You are here

Home » Forums » Other Forums » Off Topic Forum

What App to use for a database/catalog

10 posts / 0 new
Log in or register to post comments
Last post
March 3, 2010 - 9:52pm
#1
varxtis
Offline
Last seen: 7 years 2 days ago
Joined: 2010-02-01 12:36
What App to use for a database/catalog

Hey, Im curious. . . does anyone have any suggestions what portableapp I could use to create a database or catalog of things. I know that was a pretty vague description, but a friend of mine has created a story of sorts that blend various universes (Star Trek, Star wars, Battlestar Galactica, and I think even Terminator) as a fan fic, role-playing game. Anyway, I need to be able to cataloge something like the following

•Faction
>Faction 1
- Race
a.)race
b.)race 2
c.)race 3
d.)etc
>Faction 2
- Race
a.)race
b.)race 2
c.)race 3
d.)etc
>Faction 3
- Race
a.)race
b.)race 2
c.)race 3
d.)etc

•Planet
- subtopic
a.) subsubtopic

Something like that. I would play around with the directory arrangement.
But I want to be able to make/map-out root-tabbed directories of information and if possible, images. Something like an appendix. Any suggestions?

Top
March 4, 2010 - 3:45am
str
str's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 8 months ago
Joined: 2008-06-18 13:20
Perhaps Data Crow or KeyNote

Perhaps Data Crow or KeyNote is something that you might take a look at:

http://www.datacrow.net

http://code.google.com/p/keynote-nf/

Top
March 4, 2010 - 8:32am
Darkbee
Darkbee's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 10 months ago
Joined: 2008-04-14 09:41
Suggestions

Sounds like the type of thing the mind mapping tool FreeMind would be good for.

Otherwise for small snippets of text that can be searched and tagged, I'd recommend TiddlyWiki or WikiOnAStick (affectionately known to me as "StickWiki"), both single, self-modifying HTML files that you edit in your favorite browser. They are both considered "personal Wikis".

Otherwise, I'd give a thumbs up to KeyNote as suggested above (the link I give here is to the original project), one of the best tree-style information managers IMHO. If Keynote is too detailed then try Mempad. Failing that, you could try Neomem, which is more database style driven information storing. I've used it a little bit and it seems useful but not as intuitive as some of the others suggested in my opinion, at least initially.

All of the above programs are portable to the best of my knowledge.

Top
March 4, 2010 - 1:45pm
varxtis
Offline
Last seen: 7 years 2 days ago
Joined: 2010-02-01 12:36
Awesome

Holy crap guys, thanks, these are all fantastic. Im happy ^_^ Thank you again.

Top
March 4, 2010 - 4:52pm
varxtis
Offline
Last seen: 7 years 2 days ago
Joined: 2010-02-01 12:36
Sry to be so needy

I ran through most of the programs, and as far as layout is concerned, Wiki on A Stick seems to be the best. But the disappointing part is that I feel like Im having to type out all the data, and the layout all by basic HTML, no different than a self sustained HTML file. I notice that since theres a JAR file, enabling its own script system, so in some areas making the scripts much easier. But lets say I have A list filled with characters (people)
Each has there own race, strengths, levels, factions, etc.
I want a system, where I plug in the data, it shows up in Table of Contents Form, but when a person clicks "factions" under a character, it brings up all the characters under that faction. I am going to revisit the other programs that you guys had listed, but I really like the wikipedia format with it layouts and ability to embed images. If there was some kind of general script that was like "click =factions; ref =faction name (all characters)" or some jargon like that, Id definitely stick with Wiki on A Stick. Any suggestions?

Top
March 4, 2010 - 11:23pm
(Reply to #5)
str
str's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 8 months ago
Joined: 2008-06-18 13:20
If you would like to use a

If you would like to use a Wiki style for your project, then you could also try WikiServer:

http://www.wikiserver.org

"A WikiServer is a WikiEngine* that is completely self-contained - it includes its own HTTP server, and so does not require CGI support, Perl, or even a separate Web server such as Apache or IIS."

Top
March 5, 2010 - 1:41pm
(Reply to #6)
Darkbee
Darkbee's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 10 months ago
Joined: 2008-04-14 09:41
Then try...

Then TiddlyWiki would be a better system because you can use tags (keywords). Wiki on a Stick doesn't support tags does it, if I remember correctly? In addition "tiddlers" (or Wiki entries) can be tags themselves. So you can have a Tiddler that is a faction, and when you create characters you add that faction name as a tag to each appropriate character tiddler. Then, when you view the faction tiddler it will automatically list all the characters that have been tagged with that faction. I don't believe Wiki on a Stick has this notion. Same principle applies for Race; you create a Race Wiki entry (tiddler) then simply tag your relevant characters with that Race. They say a picture paints a thousand words so this following screenshot probably explains more easily what I mean. Notice that boxes labeled "tagging" and "tags". Each Tiddler has (optional) "tags" and some Tiddlers display a list of other Tiddlers that are "tagging" them. Effectively what you have is a system of hierarchical tags.

TiddlyWiki Tagging Screenshot example

To be honest, the more you describe what you're looking for the more it sounds like you want a database, so you might want to look at the database with OpenOffice. I've never used it myself but from what I gather it's very similar to Microsoft Office's Access.

Have you tried looking for things like Dungeons and Dragons character creators? There are specialized applications out there that people have created specifically aimed at fantasy role-playing creation. Perhaps those would best serve your needs? Although it might not be exactly what you're after, it might be possible to tailor it to what you need. I don't know of any specifically since it's not something that I personally do.

Top
March 10, 2010 - 2:22pm
(Reply to #7)
varxtis
Offline
Last seen: 7 years 2 days ago
Joined: 2010-02-01 12:36
thnx

Ya, The more i try to think about it and work on it, the more i get frustrated at myself for not know what I want. Its like I want the end without the means. I'll look at OpenOffice. TiddlyWiki was pissing me off because I couldnt personalize it. Its like it gave the option to change the name of the page from Tiddlywiki to whatever Id want, but it never saved my changes even though I clicked save. I was two inches from stabbing my laptop with a screwdriver.

Top
March 10, 2010 - 7:11pm
(Reply to #8)
Darkbee
Darkbee's picture
Offline
Last seen: 2 years 10 months ago
Joined: 2008-04-14 09:41
Local file only.

To save changes you have to make sure you download the TiddlyWiki file and open the HTML file locally. Saving changes to a TiddlyWiki file directly on the web won't work.

So your browser URL should be something like:
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Username/My%20Documents/tiddlywiki.html

If you want to have the file preserved online then you need to use a service like TiddlySpot, which lets you upload your edited file.

The problem you're going to have with a database is that you start with nothing, a blank slate. So, if you don't know what you want, then it's kinda hard to build something based on nothing. It's like building a house with no architectural plans. At least with something like TiddlyWiki, you have a basis to enter some information and play around with it to suit your needs.

Just some observations.

Top
February 14, 2023 - 5:28pm
Ben The Balladeer
Ben The Balladeer's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 month 2 weeks ago
Joined: 2023-02-14 16:39
Database

https://cathy.en.lo4d.com/windows
I've been using this free one for ages
A new version because of the many Microsoft changes
Worked until last year with the old one
Good Luck
Ben

BbF

Top
Log in or register to post comments