Algorithm

[Walter Vaughan]

Don Coleman wrote:

> List:
> 
> I am faced with assigning a unique # which must correlate to a numeric
> string that is comprised of an 8 digit Rx # and a 7-10 decimal quantity.  
> Currently, each prescription label has a barcode which is an 8 digit Rx# and
> a 5 digit quantity.  Due to a required software upgrade on their Clinical
> Prescription Software application the quantity must be changed from an
> integer value to a decimal, possibly with up to 4 digits to the right of the
> decimal point.

First make sure the barcode symbology that you use supports decimal characters?

> Two solutions come to mind:
> 
> "Compress" the 15-18 digit # into a 8-10 digit # via application of an
> algorithm and "uncompress" it as needed.  I'm guessing this would involve
> use of letters in addition to strictly #'s.  Unsure if this type of
> intelligence is available.  I checked the phone book but could not locate
> the local algorithm store.  Google lists many sites, beginning with
> Wikipedia examples, but I've never been a fan of this source.  
> 
> Assign a unique (sequential) # within my fP application and distribute this
> # plus the original # as necessary.  Other alien applications would also
> need to access and cross-reference this number so I would explore posting to
> an SQL file.
> 
> Thoughts or suggestions?

What's wrong with using the new standards? Why can you not use the new formats?
And having other applications seeing the data comes down to having a obdc or 
jdbc connector.

It might be easier to use fpOBDC and store the data in a normal SQL database.