How the WHACO! Database Queries Work
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
- 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 60 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 60 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:
- utah con -- very likely to get Utah Consolidated Mining
- phia, balt -- very likely to get the Philadelphia, Balitmore and Annapolis Railroad
- old kentu -- very likely to get the Old Kentucky Railway
- old kentucky rail -- will get the Old Kentucky Railway
- 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.
- International category and estonia company name -- will get Republic of Estonia
- Automobile category and old kentucky rail company name-- will NOT get the Old Kentucky Railway
- Automobile category and stude company name-- will get Studebaker
- Utilities category and conduitcompany name -- will probably get Underground Electric Conduit
Note: WHACO! suggests printing any database query results in "Landscape" mode.
Database Help:
WHACO! Database Explanation Key
WHACO! Database Query Entry
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