The reason for a drop down list and normalising

[ProgramError]

I work in a University where we make constant recordings of selected television channels (20 in all). These recordings can be requested for teaching purposes via a request page onver the internet.
Our web designer was in a hurry one day and decided not to use a drop down box for his channel selection. Instead, he used a textbox.
I've just distinct queried the records for channels requested and I end up with 87 channels!
I get 8 just for UKTV History (this is how it should be entered).

UK Hist
UK History
UK TV History
UKHist
UKTV History
UKTVHist
UKTVHistory
.UKTV History

And for BBC four I get
4
B4
BBC 4
BBC4
BBC FOUR
14 (meaning BBC 1 and BBC 4)

Because of this we have to cross compare all versions of the channel names with a table to return the correct Channel name. The result... more work... So this little example should give you reason to normalise your tables, use drop down boxes and sack the web designer
Happy Coding!




Ian Mayor (UK)
Program Error
Always make your words sweet and nice. Because you never know when you may have to eat them.

 

[jordanking]

I have to agree,

I just spent days normalizing address information because it initially was not separated into building number, suite, street, etc.

.....
I'd rather be surfing