we are new to collecting HL. Does anyone have, or know where to find, an excel, or access, or any pre-defined computer form to keep track of one's collection ?

There is a computer program on CD called "Greenware Collectors' Personal Inventory Software for Harbour Lights". There is also a book called "The Genuine Greenbook Guide Devoted Exclusively to Harbour Lights, 1998/1999 Premiere Edition."

Give Harbour Lights a call at 1-800-365-1219 and they will be able to tell you how to get either one of the above.

Welcome to the world of Harbour Lights!

That's the word from the East Coast

Is anyone using the Greenware program? Let's hear how it works and what you think of it.

Is the CD easily available?
Derith

I saw your post a few days ago, but have been out of town for the holiday. I found this address last fall and downloaded the "free" access database. It is a decent little program and allows a lot of user info on current and future lights. They also have excel files available.

http://members.aol.com/jsmock/index.htm

Hope its helpful.

The Greenbook program is available, by mail, from The Lighthouse Depot in Wells, Maine.
If you need the address, check the dealer's listing on the HL web site. It looks good. Maybe I'll get it for my birthday in '99.

We have the CD. Only haven't had time on the holidays to install and do our collection. We bought it at Lighthouse Depot for ourselves for Christmas

I was one of the 125 (+ or -) who won a copy of the software at the Reunion. I think it works very well. You can do analysis on purchase price vs. current value and run detailed reports for insurance purposes. The only downfall is that there is not much space for comments on the purchase. Prior to using this software, I was using Quicken (the home inventory portion) and it worked just as well but without the pictures and history of the lights.

Herb

I saw this thread the other day & I had worked up a couple of Excel spreadsheets. but when I saw this link http://members.aol.com/jsmock/index.htm

listed by Steve on this thread I downloaded the MS Access database. One of the things that I have added to the database is a field for the original retail price. Other than that & there are many lighthouses to be added, the database is pretty good.

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Harry R

I got the Greenbook CD when it first came out. It has a lot of good stuff to view but I have yet to get it to generate or print reports.

I sent severals e-mails to the company in the last 4 months for help but never received a reply.

Therefore my conclusion is NO SUPPORT.

I rely on my own excel spreadsheet. I can easily update, revise, or change based on my needs. It's not that hard to do, and it will help you learn about Harbour Lights by inputing and updating your data.

For instance by listing where I discovered certain HL's it allowed me to evaluate future purchases vs secondary values, and retired@retail decisions.

You can intially put in what you have and want; and fill in the rest of the list as time, and information gathering permits.

This process can take you from a rookie to a fairly informed collector in a short time.

Make sure you keep a list in the order you acquired your collection in addition to the numerical listing. You'll enjoy revisiting your purchases to evaluate your deals and mistakes.