Bless your heart, but Puerto Rico is not in New York. Also, Guam is not in Hawaii. But thank you for the zip code table!

I spent most of my day going through a zip code table that Bobby prepared for some of the group projects we did a year+ ago. The way he set it up was the best way to handle zip codes, thus cities and states, in a database. I agreed with him way back in database in 2005 on this issue. If you know the zip code and the street address, your mail should be delivered. Now that I need the zip code stuff, I have to go through it. I've got to transfer it from MSSQL to MySQL. In fact, the entire database I did for my Senior Project was originally designed in MSSQL. However, I'm using MySQL for the project. Since the zip code table is so massive, I decided to go through it. I saw he only had 50 states. There are at least 58 states, territories, and dependencies that use the United States Postal Service. And in the table, Puerto Rico is listed as being in New York. So, I had to fix that. I looked up the additional territories and dependencies and added them to the table, as well as fixed the state code for their assigned zip codes. I have a few other things I'll need to check, as well, on that table.

The zip code table is the only thing for a past project I am reusing for my Senior Project. Zip codes are so important to not just my project, but most projects requiring US addresses, that reusing it makes sense. All the other data and databases will be original and designed by me. In addition to that, the PHP will mainly be mine. Sure, I'm using web sources to understand certain commands, but I am taking the PHP and adapting it to my needs. The final project is mine. And if someone wants to learn from it later, looking at my code, that's fine. I don't mind at all.

Most of my day was spent working on the data. I did spend a few minutes in the Writing Center with the ex-boss. I gave her the files I promised, as well as picked up the ACM poster presentation that was promised to us. It was my job to get it and take it over to the ACM lounge. Today was the day I could finally get it. I also researched information on the university exit exam I must take. The school will contact me with dates. I also found out when bookstore credit will be available. August 2^nd. So, I did have a productive day.

And while I was on campus, my Senior Project Advisor, who is the Department's interim head, stopped me and asked me was I thinking about getting a Master's degree. I told him I've been thinking about it. One day I want to go; the next day, I want to get a job anywhere. Personally, I think the professors want to keep me at Armstrong. He's the second IT professor that wants me to get my CS Master's at "home." Decisions, decisions. I told him the truth: I want to get my own place. That's my current goal.

Posted by Shawn at July 26, 2007 7:07 PM in Schooling.