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Cataloging any storage devices accessible from Windows environment

By Ionut Ilascu, Editor, Software Reviews

13th of February 2007, 16:01 GMT

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WinCatalog Light by WinCatalog.com

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Version reviewed: WinCatalog Light 2.1

WinCatalog Light is a program who gives you the chance of searching for files or folders on hard disks and after that you can catalog them.

Features:

Automatic extraction of archive file descriptions when scanning a disk.
Scanning archives contents and adding archives to the catalog as folders.
Automatic extraction of mp3, html file descriptions when scanning a disk.
Retrieval of Audio CD track names from Internet CD database.
The catalog can be searched by file name, comment and keywords.
Ability to search the entire catalog or an individual disk.
When the disk data is updated, the previously entered comments and keywords are preserved.
Ability to delete from the catalog the unnecessary files and folders.
Handy management of the lent disks.
Ability to export and import parts of collection and the list of contacts.
Ability to export any folder to .CSV file (comma separated values) for opening catalog in MS Excel or other applications.

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Keeping track of all the data on your hard disk can be pretty difficult considering the sizes available of today's hard drives. Finding the right tool to do this operation may result exhaustive and time consuming. But once you get your hand on the right software that scans in a minute your volumes and appends the information to a database finding the desired file is easy.

WinCatalog Light from WinCatalog.com is the abridged version of the Standard edition that comes with more gear, but lacks in some very useful features like retrieving movie posters directly from the Internet. The Light version is absolutely free and despite the rather limited features it comes equipped with succeeds in doing a very good job.

The interface is as simple as can be and the minimalist choice of the developer will rather help than hinder the user during the operations. The two panes are as unadorned as can be and all there is available is the collection tree and the data view windows. In the collection tree in the left side of the application there will be all the items of the "compendium" nicely arranged in folders.

In order to begin the work, you will have to add some data to the collection and maybe personalize it by giving it a name. The options for adding the data include both adding a folder as well as adding an entire volume with all the subfolders available. A very useful feature is scanning inside the archives. This way you can take a peek inside the compressed folders and see what it is stored in there.

The support for linking key words to certain files will definitely ease your searching work and result in finding the desired element faster. Working with keywords and their function is amply exemplified in the Help menu. The great thing is that you do not have to worry about adding the same keyword to more than one file as WinCatalog Light will not allow it. This way every file will have its own key and the accuracy in the search results will be maximum.

WinCatalog Light comes equipped with a contacts manager in order to keep

track of what you lent to whom. The option is available in the toolbar under the menu. Working with the manager is not a complex activity because there are no intricacies for you to lose into. Everything is out into the open and you can add names, nicknames, email, phone and a personal comment (an option not available in MyContacts).

Of course you have to populate the contacts list first in order to activate the Lend button. After contact manager is filled with one or more entries all you have to do is right click any element of the personal collection and choose the Lend to function from the context menu.

Searching for a particular element can be done in two ways: either by keyword or a quick search. If keywords are no defined the process may take a while, depending on the amount of data included in your collection. The search can be performed in the entire catalog or just in certain areas. I advise using this option as it will greatly restrict the search.

The software will not save the current catalog in the installation folder as one might have thought and gives the user the chance of selecting a location. Also, WinCatalog can be configured to open the last used catalog. So the conclusion is that you can create as many collections as you want and store them anywhere on the hard disk.

If you choose to catalog a volume of your disk it is more than likely that you will modify it in time and files will be deleted or moved elsewhere. The update option is specially designed for such cases and it will rescan the volume and synchronize the catalog with the real thing. WinCatalog Light can be used as a file manager since it can execute the files.

The Good

The explorer like interface will not give you too much trouble and the "Lend to" option allows you to keep track of the discs you lend to your friends.

The Contact Manager lets you add entries of those you lent different disks to.

The collections can be exported to CSV or TXT files.

The Bad

The application is free and very good, there are no bugs in the code and despite the fact that it is WinCatalog Standard's little brother, it does a very good job.

The Truth

Very fast scanning and extremely easy to use. Synchronizing the collection is a cinch. When labeling a disc as lent the information appended to the operation will include the date of the action.

Here are some snapshots of the application in action:

EDITOR'S RATINGS:
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Rating:

NOT RATED

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