Store Thousands of Letters on Computer: Best Ways

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the best methods for storing thousands of letters on a computer, specifically considering options like using Microsoft Access or programming in C/C++. The scope includes practical solutions for digitizing physical letters and organizing them for easy access.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the current format of the letters and how the friend intends to access them, suggesting that the method of storage may depend on these factors.
  • Another participant recommends using an existing database program like Access if the user lacks programming skills, while suggesting that those with programming experience might consider creating a front end for a database engine like MySQL.
  • A participant confirms that the letters are currently in paper form and asks if they can be scanned directly into Access, indicating a willingness to learn SQL for database access.
  • It is noted that the friend wants to access and file the letters by date, aiming for an archival system.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the best approach, with some advocating for using existing software solutions while others suggest programming options. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the optimal method for digitizing and organizing the letters.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of clarity on the specific requirements for accessing the letters and the participant's programming skills, which may affect the choice of solution.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in digitizing physical documents, those exploring database management options, or anyone looking to archive large volumes of text may find this discussion relevant.

John O' Meara
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I wish to store thousands of letters onto a computer for a friend. What is the best way to do this? Use Access, or write a program in C/C++ to store and fetch the letters onto CDs. Any suggestions gratefully received, as I have no idea how to get started on this.Thank you very much.
 
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What format are the letters in now? Are they still on paper, or are they in Word documents, or text files, or PDF files, or images (TIFF, JPEG etc.) from a scanner?

How does your friend want to be able to access them? Search by a fixed number of data items such as sender, addressee, subject, or assigned keywords? Full-text search of the messages?

What are your current programming skills? If you're not a good programmer already, I think you should base your solution on an existing database progam such as Access. If you have programming experience, you could consider writing a "front end" for a database engine such as MySQL. Writing something like this completely from scratch in C or C++ or whatever is for masochists only, IMHO.
 
They are in paper ready to scan into the computer. Can I scan them into Access directly. I have to check with him how he wants them to be accessed. I'm not a good programmer but I can learn SQL to write a "front end" for accessing the database. Thanks for the advice.
 
He wants to access them and file them by date only. He wants to have them as like an archive. Thanks.
 

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