What is the Sports Card Database?

Sports Card Database is an organizer app to help you enter and manage your entire sports card collection on your Mac or Windows computer. It is available as a free DEMO download. You can use the demo to test things out and see if you like it. If you decide to purchase it, you will receive an unlock code that will unlock the DEMO into the full working product.

How Much Does it Cost?

The Sports Card Database is available for purchase for $20 USD.

I Paid for the Registration, but Have Not Received the Unlock Code, Where is it?

It’s possible that the registration email went to your spam/junk folder. It’s also possible that your email provider (especially Yahoo & AOL) blocked the email before it even got to you, assuming it was also spam. In any event, please check your spam/junk folder and if it’s still not there within 10 mins of purchase, just send me an email and I’ll have things sorted out, thanks.

I Entered the Unlock Code, but it Doesn’t Work, Can You Please Help?

Please try the following steps in case the unlock code is not working for you:

1. Please be sure you’re downloading the installer/application directly from this web site here:
   https://www.inakasoftware.com/sports-card-database-download/
   (If you downloaded this from another site (like the Blowout Forum or elsewhere, please re-download this from the link above, thanks.)
2. If you’re typing the unlock code, since it’s long, please copy/paste this into the Registration window, and please be sure there isn’t an extra space at the end or any missing characters when pasting.
3. Please confirm you purchased the correct unlock code for your system, (Windows vs. macOS, etc.)

Lastly, if you’re still having any issues at all, I’m here to help and please just send me an email and I’ll be happy to assist you, thanks.

Will Sports Card Database Run on my Windows Computer?

Yes. The Minimum System Requirements are Windows 7 SP1 and later.

Will Sports Card Database Run on my Mac?

Yes. The Minimum System Requirements are macOS Sierra 10.13 and later.

NOTE: Since Apple routinely breaks things in the name of security with each new major system update, I cannot guarantee Sports Card Database will have all functions working properly for all macOS versions going forward.

Is the Sports Card Database Also Available as a Smartphone App?

No. The Sports Card Database is a computer application for macOS or Windows only.

Is That Cost a Subscription Fee Per Month, or a One-Time Cost?

That is a one-time cost. I hate all software subscription models.

How is the Demo Version Different from the Full Product?

The DEMO version has been limited to only for 25 cards maximum to be entered into the collection. After that, you will not be able to enter in new cards into the collection.

After Registering, Is There a Limit to the Number of Cards I Can Enter Into My Collection?

No, there is no limit. You can add an unlimited amount of cards to your database collection.
NOTE: I think technically there’s a limit of something around 64 quadrillion total cards that can be entered, but up until then, you’re good. 🙂

How Do I Upgrade to a New Version of Sports Card Database?

The upgrade process is simple, but just in case something goes sideways, it’s always best to backup the current entire Sports Card Database folder just in case before starting. Here is the process:

1. Launch your old version of Sports Card Database (the one that has your current card collection.)
2. Click the “Backup” button, or select Sports Card Database > Backup Card Collection to SCDB File…
3. A file named CardsBackup.scd will now be on your desktop with your card collection data.
4. Download and launch the new version of Sports Card Database.
   (You will need to enter your personalized unlock code you were emailed at the time of purchase)
5. Select Sports Card Database > Import Card Collection from SCDB File…
6. You will be asked if you want to Delete All Current Cards in the collection. Since these are just the demo cards, select Yes.
7. At the next pop-up window, select the CardsBackup.scd file from the Desktop, and you’re all set!

I Currently Use Excel to Organize My Sports Card Collection. Can I Import My Excel File Into Sports Card Database?

Yes, absolutely!

How Do I Import My Excel File Into Sports Card Database?

1. Launch Sports Card Database
2. Select Tools > Import Card Collection from Excel File…
3. Choose your Excel file in the next window.
4. Select the Source And Target fields to map your data so that it imports correctly.
   (For more information, please see below)

Don’t worry, if you ever make a mistake and import data that flows incorrectly, you can always just choose Cards > Delete All Cards… and try again. And if you still need more assistance, just Contact me and I’ll do my best to assist you. No worries.

How Do I Select the Correct Mapping When Importing from my Excel Spreadsheet?

I have made a step-by-step video that explains the Importing process from an Excel Spreadsheet. Please see below:

Since every collector’s Excel Spreadsheet is different, you’ll just need to map your data fields to the target fields in Sports Card Database. Once again, if you make any mistake, it’s no problem. Just select Cards > Delete All Cards… and start again.

My Excel Spreadsheet uses a Full Name field for every player. How do I import player names into your database since Sports Card Database has separate First & Last names?

When importing your Excel spreadsheet into Sports Card Database, just select the Full Name field. This field doesn’t appear on the Main Menu, but rather takes place behind-the-scenes, and then after importing, Sports Card Database can separate full names into First & Last Names automatically for you for all player names.

My Excel Spreadsheet combines a card grade for every player (i.e. “PSA 8”) How do I import card grades into your database since Sports Card Database has separate Grading Company and Grades for every card?

When importing your Excel spreadsheet into Sports Card Database, just select the Grade Combined field. This field doesn’t appear on the Main Menu, but rather takes place behind-the-scenes, and then after importing, Sports Card Database can separate your combined card grade information into the Grading Company and the Grade. This will be done automatically for you for all cards.

How Do I Add Front/Back Photos of My Cards Into the Database?

