Fredrik,

As a registered user of ALL of your database prorgams, I wanted to let you know that I think they're just smashing. My fav's are BookCAT, CATraxx & CATvids. In spite of the fact that I've worked in Mainframe IT for nearly 25 years, I've found PC Databases to be just too daunting i.e. too much setup work, for too little value. Your purpose built applications have completely changed my whole opinion.

So the kicker is that, I stumbled on your work while searching for a purpose-built database to track all of my software and there was SoftCAT. Yes, that it was free, definitely set the hook, but after having used your other apps, I've gotten spoiled. So much so that now, I really need to address the software inventory needs. How about a commercial version of SoftCAT which incorporates the same kinds of user customization features present in your other CAT apps.

Specifically, while I love the Data-Entry aids (especially query of Internet Booksellers, Query CDDB) such as browsing to the program file to auto fill-in the title, version, icon, the installation folder, it assumes that the software is, or at least was at one time, installed on my PC. This isn't always the case, particularly when some applications are a "run it from CD kind of affair". Another example is tracking the ancillary disks such as MS Flight sim scenery disks, CorelDraw clip art, and many more.

I too, would like to have at least one more graphic entry for the CD sleeve cover image, but also a Reference number which I can record (in pen or pencil) on the media. This would allow me to have a proper CATalog of my entire Software collection and be able to know in which shoebox, that disk is filed.

Having seen and experienced the quality that you put into your frequent updates on the other CAT apps, I'd be more than happy to pay for the same caliber application as a commercial version of SoftCAT. Maybe it could be the SoftCAT-PRO version?!?

Thanks for the great software and keep up the good work.

Regards,
S.Fay

Ciao SFay,
if it can be of any help and if Fredrik can't develop a SoftCAT Pro ( I'd like it too ! ) I remember that I obtained very good results by customizing a BookCAT database to collect softwares...then I gave up because I had no time...
BookCAT is really powerful and maybe you might need to give it a try for that too: using a little creativity you can accomplish a very good work.
If you need help trying to do it, please just ask.
And if you need to take a look at mine, please just allow me a little time bacause I have it on a hard disk that I loaned to a friend of mine ( his own HD is broken ) and he's actually away on vacation.
As I have it back I will clean and refine it a little and we can share information, if you like
I use BookCAT also for Comics, Magazines, Games, Home & Studio Inventories, and some other different collections...

BookCAT is a MASTERPIECE

Hope this helps & have a nice day

A pro version is definitely something to consider, but it will have to wait until a new major version of the other CAT programs have been released (and that will take quite a while).

As a CAT lover, I strongly second this suggestion. I'm presently looking for the best way to catalogue my pc games and I'm afraid I'm leaning really hard toward Game Collector just because I really don't have time to customize one of my other CATs. At the very least, I'd love some image options in SoftCAT.

As Mario has already suggested, BookCat can easily be converted to catalogue almost anything.
To have yourself a "GameCAT" it's a relatively easy job to change a couple of the BookCAT fields to "Developer", "Platform", etc.
Most of the other fields, such as category, sub-category etc. are already there.

In no time at all you can be viewing you games by Platform, Genre, Developer, Year of Issue (anything!)

I had a quick look at the Game Collector page that you mentioned and, yes, it does look ready to do the job. But one thing I didn't notice at first glance was the ability to link files (e.g txt files saved on your hard drive) like you can with BookCAT. I find this invaluable for linking to game FAQ's, walkthroughs etc. For this reason alone I'd stick with BookCat.

cheers, Les

I appreciate the reply, Les, but I tend to be overly meticulous (read: O/C) when it comes to customization projects. I simply don't have the time (nor the desire) to spend on trying to (re)design a program I will (never) be completely happy with. If I could do that, well, I wouldn't have become a CAT lover at all. I'd have simply done it myself. And so there(in) lies my dilemma.

Hopefully some changes will come RSN.

Hey there Fredrik,



It been quite a while since my last post, so I wanted to let you know that I haven't given up on this need. Of course, I've scoured the Internet for other possible sources of applications to meet this need, but the competitions products neither measure up to the quality of your other apps, nor do they fit the bill.

In fact, I've been so impressed with the quality of your other programs that, upon seeing that you use Delphi, I've purchased Delphi Studio 7 Enterprise Edition and 4 different weighty books towards attempting to write my own.

Is there any chance that, now 17 months later, you're in any better position to consider a SoftCAT Pro version?

Alternatively, would you be interested in some kind of collaboration?

Sincerely,
S.Fay