Electronic component database

Introduction

As the years go by it's easy to accumulate a lot of electronic components and when it comes to making a project you can be left wondering whether you have the components you need or enough of them. While pen and paper is one solution it's not that convenient to keep crossing out and writing again every time a component is used or another is added. So I devised a computer database to remember what components I have which also gives information about each component so I can see quickly what components meet my needs.

The database started out in Microsoft Access form using a number of tables to hold information about the components and how this information was related. However, I soon realised that I needed a way to be able to access the database from any device which any updates I had made to the information. So, the quickest way to achieve that was to convert the Access database to a Google Docs Sheets (similar to Microsoft Excel) as there is not yet a database Google Docs program.

Introduction

Using the database

You can email me at james.boshikoopa@gmail.com

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Using the database

The Google Docs database, shown below, is made up of a number of sheets which are Component stock, Components and Component type/sub type list. Component stock is the main sheet which lists all of the components by name that I have, which can be typed in or selected from the drop-down selection (provided the component has been added to the Components sheet). When a component is added in the name column its type, sub type and datasheet link are automatically entered into the appropriate columns by looking up the information from the Components sheet (the actual lists of types and sub types comes from the Component type/sub type list). Type is the main component category (resistor, diode, IC, etc.); sub type is a division within Type (e.g., for resistor: variable, fixed, etc.); datasheet is a link to an online datasheet for the component so extra information can quickly be looked up about the component.

Lastly on the Component stock sheet is the quantity column which records how many there is of a particular type of component. When you get more components or use components in a project it's important to remember to update the quantity. While talking about quantity, while I haven't done it yet, it would be helpful for the colour of each row to change depending on the quantity (e.g., red for zero stock, yellow for >0 but <10, green >10).

Adding a new component takes a bit of work which typically involves adding to the three sheets. Firstly, if the type and/or sub type of the new component has not already been added to the Component type/sub type list sheet then that needs to be done. Next, on the Components sheet add the name of the component in the Name column (e.g., 555). Then, select the type and sub type from the drop-down along with a link to the datasheet in the Datasheet column if required. It is on this sheet that a link is created between the component name and its type, sub type and datasheet.

The last thing to do is to go to the Component stock sheet and in the Name column select from the drop-down or type in the name of the component. The component type, sub type and datasheet link will appear leaving you to enter the quantity value.

As can be seen in the screenshot above we can make use of the built-in filters so that we can see components of a certain type or sub type.