Why it works this way I don't know, but almost invariably, most people seem to try to find the most difficult, complex or involved way to solve a problem. I'd be willing to bet that most computer literate people, when told that a simple data base is all they need to keep track of their websites and blogs, will automatically open a new Microsoft Access or Excel page. Whoa! Hold it!!! What do you need all that for?

Remember a couple of sentences up when I said that all is needed is a 'simple data base?' That's exactly what I meant and neither of the two just mentioned qualify. Sure, Excel is an excellent program, particularly when you're in need of a spreadsheet. And Access is a full-blown data base program that generally comes with Microsoft Office. But both of'em are overkill for tracking websites and blogs.

However, all you need is a searchable data base where you can keep track of website/blog titles, site URL, user name and password. You're talking four fields. That's it. Even if you want to add a few more fields so you'll know when you created the site and the last time you updated it, simple will still do the job. What you're looking for isn't much more complicated than a ball point pen and a sheet of paper!

Since you're looking for a database program that will run on your computer, the obvious place to start looking in on one of the search engines such as Google (of course), Dogpile (my favorite) or one of dozens of others.

Type in 'database programs' and you get over 7 million results from Google. Dogpile whittles it down to 109. Now let's try 'free database programs.' That search string on Google produces a mindboggling 26 million plus results. Dogpile? 104.

No matter how few or how many results you are dealing with, either free or for sale, the great majority of database programs do not qualify as a simple, searchable data base. You have to remember that what we're looking for is something that doesn't take much more time to learn to use than picking up a ballpoint pen and searching for a sheet of paper.

As it happens, I found two. One was free and, in fact, came preloaded on one of my early computers. Namely, Microsoft Works. The one I have now is version 4.5, was originally designed to work with Windows 95 but does just fine with Windows 98SE.

The other is called Freedom Cardfile and it is exactly that, a program that mimics the old fashioned library card file. You can download the program for free evaluation. After 30 days, it'll cost you $19 to register it in order to continue using it. Incidentally, that's a one time fee, not an annual subscription.

Now that you've settled on a database program (Hopefully a simple one.), you have to deal with the next question...what do you need to list.

If you're only keeping track of your own blogs or personal websites, the answer is generally obvious. Four fields are not only the bare minimum, they are generally all that the average person will need. Name them anything you want, but I would suggest that the ones I mentioned earlier in this Lens will work quite well for you:

Site/Blog Name
URL
User Name
Password

If you have a passion for statistics or need to track other information, simply add a few more fields. One other thing...you will also need a title for your database and since we're trying to keep things simply, why not the obvious one? Site Codes.

By the way, both of the programs I mentioned (along with just about any database program made) allow you to view the data in different ways, sort the data up, down and sideways, along with a substantial number of other options. If you can get this much flexibility with a simple program, there's no need to use a more complicated one unless you have a real need for it.

When you do have a legitimate need for a more extensive database program, don't hesitate to move up. You'll know when the time arrives but that train hasn't pulled into the station if all you're trying to keep track of is maybe a dozen or so websites and /or blogs.

The bottom line is this: Pick a database program that does what you need with a reasonable amount of room for growth while remaining as simple as possible.