suzanne(et al) this question really should indicate a good reason why lose of us database nerds keep recomending that we let the computer keep track of assigning numbers. then all we have to do is tell it what is related to what and in what capacity. an excellent example of this functionality was stated in the comment about Multi Mimsy by Willoughby. any well designed relational database can handle this. i know that everyone has old data that adheres to some numbering scheme. if we can forget about the 'meanings' of those numbers and consider them merely unique identifiers that meaning nothing, then it should become obvious that as long as the database has a unique ID for a record then any number of records can easily reference that record. again, all we care about is the information in that record (and its related records). as far as we, as humans, are concerned the ID for the record is not information. it's only purpose is to tell the database system that it is individual. Gary Acord Acord INformation Management [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Museum discussion list On Behalf Of Suzanne Quigley Sent: Saturday, May 31, 1997 10:22 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: numbering contemporary works (was cataloguing....) Watching this thread on museum-l, I would love to have respondents from museums of contemporary art - anyone out there? What do you do about numbering exhibition copies of an original (the original is owned and permission exists to have or to fabricate exhibition copies), or, refabrications (things for which a cerificate is owned allowing a museum to recreate a piece each time it is installed - ephemeral pieces, for example). What about when a museum owns both european versions and american versions of the same work (objects which may contain either electronics or lamps). What can be done to number/track back up equipment for objects where equipment is integral to the piece, but that same equipment doesn't age too well (monitors from the 60's, etc.). What about master tapes and videodisk copies which are part of a work but not necessarily the entire work? It seems that something beyond .a.b.c or .1.2.3 is needed here. Each object or component has to be tracked, so it needs a unique number. Suzanne ************ Suzanne Quigley Head Registrar, Collections and Exhibitions Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum 1071 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10128 212 423 3568 fax: 212 423 3650 email: [log in to unmask]