Looking for a wiki-database hybrid

July 4, 2009 10:27 AM

I'm looking for a wiki-database hybrid that I can self host.

I want the wiki part so I can create a personal database of ideas and resources for myself (recipes, travel notes, lists, etc).

But I also would like a database aspect to it because I would like to use that same wiki for contacts management as well. And while I can do it with a wiki, it would be much better if it had fields to make the contacts more searchable, as well as has the ability to export information (probably as CSVs) for email programs.

With the hybrid, I could also set up a sort of CRM system for my personal business as well due the to flexibility.

I actually found something that matches what I'm looking for: wikidBASE, but it runs on Django and my web host doesn't support it.

So I was wondering if there were any alternatives. I'm also not hot on the appearance of wikidBASE, but I can live with it as long as I have the function... which I currently don't even have =/

(I currently also have very little knowledge on what things like Django, and the platform Python that it runs on, actually are.)

If any of you are familiar with David Allen's GTD, this is sort of like an online extension of the General Reference system that he employs.

posted by raamenchan to computers & internet (9 comments total)

Not exactly what you're looking for, but have a look at TiddlyWiki.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 10:41 AM on July 4

It seems to me like you want to have a system to do things which are very different from each other. Wanting something that keeps recipes, as well as being a (basic) CRM system seems like it would just make things harder for yourself.

I think you could make things a lot easier for yourself if you managed to see if you could find groups of functionality you want, and then have separate applications for each group. So you could end up perhaps with some web-based CRM system, and in addition to that some recipe system, and a general note-taking wiki. Or something along those lines.
posted by bjrn at 1:01 PM on July 4

@qxntpqbbbqxl
Thanks for the suggestion! You're right, it's not exactly what I'm looking for, but it seems powerful enough that I could be tweaked to do it? I'm not really knowledgeable enough to do something like that, though.
posted by raamenchan at 1:17 PM on July 4

@bjrn
Thanks for the input, bjrn!

You're right about making it easier to find everything I need by using separate applications, but for me, I guess the most important thing is to be able to create something that matches my needs exactly.

For general reference, including recipes, all I need is a way to search and catalog, which I can easily do using a wiki. And as for CRM, well, all I need is a place to write notes. I don't need any sales leads or graphs.

I tried using programs like highrise and salesforce, but they were filled with so many functions I had no use for that I couldn't stand using them anymore. It considerably slowed down the page loading times as well, which made them harder to use.
posted by raamenchan at 1:25 PM on July 4

Maybe Pimki?

Pimki is a PIM (Personal Information Manager) loosely based on Instiki's Wiki technology. This is the place to dump your brain, organise your thoughts and Get Things Done. The ease of use and immediacy of a wiki combined with extended view to slice and dice the data give you a unique power to store, manage and retrieve all loose bit of information in your life.
posted by PueExMachina at 2:02 PM on July 4

DRUPAL with CCK and views will do this.
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 2:54 PM on July 4

@PueExMachina
Thanks for the suggestion! It doesn't have a database capability, though =/

@BrodieShadeTree
Wow... I think this will work. It'll probably take me quite a while to figure out how to actually turn it into what I want, but then I guess it'll be worth it because I'll be able to build websites, too! Thanks!
posted by raamenchan at 9:50 AM on July 5

suggestion would be to NOT focus on the whole templates thing.
I recently user Aquaius's install of drupal and it was super nice and set up right out of the box. Just add CCK and Views and you won't have TOO much to learn.
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 10:15 PM on July 5

@BrodieShadeTree
Thanks again for the suggestion! I actually found that I could install Drupal on my website using Fantastico DeLuxe (although there are many who warn against it, but the installation turned out ok, although requiring a version update.)

I finally completed my project! You were right, CCK and Views were what I needed. Though for others who may be interested in the doing the same, here's what Drupal modules you need:

For the contacts manager:
CCK - to create address book fields
Views - to create a page to see and sort all contacts
Views Bonus Pack - to create a feed that exports all information in a View as a CSV

For the wiki:
Wikitools
Freelinking
Books (part of core)
posted by raamenchan at 2:03 PM on July 8