Is a 5th Edition coming soon? [Answer: NO, it isn't!]

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by rkbrown419

Rather than a compendium perhaps what is needed is a tool to search through and cross reference multiple pdf's simultaneously.

I use Sumatra PDF, which doesn't have multi-file search but is otherwise very nice. For search, I use Agent Ransack, which is quick, displays text around matches to make it easy to see what they're about, and has a good regular expression engine.

[vicky_molokh]

For Windows, installing the PDF ifilter allows multi-PDF searches through the file search (based on content, that is).

[kmunoz]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Most PDF readers do this. Using Acrobat: Shift+Ctrl+F

In my experience, multi-volume indexes are better. And not just because I used to be an academic sequestered in dusty libraries. Relying on a user's ability to select a search term is an abdication of responsibility. Reference works should always have thorough indexes. Otherwise, search effectiveness depends on a user knowing exactly what text to search for, even in cases where s/he isn't even sure what s/he's looking for.

A good index, especially one that's internally cross-referenced and behaves like a traditional thesaurus, covers all cases much better.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by kmunoz

In my experience, multi-volume indexes are better.

I don't disagree, but that's not what the poster was asking for...

I don't necessarily agree either, personally, I find I do searches like this as least as often as I consult the index.

Although since all GURPS books are indexed (well other than Pyramid), it should be possible for a script to read all GURPS pdf indexes and assemble a multi-volume index.

[kmunoz]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I don't necessarily agree either, personally, I find I do searches like this as least as often as I consult the index.

I seem to be in the (surprising) minority who have a much easier time searching a hardcopy than a PDF. I've even timed myself. I'm an order of magnitude faster finding specific things with a physical book and an index than I am with a PDF and a search bar.

[robkelk]

Originally Posted by kmunoz

In my experience, multi-volume indexes are better. And not just because I used to be an academic sequestered in dusty libraries. Relying on a user's ability to select a search term is an abdication of responsibility. Reference works should always have thorough indexes. Otherwise, search effectiveness depends on a user knowing exactly what text to search for, even in cases where s/he isn't even sure what s/he's looking for.

A good index, especially one that's internally cross-referenced and behaves like a traditional thesaurus, covers all cases much better.

For your search methods and style, I have no doubt that you are correct. As you said, you used to be an academic - thus, you've had training in searching.

However, not everyone who plays GURPS is an academic.

Luckily, this isn't an "either/or" situation; it's possible to have both a comprehensive index and a multi-file search tool.

[Andrew Hackard]

OK, this has gone really far afield.

If you want to keep discussing the GURPS Fifth Edition that is not in the works and may never happen, go to the GURPS forum.

If you want to talk about PDF searching, go to Geek Culture.

If there's something else you want to discuss, find the appropriate place and discuss it there.

In neither case is the discussion going to continue here.