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🗂️ Collection Management

Manage your Magic: The Gathering collection using the powerful search and selection features.

Overview

Collection management in TCG Archivist is entirely search-based. Instead of browsing collection lists, you use the search feature to find cards, then perform bulk actions using selections or change select instances of cards in the card detail screen.

Key Concepts

  • Search-based workflow: Find cards using search filters
  • Card Detail Screen: View detailed information, manage instances, and see deck usage
  • Selection: Select all or multiple cards to perform bulk actions
  • Storage locations: Organize cards by assigning custom storage locations
  • Bulk actions: Move, export, delete, or add cards to decks in bulk

Finding Cards

  1. Tap the search icon in the top-right corner of the home screen
  2. Set search scope to Collection to search only your owned cards
  3. Use filters to find specific cards

Available Filters:

  • Card name, oracle text, type line
  • Colors, mana value, power/toughness
  • Set code, finish (normal/foil/etched)
  • Price range
  • Storage location - Find all cards in a specific location

Searching by Location

To find all cards in a specific storage location:

  1. Open search
  2. Set scope to Collection
  3. Select your storage location(s) from the location filter
  4. View all cards stored in those locations

See the Search & Results guide for detailed search instructions.

Collection View List

Access a comprehensive overview of all your storage locations from the home screen.

Accessing the Collection View List

  1. From the Cards tab on the home screen
  2. Tap the View Collection button
  3. View all your storage locations in one organized list

What You'll See

Each storage location displays: - Location name - The name you assigned (e.g., "Bin 1", "Binder A", "Trade Box") - Card count - Total number of cards stored in this location - Total value - Combined value of all cards in this location

Managing Storage Locations

From the Collection View List, you can:

Rename a Location: 1. Tap the location you want to rename 2. Select Rename 3. Enter the new name 4. All cards in this location will be updated automatically

Delete a Location: 1. Tap the location you want to delete 2. Select Delete 3. Confirm the deletion 4. All cards in this location will be removed from your collection

Export a Location: 1. Tap the location you want to export 2. Select Export 3. Choose export format (CSV) 4. Save or share the exported file

Deleting Locations

Deleting a storage location will remove all cards assigned to that location from your collection. This action cannot be undone. Make sure to export first if you want to keep a record.

Use Cases

  • Inventory check: See which storage containers have the most valuable cards
  • Organization: Rename locations to match physical labels on your storage
  • Bulk export: Export entire storage locations for insurance or trading purposes
  • Spring cleaning: Delete old or empty storage locations

Managing Storage Locations

Moving Cards Between Locations

Bulk Moving (via Search Results):

When you move cards from search results, it moves ALL versions that match your filters:

  1. Search for the cards you want to move
  2. Enable selection mode (tap the select icon)
  3. Select the cards to move, or select all with the square icon at the top
  4. Tap the Move icon
  5. Choose the destination location or create a new one
  6. Confirm to move all selected cards

Note

Moving from search results affects ALL instances of the selected cards that match your search filters.

Single Version Moving (via Card Details):

To move specific versions or instances of a card:

  1. Search for and tap on the card
  2. In the card detail view, go to the Collection tab
  3. Find the specific version/location you want to move
  4. Move that individual instance to a new location using the location icon

Note

This allows you to move a specific instance of a card printing from a specific location without affecting other instances of the same card printing in your collection.

Renaming Locations

To rename a storage location:

  1. Search for cards in that location
  2. Use mass selection to select all cards
  3. Move them to a new location with the desired name
  4. The old location will be removed when empty

Deleting Locations

To remove cards from a specific location:

  1. Search for cards in that location
  2. Use selection to select the cards
  3. Either:
  4. Move them to a different location
  5. Delete them from your collection entirely
  6. Locations with no cards in them are automatically removed.

Exporting Cards

How to Export

To export cards to CSV format:

  1. Search for the cards you want to export
  2. Enable selection mode
  3. Select the cards to export (or use Select All)
  4. Tap the Export icon
  5. Choose your export options (see below)
  6. Save or share the CSV file

Export Options

When exporting, you can customize the output:

Include Scan Order

  • Adds a "Scan Order" column with sequential numbers (1, 2, 3...)
  • Order is based on when cards were added to the database
  • Useful for tracking the order cards were scanned/added

Separate Rows (No Stacking)

  • Each database entry becomes its own row in the CSV
  • Removes the "Quantity" column
  • Perfect for tracking individual card history
  • Example: 3 copies of the same card = 3 separate rows

Default behavior (both options unchecked): - Cards are grouped by card + location + finish - Includes a "Quantity" column showing how many copies - More compact export format

CSV Export Format

Exported CSV files include these columns: - Location - Collection name - Name - Card name - Set code - Three-letter set code - Collector number - Card number in set - Finish - normal, foil, or etched - Quantity - Number of copies (unless "Separate Rows" is enabled) - Scryfall ID - Unique card identifier - Colors - Card colors - CMC - Converted mana cost - Type - Card type line - Scan Order - Sequential order number (if enabled)

Example Export (with Scan Order, without Separate Rows): 

Location,Name,Set code,Collector number,Finish,Quantity,Scryfall ID,Colors,CMC,Type,Scan Order
Binder 1,Lightning Bolt,lea,161,normal,3,abc123,R,1,Instant,1
Deck Box,Island,ust,213,foil,1,def456,U,0,Land,2

Example Export (with both options enabled): 

Location,Name,Set code,Collector number,Finish,Scryfall ID,Colors,CMC,Type,Scan Order
Binder 1,Lightning Bolt,lea,161,normal,abc123,R,1,Instant,1
Binder 1,Lightning Bolt,lea,161,normal,abc123,R,1,Instant,2
Binder 1,Lightning Bolt,lea,161,normal,abc123,R,1,Instant,3
Deck Box,Island,ust,213,foil,def456,U,0,Land,4

Viewing Your Collection

Cards Home Screen

The Cards tab on the home screen shows: - Collection Value - Total estimated value with trend chart - Card Count - Number of unique cards owned - Recent Additions - Scrollable list of recently added cards

Card Detail Screen

Tap any card in search results or recent additions to open the Card Detail Screen, which provides comprehensive information and management options across three tabs:

  • Details Tab - Card information and pricing
  • Collection Tab - Manage your owned instances
  • Deck Tab - View deck usage

See the Card Detail Screen section below for complete details.

