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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 07:06:31
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For those of you, like Wooly and sage, who have put together your own data-bases for FR material, what program do you use? 
I wanted to put together a comprehensive monster list (from every edition and even 3rd party D20 sources), that I can look-up a beastie by genus (reptilian, Simian, etc), preferred terrain, Intellect (vs animal or Beast), CR, and also type (as in 3e's version - Elemental, Giant, Undead, Aberration,etc, ect..)
The purpose of this would be if I wanted to find ALL of the critters that hang out in Jungles, all I do is push a button for a list of those. If I wanted to stock my Necropolis with cool Undead, I push a different button for those.
You get the idea... what would I use for a searchable data-base like that?
P.S. - I wouldn't actual include any of the info in the data-base, just the location of the critter in an official source (otherwise the thing would be ginormous, and probably illegal).
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Fillow
Master of Realmslore
France
1608 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 08:22:09
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Hoping I understood your question Mark, I would say that Access is the best tool to do that but Excel is quite more easy to use.
The latter is the one I use for the projects I made (as Taverns and inns, 4E index, areas in novels,...).
There are functions that permit to sort, select, filter,...
You can easily copy/paste data into a word file, convert boards to texts and texts to boards, aso... |
"Today is a good day to smile",
Fillow Big'n'Book Mahlemiut 'Lead-dog', Son of Garl, Wanderer of the Masked Leaf and Namer of Oghma.
- Fight in the arena and have fun ! : La brute.com
- Feel free to take part to these projects : Post-Spellplague bibliography ; 4E index project ; Taverns and inns of the Realms ; Dogs of the Realms ; Descriptions of places in the novels ; forums, RPG, FR Abbreviations and Acronyms
- Come and have a look at the already asked questions from the Forgotten Realms Trivia Challenge
I am a French FR fan, so please forgive my lapses in English language and do not hesitate to correct me. Thanks a lot. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 08:35:52
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To put it simply, I didn't much care for the options offered by most of the database-like software that's currently available. So I've been slowly working on my own that incorporates directly into SageOS. It's all a rather complicated weave at the moment, but it suits my purposes enough [with the odd bug popping up here and there] for the time being.
I use simple categories for sorting at the moment... like names, places, editions, etc. Eventually though, I'll want to have all the information cross-referenced, using more complex category types [much like you suggest above] to the point where it's simply a matter of clicking on one piece of information and seeing how it relates to all other associated bits of Realmslore that I've got stored. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3249 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 13:56:00
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I love to use SQL for database activities, but MySQL doesn't seem to cut it enough for me and I just don't have the financial freedom to invest in an actual server and SQL software. Access is good, but I hate data entry. This is resolved by importing from another source, but at some point you have to bite the bullet and just update the tables directly. Also, Access doesn't do much for me since it's hard to create something that calculates fields so nicely as Excel does.
Mostly I record stuff in Excel. If I need to look it up, I'll do searches in the workbook. |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Nerfed2Hell
Senior Scribe
USA
387 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 14:05:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
P.S. - I wouldn't actual include any of the info in the data-base, just the location of the critter in an official source (otherwise the thing would be ginormous, and probably illegal).
I'm no lawyer, but as far as I can tell, you wouldn't be breaking any laws if you did include everything as long as you weren't distributing copies of your database. For personal use only, you'd be fine. |
Some people are like a slinky... not good for much, but when you push them down the stairs, it makes you smile. |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3249 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 14:08:51
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That's actually how most copyright law works. If you notice the warnings on DVDs/Music/Sportscasts, they say it's illegal for the unlawful copy AND REDISTRIBUTION of the product. They want to make sure if there is a public performance of the piece, the creator gets a piece of the proceeds.
Anyway, back to the topic. |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Nerfed2Hell
Senior Scribe
USA
387 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 14:47:23
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| Back to the topic, something I've been looking into for whole campaign management is the idea of using a personal wiki (I'm checking out WikidPad right now, its free). You can enter in the basic info you're talking about now... but you would be able to build on those entries (adding stats and detail) if you ever felt ambitious. This is amount of flexibility would allow you to just list the basic info you want --name and sourcebook-- but also give you space to put in entire monster entries for homebrew stuff that doesn't have a sourcebook to look up. |
Some people are like a slinky... not good for much, but when you push them down the stairs, it makes you smile. |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3249 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 14:52:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Nerfed2Hell
Back to the topic, something I've been looking into for whole campaign management is the idea of using a personal wiki (I'm checking out WikidPad right now, its free). You can enter in the basic info you're talking about now... but you would be able to build on those entries (adding stats and detail) if you ever felt ambitious. This is amount of flexibility would allow you to just list the basic info you want --name and sourcebook-- but also give you space to put in entire monster entries for homebrew stuff that doesn't have a sourcebook to look up.
