It Sure Is Quiet In Here...
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Hmmm. I guess I'll ask a stupid question, then. Not a programming one, but a semi-technical question, just to see if anyone can still think clearly after the holiday beverage fests. One of the tasks I'll be doing in my new job is to catalog everything the utility company owns and put it in a database. That's a great idea, as they're growing fast and the problem of tracking inventory is only going to get worse. Since the reservation covers a large area they want to store, among other data, the exact location of each item using a GPS device. Apparently the plan is to issue GPS handhelds to the field people (or maybe they're going to send me out in a pickup truck - I dunno) to gather the information, then I'm supposed to build the app and enter the information. I've never used one of these clever little devices - do they output position information in degrees, minutes, seconds format, or do they use a real representation of position (+/- XXX.YYYYY degrees) that can be stored directly in a database field? "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
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Hmmm. I guess I'll ask a stupid question, then. Not a programming one, but a semi-technical question, just to see if anyone can still think clearly after the holiday beverage fests. One of the tasks I'll be doing in my new job is to catalog everything the utility company owns and put it in a database. That's a great idea, as they're growing fast and the problem of tracking inventory is only going to get worse. Since the reservation covers a large area they want to store, among other data, the exact location of each item using a GPS device. Apparently the plan is to issue GPS handhelds to the field people (or maybe they're going to send me out in a pickup truck - I dunno) to gather the information, then I'm supposed to build the app and enter the information. I've never used one of these clever little devices - do they output position information in degrees, minutes, seconds format, or do they use a real representation of position (+/- XXX.YYYYY degrees) that can be stored directly in a database field? "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
Depending on the GPS device they can output either or both. And for database storage you might want to look at a database that has the capability to store "spatial" data. A while back Oracle had spatial data capabilities I'm not sure about other databases. I did some work for Autodesk that used handhelds (Pocket PC) with GPS and tied in with Autodesk's mapping software. Hope that helps, Rob
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Depending on the GPS device they can output either or both. And for database storage you might want to look at a database that has the capability to store "spatial" data. A while back Oracle had spatial data capabilities I'm not sure about other databases. I did some work for Autodesk that used handhelds (Pocket PC) with GPS and tied in with Autodesk's mapping software. Hope that helps, Rob
Hmmm. It's good to know that both formats are available, but Oracle is out of the question. These fine folks want to use Access - not a bad choice for now, but it will quickly become less than ideal as the database and the company grow. Fortunately there's always the handy Upgrade Wizard in Access 2003 and MSDE for future adaptations. Maybe I can get them to spring for SQL Server later on. "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
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Hmmm. It's good to know that both formats are available, but Oracle is out of the question. These fine folks want to use Access - not a bad choice for now, but it will quickly become less than ideal as the database and the company grow. Fortunately there's always the handy Upgrade Wizard in Access 2003 and MSDE for future adaptations. Maybe I can get them to spring for SQL Server later on. "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
Yeah, I think Oracle is probably overkill for most projects. I'm sure you can build some Access tables that will handle the data. If I remember correctly (it was a few years ago), there was nothing magic about the geospatial extensions that Oracle was adding, it was just that it would be a "native" data type. I don't know if this solution will work for you or if it might be too expensive but one of the better solutions I saw when I was working on this was from Symbol Technologies. They had a handheld (I think it was a PocketPC) with both GPS and a barcode scanner. How it was used was to tag locations with a barcode and tie it in with the lat/lon position from the GPS. Also you might want to look at this link... http://www.linkspoint.com/white\_papers.asp . --Rob
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Hmmm. I guess I'll ask a stupid question, then. Not a programming one, but a semi-technical question, just to see if anyone can still think clearly after the holiday beverage fests. One of the tasks I'll be doing in my new job is to catalog everything the utility company owns and put it in a database. That's a great idea, as they're growing fast and the problem of tracking inventory is only going to get worse. Since the reservation covers a large area they want to store, among other data, the exact location of each item using a GPS device. Apparently the plan is to issue GPS handhelds to the field people (or maybe they're going to send me out in a pickup truck - I dunno) to gather the information, then I'm supposed to build the app and enter the information. I've never used one of these clever little devices - do they output position information in degrees, minutes, seconds format, or do they use a real representation of position (+/- XXX.YYYYY degrees) that can be stored directly in a database field? "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
http://www.codeproject.com/system/gps_support.asp[^] http://www.codeproject.com/vb/net/WritingGPSApplications1.asp[^] http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/WritingGPSApplications2.asp[^] You might also want to check the GPS equipment manufacturers for any APIs they might provide. There are GPS devices that look like a small cube with a cable attached (No integral display). I'd be interested in your article ;) when it's ready....
