Modding tools: Access vs. Excel

[Ed Kolis]

I know it might seem kind of strange to use MS Office applications to mod SE4, but they are really good at storing & manipulating data... The question is, should I use Access or Excel?

I'll list a few advantages of each:

Access:
-Stores data in named fields rather than arbitrary rows/columns
-Type checking and referential integrity ensure that all fields contain valid data
-Forms can be designed to input data more easily (without having to scroll all over the place)
-Many-to-many correspondence ideal for use with Abilities

Excel:
-Easier for calculating series of similar items (just Fill Down a formula)
-Can record macros that generate VBA code which can then be modified to do whatever you want
-I'm more familiar with VBA for Excel than for Access

Any thoughts? It would be cool to have a master database that you can edit with all the power of a database utility, but I just don't know enough about VBA to make the connections to import and export the data to the .txt files, which is the important part!

[Taera]

im sorry to go OT a little, but why do you people use such advanced tools for modding?

[Zarix]

Even little more OT. I prefer to use OpenOffice. It can do pretty much everything that I need but doesn't cost awfully like MS Office. OpenOffice could be better choice for a modding too because it is easier to get.

[Fyron]

Originally posted by Taera:
im sorry to go OT a little, but why do you people use such advanced tools for modding?

It is extremely useful for making mods with things like Tech Grids or complete changes to the entire game.

[capnq]

If you're modding something that involves a lot of numbers, like weapons or culture bonuses, a spreadsheet can help you see whether things are balanced. (I haven't used anything this complex myself, but my mods haven't been that ambitious.)

[PvK]

I used spreadsheets for designing my Proportions mod, to help with all of the calculations and to get statistics easily and to compare things, to graph the population effect curves, and so on.

I hate MS Abscess, BTW.

PvK

[zen.]

I usually go with Excel. I know that Access can compile data into charts that will look like like a spreadsheet, but it might just be overkill. Then again, I suck at using Access.

Just use whatever is most comfortable. If you ever plan on releasing the code/database to the community, though, Excel is the more prevalent app.

zen

[Gryphin]

I use Access to store notes on SEIV in general.
To take advantage of Excells Calculations and Acccess DB functions:
Do the data manipulation in Excel and link the file to Access.
I have not tryed this and do not know how well it would work.
I would be happy to work with you on this.

[Ed Kolis]

Excellent idea!

I went ahead and ran a test to see whether if I linked an Excel spreadsheet into Access, and modified the data in Access, the spreadsheet would be changed, and indeed it was, which is good...

I also went ahead and created an Excel macro that loads any SE4 data file into a spreadsheet, assuming that the spreadsheet has appropriate column headings (what would be the fields of the database - "Long Name", "Short Name", "Tonnage", etc.) for the data file being loaded. It works on CompEnhancement.txt quite nicely! Now to write the export macro, and create all the worksheets to store the data for all the various SE4 files...

Then, once that self-contained modding tool is complete, I can create an Access database linked to the spreadsheet for those of us who have Access as well as Excel - then we can REALLY rock!

Thanks for the idea of the spreadsheet/database link! I wouldn't have thought of using BOTH!

Edit: You use Access for "general notes" on SE4? How? Like notes on empires you encounter, so you can easily search for what you need?

[ December 08, 2002, 03:21: Message edited by: Ed Kolis ]

[Phoenix-D]

"I also went ahead and created an Excel macro that loads any SE4 data file into a spreadsheet, assuming that the spreadsheet has appropriate column headings (what would be the fields of the database - "Long Name", "Short Name", "Tonnage", etc.) for the data file being loaded. It works on CompEnhancement.txt quite nicely! Now to write the export macro, and create all the worksheets to store the data for all the various SE4 files..."

I haven't figured Excel out yet, but this sounds like it would be *really* useful. Would you mind posting it when you get it finished?

Phoenix-D