I had some time over the past couple days to
think about the tracking software project I
announced last month and thought I'd post a
brief update(This may not mean much to most of you, but here goes anyways).

I thought about how you would calculate
miles for a particular flight and realize a
lot of it comes down to the individual airline and how they do things themselves.
So as I get more and more into the actual implementation, I'm sure these things will sort themselves out more.

Here's a question for you:
How many of you out there have an SQL-based
or SQL-compatible database system on your
laptops? This would be something like Access
or MS-SQL or Oracle Lite or something similar.

I am currently torn between using an SQL-based DB and a flat file system.
The SQL-DB is more likely up to the task and
would be faster. The flat file system would
probably be slower, but I wouldn't have to do
a refresher course on SQL and from the responses I've gotten, you all will be using
this as quick as I can get it going.

Other question:

Here's the basic form/record I'm planning on using. I'd appreciate comments as to anything you think I might have forgotten(or even don't need, but I find that hard to believe w/ this crowd).
Note: I am *NOT* covering hotel and car alliances yet. Eventually, but not yet. I have to draw the line somewhere or I will never get anywhere.

---------------------------------------------
Layout:
Airline name:
Program:
Status:
Gross Balance:
Elite Qualifying Balance:

[Awards] [Partners]

Record structure for each airline:
Name
Reservations:
Std.
Elite-1:
Elite-2:
Cust Svc.:
Std.
Elite-1
Elite-2
Web site:
Mileage page:
FF Program name:
Member?:
Member#:
Elite levels:
Level 1
Name:
Threshhold:
Level 2
Name:
Threshhold:
Level N
Name:
Threshhold:
Domestic rewards:
Econ. ticket:
First ticket:
Econ 2-class Upgrade:
Econ.3-class Upgrade:
Int'l Rewards:
Econ. ticket:
First ticket:
2-class Upgrade:
3-class Upgrade:
Partners/Alliances:
Aircraft types flown:
Hub(s):
---------------------------------------------

'sall for now...
JD

JD,

As one who works for the major DB company, I'd be happy to do whatever it takes to get you to use a real database, as opposed to flat files. True, there is an extra effort associated with the setup, but the improvement in flexibility you'll obtain is huge. And judging by the amount of design help you're getting from this board, you will undoubtedly be changing and adding to the system over time.

I'd be happy to help with the database side of this project...

Jim