This is something kind of new but if I had a sub to do this for me I would love it............

How many accounts, software and or gadgets are you subscribed to or own? Lots of them, I'm sure. It can be so overwhelming. If you could track items for other VAs it could help them be organized. It would be like an inventory of what they have. From date subscribed or purchased, what the product is, what version it is, if there is a ID or password, if it's a trial or purchased and the website address.

If anyone has a spreadsheet they currently use to keep track of their own items please share. Are you doing this for yourself?

I have a spreadsheet I use to keep up with this. I also have a small Access database set up but I now mostly use it just to play with Access every now and then.

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Mattie Stokes

I agree that it's a great idea to do this, but confess I haven't been that organized (sheer laziness!) I even depend mostly on memory for passwords, and that has got to stop!

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

I have a project folder on my desk and write them down as I sign up.. the whole front of the folder is full!

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www.sageva.com
Shelley Halpain,

Here's a couple of tips on keeping track of account names and passwords:

1) If you absolutely must write them down, please keep them locked up when not in use. The best password in the world won't save you if someone just has to look around on your desk to find it. Seriously, I had one person who had her network login and password written on a note taped to her monitor. I told her she made the network admin (me) cry.

2) If you keep passwords in a file, please do not have the word password (or pw) in the file name. Again, folks will just search your hard drive for any files with that name and find it easily. Also, do not use the word password in the file itself. Use some other name for the column or field, since people can search for a word in the file.

3) Once you create your file, be sure to encrypt it. Right click it in My Computer and then choose encrypt (if you're running Windows XP or higher). That way, no one can access it but you.

4) If you pay for support for a particular software, include the expiration date so you can be sure to keep on top of support payments instead of accidentally letting them lapse (trust me, I know this one from experience *laughs).

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Jodith Allen
Administrative Arts