 | 1 | 1 | open report
2 | 2 | 1 | load program	50 seconds	13 seconds
2 | 2 | 1 | close program	9 seconds	6 seconds
2 | 2 | 1 | tree indent	12 seconds	5 seconds
2 | 2 | 1 | open report	15 seconds	8 seconds

NM Collector Software Version 2.3 now available

 Changes in version 2.3.0 (see complete history of changes here)

• Clearly marked first field on Identification Tab as the Bar Code field
• Improvements to Events tab
• Improvements to Maintenance tab
• Clean up, reformat, and improve functionality of Collection Types and all List Edits Screens
• Fixed bug with one insert right after another losing data from previous
• Fixed issues with data not being saved unless tab was pressed after each entry
• Improved existing collection types by changing first [Bar Code] field to Unique ID
• Ammo
• Home Inventory
• Whistles
• Created new collection types for:
• Licenses
• Subscriptions
• Recipes
• Passwords
• Created new reports to more easily report out on new collection types:
• Simple Inventory (all Identification tab fields)
• Simple Inventory with Notes (all Identification tab fields plus Description tab Notes fields)

For more information please visit:  NM Collector Software JE Collecting Software

Updated Reports Available for Download

Just uploaded some report improvements. You can download the zip file and unzip them to your Reports folder in your NM Collector Installation directory.

http://www.nmcollectorsoftware.com/reports/UpdateReports.zip

Version 2.1.0 of NM Collector Software JE (any collection, any platform) is now available

The next version (2.1.0) of NM Collector Software JE (any collection, any platform) is now available.  Please visit http://www.nmcollectorsoftware.com/upgrade/index.htm for download links.  This new release deals with issues of performance facing collectors with very large collections and lots of pictures.  Prior to this release pictures could only be stored in the database causing very slow start up and shut down times for very large collections with lots of pictures.  The answer to this problem is to not store pictures in the database but to leave the pictures on the computer hard drive and store a path only to the pictures in the database.

In version 2.1.0 you can now choose where your pictures are stored.  Not only that, but you can have the program copy or migrate your pictures from your database to your file system and vise-versa.  If you copy your pictures they will remain in their original location after being copied to the new location.  If you migrate the pictures they will be deleted from their original location.  This provides an easy function by which you can take pictures that are scattered throughout your file system and migrate them to the same directory as NM Collector Software JE.  If that directory happens to be on a USB flash drive (which is the preferred method for running NM Collector Software) you will now have a copy of all of your pictures on the same USB flash drive.  Detailed step by step illustrated instructions for how to do this can be found in the examples provided at:  http://www.nmcollectorsoftware.com/examples/.

Of course, this release also provides new reports to support pictures located on the file system.  In addition, it provides other new features and bug fixes including the following:
* Eliminated excess save warnings when data had already been saved.
* Modified NM Gun Collector migration to default to storing pictures in the file system rather than the database.
* Provide guidance for when help won't load - seems to be a Mac only problem.

How to prevent lost data – Backup!!!

Your data is very important to me.  I write my software to protect it and it’s integrity as best as I can.  However, there is only so much I can do.  It is also important to note that your data is your responsibility and it is up to you to protect it.   One of the fundamental rules for the use of any computer system is to backup your data.

Unfortunately, I recently received the following message from a user of NM Collector JE after he “applied” the latest upgrade.

” Great Stuff.  I now have the new software but not my database.  I am getting to the stage where I will give up on your product if I can’t get my data back.  It will be more trouble than it is worth.”

My guess is, despite all of my warnings on the downloads page, he installed the full application (which includes the default database) and not the upgrade.  This would have replaced his data with the default data.  Please don’t do that!

I asked a few questions to better understand the situation – it’s always possible he really did not lose his data – but he just responded with more vitriol towards me.  From his perspective it is entirely my fault that he lost his data.   He would not accept responsibility for his own data.

Of course he could have been nicer but the point is something went wrong and it seems he lost his data.    I can certainly sympathize with him as the whole point of the software is to gather data in a usable form and retain it for future reference.  Gathering quality data takes work and it is a tragedy to lose the fruits of your labor.

I hope that is not true of you.  Please, if you value your work and your efforts then protect your data.  There are many ways to backup and recover your data.  I am posting some of them in a new topic entitled “How to backup and recover your data” in my new “Best Practices” forum which is one of the NM Collector Software forums.

Please read it and be prepared.  I hope you never lose your data like this poor soul did but, if for some unexpected reason you do, please be ready to recover it with a backup plan!!!

Happy computing.

Clay