How do you catalog your DVD collection?

Okay, this is what I do for my 800+ DVD movies. I also made an excel spreadsheet with movie title, year the movie was made, rating, type (comedy, drama, sci-fi, animation and such). Very easy to update with the sort feature. I copy and paste into my word doc with 2 colums, print on both sides (86 movies to a page). I only update after every 86 movies, meanwhile I have a separate list containing up to the 86 movies and attach to our main list (I run a sort on this separate sheet as well). Sounds very confusing I know, but truly it’s not. That way hubby can find what he wants to watch without too much of a hassle and I can save on printing and ink.

I purchased the one that holds 510 total (hanging sleeves hold 2 movies each, one on the front and one on the back. I file them all in alpha order, use 2 cases for that and my 3rd case has TV seasons like Alias, Roots and such.

Of course I also have me 32, 64, 120, and 240 portable folders to take camping and/or visiting. Oh, one more thing, these cases have lids that lock and the movies do not slide around when you want to transport them.

Link for the cases I purchased
http://www.meritline.com/cd-wallet-storage-holder-500-dvds-above.html

Not as cost effective as a few of the above suggestions but portable and convenient, not to mention looks attractive as well. I chose the black one. Not to bad for a great-granny huh?

 

I went to Home Depot, picked up 2 4"x6'x1" and 14 1"x2"x4' and built me a 7 shelve rack. I had build another one since I ran out of room. I separated the stupid MGM paper case away from the plastic ones since I do not want to crush them. Other than that, it's alphabetical.

And my 1100+ DVDs are all LEGIT.

 

re post by pkoontz & others about cataloging & storing movie disks.

I have a real problem with labeling disks with movie name.
Regardless of how one catalogs the disks in a PC,
Physically storing them in Alpha order is a bad solution. Disks should be labeled by number and indexed by the cataloging software.
The physical disk Alpha store works well for a while, but sometime around 1000 movies it gets difficult. By the time u have 2000 disks, it's out of hand and when u reach 3000 it's impossible. Several things go wrong.

One thing is that you run out of empty spaces to insert disks between other disks in order to maintain Alpha order. To fix this u need to move enough disks forward or back to make some space. Ppl who store disks in 200+ disk binders will feel the most pain here, but even spindle lovers will get pissed.

It's simply impossible to store DVDs with 4 to 6 Divx or Xvid movies each, by Alpha. ... unless it's something like Rocky 1,2,3,ad nausium.

Also, It's easy to misfile with the physical Alpha store. How do u store movies that begin with - the, a, an, le, el, etc,etc. Where do u store movies that begin with ordinals?..cardinals? or tricky homonyms?
... & will u remember all the little rules u must invent to accomodate all the tricky titles.
Once a disk is lost in a large Alpha store, u can usually kiss it good bye.


On the other hand, if u number the disks & let the software do the Alpha sorting & cataloging, all the above probs are lessened or eliminated.

First: U never need to create space between saved disks and binders. Just use the next number regardless of the name(s) of the new movie(s) on the new DVD-r.
Next: even if u can't remember a movie name u want to find in the collection, the catalog supports searches on any info in it's database! U can search by Title, actor, director, genre, etc. If u can't find something with all that power, then u prolly don't have it. Once u find what u want, just pull out the numbered disk ! Simple - & ur not fingering all the disks trying to locate a lost one..
Finally; - How to handle Data DVDs with several files should, by now be obvious, so i'll pass on insulting anyone by droning out that explanationm.

BTW, there's no reason why some writing cannot also be done on the disk, after it is given a number.

Movies are like legs, they're meant to be spread.

 

My 2 cents ....

After years of collecting dvd movies - started running out of space ... used to keep each one in its box and bought a new shelf as needed.

NOW - I box the original cases in the basement and store all my dvd's in the cd/dvd wallet cases - each holds about 200.

I dont bother trying to alphabetize ... I, (just as pkoontz) simply use an excel sheet to keep up with anything. Its the next best thing to using a real database (like Access - which I will be importing my info to sooner or later when I get a chance - only because Access has a better QUERY).

I just set up a formula for the first cell and copy and paste - it numbers itself. I have over 1000 dvd easily - so I cant always remember what I have when I am about to buy an older movie. I get on my Excel spreadsheet - Go to search function and ask it do I have ABC MOVIE.

If I want to look for some movies in alpha order its a simple click of a button.

Its just too easy this way.

PS - this makes it REAL EASY when you take the kids on a road trip and all we have to do is get the list - put them in some smaller dvd wallets - and leave!