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http://www.codeproject.com/system/gps_support.asp[^] http://www.codeproject.com/vb/net/WritingGPSApplications1.asp[^] http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/WritingGPSApplications2.asp[^] You might also want to check the GPS equipment manufacturers for any APIs they might provide. There are GPS devices that look like a small cube with a cable attached (No integral display). I'd be interested in your article ;) when it's ready....
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Munged links - may want to fix. /ravi My new year's resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | Freeware | Music ravib@ravib.com
Thanks. I didn't notice that the firefox/CP plugin addd the HTTP:// at the beginning
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http://www.codeproject.com/system/gps_support.asp[^] http://www.codeproject.com/vb/net/WritingGPSApplications1.asp[^] http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/WritingGPSApplications2.asp[^] You might also want to check the GPS equipment manufacturers for any APIs they might provide. There are GPS devices that look like a small cube with a cable attached (No integral display). I'd be interested in your article ;) when it's ready....
Cool! All the hard work is already done.:-D "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
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Hmmm. I guess I'll ask a stupid question, then. Not a programming one, but a semi-technical question, just to see if anyone can still think clearly after the holiday beverage fests. One of the tasks I'll be doing in my new job is to catalog everything the utility company owns and put it in a database. That's a great idea, as they're growing fast and the problem of tracking inventory is only going to get worse. Since the reservation covers a large area they want to store, among other data, the exact location of each item using a GPS device. Apparently the plan is to issue GPS handhelds to the field people (or maybe they're going to send me out in a pickup truck - I dunno) to gather the information, then I'm supposed to build the app and enter the information. I've never used one of these clever little devices - do they output position information in degrees, minutes, seconds format, or do they use a real representation of position (+/- XXX.YYYYY degrees) that can be stored directly in a database field? "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
Oh Roger, you're about to open a can of worms the like of which you probably have never seen before. Good luck with that! ;) One reason why it's probably quiet in here is the absolutely horrifying news out of asia today. I don't think most Americans are aware of the scope of it but the death toll is over 11,000 and rising and it affects the entire Indian ocean basin.
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Oh Roger, you're about to open a can of worms the like of which you probably have never seen before. Good luck with that! ;) One reason why it's probably quiet in here is the absolutely horrifying news out of asia today. I don't think most Americans are aware of the scope of it but the death toll is over 11,000 and rising and it affects the entire Indian ocean basin.
John Cardinal wrote: you're about to open a can of worms It gets worse - they use Crystal Reports for everything, too. X| John Cardinal wrote: absolutely horrifying news out of asia I've following the story since I woke this morning... and the news just keeps getting sadder.:(( "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
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Cool! All the hard work is already done.:-D "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
I found a link to devices similar to what I remembered. www.deluoelectronics.com/customer/home.php?cat=1[^]
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Hmmm. I guess I'll ask a stupid question, then. Not a programming one, but a semi-technical question, just to see if anyone can still think clearly after the holiday beverage fests. One of the tasks I'll be doing in my new job is to catalog everything the utility company owns and put it in a database. That's a great idea, as they're growing fast and the problem of tracking inventory is only going to get worse. Since the reservation covers a large area they want to store, among other data, the exact location of each item using a GPS device. Apparently the plan is to issue GPS handhelds to the field people (or maybe they're going to send me out in a pickup truck - I dunno) to gather the information, then I'm supposed to build the app and enter the information. I've never used one of these clever little devices - do they output position information in degrees, minutes, seconds format, or do they use a real representation of position (+/- XXX.YYYYY degrees) that can be stored directly in a database field? "If it's Snowbird season, why can't we shoot them?" - Overheard in a bar in Bullhead City
I don't recall the type of utility company. If they are electric they might already use a GIS (Geograhic Information System) called Smallworld. Smallworld PLC was taken over by GE in 2000 and, last I head, is called GE Smallworld which is owned as part of the GENS (General Electric Network Services) division. It could be worth looking into in order to store the information once you have it. However, Smallworld is used by all types of utility (I've used it on projects for Electric, Telecoms and Water companies), it is just that since GE took over they have concentrated on the Electric market more heavily.
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Oh Roger, you're about to open a can of worms the like of which you probably have never seen before. Good luck with that! ;) One reason why it's probably quiet in here is the absolutely horrifying news out of asia today. I don't think most Americans are aware of the scope of it but the death toll is over 11,000 and rising and it affects the entire Indian ocean basin.
John Cardinal wrote: I don't think most Americans are aware of the scope Some do and have been paying attention. My older brother and I do not have the best relationship (i.e. we don't talk, or at least I don't talk), still I would never have wished this on him, he is with his children in Thailand for Christmas break. I have been concerned for all the families over there. _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
