Cigar Inventory Software Help File
Importing Data from Older Database -- if you are not upgrading Stogie Rate, skip to the next section.
If you have been using earlier versions of Stogie Rate, you will want to import all of your records into the new version. Because version 3.0 of Stogie Rate has a lot more data fields, you will need to be patient as you match the data fields from your old database to your new one. Here are some instructions...
BE SURE TO MAKE A BACKUP COPY OF THE OLD DATABASE FILE BEFORE IMPORTING. You might as well backup the entire application folder, but be very sure you make a backup of your current database. Back up the entire folder and its contents and put it someplace where you won't lose it.
To import your old records, you need to access the database file. The database file is different from the application file. The application file has an -App on the end (i.e., StogieRate-App), while the database file, which holds the individual records that you will be importing has a .USR on the end: StogieRate-v3.USR.
DO NOT SIMPLY SWAP THE OLD DATABASE FILE IN PLACE OF THE NEW ONE. THIS WILL NOT WORK AND YOU WILL LOSE YOUR DATA.
To import data from your older version of Stogie Rate, open up the new version of the StogieRate Cigar Inventory Software (by double-clicking the StogieRate-App file) and go to the File menu and select "Import Records" and then select "File." A dialog box will appear and you will need to browse to the same folder as the old Stogie Rate App file and select the old database file.
If you are importing from version 2.x, this database file will be titled: "StogieRate-MacOSX.USR" or "StogieRate-Win.USR" Important: If the .USR files is grayed out, be sure that you select "All Available Files" in the "Show" drop-down menu in the dialog box (see figure below).
Figure 1. Importing Data from Earlier StogieRate version
When you select that file and open it, you will see another dialog that pops up to help you match the old information with the fields in the new database. Under "Import Action" select "Add New Records" and under the Arrange by field, choose "Matching Names." Make sure that all the source fields match up with target fields (see figure below). Some fields will be grayed out because they contain calculations.
Be sure to double check that ALL fields are matching (Figure 2). Since there are new fields in Stogie Rate 3.0, not all fields may match. Each field of the old database should have an arrow that is pointing to the matching field (i.e., Target Field) in the new Stogie Rate application. Make sure that the arrow is pointing, if it is not displaying an arrow, then the field may be a calculation field and should be grayed out. If not grayed out, then the arrow should be pointing to the matching field (if there is a matching field). If the arrow is not pointing to the right, you may have to click on the arrow space until it shows.
Figure 2. Matching Data Fields
About Stogie Rate Cigar Inventory Software: Version 3.0
After much feedback from our customers, we have decided not to include the names of hundreds of cigars or the photos of bands and cigars, or past Stogie Fresh reviews in the application itself. This extra data made the database bigger and slower running. The cigars in your new Stogie Rate software will only be the ones that YOU OWN. If you need information about your cigars, like country of origin, size, ring gauge, etc., use the following handy online reference: Perelman's Pocket Cyclopedia for Non-Cuban Cigars and for Cuban Cigars. Just find the cigar you are looking for and copy the information into the Stogie Rate database.
The first page you will see upon opening the Stogie Rate software is the Database page (Figure 3) that contains a list view of the cigars in your collection. If you are new to the Stogie Rate software, you will only see one cigar listed in the database. That is our sample record, which you can delete after you know how to use the software. If you have upgraded from an older version of Stogie Rate, and have imported all your data, you should see all your cigars in this view.
SORTING DATA: You can sort your cigars by any of the fields on the database page. Note, in the figure below, the database is sorted by Brand, but you can quickly sort your entire database by any of the fields on the database page.
You can add new cigars to your database by using the "Add New Cigar" button on the database page. This will place a new blank field in the space just below the current marker (see Figure 3). Note that the marker in Figure 3 (below) is currently at record number 12 (circled in red), which means that by clicking on the "Add New Cigar" button will place a new blank record in position number 13. Regardless of where you insert new records, you can sort them at any time.
Figure 3. The Database Entry Screen
Adding New Cigars to the Database
To add a new record (cigar) to the database, you simply click on the "Add New Cigar" button located on the top of the page (or, "Add New Stogie" on Rating page). You can add as much information as you want about the cigar, or you can add the information on the Rating Page by clicking on the "Go to Rating Page" button. You can choose to enter data on either the opening Database Page or the Rating Page at any time.
