Re: Opinions on SOUNDEX function PLEASE !!!
Date: 1996/01/20
Message-ID: <4dpldu$6gu_at_zippy.cais.net>#1/1
We have some trouble finding good matches to names on the Hawaiian Islands. We have not spent the time to redo SOUNDEX for this specfic problem...
Robert G. Schaffrath, N2JTX (rschaffrath_at_kraft.com) wrote:
: Karl Brandner wrote:
: >
: > Hello Steve,
: >
: > The SOUNDEX function is based on an algorithm which was developed
: > in 1918. It is explained in 'The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 3,
: > Sorting and Searching, by Donald E. Knuth, chapter six, pages 389-393.
: >
: > The algorithm:
: >
: > (additional text deleted for space)
: >
: > Be aware: Each phonetical encoding depends on the language it was
: > developed for. We use our own "SOUNDEX"-function because the
: > method of SOUNDEX isn't very good for the german language.
: >
: > Hope it helps,
: >
: > Bye Karl
: >
: >
: I also use the SOUNDEX function and I have noticed one particular
: quirk in regards to the German language. My last name is Schaffrath
: which, based on the algorithm, has a value of S216. However, Oracle
: returns a value of S163. What's interesting is that S163 is the same
: value that Shaffrath returns which some relatives of my relatives
: changed the spelling to. PC Magazine had a simple program last May
: that implemented the Soundex algorithm. I modified it to handle the
: SC problem. Basically, all you need to do check for an SC combination
: and drop the value for S. We had an employee here with the last name
: Scoppa who was also effected by this change to the algorithm.
: --
: **********************************************************************
: * Robert G. Schaffrath, N2JTX Systems something or other *
: * (914) 335-2777 Maxwell House Coffee Company *
: * rschaffrath_at_kraft.com Kraft Foods Corporation *
: * http://www.mh.wp.kraft.com = not valid outside our Firewall :-( *
: **********************************************************************
-- ..uu. ---------------------- .?$" '?i . I Randy DeWoolfson I .T^M ._at_" d9 . f ,.un. b, i I--------------------I " Z :#" M `8 U < .dP"``"# `M _at_" I randyd_at_cais.com I &H?` Xl _R $5. $ ?* _at_ 'P,#" I--------------------I ,d#^*L :RP'~$b f`$L:M Xf .f' dH` I ,\//. I & 'M ,P `E M "$ Mux~ n!` I |o o| I dk `h" ' j " y" *~ I====oOO==(_)==Ooo===IReceived on Sat Jan 20 1996 - 00:00:00 CET