Advancement tracking

[scouterdennis]

I would like to hear what others are using to track awards and advancements in their units.

After voting, please post a reply with some details including what you like and what you don't like about the system that you are using.

-Dennis

[WVBeaver05]

Custom spreadsheet.

Advancement chair uses it and likes it. She always has the info we need.

What more can I ask for(?)

YiS

[scouterdennis]

I have used the following Trax spreadsheets:
CubTrax Series - TigerTrax, WolfTrax, and BeltLoop&PinTrax (so far)
KnotTrax - CubKnotTrax
TrainingTrax - CubTrainingTrax

I am currently the Wolf Den Leader and Pack Trainer. I have found the spreadsheets to be useful and, since I am very familiar with Excel (and Calc), easily customizable. The only shortcoming I have found is that the TrainingTrax does not easily allow for one person to hold more than one position.

The Trax spreadsheets, besides being free of charge, are also available in an OpenOffice Calc version (the CubTrax Series is, at least).

-Dennis

[Quailman]

Website (ScoutTrack.com, Scoutdata.com, JayNorth ScoutTracker, eTrailtoEagle.com, other)

Does Troopmaster fall under "other"? It's not exactly a website, but it's web-based.

While a Webelos leader several years ago I used a spreadsheet I downloaded from The Virtual Cub Leader's Handbook.

[scouterdennis]

I would classify Troopmaster under "website". I should have called it "web based" or "something you use a web browser to access".
-D

edit: I retract my previous comment. I misunderstood and thought that Troopmaster ran as a local server. Classify as "Other database (offline or custom)"

[scoutaholic]

I would classify Troopmaster under "website". I should have called it "web based" or "something you use a web browser to access".
-D

Of the choices given, I would have classified Troopmaster as "Other database (offline or custom)". Although the 2008 version looks more like a web-based system than ever before (the biggest disappointment of the upgrade), I've not noticed it actually doing anything web-based except checking for updates and messages from TMI.

I may be old school, but I don't want anybody else keeping my data for me on some server. I want complete control of my data, and don't want anyone else messing with it (or getting unauthorized access to it).

I've been using troopmaster for almost 10 years now, and I can't think of any way that moving more web-based would improve it.

[Mrw]

We are using Troopmaster with the database hosted on their server so the couple of us that use the database all have the same information.

The only thing I do not like about it is that I do not own a laptop right now and cannot access the information during meetings or update it as the boys give me information. Really a pretty minor complaint.

I do keep paper records as well. Prior to troopmaster, I was using a custom excel spreadsheet. Troopmaster is an improvement over this as it allows ne to upload the advancements to ScoutNet and so they only need to be recorded once and not twice.

[FieldSports]

Troopmaster even allows sync with my PDA. Very cool to track at meetings and upload updates. You can also back up server files locally.

[AquilaNegra2]

Our Council has online advancement tracking.

Pros: Easy to use, automatically prints forms, information is already in the Council database, more than one person can be authorized to enter information, can sort several different ways, prints out a shopping list for CoH, free.

Cons: Mistakes (such as entering badge for wrong Scout) can't be corrected except by the Council, can only print current (since last CoH) lists.

Overall, a big improvement from the hand-done days.

[ronin718]

I don't so much track the whole unit, I just track my son and also whatever patrol I happen to be working with.

[WeeWillie]

Troopmaster Dot Net.

Our Advancement Chair's PC went down and we weren't sure we could recover the files. Troopmaster Dot Net has on line back up so we don't have to worry.

Files can be saved and uploaded to Internet Advancement.

Advancement Card & Blue Cards are printed from Troopmaster so we don't have to buy and handwrite the cards.

[VenturingL]

We currently use paper forms kept in 3 -ring binder. Sounds old fashioned, but I can take anywhere (even primitive camping) & can access - no electricity or wireless required. Have started submitting advancement and awards online to Council (understand this will be only way to submit next year). I work with a Venturing Crew - small in size compared to most troops, so paper is not cumbersome. I also teach a MB class for my son's troop - I keep a record in excel on home computer for attendance/backup for requirement sign-offs.

[cescout]

I would classify Troopmaster under "website". I should have called it "web based" or "something you use a web browser to access".
-D

Of the choices given, I would have classified Troopmaster as "Other database (offline or custom)". Although the 2008 version looks more like a web-based system than ever before (the biggest disappointment of the upgrade), I've not noticed it actually doing anything web-based except checking for updates and messages from TMI.

I may be old school, but I don't want anybody else keeping my data for me on some server. I want complete control of my data, and don't want anyone else messing with it (or getting unauthorized access to it).

I've been using troopmaster for almost 10 years now, and I can't think of any way that moving more web-based would improve it.

That is the same way I felt, remember when their whole dot net servers crashed, lucky data was backed up and I said that was it for me, I moved all of the data to my own troop's server and that way I have complete control of it and anytime there was a problem I can go in there and fix it my self, and their business hours flat out suck. I am sorry to say.

[Chief J]

I have used Packmaster when in Cub Scouts, and Troopmaster in Boy Scouts.

While our Troop uses Troopmaster, our Council uses the Internet Advancement Program from BSA. We do keep track of everything in Troopmaster, but also enter the advancement information onto the Internet Advancement PRogram.

Chief J