Excuse me, I think I need a cold shower. WikidPad Home Page |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Nerfed2Hell
Senior Scribe
USA
387 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 15:07:17
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That's the one.  |
Some people are like a slinky... not good for much, but when you push them down the stairs, it makes you smile. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36912 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 15:33:51
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I have no database. It's been so long since I touched one that I simply don't remember how to do one.
Me, I've just got a buttload of individual files scattered around. When Ed or another designer drops an interesting bit of lore, I open Notepad*, copy the info, and save it with the appropriate file name -- for example, "Ed on Aloevan of Ardeep, Elven Chosen of Mystra". And then the files go into a folder named for the designer.
When I want to look up the info, I either browse the folder until I find it, or I let Google Desktop Search find it for me.
It's not the best way of doing things, but it is quick and easy.
*I'm perhaps one of the few people that actually uses Notepad on a regular basis. It's a simple program with not a lot to it, but it makes an excellent digital scratch pad. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3249 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 15:48:47
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| Wooly, you should take a look at WikidPad. I'm going to when I get home from work. What it looks like is that it's just like Notepad, except you can cross-reference all those text files together with just a *little* coding. (By a little, it's saying adding brackets around indexed words ) |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36912 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2008 : 17:12:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
Wooly, you should take a look at WikidPad. I'm going to when I get home from work. What it looks like is that it's just like Notepad, except you can cross-reference all those text files together with just a *little* coding. (By a little, it's saying adding brackets around indexed words )
I don't feel like wading thru all my files, though. I've got more than a thousand, just from Ed! |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3249 Posts |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2008 : 00:31:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Me, I've just got a buttload of individual files scattered around. When Ed or another designer drops an interesting bit of lore, I open Notepad*, copy the info, and save it with the appropriate file name -- for example, "Ed on Aloevan of Ardeep, Elven Chosen of Mystra". And then the files go into a folder named for the designer.
That's largely what I've done with the "So Saith Ed" files -- isolating most of the replies and categorising them under specific headings and/or groups. It makes it a lot easier to find certain tidbits from Ed when you're looking for them.
The only problem with it all, is that it is an incredibly time-consuming project. Fortunately, you've got all that exciting Ed-crafted Realmslore to get you through it. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2008 : 00:46:23
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Thank you for all your answers and input.
I thought about just putting everything in a massive pdf file, and then use adobe's built-in search feature to find categorys of stuff, but now I'm thinking that Wikipad might be just what I've been looking for.
A personal Wiki... I like the sound of that. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2008 : 20:31:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I have no database. It's been so long since I touched one that I simply don't remember how to do one.
Me, I've just got a buttload of individual files scattered around. When Ed or another designer drops an interesting bit of lore, I open Notepad*, copy the info, and save it with the appropriate file name -- for example, "Ed on Aloevan of Ardeep, Elven Chosen of Mystra". And then the files go into a folder named for the designer.
When I want to look up the info, I either browse the folder until I find it, or I let Google Desktop Search find it for me.
It's not the best way of doing things, but it is quick and easy.
*I'm perhaps one of the few people that actually uses Notepad on a regular basis. It's a simple program with not a lot to it, but it makes an excellent digital scratch pad.
I've been doing the same thing... but lately I've been downloading all the lore PDFs I can find from the WotC site, and the ones that aren't available as PDF, I download in printable webpage format and convert them to PDF. I still have a massive collection of text files that I have started to format in Word for conversion to PDF... but the process is time-consuming. I'm trying to check out that WikidPad right now, but the page is taking forever to load.  |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
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Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2008 : 20:33:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
Wooly, you should take a look at WikidPad. I'm going to when I get home from work. What it looks like is that it's just like Notepad, except you can cross-reference all those text files together with just a *little* coding. (By a little, it's saying adding brackets around indexed words )
If that's how it works... I need a cold shower too.
Yay! Page is finished loading! If you don't hear from me for the rest of the weekend, you know why...  |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
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A 'digital' question...
