diff --git a/tools/itemdesignator.cpp b/tools/itemdesignator.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eb03920e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/itemdesignator.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+// Item dump
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <iomanip>
+#include <sstream>
+#include <climits>
+#include <integers.h>
+#include <vector>
+using namespace std;
+
+#include <DFTypes.h>
+#include <DFHackAPI.h>
+
+struct matGlosses 
+{
+    vector<DFHack::t_matgloss> plantMat;
+    vector<DFHack::t_matgloss> woodMat;
+    vector<DFHack::t_matgloss> stoneMat;
+    vector<DFHack::t_matgloss> metalMat;
+    vector<DFHack::t_matgloss> creatureMat;
+};
+
+string getMaterialType(DFHack::t_item item, const vector<string> & buildingTypes,const matGlosses & mat){
+    if(item.type == 85 || item.type == 113 || item.type == 117) // item_plant or item_thread or item_seeds
+    {
+        return(string(mat.plantMat[item.material.type].id));
+    }
+    else if(item.type == 109 || item.type == 114 || item.type == 115 || item.type == 116 || item.type==128 || item.type == 129|| item.type == 130|| item.type == 131) // item_skin_raw item_bones item_skill item_fish_raw item_pet item_skin_tanned item_shell
+    {
+        return(string(mat.creatureMat[item.material.type].id));
+    }
+    else if(item.type == 124){ //wood
+        return(string(mat.woodMat[item.material.type].id));
+    }
+    else if(item.type == 118){ //blocks
+        return(string(mat.metalMat[item.material.index].id));
+    }
+    else if(item.type == 86){ // item_glob I don't know what those are in game, just ignore them
+        return(string(""));
+    }
+    else{
+        switch (item.material.type)
+        {
+        case 0:
+            return(string(mat.woodMat[item.material.index].id));
+            break;
+        case 1:
+            return(string(mat.stoneMat[item.material.index].id));
+            break;
+        case 2:
+            return(string(mat.metalMat[item.material.index].id));
+            break;
+        case 12: // don't ask me why this has such a large jump, maybe this is not actually the matType for plants, but they all have this set to 12
+            return(string(mat.plantMat[item.material.index].id));
+            break;
+        case 3:
+        case 9:
+        case 10:
+        case 11:
+        case 121:
+            return(string(mat.creatureMat[item.material.index].id));
+            break;
+        default:
+            //DF.setCursorCoords(item.x,item.y,item.z);
+            return(string(""));
+        }
+    }   
+}
+void printItem(DFHack::t_item item, const vector<string> & buildingTypes,const matGlosses & mat){
+    cout << dec << "Item at x:" << item.x << " y:" << item.y << " z:" << item.z << endl;
+    cout << "Type: " << (int) item.type << " " << buildingTypes[item.type] << " Address: " << hex << item.origin << endl;
+    cout << "Material: ";
+
+    string itemType = getMaterialType(item,buildingTypes,mat);
+    cout << itemType << endl;
+}
+int main ()
+{
+
+    DFHack::API DF ("Memory.xml");
+
+    if(!DF.Attach())
+    {
+        cerr << "DF not found" << endl;
+        return 1;
+    }
+    DF.InitViewAndCursor();
+    matGlosses mat;
+    DF.ReadPlantMatgloss(mat.plantMat);
+    DF.ReadWoodMatgloss(mat.woodMat);
+    DF.ReadStoneMatgloss(mat.stoneMat);
+    DF.ReadMetalMatgloss(mat.metalMat);
+    DF.ReadCreatureMatgloss(mat.creatureMat);
+    DF.ForceResume();
+
+    vector <string> buildingtypes;
+    DF.InitReadBuildings(buildingtypes);
+    uint32_t numItems = DF.InitReadItems();
+    map< string, map<string,vector<uint32_t> > > count;
+    int failedItems = 0;
+    for(uint32_t i=0; i< numItems; i++)
+    {
+        DFHack::t_item temp;
+        DF.ReadItem(i,temp);
+        if(temp.type != -1)
+            count[buildingtypes[temp.type]][getMaterialType(temp,buildingtypes,mat)].push_back(i);
+    }
+    
+    map< string, map<string,vector<uint32_t> > >::iterator it1;
+    int i =0;
+    for(it1 = count.begin(); it1!=count.end();it1++){
+        cout << i << ": " << it1->first << "\n";
+        i++;
+    }
+    cout << endl << "Select A Item Type:";
+    int number;
+    string in;
+    stringstream ss;
+    getline(cin, in);
+    ss.str(in);
+    ss >> number;
+    int j = 0;
+    it1 = count.begin();
+    while(j < number && it1!=count.end()){
+        it1++;
+        j++;
+    }
+    cout << it1->first << "\n";
+    map<string,vector<uint32_t> >::iterator it2;
+    i=0;
+    for(it2 = it1->second.begin();it2!=it1->second.end();it2++){
+          cout << i << ":\t" << it2->first << " [" << it2->second.size() << "]" << endl;
+            i++;
+    }
+    cout << endl << "Select A Material Type: ";
+    int number2;
+    ss.clear();
+    getline(cin, in);
+    ss.str(in);
+    ss >> number2;
+    cout << "Select A Designation: " << flush;
+    string designationType;
+    getline(cin,designationType);
+    //uint32_t changeFlag;
+    DFHack::t_itemflags changeFlag = {0};
+    if(designationType == "d"){
+        changeFlag.bits.dump = 1;
+        //changeFlag = (1 << 21);
+    }
+    else if(designationType == "f"){
+        changeFlag.bits.forbid = 1;
+        //changeFlag = (1 << 19);
+    }
+    else if(designationType == "m"){
+        changeFlag.bits.melt = 1;
+        //changeFlag = (1 << 23);
+    }
+    else if(designationType == "r"){
+        changeFlag.bits.on_fire = 1;
+        //changeFlag = (1 << 22);
+    }
+    j=0;
+    it2= it1->second.begin();
+    while(j < number2 && it2!=it1->second.end()){
+        it2++;
+        j++;
+    }
+    for(uint32_t k = 0;k< it2->second.size();k++){
+        DFHack::t_item temp;
+        DF.ReadItem(it2->second[k],temp);
+        temp.flags.whole |= changeFlag.whole;
+        DF.WriteRaw(temp.origin+12,sizeof(uint32_t),(uint8_t *)&temp.flags.whole);
+    }
+
+    DF.FinishReadBuildings();
+    DF.Detach();
+#ifndef LINUX_BUILD
+    cout << "Done. Press any key to continue" << endl;
+    cin.ignore();
+#endif
+    return 0;
+}