Record Collection Manager

Both the script and the Readme are generated by AI using google Gemini ;)

This is a Python script that helps you manage your record collection. It allows you to add, view, search, edit, and delete records, and it saves your data to a JSON file.

How to Use

1. Prerequisites:

   • Python 3.x installed on your system.

2. Download the script:

   • Download the record_manager.py file.

3. Run the script:

   • Open your terminal or command prompt.
   • Navigate to the directory where you saved the record_manager.py file.
   • Run the script using the command:

     python record_manager.py

4. Follow the menu:

   • The script will display a menu with the following options:
     1. Add Record: Add a new record to your collection.
     2. View Collection: Display all records in your collection.
     3. Search Collection: Search for records by artist, album title, genre, or year.
     4. Edit Record: Edit an existing record in your collection.
     5. Delete Record: Delete a record from your collection.
     6. Sort Collection by Artist: Sort the records in your collection alphabetically by artist name.
     7. Generate HTML List: Generate an HTML file of your record collection.
     8. Save and Exit: Save your collection to a file and exit the script.
   • Enter the number corresponding to your choice and press Enter.

5. Enter record details:

   • When adding or editing a record, you will be prompted to enter the following information:
     • Artist
     • Album Title
     • Genre
     • Release Year
     • Format (e.g., LP, 7", CD)
     • Notes (optional)

6. Search for records:

   • When searching, you will be prompted to choose a search criterion (artist, album, genre, year) and enter your search term.

7. Edit or delete records:

   • When editing or deleting, you will be shown a numbered list of your records. Enter the number of the record you want to edit or delete.

8. Save your collection:

   • Choose the "Save and Exit" option to save your collection to the record_collection.json file. This file will be created in the same directory as the script. Your data will be preserved between script runs.

Data Storage

• The script stores your record collection in a JSON file named record_collection.json.
• This file is created automatically when you run the script for the first time or when you save your collection.
• The script also generates an HTML file named record_collection.html when you choose the "Generate HTML List" option.

Features

• Add Record: Add new records to your collection.
• View Collection: View all records in your collection.
• Search Collection: Search for records by artist, album, genre, or year.
• Sort Collection by Artist: Sort the records in your collection alphabetically by artist name.
• Edit Record: Modify existing records.
• Delete Record: Remove records from your collection.
• Generate HTML List: Generate an HTML file of your record collection.
• Save and Exit: Save your data to a JSON file.
• Data Persistence: Your collection is saved to a file and loaded when you run the script again.
• Basic Input Validation: The script includes basic input validation, such as stripping whitespace.

Error Handling

• The script includes error handling for file loading issues. If the JSON file is corrupted, the script will start with an empty collection.
• The script also handles invalid user input, such as entering non-numeric values when a number is expected.

Enjoy managing your record collection!