Collection Management

Overview

This single module lets you define and manage any number of distinct collections of artifacts and/or archival documents. Ease of use, combined with a powerful database, make Sumac Collection Management appropriate for collections from a few thousand to a few million objects.

By providing both collection and archive management, and integrating with Sumac’s many other modules, Sumac provides a complete integrated solution for managing your contacts and communications, members and volunteers, donations, reminders, and many other types of information.

Features

• Record any number of numeric attributes (e.g. weight, density, length, opacity), non-numeric attributes, and physical attributes (e.g. material, condition) for each object.
• Relate objects to each other and annotate the relationships as appropriate.
• Enter a single object into one or more collections.
• Record unlimited HTML styled notes with each object.
• Manage related electronic media. Connect any number of electronic documents to each object. View them instantly within Sumac or open them using the default program on your computer. Automatically and instantly convert any image file to a thumbnail.
• Track any number of dynamically-updated and dated information like conservation actions, insurance actions, locations, and provenance information, for any object.
• Handle historical dates where parts of the date are unknown. For example, a hand-written date showing “Ju~~ 14, 186~” (where ~ means illegible) can be efficiently recorded as “June or July 14, 1860-1869”.
• Enhance data accuracy while increasing speed:
  • Extensive use of lookup lists ensures standardized data entry terminology and easy searching.
  • Create template objects for both standardization and rapid entry of similar objects or documents.
  • Automate validation of object numbers.
• Find any collections record with Sumac’s easy-to-use research functions and searching capabilities.
• Build lists of objects (e.g. for exhibition) by simply dragging them from one window to another.
• Classify objects using your own scheme, Nomenclature 3.0 (built-in), or both at once.

The publisher and copublisher of Nomenclature 3.0, AltaMira Press and AASLH, are happy to offer Sumac clients a 30% off discount on Nomenclature.