CD cataloging software

[Dennis McGuire]

Does anyone know of a decent freeware cataloging program that would create a
database of all the different files on a number of CDs, that could be added
to as new files and CDs accumulate?

Thanks in advance.

-Dennis

 

[PurpleMD]

MaxLister http://www.snapfiles.com/get/maxlister.html

Cathy http://rvas.webzdarma.cz/

Catfish http://www.equi4.com/catfish.html

 

[Matthew Henry]

Does anyone know of a decent freeware cataloging program that would create a
database of all the different files on a number of CDs, that could be added
to as new files and CDs accumulate?

http://mp3explorer.n3.net

 

[Art Iculos Libres]

Does anyone know of a decent freeware cataloging program that would create a
database of all the different files on a number of CDs, that could be added
to as new files and CDs accumulate?

<snip>

VisualCD - Now supports image thumbnails (new feature v1.80, March 2004)
http://boozet.xepher.net/viscd/index.htm

Media Monkey - Best of the 3 for music CDs
http://boozet.xepher.net/viscd/index.htm

CDVista - Supports image thumbnails
http://www.gentibus.com/us/Description.htm

I have all 3 installed. I use VisualCD and MediaMonkey currently.

VisualCD and CDVista are very similar in appearance, but CDVista stores
multiple CDs in a single file/catalog (advantage or disadvantage depending
on perspective), while VisualCD stores a single CD (or whatever) in a
single file/catalog. VisualCD can, however, search across multiple catalogs
(CDs or whatever) by selecting which catalogs to search, so this is not a
limitation. I find the one file per CD a little more logical as you can
name each catalog per the the volume naming scheme you use for your discs
and it also avoids loss of all contents if a single file becomes corrupt.
Another major advantage of VisualCD over CDVista is that VisualCD can
catalog individual folders / subfolders on any disk (hard drive or
removable media) while CDVista can only catalog entire discs (i.e. if you
want to catalog C:\Program Files\, VisualCD could do it, but CDVista would
require cataloging the entire C: drive).

Additionally, VisualCD can export from its *VCC file format to HTML, CSV
(Comma Separated Values), RTF (Rich Text) and TXT (Text). CDVista can only
export to HTML.


MediaMonkey handles the task of cataloging music files (CD audio, MP3, etc)
better as it has more advanced music-specific functionality than the other
catalog software mentioned above. There is a free version and a pay version
($19.95), but the free version is very nice.

I also have Cathy installed (suggested by another poster), and it is very
useful if you don't want any bells and whistles (i.e. no thumbnail support,
no exporting standard formats). By the way, Cathy can catalog folders in
addition to entire disks (hard or removable).

 

[Art Iculos Libres]

<snip>

VisualCD - Now supports image thumbnails (new feature v1.80, March 2004)
http://boozet.xepher.net/viscd/index.htm

VisualCD not support thumbnails (yet) in the way I thought. The author
simply added a utility that can create thumbnails, but these thumbnails do
not appear in the catalog view as images...they just appear as file icons
or lists just like every other file when cataloged . I guess it's the type
of utility someone might use if creating a web site, but it does not
advance the functionality of the actual cataloging part of the program.

Evidently, the functionality I was expecting is coming at some point
because the option "Thumbnails" has been listed in the "View" drop down
menu since the previous version and is still there in v1.80. All other
items in this menu change the view as expected when selected (Icons, Small
Icons, List, Details), but the "Thumbnails" option opens a message box that
says "under construction". Knowing the option was there, I guess I jumped
to conclusions when reading this on the website about changes in the new
version:

<quote>
Visual CD Version 1.8 (March 2004)

+ Thumbnail Maker
</quote>

Nice program, nevertheless.

I also have Cathy installed (suggested by another poster), and it is very
useful if you don't want any bells and whistles (i.e. no thumbnail support,
no exporting standard formats). By the way, Cathy can catalog folders in
addition to entire disks (hard or removable).

And while I'm here, let me say that I used the term "installed" loosely
when referring to Cathy. I simply meant I downloaded and unzipped the
executable into a "\program files" directory as Cathy doesn't require
installation. And as far as no export to any other file format (txt, etc.),
it is fairly simply to copy selected rows (items) from the displayed
listing and paste them into Excel, Word, etc. Don't want to sell this small
and useful program short. Also has command line version and nice search
features.