I was only half joking about a server to house a material database, and that was just the server part. I've seen a few different software products for material databases, and thought I just write my own. Creating a (simple) database is not the issue. The issue, and the question I'm asking everyone is: How detailed should the material be categorized, sub-categorized, sub-sub-categorized etc. This will just be an Access DB with a simple entry screen.

Feathers will likely be the biggest category, so lets focus on those to start. These are just a few ideas to give you an idea what I'm thinking.

#Hackle
-saddle
-neck
++dry
++hen

#Skins
-Partridge
-Pheasant
++Ring-neck
++Amherst
++Golden

#Misc
-Ostrich
+plumes

-Peacock
++herl
++swords
++eyes

-Duck
+flank
=Mallard
=Wood
=Teal
+CDC
+wings

-Turkey
+flank
+quills
+marabou
=plumes
=blood
+biots

Once I get a database structure (schema) defined the database tables are easily created from there. Then a simple interface entry system to add the actual data.

Any ideas/comments/suggestions?