Thematic Index prototype

I understand a bit what you want to say. You want to develop the notion of facet.

well, the "Tree" you are seeing is the 1st facet.

The time period, cutter, groups, etc are each independent facets which are not part of the "tree".

The "tree" is really to group stuff from general to specify. Is to make sure you don't end up with weapons classed next to creatures classed next to government types.

The other facet are to refine and sort the elements or maybe filter (did not thought about this) if there are too much elements.

There is one point that you need to consider is that this database is not used for searching, it is used for browsing.

User will not be searching a specific information or a specific entry, they would browse throught a list of entries to get ideas for their own design.

So this is a reason why for example, I don't not need a sophisticated search engine and browsing the pages of a (paper-PDF) index could probably do the job for most people.

Still, I like the idea of filters. If I am making a science fiction game, I might only include the high technology and science fiction entries so that it speed up the browsing.

Now some comments about your entries suggestions:

"Category – Era: Prehistoric; Ancient/Medieval; Modern; Futuristic, Other"

This has been done. There are 6 time period which includes fantasy and alternate reality. Each time period has clear indication on which technology is required to pass to the next period. The periods are: Prehistorical, ancient, renaissance, modern, High Technology and science fiction. Of course time period are optional since some concepts does not have any.

"Category – Setting: Historical, Epic Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Extra-Planar, Other"

This has been rejected. The problem is that there is an infinite amount of setting. So I mostly rely on the technology level of the time period. A fantasy setting still have a time period, the fact of beign realistic or not has no importance.

"Category – Type: Location, Building/Room, Fantastic Creature, Normal Creature, Higher Creature, Wearable Item, Gear, Furniture, Machinery, Vehicles, Other"

This is the classification scheme in the document. The possibility of contents are so vast that they need to be regrouped an organized in a tree structure. I intend to use at most 3 level deep.

Attribute – Description: (200 character admin input) only description from in-game encyclopedia allowed, send a screen capture for admin to input"

I decided to remove descriptions. I am not making a dictionnary. If people want to know the meaning of a word, they can search for the definition elsewhere. I really just want a word list to stimulate creativity.

I hope its clearer.

I am an ex-computer programmer. I have studied pretty well relational databases and I know SQL.

Right now, the way I wanted to design the input of new word is that the player will be able to select, using combo box, the various classification information. Then when the classification is set, they just type the word and type enter. Then every new typed word will have the same properties until changed.

I will also have to create a batch input method. Probably same thing, you set up the parameters, enter a comma separated value of words and they get added to the database.