How do you database your chemistry/development data?

fotoobscura · Mar 23, 2010

I've been using Excel for years to store all my formulae but now it's becoming unwieldy (e.g. thousands of lines). Excel wasn't a great idea in the first place but it's still better than having a huge Word doc.

I was thinking of creating an sql database with my own fields ...it would be an easy export of my existing spreadsheet if I went that route.

The most important thing is that the data is easily accessible and searchable, and has a decent visual front end (the option to color code would be great). Was also thinking it would be nice to put it online so I could access it from anywhere.

Any thoughts? Web front-end with a sql database?

Thanks.

Christopher Walrath · Mar 23, 2010

I personally use good old paper and Bic blue ink.

bdial · Mar 24, 2010

I'm with Chris, but for me it's probably because database, sql, etc = WORK.

If you're willing to buy software you may not already have, FileMaker would be a good candidate, you can make the visual presentation anything you want, and it does have a web interface too. So, for example, you could run the db on a desktop system in your den/bedroom/home office, and access it via a web page from a laptop in the darkroom.
It doesn't require a lot of db knowledge and can handle small to moderate sized databases pretty well.

cmo · Mar 24, 2010

I have a big sheet of paper in my darkroom with the development and process times and a second, smaller sheet with the amount of material processed and a date when I prepared the chemistry.

What other kind of data would you store in a database? If you want to "access it from anywhere", isn't there an ipod app for it?

Rick A · Mar 24, 2010

The one and only--Big Chief and a number 2. Its what they gave us back in first grade, and it still works.

Rick

Steve Smith · Mar 24, 2010

Nowhere other than in my memory!

Steve.

David Brown · Mar 24, 2010

fotoobscura said:
I've been using Excel for years to store all my formulae but now it's becoming unwieldy (e.g. thousands of lines).

Thousands of lines of formulae? I'm not sure what you're asking. Formulae of what?

chriscrawfordphoto · Mar 24, 2010

I write my development data for each roll I process in a Moleskine notebook. I have 6 of these full now! I also have an excel spreadsheet where I have each film and developer combination I use listed with the normal dev. times and tested EI for each combination. Thats not very unwieldy because I only use 3 developers and have tried maybe 12 films.

AshenLight · Mar 24, 2010

I use OpenOffice Base with tables and input forms I designed for my particular workflow. For film/developer combinations I use the Massive Dev Chart application on my Droid. You can download this to your smart phone at http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php?doc=mobile.

Ash

grahamp · Mar 24, 2010

Unless you are doing something very sophisticated with Excel, it's a flat file database. If you want to put in the time to design a small relational SQL affair and write the front-end (a standalone app or a webserver running most anything you like), that's up to you. I can't imagine using thousands of formulae. I keep my key information in a ring binder. One for processing, and one for reference data I may need.

I manage computers for money first, fun second

Jeff Kubach · Mar 24, 2010

I find it easier with a No.2 pencil.

Jeff

Mike Wilde · Mar 24, 2010

I'm low tech. I make note of the development time in a 'developing notebook', that also keeps notes of when I mixed certian batches of unique things.

Once the film is in neg filer sleves, I write the developer used, dilution and DN used on for the film. If the neg is 4x5 it gets written on the margin of the neg with a tiy nib sharpie pen.

- the development number comes from a Kodak Darkroom Dataguide dial calculator that lets you use a development number to give a range of equivalent time temperature combinations. If the developer is it is temp sensitive, like ones with glycin, I will note the temp along with DN.

mrred · Mar 24, 2010

For me it's both low tech and high tech. I use a note in my Blackberry. It's with me always so it's just practical.

Worker 11811 · Mar 24, 2010

FileMaker: http://www.filemaker.com/

There are two main products. "FileMaker Pro" and "Bento."
Both of them have templates to manage your photo collection, built in.

It is meant for managing your digital photo collection but both products are user modifiable. You can make a database to record any information you want. Cool program!

Craig Swensson · Mar 25, 2010

4b pencil with delete function on top. 3b1 note book for each film type.

perkeleellinen · Mar 25, 2010

With B&W I make no notes because I use only one film, one developer and one paper with the same settings always.

In colour I make notes of filter packs for each film I print. I write this down in the back of my diary. When I'm trying to get the correct balance in colour, I'll write on the print.

cmo · Mar 25, 2010

pakeha said:
delete function on top.

Where did you download that app?

Rich Ullsmith · Mar 25, 2010

Black sharpie on the darkroom wall. Good place for random thoughts, too. I suspect if anybody ever finds all this weird chemistry, formulae and rambling I might very well be hauled away.

L Gebhardt · Mar 25, 2010

I used to use a notebook. Now I write on the envelope/sleeve is store the negatives in. I thought about writing an app to handle it, but that seems like the type of work I try to escape by going into the darkroom.

Kirk Keyes · Mar 26, 2010

Rich Ullsmith said:
Black sharpie on the darkroom wall. Good place for random thoughts, too. I suspect if anybody ever finds all this weird chemistry, formulae and rambling I might very well be hauled away.

THat's why I use Post-Its. You can take them down if you need to hide all the wierd stuff, and them put them back up later!

Kirk Keyes · Mar 26, 2010

Actually, for 4x5 (which is what I shoot almost exclusively) I write on the margin of the film with info about the date the photo was take on one edge of the film, and then on the other side, I write processing info - date, developer, time, temp, and CI measured from a sheet that was processed in the batch (Jobo with up to 10 sheets at a time.) I use a Staedler 0.3 mm technical pen that is archival.

Doremus Scudder · Mar 27, 2010

Various Word and Excel documents. One large one for films-developers and developing times. Another larger one for procedures and techniques (developing, one and two bath fixing, bleaching, fixer/developer capacities, etc., etc.). Large documents by year with printing records, print storage, what gallery has what, print numbers, etc. Excel sheets for sales by year... whew it's really overwhelming sometimes. At least with computer files I can use search functions...

Negatives and exposure records are still manual; keeper negs in printfile binders (now numbering in the high 20s...) filed with their individual exposure record made at the time of exposure. These are cross-referenced in the printing records.

Seems to work so far, but I do lose track of a print or two now and then...

Best,

Doremus Scudder
www.DoremusScudder.com

How do you database your chemistry/development data?

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