7/2006 intro-db.txt As I collect data about those in the field of philately it goes into databses with each seperate discovery or finding in its own record and, hopefully, attributed to the originator. I use link lists from dealers, clubs and societies and a lot of search engines... But to give a degree of 'sureness' (?) or competence to the data I dispense, I try to rate what I have by the expedience of chosing where (or if) to post it. Choices are often based on association with a club or dealer association or long standing in my own experience or the presense on lists from diverse areas across the 'net... (much ado about little here).... In the mechanics of the database itself, I seek to develope a system to help manage this data. This is usually called a 'program'. And this one will be developed w/MS Ofc's VBA. But, before that, as in the past, I can simply look at the data and write it up by hand. Hopefully, a program (which takes real time to develope) will have the effect of speeding up the process so that more territory can be covered in a short time. OK, so I have databases and I want to orgainse them to show relevant data about a subject (currently: Dealers). The letter 'A', in the dealers database, has 1,193 + entries of which are 622 different Co./dealer names and 500 (exactly) individuals associated with them. That's just 'A' for co. name. (In all, there are 15,000+ records here.) Here I focus on two elements: the dealer's specialty & how to relate that to the reader. I have developed (by hand) country (or State/Province/County) pages to put them in a geographical frame and a alphabetical index to find them by name. Work has produced a limited topical index and this is the area I want to focus on. Thus the 'Specialty' field and its associated 'Category' field. Another one of my collection methods is to ID the purpose stated by a list. e.g. Auctions, Commercial, Dealers - and where it seemed to have real relavance (like 'Public Auctions') and where that term did not appear in a 'Specialty' description (as it was a heading written by a 2nd or 3rd party) and where I think the list originator shows real competence, I want to rely on and make use of that competence. Here I would put relevant titles in the Category Field (mostly Public Auctions so far). Most references in the Specialty field (supplied by vendors) state 'Auctions' - a bit loose as a term. (see: auction.txt in this directory for more on Auctions). To put it in other words: Well, why have this Category field when it is stated in the Specialty field? Ans.: to offer alternative (or additional) index headings and not disturb the original description (probably supplied by the vendor) which I will publish 'as is' in the vendor's listing. And to clarify those 'loose' terms in hope of informing more accurately on the nature of the vendor's position. For further work on the specifics related to the Category field - see: cat-chat.txt in this directory. .eof aj.