Collectix 3 – Collection management software – manage all your collections easily

 

Collectix 3: Feature Overview

Don't think when you see the images below that CX3 is software dedicated to Philately. We could just as easily have created files for films, books, postcards or Champagne capsules. CX3 can catalog EVERYTHING and with a degree of customization that no other product has been able to achieve to date. Unless you use one of the predefined templates, you will probably spend a little time creating the interface you dream of, but it will be a real pleasure to discover the endless possibilities of the ARCHITECT modes.

Collectix Home - Click image to enlarge

 

General presentation

Collectix 3 is a catalog editor whose capabilities are infinitely greater than those of Collectix 2. The choice of catalogs to create is limited only by your imagination as the possibilities are numerous.

Collectix 3 has numerous models (.CXM) and allows you to create new ones based on your customization choices in ARCHITECT mode.

When creating a catalog (let's call it MyCatalogue), CX3 creates three files: MyCatalogue.CXC, MyCatalogue.CXP and MyCatalogue.CXU. The first contains all the catalog data and the ARCHITECT mode settings, the second contains the catalog images, and the third contains the User data (collection management).

With CX3 you have three views which are reading modes (Sheet View, Thumbnail View and List View). Each of these views has an ARCHITECT mode used to modify the appearance and/or behavior of the data.

Only the SHEET view has an INPUT mode. It is a representation of the file but with the possibility of adding, deleting or modifying all the information.

The different views are detailed below.

The SHEET view, its INPUT mode and its ARCHITECT mode

The Form, Input and Architect modes are constructed in the same way but for a specific role: consultation, input or change of appearance and behavior.

The FILE VIEW is a consultation mode, so there is no risk of information being modified by mistake.

Only user data (collection management) can be modified in the tabs.

What the image below does not show is that a document, web link or email type area automatically launches the associated application to open the object.

SHEET view - Example for stamps - Click image to enlarge

 

By a simple click on the "Input" button, the current form is now fully editable (Images, input boxes, tabs).

The number of images per file is unlimited.

SHEET view INPUT mode - Example for stamps - Click the image to enlarge

 

Architect mode is a very unique tool for changing the appearance and behavior of all elements in the current view.

ARCHITECT Mode SHEET view - Example for stamps - Click image to enlarge

 

In Architect mode, you can review the appearance of each element.

 

For the Form view, Architect mode allows you to modify the appearance of the title, the 20 input zones (each of which can be defined as Text, List, Date, Check Box, Numerical or Numbering), the Tab zone, the Images zone and the background of the form.

 

Below, the title is displayed with a large character size, in bold and in blue on a yellow background.

 

Title customization - Click image to enlarge

 

If the background of the form was for example a light yellow gradient, replace it with a solid color or another gradient or even with a background image or with one of the 10,000 textures offered such as oak parquet, pink tiles, sand or leather.

Customize the background - Click image to enlarge

 

In the image below, we are customizing one of the 20 input boxes. We choose to name it "Country", to make it appear in the form of a drop-down list and to display the text in bold and with a burgundy color of size 10.

 

Customizing input boxes - Click image to enlarge

 

The “Images” area of ​​the Form is also configurable. Choose the background color, border or pictogram if there is no image.

 

Customizing the Images area - Click image to enlarge

 

The "Tabs" area is designed to allow you to choose and customize the tabs to display. For those who wish to manage a collection, the first tab allows you to define the number of columns, to display or not a line for prices and to associate quantity lines (for example the quantity in collection and the quantity in duplicates). You choose the column titles and the row titles.

 

Customizing the Tabs area - Click image to enlarge

 

The tab system is impressive because you add tabs to choose from to listen to your music, watch your movies, enter comments, create a list, add web links, links to documents, etc.

In the example below we choose to display a “Documents” type tab. You can easily open any document whose link is stored in the list, whether it is an Excel sheet, a Word document, a PDF, etc.

 

Customizing the Tabs area - Click image to enlarge

 

The block positioning module is designed to quickly move many areas of the screen sideways. For example, if you want to display the "Images" area on the right rather than the left or display a group of input areas on the left rather than the right.

 

Positioning the blocks - Click image to enlarge

 

If you find it tedious to customize each input field, use this tool to mirror the formatting of one input field to another.

 

Duplicate formatting - Click image to enlarge

 

Once you are satisfied with the customization in Architect mode, simply save the changes so that all the cards in your catalog benefit from the new appearance. It is also possible to save all these parameters in a new model.

The MINIATURES view and its ARCHITECT mode

Faithful to the different display modes initiated with Philatélix, we have also implemented a customizable MINIATURES view. You decide what information is displayed under the images, but also when you hover over the image.

