How the WHACO! Database Queries Work
This information is for the Demonstration Database only.
There are three types of queries: Autograph [names of individual], Company Name; and a combination of Category and Company.
- Autograph Query -- This query requires the user to enter several letters from a signer's name that the user believes are unique. The records are in the format Smith, Sarah; Johnson, Ralph; or Ames, Oliver. Queries can take many forms and are called String searches. Strings can be any consecutive letters in the persons name including commas and spaces. Note that because the database output is a maximum of 30 records per search, several "unique" characters should be input [at least 5 is recommended]. When entering several characters with short names, like Lee, Robert E., it may be necessary to enter commas [,] and spaces [i.e., ames,]. For the names in this example some of the potential Strings are:
- johnso -- not very unique and there may be several Johnsons
- johnson, ra -- much more focused and likely to find him
- son, ra -- this is likely to work, but could get Robertson, Randolph
- ames, oli -- very likely to get Oliver Ames
For the Demonstration Database some of the available AUTOGRAPHS are:
- Adams, John Quincy
- Astor, John Jacob
- Edison, Thomas A.
- Gould, Jay
- Huntington, Colis P.
- Morgan, John P.
- Morris, Robert
- Pullman, George M.
- Stone, Lucy
- Washington, George
- Company Name Query -- This query requires the user to enter several letters from a company's name that the user believes are unique. The records are in the format Ralston Purina Company; Philadelphia, Balitmore and Annapolis Railroad; or Utah Consolidated Mining. Note that because the database output is a maximum of 30 records per search, several "unique" characters should be input [at least 5 is recommended]. For short names like old ken for Old Kentucky Railway it may be necessary to enter commas [,] and spaces. Since a maximum of 30 records is provide in response to a query, strings like company, mining, and railway won't find what you're looking for. For the companies in this example some of the potential Strings are:
- boston -- very likely to get Boston Celtics
- edison stor -- very likely to get the Edison Storage Battery
- mohawk -- very likely to get the Mohawk and Hudson RR
- Phillip Best -- will get the Phillip Best Brewing Co
For the Demonstration Database some of the available COMPANIES are:
- North American Land
- Playboy Enterprises 'SPECIMEN'
- Coca Cola "Class A"
- Alhambra Hill Silver Mining & Tunnel (CA)
- Pettengill Telegraph Revolver
- Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St Louis RR
- Newport News & Mississippi Valley RR
- Category AND Company Name Query -- This query requires the user to select a category from a list AND enter several letters from a company's name that the user believes are unique. After doing both click on the SUBMIT button.
For the Demonstration Database the ONLY categories available Mining, PopArt, and Sports.
- Mining category and aztec company name -- will get Aztec Gold & Silver Mining
- PopArt category and railroad company name-- will NOT get the Old Kentucky Railway
- Sports category and celtics company name-- will get Boston Celtics
For the Demonstration Database some of the available CATAGORY and COMPANY combinations are:
- Mining and Bullfrog Golden Sceptre Mining (AZ Terr)
- Mining and Christmas Wonder Mining (AZ)
- Mining and Sunflower Gold Mining
- PopArt and Ringling Brothers
- PopArt and Schmoos -- U.S. Treasury Savings
- PopArt and Disney - U.S. Treasury
- Sports and American League Base Ball Club of Chicago
- Sports and Boston American League Base=Ball Club
- Sports and Atlantic City Racing Association (NJ)
Note: WHACO! suggests printing any database query results in "Landscape" mode.
WHACO! cannot guarantee the accuracy of these transcribed number, nor can it attest to the quality of the items sold.
Database Help:
WHACO! Database Explanation Key
WHACO! Database Query Entry
Information on Joining WHACO!:
Joining WHACO!
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