Creating Bible study reference system using Open Office Spreadsheets

[heirmiles]

Hi,

I'm just starting to create a basic database using Open Office software so I can create a user friendly cross-reference system of the NKJV. I already know that its a huge project, since I've been working on data entry of the NKJV text manually (for personal benefit) for a couple of years now. I also want to eventually expand the scope of the Data-base to include a "best quote" system of Historical exposition of each verse, as well as providing a comprehensive point and click thematic "what the Bible says" study of each verse. I know there are much better tools out there (e-sword, etc.) that I would never be able to improve upon, yet I still want to do this for my own benefit, and hopefully, down the line, share this with others.

Just wondering if anyone else has worked with "literary data-bases", and what sort of issues I might have to look out for as I develop this?

 

[EphesiaNZ]

Can I be really honest with you here?

While I admire you for attempting this I would say don't bother doing it. Using an office application like Open Office (you should really be using LibreOffice) for this is like trying to build a castle using gold bars - it can be done but its gonna be difficult!

In open source software now there is so much fragmentation with people "doing their own thing" instead of contributing back to existing long term projects its really becoming a bit of a mess out there.

You say there are better tools out there like Sword etc. Great, you could improve these projects with some of your time instead of trying to reinvent the wheel. Contact these projects and see if they need help (i bet you they will). Even if you're not a coder, many projects lack people willing to write documentation - especially if you can speak/write a few languages.

By helping out this way, instead of doing your own thing, you might get your 15 minutes of fame or at least your name on the projects website