 

AntMovieCatalog is great FREE cataloguing software. It is also open-source. If anyone is adept at scripting, I'd love to be able to get info from Movixo.com and SugarDVD.com...

 

I have 1500+ movies I put them in binders (i have 6 of them), I then use DVD Profiler to download the info about the DVD, then i put the location of the DVD in the software under other features.

Example. Page 22 Of Binder 5

Easy to find and locate any movie!

Works the best for me. Hope this helps people out Good luck

PS. My friend does the same thing but he uses shoe boxes, as he cannot afford binders.

 

@talonman.... I also use DVDProfiler and do the same thing... but I have cases..... 2 that hold 600 in each! it's easy and I love the fact that it's fast, too!

 

I've got around 700 dvds and use a 2 510disc cases I bought. I then use database to search by title, rating, genre and disc number. Check this:

http://www.meritline.com/cd-wallet-storage-holder-500-dvds-above.html

They are great bacause the sleeves have numbers to help keep track of discs and when using a database, order of your case dowsn't matter

 

@drivethru...... check out my 600 case..... I bought 2 of them.... room to breath! LOL I think next time I'll just buy that 1000 case one! LOL http://www.supermediastore.com/cd-dvd-storage-case-aluminum-metal-like-600-capacity.html

 

NICE... I bought my 510 disc b/c it was the only one that I could find that was black. I would totally go for the 1000 if it was avail in black. These cases definately rock and once they are full, you can tip em' upside down or whatever with the lid closed and when you open it up... everything is all good.

You got a wya better deal than I did but it was worth the xtra cash for me to have black

 

it's very cool in silver! I just got the cases about a week ago and I am still cataloging them. the only thing I don't like is the fact that all my inventory is on computer and my back up external hard drive. if anything goes wrong I loose my program (DVDProfiler) and that has all my inventory. my listing is uploaded on their website, but my cataloging would be lost!

 

ya but dvd profiler i think has option to post your Db online so that would be re-assuring. I am just now trying to get mine cataloged. I am trying a sql database but am having trouble getting the functionality that I see in other paid programs out there. IMDB lookups and downloading cover art is going to be difficult to impliment. I'll pry end up going with DVD Profiler or ANT Movie Catalog.-

 

I just use a simple Works Spreadsheet to house the titles, four columns wide with small font, front and back. I put them in alphabetical order and allow spaces on each page for additions. I am now up to 4 pages. It is easy to expand to another page or move titles around with drag & drop and cut & paste features. I print a copy for easy referral. Also remember to back-up to disk, as it would be a chore to re-type if something were to happen to your computer.

I keep them stored upright in soft poly jewel cases ( each capable of housing 2 disks for those movies that require it ) with a small cover photo along with a synopsis, year made and length printed on the front with a self stick paper with the title also on the spline for easy view. These are housed on shelves in my basement (constant 60 degrees - no humidity) in separate boxes without tops approximately 10"x24" by their alphabet letter (i.e.: a's together, b's together, etc. etc.). Slide out the box a little and search through the letter for your title. Very simple, neat and effective method.

 

@oneacer..... how many in your collection?

 

Let us just say a lot. lol

 

I also use binders and DVD Profiler. It is easy to use and doesn't take up much room.

 

simple...shoe boxes, index cards and tyvec paper sleeves (500 + backups) I also keep an auto alphabetical excel file on the laptop which I update every 10 new movies or so, print it out and keep handy by the remotes.

 

The way I do it is that I will burn the movie and put the disc in a 96 capacity wallet. Then, after burning, I will download the movie cover and create a display box for a shelf that I have in my room. That way, nobody can take my movies off my shelf w/o permission, because I have the wallet locked up. It almost works like a video store; I have the DVD cases on my shelf so you can "browse the library" for whatever title you're looking for, then I'll pull out the desired movie out of the wallet. Furthermore, I will archive them in the an Ant Movie Catalog IMDB scripted database.

 

I find it best to organize my colletion by catagories.

One binder per catagory, unless one catagory exceeds your binder ofcourse.

If I feel like watching Sci-Fi I go to my Sci-Fi binder...

Alphabetizing each binder is a good thing to do too.

 

I just use 3 inch binders. Got some CD sleeves from Best Buy- each sleeve holds 4 on each side, a pack of 20 sleeves cost around $20, but that holds 160 movies.
I try to sort them A-Z,I then, go to amazon.com and print the DVD sleeve pic, cut it out to fit in the sleeve pockets in front of the DVD, as to remember better what in the world the DVD is from 2 years ago when I burned it.