QUOTE (DamienKnight @ Nov 13 2009, 12:26 AM)
Yes! The categories for Items are set by the way the book organizes them. This is great for small tables in a book, but does not work well for hunting down items via the category filter on the spreadsheet. I want to reorganize the gear into fewer groups, and make it easier to look up gear. Suggestions for this would be appreciated, and if you wanted to create a list of Category/gear name it would even more.
Foreword: Personally I don't think changing the categories would be the way to go, you have been strict in following the books and that pays in the long run, I think ("so this is listed under X, why can't I find it on the sheet?... why, why did they move it in that category and not in the other one??")
I think the right way to go is adding a page wich lists the equipment, so with a simple Search you can discover its category if you really can't find it.
Still, I'm sure you've followed the category names even more strictly than the people writing the books, so I recognize there is a need to unify some categories.
That said, I have compiled a list categories I would merge or rename, plese check it very well before applying it - actually, I would not be surprised if you'd discard some or all of my suggestion.
Sorry, it is a bit long, here it comes:
Merge anti-MAD system and Communications, name it Electronic Warfare
Merge ammunitiion per 10, misc ammunition per 10 and grenade in ammo&granades
Merge the two ARE categories, name of your choosing
Rename Biotech: Medical
Merge CHem-Sniffer in Chemtech. Consider merging Chemtech in Medical.
Rename Combat Chemical in Chemical weapons
Merge Commlink Accessory and Commlink Modules
Merge Data Software in Programs
Merge Acrtic Survival Equipment and Desert Survival Equipment in Survival Gear
Merge DocWagon Contract and ID/Credsitcks in ID/Credsticks/contracts
Take the Electronics category and disassemble it, for ex Jammers go into Electronic Warfare, and so on.
Merge Electronics Options in Electronic Warfare
Merge Enchanting Tools, Fetishes, Foci, Focus Formulae, Magical Goods, Magical Supplies, Metamagic Foci in Magical (or Mage's) equipment.
Merge Explosives per Kilo, accessories and detonators in Explosives
Delete Firearm Accessories, they should be on the Weapons page. Or at least merge them with Weapons Accessories (which, by the way, don't work)
Merge Grapple Gun in B&E Tools
Merge Magical Compounds in Compunds (same for drugs)
I have no idea what Magnetic Diffusion Shielding is (BTW, Sheilding is spelled wrong
)
Merge Misc. Electronics in Electronics
Merge Missile and Mortar Rounds, maybe merge them in ammo&granades
Merge MSPs in Subscriptions. Consider moving DocWagon from ID/cred to Subscriptions.
Also, it would be wonderful to take away all subscription from the gear listing and adding them to the Lifestyle section, so you know how many months you've paid/used and so on.
Merge Nexus H/S and Pre-packaged.
Merge Camping Gear in Odds&Ends.
I have no idea what PAB units are.
Merge Parachutes in Odds&Ends
Merge Passkeys to Security Devices
Peak Discharge batteries?
Merge Photographic Equipment with Odds&Ends
Merge Reacoil Accessories to whatever you did with Firearm Accessories
Merge Restraints with Odds&Ends
Merge RFID Tags per 20 to Electronic Warfare
Road Strips?
Add Rockets to whatever you did to Missiles
Merge Security Devices to Security Equipment
Add Sensor Package and Sensor software to Sensors
Add Simsense to Commlink Accessories
Add Skillsoft Clusters to Skillsofts
Add Slap Patches to Medical
Software/Chip?
Add Space Gear to Survival Gear
Add Special Tires in Vehicle Gear
Add Spell Formula to Magical (or Mage's) Equipment
Spy Toys?
Add Storage Media to Commlink Accessories
Add Tactical Software to Programs
Add Tools to Odds&Ends
Add Toxic Environment Grar to Survival Gear
Toxins?
Add Underwater Gear to Survival Gear
Utility Chemicals? Odds&Ends, probably
Merge Vision Wear, Vision Wear Enhancement, Audio Enhancer in Wear.
Delete Weapon Accessories or at least fix them.
Add Wireless Negation to Electronic Warfare.