OVER 2 YOU 182 (25/05/04)

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH

I want to make a comprehensive inventory of the contents of my home for insurance purposes; I would also like to know what I have and what it is worth! Can anyone suggest a program or web site for such a purpose and is there a resource that can calculate average values for ordinary personal and household articles, such as clothes, DVDs, cutlery etc.?

Allan McRae, via email

I am using Household Register 2002, which can be tried for free in a limited form, from
www.turbosystems.com

John Nixon, via email

I have an old copy of Quicken v5.0a for Windows by Intuit.  This, I think, was entitled the Deluxe version and it contains a Home Inventory version 5.  Basically this is a simple, but comprehensive database, which can be set up for each area or room, etc., and for each area you can set up category lists, location lists, etc with purchase date, purchase price, replacement costs, serial no., etc. Various printed reports can be generated such as Inventory Detail Report, which lists under each category what it is, where it is and other details.  An Inventory Value Summary Report again lists everything with replacement cost, resale value, purchase date and purchase price. I installed it on a laptop and went from room to room listing everything. It gives totals for each area and a grand summary at the end.  I found it ideal for the purpose.  That is the frightening part - I thought my contents insurance was OK at £30k, when I had finished the inventory and my wife and I had estimated the replacement costs, it came to over £67k, so be prepared!

Rodney Fry, Crowthorne

My copy of Microsoft Money 2001 Financial Suite has just such a facility. Possessions may be catalogued in various categories and valued - showing replacement and current values. I assume that current versions of the program have something similar - check before purchase!

Cliff Robins, King's Lynn

I have used The Times Home Contents Tracker from GSP Software for several years, which gives you a detailed database for your household contents with photos if required. It also has a powerful sort facility that can sort items by Room, Name, Type of Item, Cost, Room of the house etc. I am sure that the current version has been updated and is even more effective than my elderly version. Full information can be found at www.times-eshop.co.uk.

Tom Waugh, via email

Our small company has developed a system called DIVA (Digital Inventory & Visual Archive) and our website can be found at www.Diva-ID.com. It is a complete computerised system for the recording of all valuables, whether for insurance, probate, heritage or theft recovery. Using digital photography to capture identifying marks and a museum database to record textual data, clients receive their entire visual inventory in PDF format on a password protected CD, to which further information can be added. The archive has been carefully designed to be easy to use, comprehensive and versatile, and allows for the printing and e-mailing of any page or picture in the event of theft or requirement for data-sharing. Security settings can be individually tailored depending on need. Our companion website, the International Archive of Stolen Artefacts can be found at www.IASA-online.com a free access site, providing a "picture on every lamp post" for stolen valuables.

Roland Haycraft, via email

My company ITEMSURE Ltd sells such a database, which should meet your correspondent’s needs. A fully featured version for up to 225 items is available for £65 including p&p and an MS ACCCESS 2003 runtime licence (for PCs with Win 2000 SP3 or later). Details are available via www.itemsure.com - however this database will not calculate his item values for him!  It will however let him link valuable items to digital photo files or folders.
Miles Templer, via email

HOLY ORDERS

Our local church is looking to set up a simple system for ensuring that regular maintenance and inspection is carried out on the fabric of the building as well as obvious services like water and drainage, gas, electric supplies, central heating, and the general security and state of the rest of the property. Does anyone know of any commercial software that might help?

Mike Jackson

I suggest Microsoft Project; this package is used by many companies to set-up, track and update real-time projects and can be interfaced with e-mail programs and on-line services to contact suppliers and contractors.

Damian O'Toole, via email

Microtech Software, based in Knutsford Cheshire (telephone 01565 651383) produces a well-tested and up to date maintenance management and inspection diary package called MPMS.  

Frank E. Taylor, via email

Mike Jackson might be interested in soon to be released OurChurchInventory, available from Secure Inventories Ltd (www.secureinventories.com). It can't help much with buildings maintenance, but it will put him in control of the contents of the church and associated buildings.  We're looking for beta testers for OurChurchInventory if Mr Jackson is interested.
Steve Read, via email

WINE LABELS

Can anyone suggest a way of making labels for bottles, including clip art and text, to make my home made wine look more professional?

Carol West, Welwyn Garden City

Here’s how to set use Word to print a page of wine bottle labels. Open a blank document and find the dimensions of the labels you wish to use (via Tools … Envelopes & Labels … Options … [then select label type] … Details). This gives dimensions of the layout and the terms used – note them down on a piece of paper for use later. As an example I used label size J8161 with 18 labels per sheet (3 columns of 6).  Reset page margins (via File … Page Setup) to just less than the figures shown for top & bottom margins (0.95 cm); you can use the precise figure for left & right margins (0.72 cm). You’ll get a message that this takes the margins outside printable limits – click on ‘Fix’ and continue. Click on the ‘Insert table’ tool (this should be on the Standard Toolbar) and select 3 columns, 6 rows and ‘Fixed Column Width’ setting this at 6.6 cm (the horizontal pitch for the labels). You now have a table, which fits the width of the page.  Select the whole table then, from the Table menu, ‘Table Properties’. Select the ‘Row’ tab, check ‘Specify height’, set this to 4.66 cm and specify that this is ‘Exactly’ the row height. Clear the ‘allow row to break across pages’ box. If necessary select ‘Borders and Shading’ and set it to ‘None’. It may be necessary to adjust the top and bottom margins if the document now spreads over 2 pages – do this by viewing the ruler and dragging the top and bottom margins until you have a single page with the table centred on it. It’s now possible to insert your text and / or Clipart in the first of the label cells. When this is OK select the whole cell (Table … Select … Cell). Copy it, Select all the remaining cells – or as many as you wish – then choose Edit … Paste Cells (or just right click and select Paste Cells). You should now have a full page of labels – try printing out your page on plain paper first.

Finally don’t forget to save this as a ‘Document Template’. After you’ve saved your completed page select all cells then press the Delete key to clear them. Select File … Save as (you can hit f12 instead) … select Document type as ‘Document Template’. To create a new page of labels select the template via the File … New … dialogue box.

John Baytree, via email

CAN YOU HELP?

I want to print directly onto C4 envelopes (the ones which take unfolded A4 sheets).  My own printer won't quite take C4.  I've measured the apertures of every printer on display in PC World and I can't find one there! A4 is the standard paper size; surely lots of people must use C4 envelopes.  Yes, I know you can print onto labels but does anyone know of a fairly simple printer (laser or inkjet), which goes the extra centimetre?

Charles Nevick, Norwich 

I'd like to find an inexpensive expert system to lead users though a set of rules or choices to decide on whether to charge UK or other VAT on export sales -- despatched from the UK and Ireland -- to a variety of customers and destinations. Any suggestions?

Alex Koscica, via email