# Dopers!  Help me with a nine-level naming hierarchy!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 8, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408 "2010-04-08T14:51:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 17\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/21 "2010-04-09T14:50:32Z")

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> [@Sigmagirl](#):
>
> Pitcher, Catcher, First Base, Second Base, Third Base, Shortstop, Right Field, Center Field, Left Field.

How can you NOT go with this? Although of course it would be LF, CF, RF.

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**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/22 "2010-04-09T17:42:34Z")

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> [@Raygun99](#):
>
> Limbo, lust, gluttony, avarice, wrath, heresy, violence, fraud and betrayal?

That was my first thought, too. 🙂

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**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/23 "2010-04-09T18:43:33Z")

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Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India?

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**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/24 "2010-04-09T18:52:23Z")

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intern —\> temp —\> customer service rep —\> account executive —\> Sr. account executive —\> executive vice president —\> CEO —\> Chairman of the board —\> Bangkok 10 year old prostitute

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**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/25 "2010-04-09T18:53:15Z")

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> [@RandMcnally](#):
>
> Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India?

I like that, leaves room for expansion.

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph

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**Author:** ![1GothMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/90ced4/32.png) [@1GothMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1GothMama)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/26 "2010-04-09T20:31:17Z")

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When I did database management I used old fashioned women’s names to differentiate. When my coworkers (and manager) found out they thought it was hilarious and adopted it as procedure. We named them in alphabetical order to know what was older. So:

Abigail, Beatrice, Clara, Dolores, Eleanor, Frances, Gladys, Harriet, Imogen

When I left to have my kid the only active ones were Gladys and Harriet with Imogen about to launch.

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/27 "2010-04-09T20:33:29Z")

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Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Snow, and Charming.

(unabashedly stolen, with modifications, from my high school word processing classroom)

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**Author:** ![Chickie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chickie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chickie)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/28 "2010-04-09T21:32:16Z")

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Clusters, macroclusters, microclusters, pods, micropods, minipods, macropods, macronuggets, supernuggets, bulbo-aggregates, and pings.

Some should tie into other clusters, pods, nuggets, bulbo-aggregates, and pings, and some should remain essentially stable.

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**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/29 "2010-04-10T03:00:04Z")

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colloid, clay, silt, fine sand, course sand, granule, pebble, cobble, boulder

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**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/30 "2010-04-10T03:11:15Z")

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I’m a big fan of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, myself. I hate dealing with things that assume that I’m going to make the same assumptions as the creators did when they created it (I’m looking at you, Machine Element Design textbook!)

If you don’t want to just number them, then name them for whatever will be in the levels.

Finance Department Standard Operating Procedures \< Main Office Standard Operating Procedures \< USA Documentation and Practices \< North America Documentation and Practices \< … ok, I’m not making it to 9 with those examples, but I think it’s clear where I’m going, no? That way if someone wants to know what the SOP is about bringing guests to the office building in Wisconsin, they don’t have to think “would that be under Theodore or Chtulu?”

Assume that one day, someone else is going to have to take over from you, perhaps after a fire that burned your explanatory post-it note collection, and if it doesn’t make sense immediately, then change what you’re doing. If you’re the only one that “gets it”, then there’s a problem.

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/31 "2010-04-10T04:37:14Z")

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Jehovah, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Peter, Barabas, Pilate, Satan, Glen Beck

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**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/32 "2010-04-10T04:49:21Z")

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An easy one would be a military hierarchy:

President  
General  
Colonel  
Major  
Captain  
Lieutenant  
Sergeant  
Corporal  
Private

I know who Jon’n. Chance was; no idea if Jonathan is your real name or not, but you should put your own brand on it by taking a 9 letter version of your own name. Example: if your name really is Jonathan do “I, Jonathan”.

Ion  
Jolt  
Ozone  
Nitro  
Atomic  
Torpedo  
Hydrogen  
Armor Piercing  
Nuclear

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/33 "2010-04-10T05:57:40Z")

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etchings-\>papyrus-\>parchment-\>paper-\>scroll-\>codex-\>print-\>internet-\>ESP

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**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/34 "2010-04-10T07:20:08Z")

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**mnemosyne** has the right idea. Figure out what criteria is being used to organize these documents at each level, then name the level after the most prominent/important one. If the industry has a standard method of organizing information in its regulations or standards, adapt it. That way it’s familiar to everyone using it and you’re not spending time reinventing the wheel.

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**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/35 "2010-04-10T18:32:38Z")

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Don’t go down nine levels. That is flat flamin’ ridiculous.

Apollo, Bacchus, Chronos, Doofus (the god of computers). That’s all you need.

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**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/36 "2010-04-11T04:18:25Z")

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Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Frodo, Sam, Pippin, Merry

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**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-help-me-with-a-nine-level-naming-hierarchy/535408/37 "2010-04-11T04:37:20Z")

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Nine levels? What sort of CMS are you working on? I go for:

Category  
Sub-Category  
Sub-Sub-Category…  
Document

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