Something Of An Introduction Sometime in the last century while surfing the 'net one day I chanced upon a link to: ftp://ftp.cviog.uga.edu/pub/exchange/jackson/miscel/ in which were a series of files named: aprlnumb.txt aprlalfa.txt iocodes.txt aprlcode.txt readme.htm The text of the readme file implies that the set was originally in a 'zipped' format for more compact form and is circa 1994. As they described 'Philatelc Headings', a subject of interest, I spent some time reading them and now wish to offer some suggestions for additions - both to the database and to the form of the database. The available data does not specify a list of field names in the APRL database except in the file named aprlcode.txt and is assumed to have: "APRL ID#"*"Country Name"* (and perhaps one or two more fields based on the dash symbol [" - "] found present.) Let's examine an example of a larger existing APRL entry in aprlnumb.txt: "18180 France - Offices in China - Chungking (1903-1922)" Observation: This entry contains seven [7] descrete data items: APRL ID number: "18180" Primary Entity : "France" A relation of the secondary entity to the Primary Entity: "Offices in" secondary entity: "China" secondary sub-entity: "Chungking" start date: "1903" end date: "1922" A further survey of the data reveals listings for purely geographical references such as 'Eastern Europe' and topical headings like "Allied Occupation". Also noted is the APRL numbering scheme that seems to only use numbers in the range of 10,000 to 99,999 - generally (but not exclusively) in units or blocks of 20 for 4,445 basic entries. It's assumed the intervening numbers are 'reserved' and used for minor variations as they are discovered. The first recomendation is to expand the number range to 6 digits and allow all (including those already numbered) regional only listings to have the range 100,000 to 200,000 - ah, breathing room. Several suggested new additions of stamp issuing entities and regions are to be found via referenc.htm, the starting page of this work, titled "Reference Material" - See the section title : "Further, specific recommendations and notes" - specifically: Note #2 (aka: 0-abcode.txt) - URL - http://ajward.tripod.com/i/ref/referenc.htm =========================================================================== A databse will be described that puts each of the 7 data elements into seperate fields and adds more for other purposes. These purposes include the ability to segregate merely geographical references (e.g. North Africa) from actual philatelic entities and, yet, remain in the same database as well as providing provisions for other views such as topical considerations (e.g. 'Allied Occupation') - all of which are currently represented in some form in the database as found in the aprlnumb.txt and aprlalfa.txt files. (circa 1994) It's condisered that some reformating is needed. (note that the exampless chosen below represent what is considered to be an "error" either in form* or ommission** for, purely, database considerations): The Eexample *(as is): 36360 United States Occupation - Ryukyu Islands c/b: 36360 United States - Occupation of Ryukyu Islands (dates) (several entries are already in this and the above form) s/b: 36360 United States - Ryukyu Islands - Occupation of - - start_yr - end_yr (see bottom for abbreviations) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DataBase Notes - Field Descriptions Field|Field Size |Name ;Field contents and comments --------------------------------------- 8 APRL ID ;APR ID 5 digit number as found in aprlnumb.txt or added. ;6 digit numbers used to expand the scope as proposed. ;(see reference.htm for sugested additions and changes) 6 Location_Code - Thy Physical World ; used to apply a filter to the database for an absolute order. rework ; (see, first, sortcode.txt then sort-seq.txt) ;By assigning a location_code to each regional sub-division and ;specifying a sort criteria beginning with this code, ;they group together on a sort. 2 Menu_Type ;denotes major (g)eographic divisions, (c)ompass related regions, ;(i)nterior regions, (p)olitical, (t)opical, (e)thnic headings ;or, in