MINIATURES view ARCHITECT mode - Example for stamps - Click image to enlarge

 

The THUMBNAIL view proudly displays 36 images per page. Navigation arrows identical to those in the SHEET view allow you to browse the entire selection.

ARCHITECT mode allows you to change the appearance of the background in all 3 views.

Double-click on a thumbnail to reach the corresponding card.

MINIATURES view - Example for stamps - Click image to enlarge

 

The LIST view and its ARCHITECT mode

You will surely appreciate the LIST view because you still determine which columns to display in the list.

The first list is an overview of your customization work. Simply complete the list of “Selected Fields” from the list of “Available Fields”.

Change column widths in ARCHITECT mode, they will be automatically reflected in LIST view.

LIST view ARCHITECT mode - Example for stamps - Click image to enlarge

 

LIST view responds faithfully to its ARCHITECT mode, and you can sort or make a selection directly on the column headers.

Double-click on a line in the list to reach the corresponding record.

LIST view - Example for stamps - Click image to enlarge

Selection criteria and their ARCHITECT mode

The ARCHITECT mode of the criteria is accessible from the ARCHITECT modes of the SHEET, LIST or THUMBNAIL views (button with binoculars).

Using the mini-buttons located to the right of the "List of selection criteria", you can modify an existing criterion, create a criterion or delete an existing criterion.

The "Up" and "Down" arrows are used to change the order of display of the criteria.

If you have chosen to display the "Collection" type tab, you will see the titles of your quantity lines (here "Collection" and "Doubles") as well as the "Shortages" button.

Each criterion can be defined as:

- "Comparison operators": The user can define a criterion on their files with =, >, >=, <, <=, <> (different), Between or Contains.

- “List”: The user will choose an element in the list to select the corresponding files.

- “Check box”: The user can select “Yes” or “No” to select the files whose box is checked or not.

CRITERIA ARCHIT3ECTE Mode - Example for stamps - Click image to enlarge

 

The CRITERIA window is accessible from the 3 views (button with binoculars).

Its size is automatically adapted to the number of criteria defined in ARCHITECT mode.

CRITERIA - Example for stamps - Click image to enlarge

 

The user just has to complete the criteria and click OK for the corresponding files to be displayed.

The criteria can all be combined!

 

Sorting cards

No more hassle of poorly sorted files! We have all been confronted one day with the dictates of sorting rules which mean that alphanumeric data is sorted from left to right (1, 10, 1a, 100, 11, 2, etc.).

The number of sort keys is sufficient to best adjust the order of the files. Priority 2 allows you to sort records whose priority 1 is identical. For stamps we can imagine sorting by Country, then by Category, then by number.

SORTING OPTIONS - Example for stamps

 

Importing images

Whether the files created come from a simple entry or an import, this module is capable of adding hundreds or thousands of images in a single operation.

IMPORT IMAGES - Example for stamps - Click the image to enlarge

 

The import program searches in the selected folder for all images whose name is identical to the identifier chosen from the 10 numbering zones (eg: 4215.jpg).

CX3 will search for all images, whether they are in JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF or TIF format.

I recommend the use of images in JPG and GIF format for their small size and it should be noted that zooming in Sheet view does not work for images in TIF and PNG format.

The import only concerns the selected files. The other files are not modified.

 

Depending on the depth chosen, the program also searches for images whose identifier is followed by "-2", "-3", and following. (ex: 4215-2.jpg, 4215-3.jpg, etc.)

 

To rebuild all the images of the selected files, check "Delete existing images".

If you only want to add new images without replacing existing ones, place these images in a separate folder and do not check "Delete existing images".

Importing Excel lists

This is a very useful program for many. CX3 can import your created "database" in XLS format. A correspondence table allows you to determine which columns to include in CX3 by associating Excel columns with CX3 input boxes.

CRITERIA - Example for stamps - Click image to enlarge

 

The tool is designed to check that Excel data is compatible with the target fields. Otherwise, a list of errors is displayed.

Importing Collectix 2 and Philatélix Liberté collections

Two methods, one manual and the other automatic, allow you to import data from your Collectix 2 collections. An important detail, CX2 only retained the link to the images and not the images themselves. CX2 to CX3 import locates images and stores them in the CX3 database.

Prints

The prints are multiple and fully configurable, depending on the input zones you have created, the sorting chosen, etc.

 

- Collection value

- Description sheet

- Thumbnails

- Custom lists

- Collection inventory

 

Guides for managing your collections

Discover our solutions to efficiently organize your different collections using suitable software:

• Object catalog software: manage and organize all your collections
• Coin collection software: manage and track your coins easily
• Stamp collection software: organize and enhance your collection

Discover our collection management software

stamp collection management software Philatélix | Euro currency collection management software | E-Album for stamps from France, Monaco and TAAF | multi-collection management software Collectix