Browsing Your Collection

To browse your entire collection:

  1. Open search
  2. Set scope to Collection
  3. Set storage location to Entire Collection
  4. Tap Search
  5. View all owned cards in grid format
  6. Use sorting options (name, CMC, price)

Card Detail Screen

The Card Detail Screen is your hub for viewing and managing individual cards. Access it by tapping any card in search results or recent additions.

Details Tab

The Details tab shows comprehensive card information:

Card Information

  • Card image - Full card art (front and back for double-faced cards)
  • Set name - Which Magic set the card is from
  • Collector number - Card number within the set

Pricing Information

  • Current market price - Real-time pricing from Scryfall
  • Price by finish - Separate prices for normal, foil, and etched versions

Collection Tab

The Collection tab shows all instances of this card you own and allows you to manage them:

Viewing Your Instances

Each instance is displayed with: - Finish - Normal, foil, or etched - Storage location - Where the card is physically stored - Quantity - How many copies in this location/finish combination

Managing Individual Instances

Select one or more instances to:

Change Finish: 1. Select the instance(s) 2. Tap the finish option 3. Choose Normal, Foil, or Etched 4. Confirm the change

Change Location: 1. Select the instance(s) 2. Tap the location icon 3. Choose an existing location or create a new one 4. Confirm to move the card(s)

Change Version: 1. Select the instance(s) 2. Tap the change version icon (double arrows icon) 3. Choose a different printing/version of the same card

Clone Instance: 1. Select an instance 2. Tap Clone Instance 3. A duplicate entry is created 4. Modify the location or finish as needed 5. Useful for adding more copies in the same or different locations

Delete Instance: 1. Select the instance(s) you want to remove 2. Tap the delete icon 3. Confirm removal

Note

Changes made in the Collection tab affect only the specific instances you select, not all copies of that card version.

Adding More Copies

To add more copies of this card: 1. Use Clone Instance to duplicate an existing entry 2. Or add via scanning/manual entry from the home screen

Deck Tab

The Deck tab shows which decks are using this card:

Deck Usage Information

For each deck containing this card, you'll see: - Deck name - Format - Commander, Modern, Standard, etc. - Quantity in deck - How many copies are in the deck - Section - Main deck or sideboard

Quick Deck Access

Tap any deck in the list to: - Open the deck builder for that deck - View the full decklist - Make changes to the deck

No Decks?

If the card isn't in any decks, the Deck tab will show: - "This card is not currently in any decks" - Option to add it to a deck directly from this screen

Managing Card Quantities

Editing Quantities

  1. Search for and tap on a card
  2. In the card detail view go to the collection tab
  3. Select a card in the location you want to clone
  4. Hit Clone Instane
  5. Update storage location if needed

Removing Cards

Bulk Deletion (via Search Results):

When you delete cards from search results, it removes ALL versions that match your filters:

  1. Search for the cards you want to remove
  2. Enable selection mode
  3. Select the cards to delete
  4. Tap the Delete icon
  5. Confirm removal

Warning

Deleting from search results removes ALL instances of the selected cards that match your search filters. This is permanent and cannot be undone.

Single Version Deletion (via Card Details):

To delete specific versions or instances of a card:

  1. Search for and tap on the card
  2. In the card detail view, go to the Collection tab
  3. Find the specific version/location you want to remove
  4. Delete that individual instance

This allows you to remove a specific printing or card from a specific location without affecting other versions.

Bulk Actions

Available Bulk Actions

Use mass selection to perform these actions on multiple cards:

  • Move Selected - Change storage location for multiple cards
  • Add to Deck - Add selected cards to a deck
  • Export Selected - Export cards to CSV
  • Delete Selected - Remove cards from collection

Using Mass Selection

  1. Search for cards
  2. Tap the select icon to enable selection mode
  3. Select individual cards or use Select All
  4. Choose your bulk action from the top bar
  5. Confirm the action

See the Search & Results guide for detailed mass selection instructions.

Collection Statistics

Home Screen Stats

View key collection metrics on the Cards tab: - Collection Value - Total estimated worth with trend chart - Percentage Change - Value change over time - Card Count - Total unique cards owned

Finding Valuable Cards

To find your most valuable cards:

  1. Search your collection
  2. Sort by Price (high to low)
  3. View cards in order of value

Organization Tips

Chaotic Storage Method

The recommended approach for physical organization:

  1. Scan cards into numbered bins without sorting (Bin 1, Bin 2, Bin 3, etc.)
  2. Use batch scanning to automatically assign storage locations
  3. When you need a card, search the app to find which bin it's in
  4. Fast, efficient, and eliminates complex organization

Learn more about chaotic storage

Location Naming

  • Use consistent naming for storage locations
  • Match digital location names to physical containers
  • Examples: "Bin 1", "Long Box 1", "Binder - Modern", "Trade Box"
  • Ensure all location names are unique

Maintenance

  • Update quantities after trades, sales, or purchases
  • Export your collection periodically as a local backup
  • Use search to find and organize cards by location

Next Steps