Program: Music Library
System Type: Business/Home
ROM/RAM: 8K/16K
Written In: BASIC, listable
By: Kendric C. Smith
From: WMJ Data Systems
#4 Butterfly Drive
Hauppauge, New York 11788
Price (Manual TS/1000, $14
and Tape): 2068, $16
Music Library is a data base management program that provides a convenient format for organizing your music collection. It allows you to store three lines of information (each 32 characters wide) on 100 or more items of music. You decide how to use the three lines, such as name of artist on line 1, album name on line 2, and favorite selections on line 3. I used the TS/1000 version. The 2068 version enlarges the memory to 300 items. The program is menu-driven, providing you with options to enter, correct, delete, and save data, or print out to the screen or printer.
Two features of particular note are the routines that alphabetize (missing from so many similar programs); and OMNISEARCH, which will search for any word string in any line. Also convenient is the option to exit the data input sequence at any time.
Music Library can be easily modified to adapt to individual needs. This is important because the trade-offs selected between user-friendly features, space available for data, and processing speed, vary from person to person. The manual is well written in a full-size page format and gives numerous tips on modifying the program (which is also listed). I was able to increase the number of albums from just over 100 to 175 by deleting the third line, re-dimensioning, and cramming data into the trailing spaces of the remaining two lines. The search routine is slow but complete. I could speed it up by having it search only the first line’s word string. But I like OMNISEARCH enough to tolerate the delay. It’s great to be able to not only ask for a list of all albums by a particular artist, but to also be able to list the various artists who have recorded the same “classic”, such as “Autumn Leaves” or “Mack the Knife”.
As you make modifications to the basic program, a simple GOTO statement will tell you how much usable memory is available for data. The manual is so friendly and detailed, that it becomes nearly a tutorial on programming in BASIC, with each routine explained, along with suggestions on possible modifications.
I recommend Music Library for those of you like me who have so many record albums and tapes scattered about, that you don’t know what you have or where to find it. In fact, the program could be easily adapted to any type of collection, such as photo prints and slides.