I've come to the realization that I need a better way to keep track of my AVs than lists on notepaper... LOL!
I was considering setting up an Excel database as I did for seeds when my DG trades got out of hand last winter, but I don't think it would be trivial to include photos or thumbnail links to photos... and I'd like pictures!
So.... does anyone use a software program to keep tabs on their AV collection? Which one, and how do you like it??
Allison keeps mentioning "First Class," so I looked it up.... There's a version 2 now that includes photos, and it also says you can add your own photos and notes to the database....
I wonder if that would work for me? I'd like to be able to keep track of such things as when I added a violet and from where I got it, whether I currently have leaves and/or plantlets started, etc. Has anyone used this program with adding their own notes & pictures?
Can you add entries for your own NoIDs?
Also, how do you like the search function of the "First Class v. 2" software? I'm hoping it will also search the "notes" section so I can pull up the names of all violets that I have, maybe even a list of all AVs where I've added a note that I have plantlets started.
Thanks!
Edited to add that the info on the First Class site ( http://firstclass2.com/ ) indicates that information from the First Class program can be imported into an Excel file.... It might be easier to make a separate Excel database to keep track of my own AVs and use First Class as a reference and a place to store photos... Hmmm, sounds like I've nearly talked myself into it, LOL! But I'd still appreciate input about all this.... :-)
This message was edited Dec 8, 2005 12:44 AM
How do you keep track of your AVs? First Class??
Nanna and I were talking about this a while back...
She has started a pretty good system of her own.
I keep track of mine by photos file & a Word doc.
I add a pic of each plant I get and all the info in an abbreviated form to my Photo file. My photo file already dates and time stamps it as well as giving it a name of sorts...I can go in and change the name to a Register name etc after they are down loaded.
So far it works pretty good for me. I also have a folder for each of my favorite ebay sellers and then notes for that too.
I'm at around 100 different varieties not counting my NOIDs so that a small amount and fairly easy to keep track of at the moment.
I may add the First Class later but not sure if I really need it for just a hobby???? I'd be interested in hearing from Allison what the pros & cons are, too.
MsC
Allison posted the following on Lorry's thread, and I thought it was worth repeating here:
First Class is First Class 2 and you could not spend your money better. I use mine everyday and would be lost without it.
Once while up dating the version something happened to it I emailed Joe Burn he put a new CD right in the mail to me. But I was without it for 4 days and I really missed it.
The benifits and enjoyment is unlimited. You pay $25.00 I think the first years up-dates are free ? Think ? Then you pay ten $$$ a year for the wonderful up-dates. Up-dates on plants , photos , new ones are done every other month. But once during the summer I think it was there was a up-date two months in a row as there were so many hundreds of new photo's they had to do a new up-date. Thousands , like 20 thousands African violets, photo's all their info, you can add plants and photos, noids some people add their Streps and so on in. You can also send photos into AVSA to be on FC. Some plants have more than one photo by different people ! Like the list goes on.
I was told few years ago at a local meeting if I did anything to get the AVSA magazine and FC. I hate to say it, lol the grumpy old bossy man ( he knew everything lol controling how his wife ever put up with him lol ) well he was correct. There has not been a day I have not used it or enjoyed it :)) Allison
Allison, do you use First Class to keep track of your own collection by adding notes, or how do you keep track of what you have, when you put leaves down, etc?
I think it's going to be a good program for me to get regardless, but I'm trying to figure out if I need to set up something else in addition to keep track of my AVs....
Oh what a question for me. In the begining I wrote in a note book every leaf down where it came from , name desription ( did not have FC) date.... I order my first 100 leaves, had trade leaves, leaves from show/sale, leaves given to me at local group, and I always put leaves down from each and every plant.
Then as my health allowed me to do less I stopped. Having a good five hundred or more leaves down ... some die, we live in a very small single wide trailer in a 55 plus park. So as babies grow babies get new homes. I am saying with senserity I am excellent at growing babies by leaf. My first year, year and half I grew over a thousand varieties.
