Data base records retrieved by post code [zip code]

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve
  • Start date Start date
S

Steve

Hi,

I have sucessfully created a database results page which
downloads results by post [zip] code.

How can I include 'surrounding post codes' in the results
to save visitors having to enter all post codes around
them to access the nearest result.

Any scripting documentation I can read in microsoft
database would be helpful.

Regards
Steve
 
Hi Steve.......

Well it can be done... but you will probably want to make it an "option" for
the user and not the default behavior of the form.

As for the lookups a couple of things come to mind. The most difficult (ie
time consuming) would be to create a lookup table for each zip code and put
the surrounding zip codes in the table for each zip code. Like I said..... a
lot of data entry but if you have the time it could be done. You can get a
..dbf file of all the zip codes from the US Government Census web site. That
file could be converted to just about any database format you want. That
might save you some of the data entry part..... but again.... it is going to
be a lot of work.

You might also, however, glean from that database the numeric sequences for
the zip codes and figure out a query to get the numbers before and after the
selected zip code. For example... my zip code is 30286. Your query might
calculate the zip codes from say.... 30100 to 30495 BUT ..... this may
not give you the area you want..... so you will have to give it a lot of
thought and study.

Anyway..... I'm sure others have better ideas or solutions.... these just
came off the top of my head. I think at any rate it just might be a good
deal of work.... but if it is important to you... it probably can be done.
Keep searching! :)

Best to you.....
Tom Gahagan
 
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