In message <[log in to unmask]>, John Wellsman
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Is there anyone out there who would be interested in having a common
>database for local history purposes? Those individuals and organisations
>who use the computer will have a database adapted to their own special
>needs but would it not be useful to have, in addition, a second simple
>database which could be fed with simple and common facts from the main base
>and which could be open to all.
Generally a good idea but suggest you need standards as well as formats
>
>I know that it is far easier said than done. But if we had a common form
>with common fields such as:
>
> 1 Name
name of what? - if a person do you put surname first etc
>
> 2 Date
I wouldnt trust any microsoft software with dates - suggest you need to
have year, month or season, day as separate fields.
>` 3 Place/Location
Again how organised - house address, village, suburb, county, country?
> 4 Reference
to what?
> 4 Rem 1
> 5 Rem 2
What you definitely need is a standard set of event codes eg for
people:- Born, Bapt, Married, Died, knighted, became parent
for buildings:- built, modified, inhabited by, owned by, demolished
Which also means you need a standard set of object codes so you know
what you are talking about.
>
>This could be in a common type, I suggest Access, which could then be read
>by anyone. There is far more to the problem than this but if sufficient
>people are interested it could be a very useful link between those of
>common interest.
Who are you proposing holds this database? I use access all the time and
already have several databases
>
>Please let me know if you are interested.
>
> John Welsman
> Chiltern Open Air Museum
> 09:50 31/10/99
--
John M Chapman
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