Conference mr1pst::music

    People tend to think "use a super-whiz-bang database program" for every
    database application without stopping to see if what they want to do
    requires that kind of power.  You can do what you want so easily I'm
    appalled nobody has mentioned this.
    
    You only need a database program if you want to do fancy stuff like
    sorting the file or choosing records based on multiple simultaneous
    criteria.
    
    All you need if you're just interested in *finding* information is a
    flat text file and a SEARCH command.  Each line in the file can contain
    whatever info you want, and you search it for all lines containing a
    given string.  For example, you might enter title, lead singer, band,
    music style (metal, acid, w/h/y), CD label and catalog number, title of
    the CD, duration of the cut, and so on.
    
    To find a singer, enter his/her name.  To find all the songs on an
    album, enter the album title.  Admittedly this seems crude, but it may
    be adequate for your needs.
    
    On VMS, you have EDT and the DCL SEARCH command.  For a PC, I'd
    recommend that you find a PC user who has Turbo Pascal and ask that
    person to whip together a little program for you.
    
    Or, if you want more power, buy a program like 1-2-3 or one of the
    less-expensive knockoffs with a database.  I'm using AppleWorks on an
    Apple IIGS, and it can do more than I need for this application.
    
    -dick

    79.1 is right ! For most such things (99 %) I use any word processor
    that's handy & search on whatever I'm looking for. You can put as much
    or as little info. (fields) about a given artist/CD as you want, &
    still have access to it in any "flat field" way your little heart
    desires. If you need special search power, or mail merge, etc., then
    you should check some of the shareware & public domain data base
    manager's designed for such stuff as coin/stamp collections, recepies,
    or subscriber lists. Any of these is still probably overkill for what
    you're doing. If on the other hand you've got lots of extra money
    cluttering up your household, then go ahead & use a commercial data
    base or even compile your own with Clipper, C (E-gahd !), or some such.
    If you've never worked with one of these, you should expect a learning
    curve inversely proportional to the quality of the documentation & your
    general programming instincts.   
    						Good luck,
    						Paul
      

    I agree with .2, and in fact, I use a flat file and various SEARCH
    commands to maintain a list of the active players on my volleyball
    team.   Using search targets I can find players who play a certain
    position, have a certain USVBA rating.
    
    Using the /OUTPUT qualifier I can even create a distribution list
    of all players with a given set of attributes.
    
    However... to answer the question, I'm not completely sure, but I 
    think there is a PC program that does what you want.  It's actually
    intended to be used with a CD-ROM drive with audio capabilities.
    
    It's primary purpose is to allow you to use your CD-ROM as an audio
    CD player, but I believe it also provides those library functions
    you've mentioned as well.  One thing that makes it especially
    nice is that it reads the artist and title information off the CD.
    
    I'm about to buy that program (so I can listen to my CD's) but
    unfortunately I don't remember what it's called.  Nearly every software
    store (Babbages, Electronic Boutique, etc.) seems to have it.

    
    
    The Microsoft Sound System comes with a program called Music Box that
    reads track times & some other stuff off of your audio discs when you
    put them into your CD-ROM drive.  I'm not using the database
    capabilities, but this might be worth looking into if you're thinking
    about a hardware purchase.
    

    Noteworthy Music, a worthwhile place to mail order CDs, has a really
    good idea whose time has come. You can order CDs via modem/PC. But the
    kicker is that the program that drives this is also a CD database, and
    can flag- like an "Are you sure" message when you buy a CD that you
    already have, for instance. They also send you an updated inventory of
    their stock, so you have a current catalog each time you order.
    
    Note that the dialup number is not 1-800, but you can order everything
    beforehand, call up, and merely send the data. Obviously, a credit card
    is handy. This place has a really impressive selection, and great
    prices to boot. The registration/program is only $10, and they allow
    you to freely distribute the program. If you already have the program,
    it's only $5 to register. 9600 baud probably N,8,1.
    
    Noteworthy has a 1-800 number, but I don't remember it. Most of their
    'older' CDs are only $9 or so. I doubt you'll buy anywhere else, once
    you get the catalog.
    
    							Jeff