Cataloging Tools

[milesursogood]

Most of us, if not all, have accumulated a large collection of tools. Does anyone know of or use a simple app (iphone or other), software (besides creating a list in Excel) that catalogs your collection of tools? A good tools database should include a category for specific repair work. An easy accessible list is handy when planning on repair work and sharing tools w/ friends or a community of users. Even the smallest tool bit can be expensive, and the last thing you want to do is buying another tool that you already had and used only once a couple of years ago. This application could have application to other segments such as woodworking tools, etc. If there's a mobile app programmer out there, contact me. I'm a designer/engineer w/ interface, usability & P.D. background. Maybe we can collaborate in creating this product if it doesn't exist yet.

[matthew1]

Sounds like you want something like this, but that does tools as well (or only)... and, I'm assuming, is for Windows.

I don't have anything else to offer, but if you do create it you might want to look at that product I linked to. It got rave reviews for its usability. Basically, you "swipe" barcodes of CDs, DVDs, etc, across the built-in camera on Macs, and it builds your library.

My unsolicited advice would be that in my experience, the garage and the PC don't mix... I think it's a great idea that not a whole lot of people would use (think dirty, greasy hands fouling a keyboard).

[matthew1]

Ooops, just saw that you mentioned you'd want it to be mobile. That makes it more plausible to me. I'd make it a web app. Database:

Owner table
id
first name
last name
phone
address
email
neighborhood
city
state
country

Tool table
id
photo id (keyed to Photo table)
owner id (keyed to Owner table)
name
description
purpose
length
width
distinguishing marks

Photo table
id
image name

etc.

That's just a start.

[milesursogood]

Matt - Thanks for the idea and opinions. I'll check out "delicious library" and see it's features.