The AMPR Map Collection Manager User’s Guide
Setting up a Collection - Overview
In order to enter data about your maps into the MCM, a small amount of setup is necessary. MCM calls this setup “creating a new collection”.
Creating a collection is actually a fairly quick and simple process. You need to tell the MCM the following things about your map collection:
· The name you choose to give your collection (for example, “My Map Collection”).
· The name and location of the file on the computer where your collection will be stored. (Your collection will be saved as a single file on the hard disk of your computer.)
· The “fields”, or categories of information (for example, map-maker, title, price, etc.), that you want to include.
· Optionally, the location of the directory where you have digital images of your maps stored.
Once a collection has been defined, you can enter data into the collection in one of two ways:
Note: The MCM allows you to catalog multiple collections. If you collect two (or more) kinds of maps (for example, world maps and maps of the American West), you might prefer to define two (or more) collections, to work separately with each of the groups of maps. On the other hand, you might prefer to include all of your maps in a single collection. The choice is yours.
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Note: When creating a new collection,
it is very important to plan carefully as you decide what information -- what
fields -- you want to include. Though
you can modify the set of fields later on, you can save yourself a lot of
time and effort by carefully planning beforehand. If you already have a record of your collection (either in a
spreadsheet, a word-processing program, a database, or on paper), then you
probably already have a good idea of what pieces of information you want to
collect about each of your maps. Take the time now to figure out, as best you
can, what you want to know and record about the maps in your collection. You will be glad you did. |
Next: Defining a new collection