Just Drag n’ Drop photos into the Front or Back photo area. To delete a photo, simply click on the photo and scroll to the bottom and push the “Delete” button , or select “Delete Front Photo” or “Delete Back Photo” from the Edit menu.

My Excel Spreadsheet combines a card grade for every player (i.e. “PSA 8”) How do I import card grades into your database since Sports Card Database has separate Grading Company and Grades for every card?

When importing your Excel spreadsheet into Sports Card Database, just select the Grade Combined field. This field doesn’t appear on the Main Menu, but rather takes place behind-the-scenes, and then after importing, Sports Card Database can separate your combined card grade information into the Grading Company and the Grade. This will be done automatically for you for all cards.

My Excel Spreadsheet has an image LINK (URL) for every card. Is it possible to import a LINK of the front and back image of each card and have Sports Card Database import the image itself?

Yes. If you have an Excel Spreadsheet with LINKS (URLs) to each image for the card, when importing your Excel spreadsheet into Sports Card Database, just select Image Link URL Front or Image Link URL Back for each image of the card. After importing, you will then select Tools > Batch Import Image URL Links After Excel Import… and then Sports Card Database will then insert and download every image from the links you have provided in your Excel Spreadsheet.

NOTE: If you have hundreds, or even thousands of cards that need image importing and processing, this can take quite some time. If so, please make a cup of tea and come back in a while. Your will see a confirmation message when the importing has been completed. 

Can I Customize The Drop-Down Menus to Add Different Items?

Yes. For any drop-down menu (i.e. “Topps” for the Manufacturer drop-down menu) just scroll to the very bottom of the drop-down menu. Here, you will see two choices. You can select “Other…” to enter in a different item once in the text field, or you can select “Edit…” to edit the drop-down list for all future entries.

Can I Customize the Layout to Add New Data Fields or Change the Design?

No, that option is not available.

After Entering in a Graded Card’s Certificate Number, is there an Easy Way To Look Up Its Cert Number Online?

Yes and no. This is based on each company’s web site. PSA, Beckett, and CSG make it every easy to lookup cert numbers. Thus, after you have entered in a PSA graded card’s certificate number, just click on the large “PSA” logo that will appear on the Main Menu on PSA graded cards , and it will take you directly to PSA’s web site with this exact card’s information. You can also use this feature for CSG graded cards. Unfortunately, some companies like SGC do not make this option available.

What Are the Small Gray Icons in the Top-Right Area of the Main Menu saying eBay Current and eBay Sold?

Those are simply direct access buttons. If you click either of these buttons, they will take you directly to eBay and enter in a search for the exact card you have in your collection. For example, if you click the “eBay Sold” icon, it will search all sold completed sales for a “1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson PSA 5” that you may see listed for the card on display. This can assist in seeing the real-time accurate pricing on eBay for comparable cards. If you click the “eBay Current” icon, this will allow you to see the current listing prices on eBay for the card you have on display. This can assist you if you want to know the going asking price for a particular card, or if you want to buy another one, etc.

Can I Install Sports Card Database on Two Different Computers and have the Collection Sync Up Automatically?

No. The Collection is designed to be saved on a single computer. The collection is self-contained within the application, and does not require the network to run. It is not made to be entered in on multiple computers, and it cannot share a card collection over the network, etc. You can always import/export your collection from one computer to another, but the database is made to be contained on one computer.

On my Mac, when I click the Email icon, nothing happens, is there a fix?

This is a bug in Apple’s gatekeeping, that is in the name of security (it’s not). The good news is that it’s simple to fix this, you will need to launch the Terminal.app (Applications > Utilities > Terminal.app) and do the following:.

1. Launch the Terminal.app (It’s located in Applications > Utilities > Terminal.app)
2. You will then simply copy/paste the long string of text into Terminal.app:

If you are using Sports Card Database 1.0 please copy/paste the following into the Terminal.app window and then hit Enter:
/Applications/Sports\ Card\ Database\ 1.0/Sports\ Card\ Database\ 1.0.app

If you are using Sports Card Database 1.x please replace the “x” with the version number and copy/paste the following into the Terminal.app:
/Applications/Sports\ Card\ Database\ 1.x/Sports\ Card\ Database\ 1.x.app

That’s it!
You will not see anything in Terminal.app saying this was a success.

NOTE: This string above assumes you have not renamed anything and you have the Sports Card Database folder located inside your Applications folder as instructed.

Relaunch Sports Card Database, and click the Email icon.
You will now see a prompt asking for your permission to allowing Scripting from the Finder. Click to allow, and you’re all set. Enjoy!

Can I View my Sports Card Collection Online?

No. Sadly, this is something I actually can do, and I have implemented into my own database while running FileMaker Pro. However, when I create a stand-alone application for Mac and Windows that anyone can use (without having to purchase FileMaker,) the company removes certain functions, and one of them is prohibiting network uploading on these “runtime” stand alone applications. The good news is that you can use Sports Card Database on its own without having to purchase FileMaker for $500+ like I did. The bad news is that when creating these stand-alone versions for everyone, online uploading services are removed and you can’t easily upload your collection online.

However, what if anyone happens to actually own FileMaker Pro version 18 or later, can you then upload your collection online? Then in these rare cases, yes, you actually can open the Sports Card Database data file in FileMaker Pro and have online access to upload your card collection online from any device. If you do this, you will see a “hidden” FTP Settings and Upload options, again only if you load the data file via FileMaker Pro v18 or later. You will just need your own web hosting, and there are reliable free options available for this.