Best Database Strategy

[Devlei]

Being a newbie I am not sure if this is the appropriate type of
question to ask, so correct me if necessary.

I need to loop through all the records in a table in a database
(according to a specified sort order), and for each record I need to
find a minimum of 5 similar (closest matching) records from the same
table. To find these similar records it must first try to match the
current record against 4 criteria fields, if < 5 matches, against 3
fields, then 2, 1 and finally 0 fields until there are 5 similar (or
closest matching) records.

After the form is populated from the 5 records, user interaction
occurs, and then the data must be updated for those 5 records. This
process must be repeated for all the records in the table (excepting
those previously found as similar records).

Can someone give broad guidelines (i.t.o. ease of use and performance):
Do I use one DataSet then loop repeatedly to find 5 similar records?
Do I use more than one DataSet and/or SQL statements to find similar
records?
Would Data Readers or Data Views be better suited?
Is there some other better way of achieving this?

Dave

 

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Dave,

This looks very much as homework.

We have agreed that we don't help with that, if you would have a more
technical question even if it was homework than we could help you to find
the way.

This is in my opinion just find the method yourself first on paper and than
make a program from it.

Sorry

Cor