Cataloging your collection has many direct and indirect benefits. By all means do it. There isn't anything unique about collecting computers. It takes the same pedigree-type data as does collecting Conestoga wagons. System - sub-assemblies - related items (e.g. documentation). Please don't spend too much time on this. The Computer Museum has done it. The Smithsonian has done it. Ask them. It is covered in the Guide to Collecting Computers...field definitions, etc. are included. If in doubt, don't do this as a "community" excerise, just ask the pros and move forward. Ask you local association of sewing machine collectors, county museum, etc. The issue of compatibility between one collector's database and anothers is easily handled by remapping source to destination fields, if and when an exchange takes place. Actually cataloging your collection is a fun activity. You re-discover all sorts of items you forgot you had. Have fun. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- Kevin Stumpf * Unusual systems * www.unusual.on.ca +1.519.744.2900 * EST/EDT GMT - 5 Collector - Commercial Mainframes & Minicomputers from the 50s, 60s, & 70s and control panels and consoles. Author & Publisher - A Guide to Collecting Computers & Computer Collectibles * ISBN 0-9684244-0-6 .