What programming/tools should I learn?

[Errant]

I have an idea for a program...

What I'd like to do is put something together that lets me combine a selection of tables & randomly combine one entry from each table so as to produce a random sentence, paragraph, or description.

That way I can combine things like height, weight, appearance, & mannerism adjectives to create random NPC descriptions & so forth.

Unfortunately, my programming skills are virtually non-existant, so I need to learn a programming language or tool of some sort.

Can anyone give me any suggestions so I don't have to waste my time experimentating?

 

[CRGreathouse]

Put it in an Excel spreadsheet. I'd be happy to show you how to "animate" it.

 

[Errant]

Excell can combine inserts from the tables into a line of text? I had no idea. I guess thats obvious though.

Thanks CRG. Any suggestions on a book that'll help me master Excell?

 

[Luke]

Can anyone give me any suggestions so I don't have to waste my time experimentating?

If you developed this application, along with other excellent features, and a scripting language that made it very, very flexible, you would have...

"TableSmith", by Bruce Gulke.

It does all this, provides you with some 300+ generators, and allows you to create your own.

Regards,

 

[MythosaAkira]

Um...what he said

(Looks like we posted at the same time; no need to repeat...).

Thanks, Luke!

I should post the URL, though:

http://www.mythosa.net (Front door)
http://www.mythosa.net/Utils.html (Utilities page)

 

[CRGreathouse]

Excell can combine inserts from the tables into a line of text? I had no idea. I guess thats obvious though.

Thanks CRG. Any suggestions on a book that'll help me master Excell?

If you think you can learn a very basic scripting language, go with TableSmith. If not, use Excel - just type:

------------------------------------
| 1 | Clumsy    | Tall              |
------------------------------------
| 2 | Excitable | Thin             |
------------------------------------
| 3 | Surly       | Overweight |
------------------------------------

etc.

Once this is done, someone with basic Excel knowledge can turn this into a generator in a few minutes (so you don't have to learn anything).

 

[Errant]

Thanks folks, I'll have a play around with TableSmith first (since that seem custom built for my goal, at first glance anyway) & then Excell if I don't like TableSmith.

Colour me appreciative