Access and MapPoint

[TaylorTot]

Hello,

I hope this is the right forum. . . I'm using Access 2000 and have MapPoint 2004. What I'm trying to do is build a database which stores companies, by address and zip, on a waiting list. I would like the user to be able to type in a zip code and have a subform pop up which accesses the table of waiting companies and displays everyone within a 20 mile radius. I have tried everything, but cannot figure out the best solution. I think MapPoint would help, but have tried to use the ActiveX control and failed. Does anyone have any ideas. . .

Very much appreciated!!

 

[CautionMP]

TaylorTot,
I know next to nothing about MapPoint but here is an all database idea. If you were willing to use the location of a companies post office (instead of their address) and could get a listing of the coordinates (latitude & longitude) of every post office in America determining the locations in a certain radious is a pretty simple calculation.

Q1. Where do I get the coordinates of all the post offices in America?[ul]
[li]Mapping of zip code to Latitude/Longitude Census.gov: ZCTA's[/li]
[li]Explanation of the file format Census.gov: Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files[/li][/ul]

Q2. How do I calculate coordinates using latitude and longitude?[ul]
[li]Meridian World Data: How to calculate the distance between two points on the Earth[/li]

If you import the ZCTA file into a table in your database and join it to the table that has the companies zip code in a query, add a couple of parameters to specifiy the center of your radius in Latitude & Longitude, you could calulate a distance which you could filter to 20 miles or whatever you needed.

On the bright side, you don't have to figure out and deploy an ActiveX control

Just a thought,
CMP

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