I went from a weak home bound to 95 percent bed bound.
To make a long story short I still have about 200 leaves down now ...I still put leaves down each day I can. I have 24 hour care and help. Growing av's and sharing them is a joy for me. I am awake maybe 3-4 hours total each 24 hour period. But as long as I can put leaves down I will be growing babies Av's and sharing them. I do have several big plants in windows blooming crazy year round :))
" I don't keep track of what I have and don't have anymore. But tell ya what ; each plant gets tender care touched and hand checked at least every other day. I keep a simple organized set -up. Each new baby , a new life excites and amazes me.
Anybody can grow African violets. Any age person, people healthy, people with disabilities just everyone can grow African violets. The number one ever blooming house plant ; "African violets " are so easy to grow and fun to share. They can make friends and be share all over the world .. Everyone ! The more you share , the more God gives you !
"The more you share, the more God gives you ! "
Amen!
(((Allison)))
Thansk for the excellent advice both on Av's First Class and on sharing! :)
MsC
Amen!
I'm putting everything into a ms word doc. I just made a table and add the info
name--hybridizer--date--AVS#--type-flower desc.--leaf desc.--photo
took a little time to set it up how I want, but now it will be easy. For the photo part -please note, I don't own the copyrights to the photos and I'm not implying in any way that I do. Just used them from the web for my own ref.
here's a sample
WOW Begonia very nicr ! Your so smart and talented. I do not know computers well. Was that hard to do ? Allison
no, just make a table in MS word (highlight to change font and color of the table), drag and drop photos off the web, and then grab the corner handle of the photo to resize. Just takes a bit of time.
All the 'technical' info came from you, or one of the various web sites you have listed. Easy enough to copy/paste
(p.s. Ali, check your email, I sent you something)
i kind of have to know computers for my line of work. But not PC's -put me in front of one of those and I'm like a monkey doing a math puzzle. It's Macintosh all the way for me!
No mater what sytem you set up if you can aford FC you will never go worng. Not a day goes by where I don't use mine. Well over 15-20 thousand Av's, descriptions, photo's some times 2 of each, updates every two months.
Now Begona tables for keeping track of her Av's is excellnt but FC is different it's not really to keep track of your Av's in this manor though you cn, but First Class is so much more ! Allison
I'm going to see if I can track my own AVs within the First Class software (which I've ordered, along with the AVSA membership I'd been meaning to get)..... if it's not pretty straightforward, I'll probably export the info from First Class to an Excel file (saves me typing or pasting in all the descriptions if the export works).
Veery interesting Jill. I just love my FC you pay once and have it for years. After first year is $10.00 a year for many hundreds of up-dates on plants and new photos. I have more than got my moneys worth not a day goes by I use my First Class. Allison
I am excitedly awaiting my first class in the mail!
Are there photos for most of hte AV's listed in FC? May be worth it just to drool on the photos.
Yes Begonia :) there are photos and descriptions and what not from what I have heard.
Many of the photos Treasure posts also come from FC.
Yes there are well over 15 thousand African violet plants and all their info. Some plants even have 2 different pictures by different growers !
You can searc for plants, by name, color, type, like trailer, miniature...
Hybridizer, type of foliage... it is awesome :))
Electric Cowboy I love this plant :))
It's a girl foliage . Semi-miniature She has double deep blue / white edge flowers but lots of times its green edge not white. Violet Gallery has it's pictures with greeen edge. :)) Girl leaf vintage :))FC Picture
FC class has 2 pictures of Electric Cowboy :))
Oh wow...electric cowboy is GORGEOUS!
She's one of my favorite girl foliage Lorry. :)) I like girl leaf plants. Allison
Is that what girl leaf is? Oh wow..ok cool :)
I am still learning some of the terminology :)
I don't blame you Violet..it is a true stunner!