Well Don, Very good question! Let me explain it in detail for you and everyone.

First, for my database I first wanted to use the scans as a means of identification. My first step was to just attach scans to all of my chips. They didnt have to be my scan, I just needed to know if I had the chip or not! I was getting tired of coming back from the convention with a whole bunch of chips that I thought I needed, but found out I already had it. So...i needed to recoginze the chip!

To do this, I saved all of the scans for chips I have from Paul Hegge's Silver State Treasures site, and attached them to the chip listings. I know that sounds confusing, but I can expalin that better later.

Next, I did the same with Greg Susong's Non-Nevada chipguide.

Next, I started scanning all of my personal chips that those boys didn't have listed. Of course I sent them the scans they didnt have to put up on thier sites. (Greg-Sorry I didn't get yours out to you yet...Im still finishing the Non-nevadas. Paul will be working on putting the over 200 scans I sent him until his eyes are rolling around in his head! (Sorry Paul)

Right now, I am working on the final few of the Cruise ship listings, and then I move on to the last of the Caribbean chips: (Puerto Rico) I did all the others, but didnt yet get to that binder.

With this database, you will still need to attach the scans to whatever item (chip) listing you like. What we will do is to have a bunch of folders in the program for the chip scans. There will be a folder for Nevada, Non-Nevada, Illegal, and Foreign and Other. The scans in these folders will not be from Paul's or Greg's sites, but rather my own. After all, those aren't my scans, they were just borrowed for my own personal use. So what you will get, are scans to use IF YOU WANT. Make your own scans, or use mine.

Now mind you I'm working hard on making these scans. But I have a thousands chips to do. So far, Im guessing theres around 600 or so that Ive done. All of the Foreign chip scans I have are mine, and same with illegals and "Other" (Ad chips, Samples, Fantasy, etc. For Non Nevada, it's a different story. I think there's only around 100 scans in this catagory that I've done myself.

My plan is to do ALL of the chips in my collection. The resolution will be very good (316 X 316 at 200 dpi) The image size is approx 20k each.

This is a bonus to be included in with the software. It's just my way of giving back to my fellow chippers. I haven't been paid anything by the software maker. I just figured As long as I'm making all of these scans, why not share! The software you buy today doesnt have the scan folders included with it, but I will be happy to send them on CD to anybody that wants them. Tom will be including them in the next version which I believe will be out in a couple months. There's just too many I have to do right now to include them, and then try to get everybody updated.

But, I am requesting that everyone that buys the software to please use me as a referring source. That way Tom will know how you came about buying it.

The cost of the software is $39.95. The web address is:

http://www.carlisledevelopment.com/

I can do a short explanation in the future of how to make your database and how to export your present list (on Xcel or Word, etc)into the database.

I can tell you all one thing. By getting my collection onto a database, I discovered A LOT of chips in my collection, that I didn't have logged!

You can spend just a little time putting this together, or you can spend a bunch of time and make your database an extrememly comprehensive lsiting of your collection. It's also very usufull for your traders too.

Because of the ability to have numberous collections, you can have a different collecting listing for all of your different collectables, i.e. strikes, matches, tokens, dice, etc.