Though you can add a new cigar on the opening database page or on the rating page, it is important to note that for each batch of cigars that you buy, whether 2 cigars or 200 cigars, you will have only one record of the total number of cigars and how many are smoked. That way, the database application will only count the cigars once.
For each batch of cigars that you buy, you will create one database record to contain the Date of Purchase (DOP), the total Cost, and the total number of cigars that you purchased (Num). Each time you smoke a cigar, you will increase the number in the "Smoked" box by one. The database application will then automatically calculate how many cigars of that batch are left. The database will also calculate how much you paid "Per Cigar" using the "Cost" and "Num" fields.
Figure 4. Adding Data and Photos
Adding Cigar and Cigar Band Images
Adding photos is a great way to visualize your collection. Your Stogie Rate 3.0 software will come with a link to download hundreds of photos of cigars and cigar bands that are sized to fit perfectly into the band and cigar photo containers.
Pictures are then easily added to the appropriate containers by selecting (i.e., clicking on the container to select it) either the Band or Cigar Photo container (see Figure 3 above) and then going up to the "Insert Menu" at the top of the page and selecting "Picture." Simply browse to the pictures folder on your hard drive and select the appropriate picture. That's it.
Dividing your collection into categories
You can set up multiple categories within your database by using the "Database Name" field. You can use the database field to make it easy to search your database at a later time. For example, you may want to have a different category for the different humidors you store your cigars in. Or a category for Cuban and Non-Cuban cigars. Or one to divide your cigars from your wife's. You can arrange the database any way you want. This way you will be able to make more meaningful searches as your collection grows.
The reason for creating new cigar pages, is so you can rate the changes to each cigar over time. You don't have to rate every cigar that you smoke, we suggest that you rate a cigar every 3 months. But remember, if you are not going to rate a cigar when you smoke it, be sure to add to the "Smoked" box each time you smoke a cigar.
The Rating Page: Entering Ratings and Tasting Notes
Notes about storage conditions and tasting notes allow you to keep your thoughts and experiences of each cigar and save them for comparison with your experiences with other cigars and will help you to note the effects of aging. Stogie Rate will provide you the space to write some words about the storage conditions of your cigars. For example, what type of humidor are they stored in and notes about the temperature and humidity. You will also have a separate space to write your own tasting notes and your observations about the cigar and your own rituals when it comes to smoking cigars.
After writing your notes about a cigar, you will have a permanent record of your assessment of that cigar at a certain point in time and will have some clue as to the benefits, if any, associated with aging. Further, you will have a quick reference about all the facts on that particular cigar.
Every time you rate a cigar out of the same batch, you will need to create a new cigar record. You do this by clicking on the "Add New Cigar" button in the column of buttons at the right of the page. Or, a much quicker way to do it, is to click on the "Duplicate Record" button. This will prevent you from having to enter the specifics about the cigar and add photos of band and the cigar. After duplicating the record, just subtract all the information that will be new.
The Stogie Fresh rating scale is used for rating cigars. If you have visited the Stogie Fresh Cigar Review Directory, you already have seen the rating scale in action. It's based on averaging three scores: 1. Look and Feel, 2. Flavor and Aroma, and 3. Burn.
The Look and Feel score is partly about the aesthetics of the cigar and partly about construction, the Flavor and Aroma score is a subjective assessment of the flavor of the cigar and the aroma of the wrapper and the smoke. The Burn score rates the construction of the cigar and the age characteristics of the leaf.
Figure 5. Rating Cigars and Keeping Tasting Notes
Stogie Stats: a Statistical Summary of your Collection
Stogie Rate 3.0 has a new page that will keep you informed about your cigar collection. The Stogie Stats page quickly summarizes the total number of cigars in your collection, the current value of your collection, the number of cigars you have smoked and the value of the cigars you have smoked. Combining the Total Value feature with the Find function, you can find out the Net worth of your Non-Cuban cigars, or of the cigars in individual humidors, or any other category that you've designated in your DatabaseName field.
Stogie Rate 3.0 will also quickly tell you what are the oldest and youngest cigars in your collection as well as the most expensive and least expensive cigars. Again, these features become more powerful and interesting when combined with the Find function.