Prepper Database

Not sure that you will have too many takers. There could only be a down size to advertizing your preps. OPSEC! 😉

Not sure that you will have too many takers. There could only be a down size to advertizing your preps. OPSEC! 😉

Thank you for bringing that up ICRCC 🙂

My intention is to not have people tell me what they have, since it would be stupid to break OPSEC.

I guess a better way to ask for help is, if someone were to put a piece of software in front of you that let you track your own preps (ie. on your own computer), what information would you like to track?

For instance, if you were wanting to track how much food you have, my idea would be...

Food Name, its location, how much of that particular item you have, how much it weighs, the nutritional information, the production type (if it was grown, bought, etc), expiration.

Each database would be run locally on each individuals computer, not run off of a server owned by me. Even if everyone trusted me, if SHTF... there could be no internet, and now all your hard work went to waste unless you were religious about printing off your preps every week/month.

Just to give an update on what I currently have on the list to track (in broad terms) are...

Location
Livestock/Animal
Food
Liquid (water, juice, alcohol, etc)
Energy (wind, solar, stored gas, etc)
Other goods (playing cards, video games, appliances, everything that doesn't fit into other item categories... this may change as I learn more about prepping :))
Ammunition
Guns/Weapons (cant decide if there would be any advantage to tracking your guns separate from your knives or hunting bow, etc)
Persons (part of your family/ingroup/friendlies)
Skills (what each person can do)
Outsiders (information about people skulking about, suspicious stuff human activity, etc)
Encounters (would keep track of the history of interactions between yourself/your people and outsiders)
News
Weather
Local/Global Events

There is a lot that goes into a database, and I would like to make it as complete as possible. Hopefully this clarifies some things and makes everyone a little less apprehensive to assist 🙂

Nope not interested. Just not a smart thing to do!

I am still not clear what the actual in intention of this database is. If you are talking about developing and comprehensive, flexible personal database that is to be used by an individual prepper I see merit in the undertaking. The location field seems to be irrelevant. If an individual prepper were to share their database with say another member of their group it would be a personal decision. Either way the location field would not be needed. To share this information with anyone else would fraught with danger and would be somewhat insane.

ICRCC,

You hit it on the nose 😀

I don't want any control of any of your information, the database would be decentralized. Every prepper would be able to download and use it independently and store all their information.

Thank you for the advice on Location, I figured I would put it in there so that way you wouldn't forget where you buried something (I haven't read anything about how you should go about remembering where you put preps).

Otherwise, the Location would be defensible locations on your property, routine for bugging out, etc.

I do plan on making sections of the database (if not most portions) secure, requiring you to input a password.

Let me know if this clarifies things, I'm used to talking to clients in person about databases, a forum is a little different hahaha.

I am clear on your aims now and I fell that it is a very worthwhile project. Ok now some questions about the nature of the database itself. Will it be a stand alone or will it require a dedicated software package like Access? If it is a standalone it is unlikely that individual preppers will be able to modify it for their specific needs. However both approaches have value.

For the first round of the database, I will be using Access simply because it is extremely robust and has a front end built right into it (forms for easy input). Later versions will likely be mySQL based with amped up security.

Even with Access, and the prepper prefers to not purchase the Suite, they can use Access Runtime to both access and use the database to its near fullest.

Good that is a sound approach.

Any chance it could be made compatible with either OpenOffice or Oracle 10g Express, both of which the cheapskates among us can download for free?

Eiter way it should be compatible with Open Office.

Currently the plan is to use Access, however I'm still developing it on paper since it isn't a smart move to program while you plan.

For the users that don't wish to purchase software, Access has a Runtime program that you can download for free and use Access databases.

I am not entirely set on what database system I will use as of yet though! More to come on that once I've developed a solid ERD.

The plan will be to not have any software required for purchase, with the eventual goal of working with Linux as it is open source and you may not be able to purchase a copy of Windows or buy a shiny new Mac if SHTF.

I am working on the something similiar atm to post on my blog 🙂

WordPress?

Not sure that you will have too many takers. There could only be a down size to advertizing your preps. OPSEC! 😉

Thank you for bringing that up ICRCC 🙂

My intention is to not have people tell me what they have, since it would be stupid to break OPSEC.

I guess a better way to ask for help is, if someone were to put a piece of software in front of you that let you track your own preps (ie. on your own computer), what information would you like to track?

For instance, if you were wanting to track how much food you have, my idea would be...

Food Name, its location, how much of that particular item you have, how much it weighs, the nutritional information, the production type (if it was grown, bought, etc), expiration.

Each database would be run locally on each individuals computer, not run off of a server owned by me. Even if everyone trusted me, if SHTF... there could be no internet, and now all your hard work went to waste unless you were religious about printing off your preps every week/month.

Just to give an update on what I currently have on the list to track (in broad terms) are...

Location
Livestock/Animal
Food
Liquid (water, juice, alcohol, etc)
Energy (wind, solar, stored gas, etc)
Other goods (playing cards, video games, appliances, everything that doesn't fit into other item categories... this may change as I learn more about prepping :))
Ammunition
Guns/Weapons (cant decide if there would be any advantage to tracking your guns separate from your knives or hunting bow, etc)
Persons (part of your family/ingroup/friendlies)
Skills (what each person can do)
Outsiders (information about people skulking about, suspicious stuff human activity, etc)
Encounters (would keep track of the history of interactions between yourself/your people and outsiders)
News
Weather
Local/Global Events

There is a lot that goes into a database, and I would like to make it as complete as possible. Hopefully this clarifies some things and makes everyone a little less apprehensive to assist 🙂

To: ITPrepper

I use a grocery app on my smartphone to organize and catalogue my grocery runs and manage that inventory. I'm sure most of the items you want to catagorize and track would fit into different 'grocery lists' so-to-speak to detail the different items, the quantity, and specific details. Thinking of each shopping list in the sense that they're different locations might be a handy tool in organizing one's supplies.

The thing about this is the type of people that would use such an app are preppers... Preppers are, by their very nature, very methodical in the organization. Most preppers out - well really just about all preppers out there already have a system of organizing their things. I would ask locally if other folks in your area would use such a tool or if they have something worked out already. I have a 'to-buy' list and a 'to-learn' list as well.

Now if I were to create such a checklist - make it practical. I personally like paper and compass when I travel. I use GPS of course! My point is that GPS gadgets run out of power eventually. GPS systems are dropped, go for a swim one too many times, etc. Make your checklist prepper-proof'd. Keep it simple and most of all...reliable.

Cheers,

M - Hamilton