entities entries, indicates a particular field for use in a ;menu system by using a number or number/letter to further denote a ;charistic. ;(see the file 'menucode.txt') This allows the APRL # to be in its current randomish order. Further, this allows easier control in a programming environment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The world's continents and seas ("g") to the compass divisions ("c"), major topics ("t") and political divisions ("p") - call it 'Level 1' e.g.: APRL#,Location_code,Menu_Code,... "100000","aa","H", ,,"The World","aka: Earth - A Geo-centric view",,,"position hopefully centers it"x *** "10330","ab","g", ,"AFRICA",,,,,,";s/b 100540 ; using 20 APRL#'s per 3 ltr_Code" "100580","abb","c", ,"AFRICA, North",,,,,"4th level: b,c,d,e,f, (a-s) = 95*" "100680","abg","c", ,"AFRICA, Northeast",,,,,"The Horn of Africa - g,h=38*" "100720)","abi","c" ,"AFRICA,East,"i,j,k = 57*" (east of the Nile and Nyassa rivers & south of the Horn) ; Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique... (Madagascar?) "100780","abl","c", ,"AFRICA, Central",,,,,"l.m.n.o = 76*" "100860","abp","c", ,"AFRICA, South",,,,,"76* sub divisions in p,q,r,s" (see africa-s.txt) "100940","abt","c", ,"AFRICA, Southwest",,,,,"abt 940, abu 960, abv 980" "101000","abw","c", ,"AFRICA, West",,,,,"w,x,y,z = 76*" "33905(101040)",aby,i, "Africa, W.","Western Sahara region",,,,,"Is it parts of Algeria, Mauritania and Mali?" ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "101080","ac","g", "AMERICAS, THE","i.e. Western Hemisphere",,,,, ;spanish amer.; Latin America "28710","acb","c", "AMERICA, North",,,,,"s/b # 101120 ; -bs-ks = 9 prime/190 total" (see amer-n.txt) "101320","acl","c", "AMERICA, Middle",,,,,"; 4th level: -ls-ts=8 prime 171 total" (see amer-m.txt) 14180,acm,AMERICA, Central 101140,acn,i,West Indies "33220","acu","c", ,"AMERICA, South",,,,,"s/b 101320; us-zs,=114 " ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 101620,ad,g, Atlantic Ocean -x 101660,adb,c, -North - x 101840,adn,c, -South - x ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 102160,ae,g, Eurasia; i.e. (Europe & Asia) 11430,aeb,g, -Asia; s/b # 102200 102260,aee,c, --Asia, East -x 32750 | | Shanghai ??? 102320,aeh,c, --Asia, North-x 102380,aek,c, --Asia, South-x 102440,aen,c, --Asia, Southeast-x #(),,,East Indies (region) 22240(),,,Indochina (region & SIE) (see asia-se.txt) 102500,aeq,c, --Asia, West; aka Asia Minor-x (see asia-w.txt) 102560,aex,c, --Asia, Central-x ----------------------------------------- 11480,af,g, -Australasia; s/b 102700; 2k mi n., 4k mi ne, 6k mi e. of .au. ; the East Indies are now considered as SE Asia Australia (incl Solomon Isls.?) New Zealand Oceania ------------------------------------------ 17470,ag,g, - EUROPE; s/b # 103240 103280,agb,c, - EUROPE, North ; incl Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Isls. (incl. Scandinavia) 17120,age,c, - EUROPE, East; s/b 103340 38290,agh,c, - EUROPE, West; s/b 103400 33520,agk,c, - EUROPE, South; s/b 103460 22440|Ionian lslands 14200,agn,c, - EUROPE, Central; s/b 103520 103580,agq,c, - EUROPE, Southeast ; e.g. Balkan Peninsula, Aegean Isls, Crete 103660,agu,c, - EUROPE, Southwest - ; e.g. Iberian Peninsula; .es, .pt, Gibraltar ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 103780,ah,g, Indian Ocean; x ;divisions unk/research ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 104320,ai,g, Outer Space; skipped abb-ahz (500);topical and spatial or pseudo geographical in nature. #,aiz,0, ; reserve 1000 numbers ; should take us into a good future. #,aiz,0, ;*-> actually should consider adding a '0' to everything for real space. 99990,ajzzz,, ;SPACER ;divisions unk/research: reserved 1020 record numbers ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 29420,ak,g, Pacific Ocean ---; skipped aib-ajz (1020); S/B # 105400 105440,akb,c, -North -x 28920 North West Pacific Islands (1915-1922);? really South??? 105680,akn,c, -South -x new #,,,Micronesia (western area; somewhat ethnic term - see also 'Indonesia'; eg Cochin-China, Indo-China, Southeast Asia) new #,,,Polynesia (central area; somewhat ethnic term) 29150 Oceanic Settlements (1892-1956)???? ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 105940,al,g, Polar Regions --(Arctic Ocean, Antarctia)-; X 105980,alb,g, -Arctic Ocean; unk/research:X 106220,aln,g, -Antarctia; unk/research: X ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 106480,am,, Ethnic Entities ---; Scandinavia, Latin America ...;Level 2a; ; suggested: Arabic/Moslem World, Slavic Nations, ... ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 107020,an,, Historical/Topical Headings ---; UN Actions etc. Level 2b; 3 sets reserved ; suggest: 'The East' i.e. Communists, "The West" anti Communistic ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 108640,aq,, Political/Imperial/Idealogical Entities --- ; Level 2c; 2 sets reserved ; British Empire, British Dominions, Spanish Kingdom, USSR etc. ;Note: this makes a reasonable double-spaced 2 column, 1st-level directory. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================== #,a,, Ethnics #,a,q, Latin America; ethnic in nature #,a,q, Scandinavia --- #,b,, Historical or Topical #,b,t, Allied Occupation; historical/topical in nature #,b,t, Axis Powers; historical/topical in nature ; new --- #,c,p, Imperial Entities; inter-continental kingdoms, empires w/possessions ; e.g. Spain, Great Britain, USSR ...; political in nature ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Regional sub-divisions to the point of sie e.g.: #,,, Balkan Penisula #,,2, Balkan Penisula - Bulgaria ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A 'Location_Code' can be used to sequence a logical sort segregating by geographical headings with SIE entries included and are specifically delinated patterns described in sortcode.txt and sort-se1.txt but, in brief, uses: 'a - zzzzzz' in a 6 character text field as follows: a,aa,aaa-aaz, ab, aba-abz, ac, aca-acz, ..., b,ba,baa-baz ... Though zzzzzz Additional ordered records (up to 26) can be created under any 3 character code by adding a-z to the end as the 4th character. Greater lengths are possible - see sort-seq.txt. note: data transfered to a word processor sorts the same The sort sequence: Location_Code + Entity1 + Entity2Descript + Entity2 + Entity3 + Start_Yr_Date + End_Yr_Date 50 |Entity1 |Main Country/Entity ; e.g. United States (1) 50 |Entity2 |Secondary Entity e.g. Virginia 30 |Entity2Descript |note: this area often contains terms like: |"Offices in" or "Occupation of" 30 |Entity3 |Third Level Entity e.g. Richmond |note: in program seperate entity levels with " - " |for display/printing purposes (index on Entity1+Entity2Descript+Entity2+Entity3 in databse: apsdbtst2) Note: (5) Hyphenated terms [see (5) in: ] are not easily searchable for the 2nd+ part(s) i.e. a basic search of an indexed database in Access for 'Chad' would not get 'Ubangi-Sheri-Chad" or a search for "herzegovina" wouldn't get 'Bosnia and Herzegovina" ... ; consider also a sub-string search routine under program control. Also note: the more complex search in Access will find it : set to 'search within field'. 4 |Start Yr Date |(e.g. 1888-1904) ; note: a second record is required 4 |End Yr Date |if there is an intervening entity or other dates. |Further requires the 'Start Date' be part of the |'Primary Key' of the database, IF ONE IS SET, to avoid rejection |as a duplicate. Try for dates of 'own issues'. (may be wrong here) |Best may be seperate #'s. |note: dates may overlap or be concurrent* ; see Leeward Islands. |to represent a single year vs. a 'start' year |enter the single year date in both fields. |i.e. IF var(start_date)=var(end_date) |PRINT "("+var(start_date)+")";e.g. single date |ELSE PRINT "("+var(start_date)+"-"+var(end_date)+")" |(this assumes a 'nulL' field will not print) |*concurrent=within or =, overlaping=touching into 25 |Comment |brief: e.g. overprints only; helps in menu item choises ===current minimun ==; based on current delimited data file apsdbtst.txt ===the following relate to the menu (&, to some extent, data) system: 12 |entity filename |'existing' entity filename 8.3; point to top level |used to build 'redirects' (3) |cross check against internet codes?; good for Dealers Directory 30 |Prior Entity(s) |5 max? - APRL#'s sperate by ',' for "visualparsing") 30 |Next Entity(s) |philatelically " ; may be useful as data items for top level 8? or y/n |See Also: |beyond auto generated references (2) |field size of 8 would restrict it to one entry.; |perhaps a seperate database? and this field a yes/no? 8 |Retarget to |APRL/APS # with priority over auto generated |HTML anchors; APRL/APS # (2) 30 |Retarget Title: |entity name being deliberately mis-directed to; |usually done to point to the top of a related list |e.g. point to 'China' instead of 'Chima, Rep. of' |so that entire China list displays. 5 |Album pages |test: if DATA is present search resources/album pages for # |i.e. assign # to resource in a sperate database. If one is |'deleted' then a routine s/b implimented to clear this field if... --------------------------------------------- Entity file field names: 5000 |Memo Field |Philately.com's 'short' philatelic description, |CIA data ... --------------------------------------------- Resources file field names: 5 |Album #('s) |relate to supplier list; list box item? esp. stampalbums.com 50 |Album See: |directives; s/b in supplier list db? 5 |Catalog #('s) |relate to supplier list; list box item? esp. APS 50 |Catalog See: |directives; in supplier list? ============================================================================ (1) e.g. 'United States' or 'Allied Occupation' ============================================================================ (2) auto gen. 'See Also:' cross refs: based on heirarchy of: Priorities: 1. Hand entered APRL/APS ID#('s) in a 'See Also:' field. ;perhaps in a seperate table? 2. Primary Entity Name 3. Secondary Entity Name description + Secondary Entity Name 4. Third Level Entity Name [Study apsnum.txt ] ============================================================================= (3) 'Redirects' - intermediary files used to protect my work: instead of directly linking from page to page linking is to a 'third party' file named after the APRL code which contains the statement: the filename for this statement: 28600.htm representing: Niger Coast Protectorate (1893-1900); # 28600 Functions: a link in a menu or data page points to 28600.htm which further links to a menu item for Niger Coast Protectorate. A variation (e.g.28600alt.htm) is used for entities not on the list until one is assigned. The number is chosen so is relates geneaologically. Another variation (e.g. 28600x.htm) is be used from the menu page pointing to the entity file in /stamps/ if it's a 'live' entity. Note: currently these redirects exist only for the menu system and are stored in /stamps/mnu/ with the menu pages they work with. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- the following are personal notes; please ignore: menu data: 36360,2,United States,Ryukyu Islands,Occupation of,,start_date,end_date data xref: 36360,4,United States,Ryukyu Islands,Occupation of,,start_date,end_date form: #####,#,entity1,2,desctrpt,3,start_date,end_date,comment Note: the key element (here '2' and'4'), used for menu and xref data, could be in a seperate table or combined in one field ; 1st position reserved for menu, 2nd for xref ... (problems here) : Example 'menu_xref': 36360,24,United States,Ryukyu Islands,Occupation of,,start_date,end_date This serves to provide a philatelic outline for use in a menu system and in data files. how?; think I've superceeded this but don't loose track of it. (see menucode.txt) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consider a re-arranged 2nd (duplicatish*) entry to key on area name (print ver. only?:) *e.g. 'French Territory of the Afars and the Issas': key: Afars & Issas [Fr.Terr. of] *e.g. French New Hebrides ; Key: New Hebrides [Fr.] **e.g. New Hebrides ; Key: New Hebredies [Br.] cf 'Andorra' as modified. -------------------------------------------- Here we pause for explanation: Abbreviations used in this work: i.e.:'in other words' e.g.: 'example', 'such as' ... cf : compare vs. : verses; as opposed to c/b : could be (opinion) s/b : should be (opinion) (#) : see note under that #; e.g. (5) SIE : Stamp Issuing Entitie(s) ; : comment